Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/299/REV.1 |
G-IV§18 |
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2014 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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The Structure of Governance or Principal Organs of the OECS Economic Union are the OECS Authority (Heads of Government), the Economic Affairs Council, the Council of Ministers (Education, Health, etc.), the OECS Assembly and the OECS Commission which is a strengthened secretariat.
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iii) The OECS Assembly (inaugural meeting took place 10 August 2012) comprises five (5) members of Parliament of each Independent Member State and three (3) from the Legislature of each non independent Member State. (…) There are five (5) main areas agreed for the exercise of exclusive power by the Authority; common market and customs union, monetary policy, trade policy; maritime jurisdiction and maritime boundaries and civil aviation. The Assemble can also legislate on environmental policy and immigration policy.
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/299/REV.1 |
G-IV§20 |
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2014 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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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:
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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;
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/299/REV.1 |
G-V§24 |
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2014 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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Canada and CARICOM are currently negotiating a reciprocal Canada-CARICOM Trade Agreement set to replace the unilateral preferences granted under CARIBCAN. (…) Five (5) Rounds of negotiations have been completed as of January 2014. Discussions during the rounds 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. (…)
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/299/REV.1 |
G-V§34 |
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2014 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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The EPA [Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU) provides for a standstill of other duties and charges applied on imports, leading to a phase-out starting seven (7) years after signature with a complete elimination within 10 years. This will be a sensitive reform in most OECS countries, since they depend heavily on the Customs Service Charge (CSC) on imports as a source of revenue, given that due to their CARICOM commitments, they cannot incorporate the CSC into their applied MFN tariff rate. Moreover, the CSC is also applied on all imports from preferential partners, including other OECS countries. 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.
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/299/REV.1 |
G-Annex1 |
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2014 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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Background
In April 2012, the Secretary-General signed a Financing Agreement with the European Commission for the provision of "Support to the Forum of Caribbean States in the implementation of the commitments undertaken under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)". The Agreement is valued at Euro 46.5 million. Its overall objective is to support the beneficial integration of the Caribbean Forum of ACP States (CARIFORUM) into the world economy. Its specific objectives are to provide support to CARIFORUM in the following areas:
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3. Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary Measures (SPS): to increase production and trade in agriculture and fisheries which meet the international standards while protecting plant, animal and human health and life and the environment.
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/299/REV.1 |
G-VI§43 |
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2014 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines remains fully committed and supportive of the Aid for Trade objectives under the WTO. We recognise that without Aid for trade, small vulnerable countries like those of the Eastern Caribbean cannot begin to realise their goals of sustainable development
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/299/REV.1 |
G-VI§44 |
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2014 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines recognizes that Aid for Trade should create the enabling conditions for sustainable development among small Member States. This should take into account a modernised trade policy framework through a broader focus on sectoral issues and cross cutting measures such as information technology and renewable energy initiatives. A sustainable trade model should therefore be accompanied by a development aid package designed to positively impact multilateral trade liberalization while maximizing the benefits of production synergies through:
• Capacity-Building in Export Strategy Design and Management
• Capacity-Building in Trade Information Management and Market Analysis
• Capacity-Building in Quality Management and
• Standards for Trade and Services Development.
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Sustainable
Renewable
Energy
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/299/REV.1 |
G-VI§45 |
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2014 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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Trade related assistance should therefore be unconditional, demand driven, not related to any previous trade negotiations and incremental to existing programs. In this regard, such arrangements would mean non-reciprocity with developed countries. The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines remains committed to the process of liberalization, however, given its classification as a middle income country, development assistance under the Aid for Trade regime would continue to be miniscule. This technical barrier would therefore need to be overcome if vulnerable island Member States are to realise worthwhile objectives of sustainable development. In short, the limited progress Small Developing Island States have made in realizing true benefits from trade liberalization have been stymied by the unequal relationships and classifications with developed countries.
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/299/REV.1 |
S-III§38 |
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2014 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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Antigua and Barbuda enacted the Plant Protection Act of 2012 and the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Act of 2008. (…) The Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Act of 2008 contains the main provisions with respect to the registration, import, sale, transport, disposal, control, and inspection of pesticides. The Act establishes the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (under the Ministry of Agriculture), which is in charge of implementing the Act. The Board is responsible for, inter alia considering applications for registration; granting or revoking licences; approving research permits; and certifying pest-control operators.
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Government TPR |
WT/TPR/G/299/REV.1 |
G-I§2 |
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2014 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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The OECS Member States, with a combined population of approximately 639,331 (UNDP: 2009 MDG Report) are small, vulnerable, open economies, which are heavily trade dependent. These countries are very volatile and prone to external shocks. Their main developmental challenges are their exposure to changes in terms of trade, tourism and foreign investment flows, as well as natural hazards and impact from climate change. In addition to their small size; high debt levels and limited fiscal space also pose significant constraints on governments' ability to address development needs.
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