The Shipping Association of Jamaica, in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, will, on Tuesday, November 13 and Wednesday, November 14, host Pierre Latrille, counsellor in the Trade in Services Division of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland, for a two-day seminar on international trade negotiations and their particular impact on international maritime transport.

Other presentations will be made by representatives from the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, the Port Authority of Jamaica, among others, giving a local perspective on the development of the industry.

Critical market player

Maritime transport accounts for 90 per cent of international trade making the sector a critical player in the global market. As the trading landscape for maritime services develops and evolves within the WTO and other international trade negotiations, stakeholders in maritime transport need to improve their understanding of the General Agreement on Trade in Services and its implications for the transport sector.

All persons involved in maritime transport and auxiliary services and other interested members of the public and business community are invited to attend what promises to be an informative series of sessions.