The OECS Trade Negotiations Group meets in St. Kitts/Nevis

Virginia Paul

(OECS SECRETARIAT, CASTRIES, MONDAY JANURAY 31ST 2011) – The Fifteenth Meeting of the OECS Trade Negotiations Group will be convened in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis on 1 and 2nd February 2011 at the Marriott Hotel.

The agenda for this meeting comprises items related to the ongoing negotiations at the World Trade Organisation and CARICOM’s negotiations with Canada for a trade and development agreement.

The TNG will discuss an upcoming review of the operation of Article 164 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas which is an important part of the CSME trade regime for the OECS countries since it allows them to restrict imports of selected approved items from the More Developed Countries of CARICOM.

The meeting will examine a work plan for the implementation of the trade policy regime for the Economic Union which includes the findings of studies undertaken by the Secretariat on the policy options for a trade facilitation framework and the feasibility of a regime for free circulation of goods.

The Trade Negotiations Group is comprised of trade officials from the OECS Member States, representatives of the private sector and the OECS Secretariat. The TNG’s main objective is to assist Member States in managing their external trade relations by facilitating the formulation of positions on external trade negotiations.

Head of the OECS Trade Policy Unit Virginia Paul says it is expected that all Members of the TNG would be present at this week’s meeting which is being financed with support from the Inter American Development Bank.