Search

Biological processes and materials as they appear in nature (with the exception of microbiological processes) and all inventions whose commercial exploitation would be contrary to public health, human, animal or plant life and the environment are excluded from patentability.

HKC maintains a simple tax structure with a narrow base and low rates. Nevertheless, several tax incentives are offered, including for the purchase of environmentally friendly commercial vehicles and for IPR-related expenditure. Non-tax incentives, mainly to support SMEs and R&D activities, are provided in the form of loans, loan guarantees, and cash grants, but the scale of assistance is modest.

Under the new FIL (Foreign Investment Law), foreign investment is to be approved if it: supports the objectives of the national development plan, activities lacking money and technology, and those still not exercisable by the citizens; develops job opportunities; promotes and expands exports; produces import substitution goods; facilitates technology development; supports projects requiring large investment; encourages energy saving, and the exploration and extraction of new energy, as well as sustainable energy development (such as new bio-based energy); develops modern industry; conserves the environment; (…) and meets the short- and long-term domestic utilization of state energy resources.

Prohibited and restricted imports: (…)
7. All toxic and hazardous wastes
(…)

(…) Financial institutions were guided to extend credit support to key industries and sectors, such as railways, shipping, thermal power and steel, in keeping with credit risk management principles and supporting primarily enterprises that are profitable, comply with requirements on environmental protection and safe production and satisfy prudential credit conditions. Financial institutions were encouraged to use credit products flexibly to enhance support for export-oriented enterprises that were able to attract orders, were profitable and met prudential credit conditions; they were also guided to increase credit and financing support to sectors that promoted energy conservation and emissions reduction. To this end, the CBRC promulgated the Green Credit Guide, urging and guiding banking and financial institutions to enhance their support to the green economy (e.g. recycling and low carbon emission activities) and promote sustainable development based on the principles of controllable risks and sustainable business. (…)

During the review period, the OECS has further strengthened the enabling environment to overcome severe human resource, economic and financial challenges by binding resources together and this is evident in the signing of the Protocol of Eastern Caribbean Economic Union and the resultant new initiatives:
(…)
iv) Launching of the OECS Climate Change Project on 13 July 2011 in St. Lucia. The Reducing Risk to Human and Natural Assets Resulting from Climate Change (RRACC) is funded by the USAID and seeks to enhance the overall, long term capacity of the OECS region to respond to climate change impacts through concrete and adaptation measures;

Since the last U.S. Trade Policy Review, the United States has achieved significant results on trade and environment matters in multiple fora, including through regional and bilateral trade initiatives.

In late 2011, the EU agreed to grant Cabo Verde GSP+ status by giving it preferential access to EU markets reserved for countries that have ratified 27 international conventions on human rights, labor rights, good governance and environmental Protection.

Table 3.6 Harmonized standards in the EU, December 20 14
Conformity assessment and managements systems
- Subject: New Legislative Framework (NLF) and Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAs)
- Legal basis: Regulation (EC) No. 765/2008, Decision No. 768/2008/EC, and Regulation (EC) No. 1221/2009

Energy efficiency
- Subject: Ecodesign and energy labelling
- Legal basis: Directive 2009/125/EC, and Directive 2010/30/EU

Electric and electronic engineering
- Subject: Restriction on the use of certain hazardous substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment
- Legal basis: Directive 2011/65/EU

Sustainability
- Subject: Packaging and packaging waste
- Legal basis: Directive 94/62/EC

Table A1.6 Inward foreign direct investment by sector, 2013-16
2013 2014 2015 2016 % of total FDI
Total 117.59 119.56 126.27 126.00 100.0
(…)
Water conservancy, environment and public facilities 1.04 0.57 0.43 0.42 0.3