Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/353 |
G-III§14 |
Belize |
2017 |
Sectors |
General environmental reference |
Energy, Manufacturing |
Relevant information
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Sugar and Molasses
(...)
The production of molasses also increased with operation by the new company. In a related understanding, the new company will now be generating an additional volume of cane waste (bagasse) which it intends to convert to electricity for the national grid.
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Keywords
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/353 |
G-III§19 |
Belize |
2017 |
Sectors |
Investment measures |
Services |
Relevant information
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(...) In an effort to ensure a sustainable and profitable tourism sector, the Government has supported a value of US$93.35 million in travel and tourism capital investment. (...)
In 2012, the Government of Belize launched its National Sustainable Tourism Master Plan (NSTMP) 2012-2030, which serves as a long-term strategic framework for sustainable development of Belize’s tourism sector. As a result of the implementation of NSTMP, the Government has invested over US$40 million in capital investments that have served to enhance the tourism product and services offered by Belize with the goal of ensuring tourism’s contribution to national economic growth and giving full consideration for environmental and social developmental needs.
(...)
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Keywords
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/353 |
G-V§5 |
Belize |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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Relevant information
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Belize recognises that investments should be directed to areas where there is competitive and comparative advantages and where potential for growth is strong. Such priority areas for investment have been identified in: Tourism (Mayan ruins/sites, sports tourism, and education tourism) and Medical Tourism, Agribusiness (non-traditional agriculture and aquaculture), environmental goods and services (light manufacturing of wood products; bio-fuels, sustainable energy generation), and ICTs (Offshore Outsourcing, inclusive of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Informational Technology Outsourcing (ITO), and Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO).
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Keywords
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Environment
Bio
Sustainable
Energy
Forest
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/353 |
G-V§9 |
Belize |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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Relevant information
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The National Sustainable Tourism Master Plan, the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Implementation Plan which have been approved and the National Export Strategy (NES) which is to be approved, are integral elements of the Growth and Sustainable Development Strategy (GSDS). The GSDS proposes to strategically prioritize sectors for development, improve access to development finance, make existing markets more efficient and penetrate new markets among other objectives. This will involve promoting investment in agriculture, local manufacturing, agro-processing and other productive activities with tax and incentives policies.
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Keywords
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/353 |
G-VIII§1 |
Belize |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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Relevant information
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(...) Considerable challenges emerging from the financial services sector in relation to its correspondent banking relationships, low resilience to the adverse effects of climate change and vulnerability to external trade factors affecting the productive sector need to be overcome. (...)
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Keywords
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/353 |
G-VIII§2 |
Belize |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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Relevant information
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(...) Additional key structural initiatives enshrined in its national sustainable development, and trade and investment strategies that would drive the economy, including restoration of exports, attraction of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), improvement of industrial policies, enhancement of market efficiencies, enhanced infrastructure, and the increased investments in human capital are underway. Belize remains committed to the principles of the multilateral trading system and continues to strive for trade and economic development within the context of an increasingly globalizing world.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/353/REV.1 |
S-Summary§2 |
Belize |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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Relevant information
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Belize's economy is vulnerable to internal and external shocks, including natural hazards and diseases affecting the agricultural and aquaculture industries. (...)
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/353/REV.1 |
S-Summary§8 |
Belize |
2017 |
Measures |
Internal taxes |
Not specified |
Relevant information
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(...) In addition to tariffs, revenue replacement duties (RRDs) and environmental taxes are applied to imports from non-CARICOM countries. (...)
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/353/REV.1 |
S-Summary§12 |
Belize |
2017 |
Sectors |
General environmental reference |
Fisheries |
Relevant information
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Fishing and aquaculture, contributing 3% to GDP, contracted significantly in 2015 as farmed shrimp output declined by 42% due to a disease outbreak, while total catch has declined since 2010. Belize has a large trade surplus in fish and fish products. Fishing policy is focused on stock management, including through the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/353/REV.1 |
S-I§1 |
Belize |
2017 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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Relevant information
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Belize is a small country located in Central America, bordering Mexico and Guatemala. It is an upper-middle-income country, with a GDP per capita of US$4,757 in 2015. Its unique natural resources support the country's tourism and agricultural sectors, and it has an advantageous geographical proximity to major markets. Trade is of particular importance to this relatively open economy with a limited domestic market. In 2015, trade (exports and imports of goods and services) accounted for 129% of GDP, up from 113% in 2010 (Table 1.1). Its economy is vulnerable to internal and external shocks, including natural hazards – such as hurricanes, tropical storms and flooding due to its extensive coastline and the exposed position of its major city – and diseases affecting the agricultural and aquaculture industries. Reflecting this vulnerability, the real GDP growth rate varied during the review period, rising from a low of 0.7% in 2013 to a high of 4.1% in 2014, and falling again to 2.9% in 2015.
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Keywords
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Natural resources
Environment
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