Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/308 |
S-III§126 |
Barbados |
2014 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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The Innovation Fund (IF) invests in commercially viable innovative projects in a wide range of sectors including: environmental and waste management; cultural activities; information technology; energy conservation; tourism product innovation/diversification; and non-traditional agriculture/agro-business. Beneficiaries can receive between BDS$25,000 and BDS$250,000 in equity funding from the IF. No security is required to access IF funding. No monthly interest or annual dividend payments are required if common shares are purchased. However, annual dividend payments ranging from 8% to 10% are requested if preferred shares are purchased. IF usually invests for 5 to 7 year periods, with the possibility of extending the investment period to 10 years. The IF had approved 14 grants for a total of BDS$3.69 million as at 31 December 2013; approvals reached BDS$2.23 million at the same date.
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Keywords
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Environment
Waste
Energy
Conservation
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/308 |
G-VIII§12 |
Barbados |
2014 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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The goal of the Project is to improve water resources management in Barbados and sustainable water and wastewater service provision by the Barbados Water Authority (BWA). The Project will support the Government’s efforts to modernize the institutional setting of the water and sanitation sector; improve water production infrastructure and the efficiency of the operations of BWA by reducing unaccounted-for-water and implementing adequate cost recovery mechanisms.
[The Project refers to paragraph 8.11. "Government has also secured an IDB loan to facilitate a Water and Sanitation System Upgrade in Barbados in the amount of US$50,000,000."]
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/308 |
S-Summary§7 |
Barbados |
2014 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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Barbados is an active player in the WTO, and a supporter of the multilateral trading system. During the period under review, Barbados has continued to actively advocate the particular vulnerability of small economies to price and supply fluctuations, higher fixed costs of production and marketing, and to natural disasters. Barbados sees the WTO as providing a multilateral rules-based framework for the conduct of all trade.
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/308 |
S-II§8 |
Barbados |
2014 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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During the period under review, Barbados continued to advocate actively in international fora, including the WTO, the particular vulnerability of small economies to price and supply fluctuations, higher fixed costs of production and marketing, and susceptibility to natural disasters.
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/308 |
S-II§26 |
Barbados |
2014 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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The EPA (CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement) replaced the expired preferences under the ACP-EU Cotonou Agreement. The nature of the EPA, which is based on the principle of asymmetric reciprocity, is different from the Cotonou Agreement's which was unilateral. The asymmetry in the granting of preferences is reflected in market access for goods and services, the MFN provisions, trade defence measures, and development cooperation. The Agreement also covers trade in services, public procurement, intellectual property rights and environmental protection. The EPA encourages deeper integration among CARIFORUM States and introduces a regional preference principle by which any more favourable treatment or advantage offered by any CARIFORUM State to the EU must be granted to each CARIFORUM State.
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/308 |
S-II§55 |
Barbados |
2014 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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A reciprocal Canada-CARICOM Trade Agreement set to replace the unilateral preferences granted under CARIBCAN is currently being negotiating. Negotiations started in 2009 and Canada and CARICOM have held seven rounds of negotiations to date (the last was in June 2014). Talks 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.
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/308 |
S-III§59 |
Barbados |
2014 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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The Plant Protection Section, which is the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of Barbados, encompasses Entomology, Plant Pathology, Pesticide Control Board, and the Plant Quarantine Unit. Its functions are to protect, and where possible, enhance the agricultural crop resources of the island through the provision of research, developmental, regulatory and extension services in the area of pest and disease management as well as to assist in the implementation of the National Strategic Plan of Barbados 2006-25. The Plan emphasizes certain priority crops: cotton, sugar, hot pepper, herbs and spices, sweet potatoes, yams and onions. The mandate of Plant Protection is the phytosanitary security and conservation of Barbados’ agricultural plant biodiversity through the identification of plant pests and diseases and the provision of environmentally sound control practices. The authorities have noted that this mandate must be fulfilled whilst satisfying domestic, regional (CARICOM), hemispheric (EU-CARIFORUM EPA) and international (WTO/SPS) standards. Plant Protection is also involved in ensuring food security, and in guaranteeing that good agricultural practices and food safety (HACCP policy) policies are adhered to. Plant Protection has set as its goals: the preparation of a country pest list, conducting pest risk analyses and surveillance for economically important pests and diseases; promoting integrated pest management; ensuring availability of safe and quality pesticides for protecting crop production from the ravages of pests and diseases; and testing bio-pesticides and other chemicals generally regarded as safe (GRAS).
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Keywords
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Conservation
Environment
Bio
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/308 |
S-III§138 |
Barbados |
2014 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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As part of its enforcement mandate, the FTC (Fair Trading Commission) has been granted ample investigative powers, including those of self-initiating an investigation, and may declare certain business activities as illegal. During 2008-14, the FTC conducted 78 inquiries and investigations of anti-competitive conduct. (…) The investigations conducted by the FTC during that period were related to telecommunications, distribution, mining/quarrying, and waste processing/treatment, among others (Table 3.10). The practices investigated included: excessive pricing (1); predatory pricing (1); refusal to supply (2); and price squeezing (1); and other anti-competitive conduct (3).
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/308 |
S-Table-III.10 |
Barbados |
2014 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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Table 3.10 Main Competition Policy Cases Rulings by the FTC, 2008-14
Exclusionary Conduct (Diceabed Barbados Ltd vs Sustainable Barbados Recycling Centre)
Case/allegation: Diceabed Barbados Ltd. made a complaint to the FTC that the Government of Barbados (GoB) paid the Sustainable Barbados Recycling Centre (SBRC) a Consolidated Tipping Fee (CTF) of BDS$60 per tonne on recycled materials, but not to other companies who recycle. It was argued that the policy is unfair and may have harmful effects on competition.
Initiation: June 2013
Ruling: The FTC established that the payment of a CTF to SBRC was unlikely to cause competitive concerns in the relevant market. This was due to the contractual relationship between SBRC and the GoB, established by an international tender, the stringent environmental and health standards required and the contractual obligation on the part of SBRC to accept all municipal waste. As such, the FTC determined that there was no credible justification for Diceabed’s entitlement to a CTF or equivalent.
Termination: February 2014
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Sustainable
Recycle
Environment
Waste
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/292/REV.2 |
S-III§54 |
Malaysia |
2014 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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Malaysia's 2007 Biosafety Act entered into force on 1 December 2009, upon expiry of a grace period of two years. This enabled the stakeholders to understand its requirements by, inter alia, carrying out capacity-building activities. It requires the National Biosafety Board (NBB) to evaluate and approve living modified organisms (LMOs) before release onto the market for food, feed, or processing. This applies to any genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that may be found in corn and soybeans imports. A Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC) provides expert advice to the NBB on application. (…) No genetically modified seed for planting is approved for import or for confined trials. Biotechnology related activities benefit from tax and non-tax incentives (sections 3.4.1.3 and 3.4.2.1.1).
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