June 2010

Trade Policy Unit participates in a meeting of CARICOM Trade Ministers

The Trade Policy Unit (TPU) participated in the meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development convened during June 14 – 18, 2010 in Guyana where the operation of the CSME, external trade relations and matters related to Standards were discussed.  Matters of importance to OECS Member States on the agenda included the Consultancy to Assess the Factors and Circumstances Constraining the Full Integration of the OECS and Belize in the CSME and the preparatory work for the third round of negotiations for a CARICOM – Canada Free Trade Agreement.

The Report of a Consultancy, which examined the factors constraining the effective participation of LDCs such as the OECS in the CSME and the necessity for a Structural Diversification and Transformation Programme to respond to the challenges facing these countries were discussed.

The TPU Representative informed COTED that OECS Trade Officials supported the findings and recommendations of the Report and agreed that an Action Plan should be prepared. The COTED agreed that to successfully address the findings and recommendations of the Consultancy the CSME Unit should prepare a comprehensive Action Plan and the Report should be tabled at the upcoming meeting of the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on the CSME on July 4, 2010 in Jamaica.

The COTED discussed the preparation of initial market access offers for Goods, Services and Investment for the CARICOM – Canada negotiations and noted the work undertaken by the Trade Policy Unit and the Hub and Spokes Project to assist Member States in this regard.

The Trade Policy Unit supports Grenada to negotiate with Canada

The Trade Policy Unit collaborated with the CARICOM Office of Trade Negotiations and the Ministry of Trade of Grenada to convene a national consultation on June 30^th, 2010 to assist that country to prepare its national position on the services and investment matters being negotiated in the CARICOM- Canada Agreement. The Trade Policy Unit was part of the team of facilitators which provided technical guidance to service providers and other stakeholders on matters such as the implications of the agreement for Grenada and the preparation of market access offers. 

OECS Secretariat assist St. Vincent and The Grenadines services exporters

The Secretariat, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Commerce and Trade of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coalition of Service Industries convened a one-day workshop on June 24^th 2010 to improve the marketing skills of service providers. The workshop covered topics such as understanding trade in services, the four stages of exporting, selecting a market and the framework for trade in services. The workshop was facilitated by international services trade expert, Ms. Doreen Conrad and Head of the Secretariat’s Trade Policy Unit, Ms. Virginia Paul.

Thirty five people participated in the workshop which was funded by the Export Development Unit as part of its programme to assist business support organisations.

The next issue of UpDate will treat with regional and international trade issues.

Email contact: tpu@oecs.org