The Ministry of International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer affairs of St Kitts and Nevis will on Monday officially open a weeklong activity aimed at assessing the Trade Facilitation needs and priorities for Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as it relates to the ongoing negotiations on Trade Facilitation at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The negotiations on Trade Facilitation will lead to commitments to be undertaken by WTO Member States, including those of the OECS, to provide for transparent and efficient border procedures. In this regard, it will result in the implementation of new and streamlined rules which is expected to have a positive effect on the movement of goods across borders; an outcome particularly beneficial to both traders and consumers.

The needs assessment which will run from Monday December 1 to Friday December 5 will be facilitated by the WTO Secretariat, the United Nations Committee on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Her Majesty’s Customs (UK) and the OECS Secretariat. The exercise will be conducted by public and private sector partners under the leadership of trade facilitation tasks forces from the participating member States.

The OECS Secretariat, through its Permanent Delegation in Geneva has worked with the World Trade Organisation and OECS Member States in coordinating this activity. The assessment will also take account of regional approaches that could lead to more enhanced border procedures and cost savings for border and revenue authorities.

The 152 members of the World Trade Organisation are currently negotiating a raft of disciplines within the ongoing global round of trade negotiations launched in Doha, Qatar in 2001.

The negotiations on Trade Facilitation are unique, insofar as Member States, including, those participating in this week’s activity, stand to benefit from a large and comprehensive technical assistance package.

This activity is seen as particularly timely as it dovetails into the ongoing customs reform programme currently underway in the OECS.