Guyana prepares for first EPA review, push for increased Free Trade partnerships

Jan 07, 2012 News

The Ministry of Foreign Trade has been merged with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after its separation some years ago. Under the portfolio of Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, that sector focused on three key trade policy areas in 2011: Trade negotiations and implementation, capacity building and institution strengthening, and trade facilitation through the ministry’s public awareness programme.
A GINA release stated that Minister Rodrigues-Birkett in her 2011 review of the sector expressed Guyana’s disappointment that the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Doha Round of negotiations did not get very far due to disagreements on tariff issues, agricultural subsidies, and implementation issues among others.
She said that Guyana will continue to advocate that there be no reopening of the issues that have already been agreed on. Explaining that this is a CARICOM position, the Minister pointed out that while Guyana will continue to advocate for that, the country will also remain very active in the Geneva process in order to defend, if necessary, the Region’s interest.
The release added that Minister Rodrigues-Birkett emphasized that in terms of trade, Guyana’s position is in sync with the CARICOM region and is working very closely with the office of Trade Negotiations. Mr Neville Totaram, the lead trade negotiator for the Ministry and the Government of Guyana has been active in that process along with the Guyana Embassy in Brussels.
Early this year, Guyana participated in a regional Caribbean forum in Barbados, in preparation for the third global review in July of 2011, to evaluate the progress of the WTO six – year old initiative to help developing countries with their trade capacity.
Guyana is currently engaged with the CARICOM Secretariat in the development of a Regional Aid for Trade Strategy to cover CARICOM member states. While Africa has done very well with moving forward with assistance in aid for trade, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett thinks that at the level of CARICOM, this has to be accelerated.
The GINA release said that in January 2011, notwithstanding Guyana’s earlier positions, but consistent with the stand that any agreement signed must be adhered to, Guyana was the first country in CARICOM to implement the schedule of tariff implementation under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). Several training and awareness sessions were carried out on this issue and they will be continued in 2012 especially in the non-tariff areas such as services.
Meanwhile, preparations have already begun for the review which is scheduled to take place every five years and is due in 2013. Guyana was instrumental in having the review clause in the EPA and while much time has already passed, it will be working with CARICOM in that regard.

CARICOM/Canada trade
CARICOM/Canada trade negotiations are continuing as Guyana pushes for development to be included. The Foreign Affairs Minister pointed out that while the two sides may have differing views, the negotiations have proceeded nicely, and in 2012 the fourth round of negotiations will take place.
It is expected that in 2012 there will be discussions on tariff and liberalization offers in goods and services, as well as development on co-operation issues.
Free Trade agreements
An examination of the CARICOM/Dominican Republic Free Trade agreement is expected to facilitate resumed discussions on how to expand the agreement in the area of goods and services.
Work will also continue on the Brazil partial scope agreement in order to prepare Guyanese business people for increased trade with that neighbour.
Minister Rodrigues-Birkett said that since the opening of the Takutu Bridge for last year alone, over 130,000 vehicles have crossed over to Guyana. Lethem has become a hub of activity on the border as Brazilians flock to the Guyana side to purchase items.
The Ministry of Foreign Trade wants to ensure that as Guyana moves forward, that there will be more exporting to Brazil as well.

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Guyana prepares for first EPA review, push for increased Free Trade partnerships

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