Canada is the stage for third round of CARICOM-Canada negotiations
Wednesday April 06 2011 | 04:32 AM
The third round of negotiations of a trade and development agreement between CARICOM and Canada got underway in Ottawa, Canada on 4 April and will continue until 8 April 2011.
Consistent with the agreement struck between both sides during the second round of negotiations, this round will launch substantive textual negotiations. In this regard, CARICOM has submitted draft text proposals on Rules of Origin; Transparency in Government Procurement; Safeguards; Agriculture and Fisheries; Alcoholic Beverages; Technical Barriers to Trade; Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS); Facilitation of Business Persons; and Dispute Avoidance and Dispute Settlement.These draft text proposals have been approved by the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED). CARICOM also expects to table its text proposals on Development Cooperation and Services and Investment during the round. Prior to the commencement of the round, the Region finalised its technical preparations with the convening of a Services and Investment Technical Working Group (TWG) Meeting on 21-25 March, 2011. Final technical preparations for the upcoming round in other subject areas were also undertaken earlier this year in Barbados. The second
The textual discussions expected during the third Round should help both sides to more clearly identify the emergent areas of mutual interest. The results from the third round may also likely inform the scope of discussions during a planned two day event that will bring together the private sectors from both sides later this year. This Private Sector Business Forum, considered an important activity under CARICOM’s calendar during these negotiations, is designed as part of CARICOM’s overall development thrust to strengthen the trade and investment opportunities of the regional business sector. Building on former similar initiatives such as the CARICOM-Canada Business Forum held in November 2008 in Trinidad and Tobago, the upcoming Business Forum, which will be held in Canada, is expected to foster greater synergies and deepen dialogue between the Canadian and CARICOM business sector. Furthermore, by bringing together key actors, umbrella organisations, sectors and other interest groups from within the CARICOM and Canadian business sectors, it is hoped that the event will result in the identification of tangible business opportunities between CARICOM and Canada. Discussions during the Forum will also help to shape the negotiating emphases and technical direction of the negotiations in future rounds and by so doing, complement the political and technical directorship of the negotiations.
Press release compliments the CARICOM Office of Trade Negotiaions
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