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OECS Urged to take more Offensive Position in Trade Negotiations
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OECS Urged to take more Offensive Position in Trade Negotiations
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Thursday, July
05, 1996
- Saint Lucia and other OECS member countries are being urged to move from a
defensive to a more offensive position, in handling trade negotiation issues
with the many trading blocs set up by the developed world. Dr.
Dorothy Riddle, Services Trade Specialist for the OECS Trade Policy Project,
expressed that view here Wednesday, as she addressed an OECS
Working Session on Removal of Restrictions Under Protocol II (CARICOM).
According to Dr. Riddle, sub-regional governments have been solely concerned
with what offers have been made to them, as opposed to what requests they can
make of the United States and other major trading partners. “There’s
no reason why OECS member states cannot make requests of the US for example and
say that this is the bar that we want to have in place. You have to test the
waters and forge alliances. If you have other countries grappling with the same
issues and you form common causes then it’s my view that you can be taken very
seriously. I think this is critical because a negotiation process is based on a
request and offer process. If you do only the offer you are always in the
defensive position and you what to strike a balance between the two,” said
Riddle. Member countries of the OECS are meeting in St. Lucia to discuss the removal of restrictions under Protocol II. By July 23, 2001, each OECS country must present proposals on how it intends to deal with the removal of restrictions, to various aspects on trade in services. The
sessions will seek to iron out general guidelines for these proposals and will
give member countries of the OECS an opportunity to harmonize their approach.
The ticklish issue of regulation as opposed to restriction in trade is also
being examined. |
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