Federation undergoes WTO Self-Assessment
By VonDez Phipps
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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(L-R) Minister of Finance and International Trade, Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris; WTO Representative Sheri Rosenow and Stephen Fevrier, Representative OECS Secretariat Geneva
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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis along with St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are expected to benefit largely from World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Self-Assessment of Needs and Priorities which was officially launched today (Dec. 1) at the Ocean Terrace Inn Conference Room.
Public and private sector representatives from the respective countries, as well as personnel from WTO, Organization of Eastern Caribbean (OECS), Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) assembled for the week-long assessment to improve international trade negotiation among Caribbean countries.
The project is specifically geared toward identifying countries needs and priorities, differential treatment and technical assistance necessary to enable them to negotiate more effectively on all aspects of international commerce.
WTO Secretariat Representative and Facilitator of the project, Sheri Rosenow informed that the programme focuses on the identification of each country’s compliance level and national negotiation position for each proposed trade facilitation measure.
“These negotiations are different from any previous or current topics at the WTO because for the first time ever, the implementation of the final results would be directly linked to the capacity in each country. Also, developed countries have pledged to provide technical assistance to help the countries in capacity building to implement each measure.
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A cross-section of participants
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“Members would know how to negotiate for necessary trade provisions and understand their position in relation to each measure. Countries would be able to assess their needs and focus on recommendations in relation to benefiting from technical assistance in implementing these.”
Rosenow noted that at the moment the WTO members are still in the negotiation phase in finalizing details on providing technical assistance but assured the Caribbean representatives that it will certainly be done. She further said that the discussions should allow for the WTO to garner a wider understanding of the Caribbean situation in relation to international trade.
The WTO Representative underscored that the interaction of the regional representatives on the issue is a critical element as previous trade agreements can be discussed to “determine the overlaps of what is stipulated by WTO and regional agreements”.
At the end of the week, she informed, the discussions should allow for participating countries to go to the next phase in ascertaining what can be implemented immediately and what would require technical assistance. ~~Adz:Left~~
