Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter
THE JOINT decision by CARICOM and the United States to re-establish the dormant Trade and Investment Council (TIC) will boost trade relations between the region and its main trading partner, believes Ambassador Richard Bernal, director-general of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM).
CARICOM trade ministers reached the decision with their opposite number, U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman, during their meeting in Washington last week.
IMPORTANT MEETING
That meeting and the reestablishment of the council had been proposed by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice when she met with CARICOM Foreign Ministers in the Bahamas last month.
The TIC last met in 1999 when Ambassador Bernal, then Jamaica's Ambassador to Washington, was co-chair together with his U.S. counterpart.
"This is important because we have not met before (with Ambassador Portman) and you can't have a main trading partner and not have a mechanism to meet with them on a regular basis," he told The Gleaner.
He said the TIC is due to have its first meeting ahead of the annual General Assembly meeting of the Organisation of American States in June.
GOOD RELATIONS
He added that the two partners have not met since the breakdown of talks on the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas in February 2004.
At the World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting in Hong Kong last December, they were also unable to meet with Ambassador Portman since he assumed office last April.
Dr. Bernal said the relationship has so far been good.
"The meeting and the tone of the meeting were very good. For negotiations, getting to know people is vital, and this means our ministers can now interface with him on name basis."
Issues discussed between CARICOM ministers and Ambassador Portman
Renewal of the current World Trade Organisation (WTO) waiver for the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act - also known as the Caribbean Basin Initiative - which expired at the turn of the year.
Renewal of FTAA negotiations.
Possible new bilateral trade agreement between CARICOM and the U.S..
A high-level conference on the future of the Caribbean is proposed for June of next year.
WTO Doha Development Agenda.
CARICOM requested that the shortfall in its sugar quota to the U.S. be reallocated within the region.
A statement was read from CARICOM in support of Antigua in their Internet gaming dispute with the U.S. which is currently before the WTO.
