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The proper and timely execution of this strategy should create the enabling conditions for sustainable development across the OECS-WTO Member States. The premise of this strategy is geared toward developing a modernized trade policy framework with a broad focus on sectoral issues and cross cutting measures such as information technology and renewable energy initiatives. Additionally, Aid for Trade should target the private sectors' need to increase its competitive edge, including the utilization of the latest technological methods of production, increasing access to trade financing, ensuring compliance with international standards, trade facilitation and increasing market intelligence. The efficient utilization of such aid will be dependent on whether it is unconditional, demand driven, and not tied on to any previous trade negotiations or existing programs.

Since the last trade policy review, the multilateral trade agenda has expanded beyond the traditional trade issues (e.g. tariffs, trade in services, barriers to trade, etc.) to address issues such as climate change, value-added trade, food security, environmental goods, among others. However, the limited human and technical capacity across these OECS-WTO Member States have hindered their ability to effectively cover these negotiations, develop effective policy formation with cross-cutting sectoral issues, and fulfil all the requisite notifications within each negotiating sphere.

A major milestone in the process of further integration among OECS States is the signature of the OECS Economic Union. The Revised Treaty of Basseterre (RTB) Establishing the OECS Economic Union was signed on 18 June 2010 in St. Lucia, during the 51st Meeting of the Authority of Heads of Government of OECS members States. The RTB establishes the OECS Economic Union, a single financial and economic space within which goods, services, people, and capital move freely, monetary and fiscal policies are harmonized, and countries continue to adopt a common approach to trade, health, education, and environment, as well as to sectoral development in agriculture, tourism and energy. The Revised Treaty of Basseterre has been ratified by all OECS WTO Members; it entered into force on 21 January 2011, when five of six members States completed ratification, and replaces the original OECS Treaty of 1981.

(…) The OECS can also legislate on common commercial, environmental and immigration policies.

In the EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement), the EU committed to immediate removal of all tariffs and quotas on CARIFORUM exports except for arms and ammunition as well as of sugar and rice, which gained full duty and quota-free access at the end of 2009. For their part, CARIFORUM States committed to more gradual reductions in their tariffs over a period of up to 25 years. Certain sensitive products are excluded. It was agreed that there would be a three-year moratorium before the reduction of tariffs started and the reductions would be from a harmonized base. The agreement also covers trade in services, public procurement, intellectual property rights and environmental protection.

To a lesser degree than in the past review, the OECS-WTO Members continue to rely on taxes on foreign trade, mainly tariffs, customs service charges, excise taxes and environmental charges. In 2012, taxes collected on international trade represented some 33% of tax revenue in the OECS-WTO Members as a whole. (…)

(…) OECS member States apply a number of other duties and charges on imports, such as the environmental levy, and excise tax, and would have to remove the CSC and these taxes and charges by 2018. Some OECS members are already addressing the situation, and, in Antigua and Barbuda, the CSC has been turned into a Revenue Recovery Charge, which applies to imports and domestic goods.

Four of the countries apply an environmental levy, mainly on used cars and other goods that the authorities deem detrimental to the environment. The coverage of the levy both in terms of products and the rate charged differs across countries. St Vincent and the Grenadines applies a vehicle surcharge and a deposit on bottles, while St Lucia introduced and subsequently discontinued a 1% levy during the period under review.

Canada and CARICOM are currently negotiating a reciprocal Canada-CARICOM Trade Agreement set to replace the unilateral preferences granted under CARIBCAN. The negotiation of a possible Canada-CARICOM FTA was announced at the Canada CARICOM Summit in January 2001, in Jamaica. However, negotiations did not start until 2009. Canada and CARICOM have held five rounds of negotiations to date (February 2014): in November 2009, March 2010, April 2011, July 2012, and January 2014. Discussions have covered market access in goods, trade defence and safeguards measures, rules of origin, trade facilitation, customs procedures, government procurement, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, services, labour, and environment. Both parties agreed that with respect to market access, the chapter on financial services should go beyond Canada’s and CARICOM’s respective GATS commitments.

Export restrictions are based on CITES standards: all OECS-WTO Members ban exports of wild birds and wildlife. (…)