Bernal, Hylton meet – Status of Trade Negotiations Discussed

CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – The Director-General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) Ambassador Dr. Richard Bernal met yesterday afternoon with Jamaica’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Anthony Hylton. Ambassador Bernal described this first official meeting, that took place at the office of the Minister in Kingston, as “very productive”. He said, “our exchange of views on the status of external trade negotiations in which CARICOM and CARIFORUM are involved highlighted the Region’s trade priorities and approach. Minister Hylton, who is an experienced practitioner of trade issues, signalled issues of importance to Jamaica, which I found particularly useful.” In their meeting, Minister Hylton, who has been involved in the formulation of a regional energy policy, emphasized the importance of the link between the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and external trade negotiations. Minister Hylton was recently appointed to head up the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in the Government of Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, the new Prime Minister of Jamaica, who succeeds the former Prime Minister, P.J. Patterson, who retired late last month.