OECS Member Countries were exposed to Mexico’s approach in negotiating Free Trade Agreements during a two day workshop in St. Lucia from May 17 th -18 th 2005. Such technical assistance and corporation will strengthen the capacity of member countries to handle negotiations and further the implementation of several Trade Agreements.

Services, Market Access for Industrial and Agricultural products, as well as the administration and implementation of Free Trade Agreements were among areas discussed at the meeting. Six of the nine OECS member countries attended the conference. Jose Barrera, a specialist in Free Trade Agreements and one of the three Mexican experts at the knowledge-sharing workshop, recommended that the parties involved in negotiations should at least settle for win-win results.

“The idea is that while you have those basic rules established you are going to have more producers in each country gaining exports to the partner country. That is a very good way to ensure that there are winners on both sides not only to export products but export services and investment. We must emphasise on investment. Foreign investment is very important for business alliances”

Randy Cato, Director of the OECS Economic Affairs Division OECS member countries are hoping that the experience will also aid their capacity to negotiate with external trading powers such as Canada and the European Union. Currently, Member Countries are involved in the completion of the Caricom Single Market and Economy Arrangements, the currently stalled proposed FTAA as well as Economic Partnership Agreements with the European Union. This lessons leaned conference came out of dialogue between the governments of St. Kitts and Nevis and Mexico. However, the government of St. Kitts and Nevis opted to move the conferenceto an OECS level. The Mexico authorities welcomed the initiative and along with the OECS Secretariat organized the sub-regional meeting. Randy Cato, Director of the OECS Economic Affairs Division says the event is a wonderful example of “hemispheric collaboration”.

“There is no doubt that Mexico has quite a lot to share with us notwithstanding our differences in size and skill. We in the OECS must be ready to seize these opportunities as they are offered to us. We have to face the realities of the external environment that will shape our development options…This event is a very good example of regional hemispheric cooperation, recognizing the shared common space of all of us in this region and showing how those with more capacity and strength could assist the smaller and weaker.”

Cato said the conference will help to alleviate the demanding mandate for an already limited number of trade negotiating experts in the OECS. Foreign Affairs Officer Natasha George a member of Antigua and Barbuda’s Delegation suggested that similar dialogue should also be extended to countries such as Chile, Brazil and Argentina.

“It is well known that Brazil as a Latin American country is quite a power house. Argentina is another country of the Latin American group that has very good relations with other OECS territories and Chile is also quite an emerging force. They have expanded their negotiations not only through this hemisphere, but also they are reaching out to Asia and Europe.”

The OECS Secretariat is facilitating a Trade Policy Framework that will guide and set goals, objectives and key elements to help achieve the best results of various negotiations.

Contact:
Kendol Morgan Senior Communications Officer OECS Secretariat This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Raymond O’Keiffe Comm.Officer OECS Secretariat email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it