(Tuesday, 21^st August 2012, Castries, St. Lucia) – A new project designed to assist OECS Member States in negotiating and implementing Trade Facilitation agreements will be launched on Tuesday August 21st  in Saint Lucia.

The OECS Secretariat in collaboration with The United Nations’ Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will launch the new project at the Coco Palm Hotel during a Trade Facilitation workshop from August 21 - 22, 2012. The project is to focus mainly on national implementation plans for a future World Trade Organisation (WTO) trade facilitation agreement.  Trade Facilitation is among issues negotiated at the WTO.  The objective of the negotiations is to simplify and harmonize international trade procedures such as payment of fees, access to information and cooperation between customs and other authorities.  It is one area in which OECS Member States stand to benefit significantly as reform can result in increased efficiency by reducing delays in the clearance of goods which could also be more cost effective for consumers.

UNCTAD, has supported the OECS Secretariat and its Member States in conducting national needs assessments, participating in the WTO negotiations on trade facilitation, and supporting the establishment of national trade facilitation task forces.  UNCTAD will lead the preparation of national implementation plans in the OECS.

The expected outcomes of UNCTAD’s assistance are:

• Updated and expanded national needs self-assessments based on the most recent version of the draft text of the trade facilitation agreement being negotiated in the WTO; and
• Implementation plans for each measure under negotiation.

The workshop participants including trade and customs officials will review the state of WTO negotiations on trade facilitation and discuss the project tools, outputs and stakeholder involvement.  The workshop would also seek to identify OECS interests and concerns, in the context of the establishment of the OECS Economic Union and identify regional approaches to implementation.  

The workshop and project are funded by UNCTAD through its Multi-Donor trust fund and will be followed by National Missions to the OECS-WTO Member States – Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent & the Grenadines.