Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/308 |
S-III§138 |
Barbados |
2014 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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Relevant information
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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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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/308 |
S-Table-III.10 |
Barbados |
2014 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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Relevant information
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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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Keywords
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Sustainable
Recycle
Environment
Waste
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/308 |
S-Table-III.11 |
Barbados |
2014 |
Measures |
Intellectual property measures |
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Relevant information
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Table 3.11 Overview of IPR protection, 2014
Patents
- Area/law: Patents Act 2001, No. 18; Patents Regulations, 1984- S.I. 1984 No. 84
- Coverage: An invention that is novel, involves an inventive step, and is industrially applicable.
Rights of plant breeders and developers of new plant varieties specifically protected.
- Duration: 20 years from the filing date accorded to the applicant.
- Exclusions and limitations: Inventions involving, discoveries, scientific theories and mathematical methods, diagnostic methods, methods for treatment of human beings and animals by surgery or therapy, plant and animal varieties and biological processes for the production of plants other than microbiological processes, and the products of those processes and inventions, the commercial exploitation of which would be contrary to public order or morality or which is prejudicial to human or animal health or to plant life or to the environment.
Compulsory licences can be issued, subject to reasonable payment. if exploitation by the patent owner is found to be anti-competitive.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/308 |
S-IV§7 |
Barbados |
2014 |
Sectors |
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Agriculture |
Relevant information
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The Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water Resource Management is responsible for agricultural policy in Barbados. There is currently no general legislation governing the sector as a whole, however, at the time of the last review, the authorities indicated that the first draft of a Sustainable Agricultural Development Bill was to be considered in June 2008. In the context of the current review the authorities indicated that the Bill has since stalled.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/308 |
S-Table-IV.3 |
Barbados |
2014 |
Measures |
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Relevant information
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Table 4.3 Agricultural incentive schemes, 2014
- Incentive scheme: Agricultural Incentives Programme
- Description: Duty-free concessions on: planting material, machinery and equipment, agricultural chemicals, veterinary medicaments, hand tools, irrigation machinery and equipment, organic farming, some types of vehicles (under certain conditions), as well as special inputs.
Technical assistance funding (75% of the activity) and working capital funding are also available.
A re-tooling rebate also provides duty free concessions.
- Eligibility: Qualifying farmers and farmers' organizations.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/308 |
S-Table-IV.3 |
Barbados |
2014 |
Measures |
Grants and direct payments |
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Relevant information
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Table 4.3 Agricultural incentive schemes, 2014
- Incentive scheme: Scotland District Investment and Development Fund
- Description: (…)
Orchard development subsidy to promote the production of approved fruit trees and the overall afforestation of the District (BDS$5 per tree for a maximum of 1,000 trees per farmer).
- Eligibility: Agricultural and agri-related projects in the Scotland District.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/308 |
S-IV§24 |
Barbados |
2014 |
Sectors |
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Fisheries |
Relevant information
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Under the provisions of the Fisheries Act (Cap. 391 section 4), the Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture has the legal authority for management and development of fisheries in Barbados and for the administration of the Fisheries Act. The Fisheries Division is also responsible for: performing research and data collection for assessing the state of the various fisheries and suggesting conservation and development methods; the registration of fishermen and vessels; inspecting fishing vessels in accordance with local and international standards; and providing haul up and launch services for local fishing vessels. For the latter a fee is charged. According to the authorities, the fee structure for all services is under review.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/308 |
S-IV§25 |
Barbados |
2014 |
Sectors |
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Fisheries |
Relevant information
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The Fisheries Act provides the legal authority for the Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) in terms of “schemes for the management and development of fisheries in the waters of Barbados. The FMP forms the basis for fisheries policy, management (both conservation and development), administration and the formulation or implementation of fisheries-related legislation. The Fisheries (Management) Regulations (1998) contain technical requirements and regulate the fisheries of certain species.
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Keywords
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Fish
Conservation
Wildlife
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/308 |
S-IV§26 |
Barbados |
2014 |
Sectors |
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Fisheries |
Relevant information
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Local fisheries are currently open-access to nationals with Barbadian citizens having access to the resources. The authorities consider it imperative that effective management measures be put in place to prevent overexploitation of fisheries resources, to allow rebuilding those species that are depleted and to ensure resource sustainability for present and future generations of Barbadians. To this end, the authorities put in place an FMP (Fisheries Management Plan), which was in operation between 2004 and 2006. The FMP contained information on the status of the local fishing industry and the planning processes used to develop the plan. It outlined strategies for the development and management of the fishing industry to ensure its sustainable contribution to the nutritional, economic and social well-being of Barbadians. The authorities are currently implementing fishery management plans for three fisheries: large pelagics, eastern Caribbean flying fish and sea urchins.
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Keywords
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Fish
Sustainable
Wildlife
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/308 |
S-IV§27 |
Barbados |
2014 |
Sectors |
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Fisheries |
Relevant information
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The authorities are cognizant of the challenges facing the fisheries sector. These include: overfishing, pollution, degradation of habitat and impact of climate change. (…)
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