CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC):
THE NINE-NATION Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) will continue preparation for the ongoing negotiations at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) when they convene their eleventh meeting of the OECS Trade Negotiations Group (TNG).
The Trade Negotiations Group comprising trade officials from the member states and representatives of the private sector and the OECS Secretariat, will meet on February 23 and 24 at the Fort Young Hotel in Roseau, Dominica. Its main objective is to assist member states in managing their external trade relations by, amongst other things, facilitating the formulation of positions on external trade negotiations.
Delegates will discuss the ongoing negotiations at the WTO, particularly action required following the ministerial conference in Hong Kong, as well as the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) that is being negotiated with the European Union (EU). Director of Economic Affairs Randolph Cato told CMC that during the course of this year, the OECS along with other member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Dominican Republic will define the structure and scope of the EPA by exchanging concessions with the EU in services, industrial goods, agriculture and trade related issues.
