OECS Member States are signatories to trading arrangements such as the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, the World Trade Organisation and bilateral free trade arrangements. The countries want to ensure that their strategic interests with respect to trade policy are treated with adequately. As a result of this the Secretariat formally established its own modality for dealing with trade policy. Prior to the formal establishment of the Unit, The OECS CIDA funded Trade Policy Project which ran from 200-2006 provided technical support to Member States and the Secretariat to formulate and implement trade policy.

Other institutional arrangements that are integral to the work of the Trade Policy Unit are, The Geneva Mission and the Hub and Spokes Project.

The OECS Geneva Mission was established in 2005 in response to the lack of effective presence in the WTO. The mission monitors, analyses and reports on developments and submits proposals to committees/councils. The opening of the Mission has strengthened the OECS’ capacity to deal with issues relating to their membership in the WTO.

The OECS Hub and Spokes Project commenced operations in June 2005. Its objective is to promote the effective participation of Member States in international trade negotiations (such as the WTO) and re-enforce their capacity to formulate and implement trade policies consistent with their overall development strategies.

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The Team

Technical and administrative work related to the different trade negotiating theatres is undertaken by the Trade Policy Unit. This is achieved in collaboration with other partners and reviewed prior to CARICOM technical and ministerial sessions on these issues. The results are usually incorporated in negotiating briefs prepared by the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery. The Unit plays a key role in facilitating high-level discussions on trade issues through such fora as the OECS Trade Negotiations Group (TNG), OECS Trade Ministers Meeting and the OECS/WTO Trade Policy Review.

The Trade Policy Unit achieves its mission by the following:

1. promoting cooperation and harmonization of trade policy among the Member States;
2. assisting Member States, to adopt as far as possible, a common trade policy in their relations with third states or groups of third states;
3. assisting Member States in the realization of their obligations and responsibilities under international trade arrangements; and
4. Providing technical support to the OECS Trade Negotiations Group.

The Core Functions of the Unit are:

1. To advise
2. To advocate
3. To coordinate
4. To facilitate

The Unit is comprised of technical staff who are assigned various responsibilities/ portfolios as follows:

Virginia Paul Head – Trade Policy Unit
Ms. Paul has overall responsibility for managing the affairs of the Unit which includes preparing a work programme, providing technical guidance to staff in the execution of their tasks and providing technical and policy guidance to Member States and the Secretariat on trade related issues. Ms. Paul is also required to collaborate with agencies and institutions on the delivery of technical assistance to the Secretariat and Member States for trade related activities.

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Alicia Stephen Programme Officer – Trade
She is the Unit’s point person on WTO negotiations. Her responsibilities include monitoring the multilateral trade negotiations to keep member states updated. In that capacity she also flags any issues of interest and assists OECS Members States in articulating their interest through the submission of proposals or comments on proposals. Ms. Stephens works closely with the OECS Technical Mission in Geneva, the key information channel to the OECS Secretariat on the progress of WTO Negotiations. The Mission also assists in identifying any emerging issues of specific interest to the OECS. Ms. Stephen also deals with matters related to intellectual property and sanitary and phtyo sanitary measure.

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Delores Francis Programme Officer – Trade
Delores Francis is the person to contact on matters related to the CARICOM Single Market and Economy(CSME) bilateral trade free trade agreements and matters related to the services trade. She is also the private sector liaison.. Ms. Francis provides technical support to Member States that will assist them to meet their CSME obligations. In that regard she works closely with staff of the CARICOM Secretariat. Ms. Francis also monitors the bilateral trade negotiations that OECS/CARICOM Member States are engaged with a view to providing technical guidance. Ms. Francis is also the Unit’s interlocutor with the private sector which requires that she make regular contact with business organisations as well as staff in the Export Development Unit.

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1-758-455-6348