This 7th WTO Ministerial Conference offers an opportunity to reaffirm our collective commitment to a trading system that brings real benefits to all WTO Members through a genuinely inclusive, transparent and multilateral process. In this context, there are a number of issues that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) would wish to highlight.
First, CARICOM is exceedingly distressed by attempts to recalibrate the mandate of the Doha Development Round. Our participation in the Round has always been predicated on the rebalancing of the multilateral trading system in a manner that promotes the sustainable development of developing countries. We therefore call on all WTO Members to reaffirm the centrality of trade provisions that are supportive of our development aspirations in the multilateral trading system.
Second, the CARICOM WTO Members, as Small Vulnerable Economies (SVE), wish to emphasize the importance we place on accelerating the full implementation of the Small Economies’ Work Programme. This constitutes a development benchmark in assessing the true value of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA). While considerable progress has been made, let us redouble our efforts at marshalling the political will and technical acumen required to complete the Small Economies’ Work Programme.
Third, CARICOM supports the work and objectives of the G33 on Special Products and the Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM). This mechanism must be simple, operational, effective and non-burdensome and offer enhanced flexibilities for SVEs. We are however concerned at the lack of progress in completing the negotiations on the SSM. The adoption of such an SSM remains pivotal to the cardinal pursuits of food security, promotion of rural development and poverty alleviation.
Fourth, we support entrusting the WTO with the role of mobilizing additional Aid for Trade (AfT) resources and monitoring its impact on our economies. It has been established that Small Vulnerable Economies can take advantage of trade openings only when these are complemented by a sustained programme of trade capacity building measures. The fast–tracking of Aid for Trade (AfT) support programmes in CARICOM States assumes even greater importance in light of the loss of long-standing preferences on major agricultural commodities. CARICOM is deserving of receiving a fair share of AfT resources.
Fifth, the imminent conclusion of the WTO dispute on EU MFN tariffs on bananas constitutes yet another serious Caribbean concern. The resolution of this long-standing trade dispute will result in the decline of a major CARICOM export. Moreover, the banana dispute reaffirms the Caribbean conviction that particular emphasis should be placed on carving out additional opportunities for these small, vulnerable, preference-dependent Members. Furthermore, we reiterate our position that the outcome on bananas cannot be divorced from the treatment of other preference erosion products. We will therefore not accept any attempt to alter the already agreed package, in particular those provisions related to major CARICOM export products, such as rum and sugar.
CARICOM fully supports the ACP Ministerial Declaration which comprehensively captures our position on the various concerns that we have highlighted.
CARICOM has been hit disproportionately by the global economic and financial crisis. Our policy options in response to this crisis are severely constrained by the high level of indebtedness of our economies thereby limiting our ability to apply adequate national fiscal stimulus programmes. CARICOM recognizes that while the crisis has not generated the rampant protectionism of the 1930s, it remains most concerned with a number of recent developments.
We are worried that there is insufficient appreciation of the needs of the Caribbean Community resulting from this crisis. We remain concerned that the pledged resources have not yet become available. What we have seen instead is action being pursued that further exacerbates our situation. These include threats to offshore finance centres and the imposition of a discriminatory Airport Departure Tax by a major source of tourism arrivals. We remain committed to working with other Members of the WTO to ensure that the organization assists with the recovery of the global economy.
In conclusion, CARICOM fully supports the early conclusion of the DDA with explicit development-oriented trade measures. CARICOM also strongly associates itself with the declaration of the Informal Group of Developing Countries, notably on the general process of WTO Accession by developing countries. Further, we reiterate our unwavering support for the speedy accession to the WTO of one of our members – The Bahamas.
