The Trade Policy Unit prepares for a meeting of the Trade Negotiations Group
The Trade Policy Unit prepared to convene the Fifteenth Meeting of the Trade Negotiations Group on 1-2 February in St. Kitts/Nevis. The Trade Negotiations Group comprises trade officials, private sector representatives and the Secretariat. Its mandate is to formulate positions on subjects being negotiated with countries and groups of countries. This meeting will discuss the issues related to negotiations with Canada and the World Trade Organisation. It will also discuss implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement, Economic Union Treaty and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. Resources to convene this meeting are being provided by the Inter American Development Bank
The Trade Policy Unit coordinates OECS participation in regional Aid For Trade Forum
The Trade Policy Unit assisted Member States to prepare for a CARICOM meeting on Aid For Trade which was held from 25-27th January in Barbados. The objective of the regional meeting was to prepare a global review of Aid For Trade in July 2011. Aid For Trade is a phrase used to describe the development assistance provided by countries and organisations to assist developing countries to increase trade. It includes marketing assistance provided to companies as well as finance provided to establish institutions such as Bureaux of Standards.
The Unit convened coordination meetings of officials who participated in the meeting which facilitated the identification maritime transportation as an OECS priority for Aid For Trade It also prepared case stories of Aid For Trade provided at the regional level in addition to completing a questionnaire on the significance and impact of Aid For Trade.
Participation in the regional and global meetings provides an opportunity for OECS countries to make their case for additional resources to increase their trade.
Next month’s issue of UpDate will inter alia discuss the outcome of the TNG.
