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RNM J u ly 3 1 , 2 0 0 9

UPDATE
Monitorin g Turkey’s
Western He mispheric
Interes ts

On July 20 2009, representatives of the Republic of Turkey
and the CARICOM Secretariat met in consultation to
discuss Turkey’s proposals towards establishing a Free
Trade Agreement with the CARIFORUM States. The
implications of Turkey’s request to deepen relations with the
Region are not benign and will require careful consideration
at the appropriate juncture.
Through the 1963 signing of the Agreement establishing an
Association between the European Economic Community
and Turkey, otherwise known as the Ankara Agreement,
Turkey and EC began the process of promoting trade and
economic relations between them. For a myriad of social,
political and economic reasons, though Turkey applied for
full membership to the EC in 1987, and formal negotiations
for accession were initiated in 2005, to date, Turkey is not a
member of the European Community and European Union
(EU). However, Turkey and the EU are quite deeply
economically tied through a Customs Union which was
effected in 1995. Whereas the EU is, for Turkey, a principal
import and export market, Turkey is also an important import
and export market for the EU, ranking 7th and 5th
respectively.
Though the scope of the Customs Union is limited in
that it does not include coverage of agriculture or
services for example, it does cover all industrial goods.
It is important to note that the Decision No 1/95 of the
EC-Turkey Association Council, which gives effect to the
Customs Union, does require Turkey to align itself to the
acquis communautaire in several essential internal
market areas. Through the acceptance of the acquis,
Turkey is required to honour the entire body of
legislation of the European Communities and Union,
even as it evolves.
The Customs Union addresses the free movement of
goods produced in the EC and those coming from third
countries which are in free circulation on the EC.
Furthermore, Turkey, under Article 16 of the Decision
No 1/95 of the EC-Turkey Association Council on
implementing the final phase of the Customs Union, is
obliged to

CRNM UPDATE is the flagship electronic trade newsletter of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM). Published in English, it is a rich
source of probing research on and detailed analyses of international trade policy issues and developments germane to the Caribbean. Prepared by the
Information Unit of the CRNM, the newsletter focuses on the CRNM, trade negotiation issues within its mandate and related activities. Its intention is to
provide impetus for feedback by and awareness amongst a variety of stakeholders, as regards trade policy developments of currency and importance to
the Caribbean.
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 “align itself progressively with the preferential
customs regime of the Community within five
years as from the date of entry into force of this
Decision. This alignment will concern both the
autonomous regimes and preferential
agreements with third countries. To this end,
Turkey will take the necessary measures and
negotiate agreements on mutually
advantageous basis with the countries
concerned.”
In light of the CARIFORUM-EC Economic Partnership
Agreement which was signed in October 2008 therefore,
Turkey’s interest in establishing a trade agreement with
CARIFORUM is understandable. Through the EPA and
the Customs Union, CARIFORUM’s duty-free quota free
market access for industrial goods in the European
Union will also extend to the Turkish market but with
regard to Turkey, this market access obligation is not
reciprocal for CARIFORUM states. Without a trade
agreement with CARIFORUM, Turkey is in an
unfortunate position – at the periphery of the benefits of
the commercial activity and prospects under the
CARIFORUM-EC EPA. Indeed, Turkey has engaged in
bilateral trade agreements with the EU’s preferential
trade partners in order to address trade diversion within
the Customs Union and to meet other concerns. To
illustrate, on July 14, 2009 Turkey signed a FTA with
Chile, which established a trade agreement with EU in
2003 – establishing the first Turkish FTA within the
Western Hemisphere.
While Turkey has emphasized the pursuit of a policy of
establishing FTAs with the EU’s bilateral trade partners
in order to align itself with its commitments under its
Customs Union with the EU, a review of Article 16 of
Directive 1/95 indicates that this methodology to achieve
alignment is not mandatory but advisory. Turkey’s
obligation rests in a commitment to comply with the EU’s
commitments under its preferential regimes. It is
important to note that none of the EU’s bilateral trade
partners, including the CARIFORUM states are obliged
to conclude FTAs with Turkey. In any regard, Turkey’s
CRNM UPDATE is the flagship electronic trade newsletter of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM). Published in English, it is a rich
source of probing research on and detailed analyses of international trade policy issues and developments germane to the Caribbean. Prepared by the
Information Unit of the CRNM, the newsletter focuses on the CRNM, trade negotiation issues within its mandate and related activities. Its intention is to
provide impetus for feedback by and awareness amongst a variety of stakeholders, as regards trade policy developments of currency and importance to
the Caribbean.
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expeditious accession to the European Union would
directly facilitate its access to the markets of the EU’s
bilateral trade partners and would address the concerns
about trade diversion.
Turkey’s more immediate and significant interest in the
Western Hemisphere stems not from treaty
commitments but from a need to diversify its export
markets in light of the contraction of trade with its more
traditional partners. Turkey is therefore keen on
implementing its “Latin American Strategy” by
establishing new links within the large markets of Latin
America as well as of Africa. Amongst other things,
Turkey can in turn offer prospects of penetrating
emerging Asian markets because of Turkey’s trade
networks with Central Asia.
While the CARIFORUM market is considerable smaller
in real terms than those of Latin America and Africa, the
CARIFORUM market, on the goods side is potentially
beneficial for Turkish exports. Furthermore, CARIFORM
States can be used logistically to better enable Turkey’s
penetration of Latin America.
CARIFORUM countries already have non-reciprocal
market access to the Turkish goods markets through
access to the EC. Any advantage of an FTA, such as
the potential gains from the possible establishment of
joint enterprises and Investment with Turkey, will have
to be clearly weighed against the costs of liberalization
in order to determine how an FTA with Turkey would
enhance the CARIFORUM trade position.
In Istanbul, on August 2008, CARICOM and Turkey
engaged in a high-level meeting which provided a forum
for an exchange on the prospects of closer relations
between CARICOM and Turkey.
During the meeting, both sides acknowledged the need
to exploit existing emerging trade and investment
opportunities in tourism, construction, manufacturing,
education and resource building, information
technologies, health, environmental protection, and
transport industries. In this context, CARICOM and
Turkey emphasized the importance of fostering closer competitive disadvantage, which ACP producers are
relations with their respective business sectors. During presently facing…the parties therefore agree on the
the meeting in Guyana on July 20, 2009, similar need for the rapid development of the ACP rum industry
exchanges took place. However, the CARICOM so as to allow exporters of ACP rum to compete on the
Secretariat clearly conveyed that at this time, in light of Community and international spirit markets. To this end,
the Community’s negotiating agenda and related they agree to implement the following measures:
commitments, it would not be possible to initiate
negotiations for a FTA with Turkey.
1) Rum, arak and tafia originating in the ACP
However, it should be noted that as Turkey continues to countries or regions falling under HS Code
implement its Latin American Strategy and as Turkey’s 22 08 40 shall be imported under this
accession to the EU continues, the opportunity for agreement and any successor agreement
CARIFORUM to exploit any benefits of a separate to this Agreement, duty free and without
bilateral trade relationship with Turkey will progressively quantitative limitations…
diminish. It is therefore necessary for the Region to keep
4) The Community is prepared to provide
watch of these developments with a view to revisit the
sufficient funds to finance during the
consideration of CARICOM/CARIFORUM relations with preparatory period, in consultation with the
Turkey. ACP sector concerned, an integrated
sector specific programme for the
development of ACP exporters of rum,
which could in particular include the
T h e A C P- EU T ra de Sag a following measures:
- enhancing the competitiveness of
Co nt i n ue s : T h e Ca se of existing exporters of rum
Rum - assist in creation of rum marques or
brands by ACP region or country

The commitment between the European Community - enabling marketing campaigns to be

(EC) and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) designed and implemented
Group of States to cooperate on the sustainable
development of the ACP rum industry is encapsulated in - assist ACP producers to meet
the Declaration XXV, the Joint Declaration on rum, of environmental and waste
the Cotonou Agreement. management standards and other
norm in the international markets
“The Parties recognise the importance of the rum sector including the Community market
for the economic and social development of several
ACP countries and regions and its major contribution in - assist the ACP rum industry to move
providing employment, export earnings and government out of bulk commodity production
revenues. They acknowledge that rum is a value added into higher value branded rum
agro industrial ACP product capable, if appropriate products.”
efforts are undertaken, of competing in a global Notwithstanding this commitment, the position of the
economy. They therefore acknowledge the need to take Rum industry in the European market, has recently been
all measures that might be necessary to overcome the threatened by bilateral and multilateral trade

CRNM UPDATE is the flagship electronic trade newsletter of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM). Published in English, it is a rich
source of probing research on and detailed analyses of international trade policy issues and developments germane to the Caribbean. Prepared by the
Information Unit of the CRNM, the newsletter focuses on the CRNM, trade negotiation issues within its mandate and related activities. Its intention is to
provide impetus for feedback by and awareness amongst a variety of stakeholders, as regards trade policy developments of currency and importance to
the Caribbean.
http://www.crnm.org
developments.
Erosion of Preferences
Bilateral Arena
For CARIFORUM and other ACP rum producers, the
Cotonou Joint Declaration on rum secured the duty-free,
quota-free access of rum to the EC markets. The
CARIFORUM-EC Economic Partnership Agreement
(EPA), through its duty-free, quota free market access
for all CARIFORUM goods, safeguarded prospects for
the diversification of the rum industry from bulk
commodity production to higher value-added production.
Though the preferential market access is secure, the
value of the preferential access is under threat.
The EC is currently pursuing bilateral trade negotiations
with Latin American rum producers of Central America,
MERCOSUR and the Andean Community. These
negotiations are progressively veering towards a
conclusion that could result in the EC conceding the
long-standing preferential treatment currently extended
to ACP rum producers, via the removal of the applied
tariff to rum from these third countries.
It is suspected that the EC could make an offer to
reduce the tariffs in a phased way (with phasing periods
not exceeding 10 years) towards a ‘tariff-free quota’
market access for both Central American bulk and
bottled rum. However, the Central American demand is
for full and immediate tariff free access. The residual
tariff on bulk rum has been effective at restricting the
expansion of Central American rum exports in the EC
market. The effect of the tariff has been less effectual for
bottled rum. Even though quotas could constrain the
expansion of Central American exports, the protection of
the quotas in lieu of tariffs will not be sufficient to
prevent severe deleterious effects on the ACP rum
industry.
Multilateral Level
The debate on tropical products at the multilateral level
CRNM UPDATE is the flagship electronic trade newsletter of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM). Published in English, it is a rich
source of probing research on and detailed analyses of international trade policy issues and developments germane to the Caribbean. Prepared by the
Information Unit of the CRNM, the newsletter focuses on the CRNM, trade negotiation issues within its mandate and related activities. Its intention is to
provide impetus for feedback by and awareness amongst a variety of stakeholders, as regards trade policy developments of currency and importance to
the Caribbean.
http://www.crnm.org
continues to be a concern for the future of ACP rum,
particularly for CARIFORUM producers. The proponents
of the tropical products argument advocate rapid and
drastic tariff liberalization on key products, many of
which are key ACP exports that have been accorded
long-standing preferential treatment. Tropical Products
proponents have pushed an agenda which would
facilitate the designation of rum as a tropical product.
Designated as such, rum would face a tariff cut of 80%.
In the Doha Round, compromises of less drastic tariff
reductions over longer timeframes along with longer
liberalization moratoriums have been proposed.
However, such compromises may not be adequate for
the CARIFORUM rum industry which, despite being able
to produce rum at high quality international standards,
would require maximum adjustment periods to effect
adequate diversification and transitioning in order to
compete effectively on international spirits markets.
The Termination of the Integrated Programme for
the Development of the Caribbean Rum sector.
In accordance with the Cotonou, the EC has financed an
Integrated Development Programme for the ACP rum
sector. A budget of 70 million Euros has been allocated
by the EC to finance projects under the Programme.
Initially, agreement to implement the Programme was
attained to help ACP producers to adjust to the impact
of the 1997 EC-US Zero for Zero Agreement on Spirits
which, amongst other things, gave effect to the tariff-free
unlimited quota access of US spirits to the EC market by
2003. The Programme was therefore established to run
for four years from 2003 and end in 2007. However, the
Programme was later extended to June 2010..
This extension of the Programme for three years was
possible under the rules and procedures of the 8th cycle
of the European Development Fund (EDF). However,
under the EDF rubric, extension of financing
arrangements may only be granted once and for no
more than three years. For this reason, the European
Commission has denied requests for the further
extension of the Integrated Programme.
Nevertheless, ACP rum producers, especially those of
CARIFORUM, simply need more time for the benefits of
the Programme to take effect. It has been estimated that
at least an additional 18 months is required for the
effective promotion and marketing of the Caribbean
Rum Marque in key European markets, as well as the
completion of all capital expenditure projects which have
been implemented under the Programme.
In addition to the extension of the existing Integrated
Programme, a new Programme of EU support to the
rum sector is necessary to sustain the progress made in
the original Programme in transforming the capacity
(especially human and technological), viability and
productivity of the rum industry.
It is noted that the EC is eager to conclude an FTA with
Central America and to continue to implement its trade
strategy within Latin America. It is feared that the
imperatives to conclude these arrangements are
apparently sufficient to compel the EC to make
concessions which would compromise the ACP
economies. The partnership between the EC and the
ACP requires the EC to make an effort to preserve ACP
preferences for as long as possible. In the spirit of
cooperation between the Parties, given the multilateral
and bilateral accelerants to the erosion of ACP
preferences, fair consideration and accommodation
should be afforded to provide adequate compensation to
the ACP rum producers. Therefore, notwithstanding EC
EDF procedures, a serious effort should be made to
explore and locate an appropriate mechanism which
would facilitate the necessary derogation from the rules
and accommodate the extension of the Integrated
Programme. Furthermore, the case for the
establishment of a second programme should be
equally considered. Without these concessions, the
future for the ACP rum industry is uncertain.
CRNM UPDATE is the flagship electronic trade newsletter of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM). Published in English, it is a rich
source of probing research on and detailed analyses of international trade policy issues and developments germane to the Caribbean. Prepared by the
Information Unit of the CRNM, the newsletter focuses on the CRNM, trade negotiation issues within its mandate and related activities. Its intention is to
provide impetus for feedback by and awareness amongst a variety of stakeholders, as regards trade policy developments of currency and importance to
the Caribbean.
http://www.crnm.org
T ra d e De ve l o p m en ts
on the Hori z o n
The CARICOM Secretariat Office of Trade Negotiations
(OTN) formerly the Caribbean Regional Negotiating
Machinery (CRNM) in accordance with its schedule of
work activities will undertake its summer break during
the month of August 2009. While the office will remain
open, the production and dissemination of the RNM
Update, Press Releases and other information products
produced by the Information Unit will be suspended.
Resumption of these activities is scheduled for
September 2009.
It is anticipated that September will be a busy period for
the OTN. In that time, OTN will welcome the assumption
of duties of the new Director General, Ambassador Gail
Mathurin who replaces former Director General
Ambassador Henry Gill who resigned June 30 2009.
It is further anticipated that in September there will be an
acceleration of developments in the trade arena which
may usher in the formal start of the CARICOM-Canada
negotiations and possibly, the resumption of the WTO
Doha Round. However, it is not clear that there is
adequate time left in the year for these developments to
evolve.
With respect to the negotiations with Canada, some
necessary steps must be undertaken before the formal
negotiation process may begin. Pending is the
convening of a Ministerial meeting of the two Parties
which is necessary to confirm and provide clarity on the
scope of the negotiations. In addition, the Technical
Working Group on the CARICOM-Canada Negotiations
must also convene a meeting to reflect on the scope of
the negotiations and the CARICOM Negotiating Brief in
order to arrive at specific formulations and proposals to
be tabled for consideration by the Canadian negotiating
officials.
The Community will also undoubtedly continue to
With respect to the Doha Round, there are still many advance the implementation of the CARIFORUM-EC
mixed signals regarding the weighing of the imperatives Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) which is
of concluding the Round against the extent of the inextricably linked to regional integration and
political will (particularly of the United States) to break cooperation. At the CARIFORUM-EC Dialogue on
the impasse on the critical issues in Agriculture and Regional Integration and Cooperation held July 18 2009,
Non-Agriculture Market Access (NAMA) negotiations, the two Parties agreed that the Roadmap on Caribbean
which impede progress in other areas such as Services regional Integration and Cooperation was important to
and Intellectual Property negotiations. ensure rationality and linkages between (i) the Region’s
development priorities; (ii) the related implementation
In the hope of resumption, in both Agriculture and
timelines; and (iii) the concrete actions for regional
NAMA areas, work has commenced on scheduling,
integration, and the identification of areas of support by
which entails calculating and presenting projected future
various International Development Partners. It was in
tariffs for agricultural and industrial goods. Such
this context that CARIFORUM further agreed to improve
processes allow countries to view on a line by line basis
the Roadmap for submission to the European
the liberalization treatment they have agreed to in the
Commission by September/October 2009. In this regard,
negotiations thus far. The scheduling processes would
the OTN will continue to lend its support.
therefore facilitate the presentation of the modalities or
substance of the draft Agriculture and NAMA texts. As developments in the various trade arenas continue to
evolve, the OTN under the directorship of Ambassador
There are diverging views on the utility of scheduling at
Mathurin, will continue to serve and support the
this time. In the absence of formal agreement on the
Community, as in previous dispensations, in the
modalities for tariff reduction, the ACP has argued that
effective and efficient coordination of the Community’s
scheduling is, at this time, premature. For CARICOM,
external trade negotiations.
there is interest in ensuring that all the special
provisions and considerations for Small Vulnerable
Economies (SVEs) are preserved.

Nonetheless, the treatment of tropical products and the

related treatment of longstanding preferences still
remains a critical and delicate Doha Round issue
especially with regard to bananas. By the same token, it
is important to note that the EU is still under pressure to
align its banana regime with the December 2008
decision of the WTO Appellate Body. Furthermore, the
EU’s use of bilateral trade negotiation processes with
Latin American Banana producers which continues to
parallel multilateral developments must continue be
monitored closely in the months ahead. In this context,
trade diplomacy needs to be maximized by the ACP
States in order to ensure that their development
interests are not compromised.

CRNM UPDATE is the flagship electronic trade newsletter of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM). Published in English, it is a rich
source of probing research on and detailed analyses of international trade policy issues and developments germane to the Caribbean. Prepared by the
Information Unit of the CRNM, the newsletter focuses on the CRNM, trade negotiation issues within its mandate and related activities. Its intention is to
provide impetus for feedback by and awareness amongst a variety of stakeholders, as regards trade policy developments of currency and importance to
the Caribbean.
http://www.crnm.org
 NEWS ITEMS

International News

WTO Delegates Decry ‘Gap’ between Talk and Action on Eve of Summer Break
WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy set out an ambitious autumn schedule for technical work in the Doha Round trade talks in two
addresses to delegates just before the organisation breaks for its annual August holiday. But many officials were quick to point out the
‘mismatch’ between strong ambitions for the talks at the political level and a lack of progress in the negotiations in Geneva.

Lamy Reports Little Progress in IP Talks

WTO Members remain deeply divided on critical intellectual property issues in the Doha Round negotiations, WTO Director-General Pascal
Lamy said on Monday at an informal consultation open to the entire Membership. Despite Lamy’s active involvement in the negotiations
since March, Members remain at loggerheads over substantive matters, as well as over whether the current round of trade talks even has
a mandate to address some of the intellectual property issues as part of the “single undertaking” of the Doha Round trade talks.

India won't let concerns on WTO go unaddressed

Amid doubts that India was moving towards softening its stand on the question of protection to farmers, commerce minister Anand Sharma
on Wednesday took a tough stand on the WTO’s Doha Round of multilateral trade talks. An early conclusion of Doha Round is important;
India is willing to take part in negotiations at the WTO provided the core concerns of the Round, namely development concerns of
developing nations, are addressed,” Sharma told the RS. Sharm’s remarks came a day after India expressed concern at the WTO
headquarters in Geneva that no real progress was visible from the key member countries despite New Delhi displaying its desire to re-
energise the talks.

Poor banana producers need targeted aid -trade study

Aid to help banana producers in poor countries improve yields and efficiency could benefit them more than improved access to export
markets, according to a new study of trade in the fruit. And both exporters in relatively more efficient Latin American countries and those in
poor former European colonies in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states would benefit from a deal on bananas linked to a global
trade agreement rather than a standalone pact, according to the study by economics professor Giovanni Anania of Italy's University of
Calabria. The study examines the impact of various changes to import regimes for bananas, a staple of many developing country
economies' export earnings,that have been proposed to resolve one of the longest-running trade disputes. Anania noted that ACP
exporters, which include some of the least developed countries (LDCs), are less efficient at producing and marketing bananas than
producers in Latin America, and crop yields are uncertain. "This suggests that aid targeted at improving efficiency in banana production in
ACP and LDC countries may be as beneficial as granting them preferential market access," he said.

EU and Papua New Guinea sign trade and development agreement

The European Union and Papua New Guinea signed the interim Economic Partnership Agreement which was first initialled at the end of
2007. Fiji also initialled the Agreement in 2007 but decided to sign at a later stage. The agreement focuses on trade in goods and includes
important provisions on rules of origin for the fisheries sector. The agreement was signed by EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton on
behalf of the European Commission, Mr Anders Ahnlid, Director General for Trade, on behalf of the Swedish Presidency of the EU and The
Hon. Samuel Abal, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration on behalf of Papua New Guinea.

CRNM UPDATE is the flagship electronic trade newsletter of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM). Published in English, it is a rich
source of probing research on and detailed analyses of international trade policy issues and developments germane to the Caribbean. Prepared by the
Information Unit of the CRNM, the newsletter focuses on the CRNM, trade negotiation issues within its mandate and related activities. Its intention is to
provide impetus for feedback by and awareness amongst a variety of stakeholders, as regards trade policy developments of currency and importance to
the Caribbean.
http://www.crnm.org
 NE W S I T E M S

Regional News

Regional leaders to hold crisis talks in Jamaica

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders, who sit on a special regional task force on the global economic crisis, will meet in Jamaica on
Monday 3 August for detailed consideration of CARICOM's response to the worsening situation.

Functional cooperation fully embraced by CARICOM institutions

Heads of institutions of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have agreed that functional cooperation provided a means by which they
could achieve programme objectives and become even more effective in contributing to fulfilling Community mandates. To this end they
have agreed to intensify efforts towards initiating projects involving the use of information and communication technology (ICT) which they
identified as a primary tool in creating the cooperation and collaboration required to accomplish their work programmes.

IMF Pledges Financial Support to Low Income Countries

With a number of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries accessing financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
so far this year, the Washington-based financial institution Wednesday announced plans to “sharply increase the resources available to low
income countries” so as to help them deal with the global economic and financial crisis. Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the
Grenadines and St. Kitts have already accessed IMF funds under the rapid-access component of the Exogenous Shocks Facility (ESF).
Jamaica is now seeking a US$1.2 billion Stand-by Agreement with the IMF and Grenada has also indicated that it would seek financial
assistance from the Washington-based financial institution.

Upcoming Events

August 2009
01.08.2009 - 31.08.2009 HOLIDAY MONTH

September 2009

08.09.2009 - 11.09.2009 First meeting of the CTA Trade Advisory Group, Brussels

14.09.2009 - 18.09.2009 Regional Workshop on WTO Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights negotiations and activities,
Barbados

16.09.2009 - 18.09.2009 ILO/CARICOM Workshop on International Trade Negotiations, FTAs and the Decent Work Agenda,
Port-of-Spain

22.09.2009 - 23.09.2009 OECS Trade Negotiating Group, St. Lucia

23.09.2009 - 25.09.2009 CARIFORUM/French Caribbean Overseas Regions/European Overseas Countries and Territories TF
on EPA, Martinique

24.09.2009 - 25.09.2009 OECS Ministers of Trade, St. Lucia

28.09.2009 - 01.10.2009 17th Session of the ACP PA and Inter-Sessional Meetings of the ACP-EU JPA,
Brussels

CRNM UPDATE is the flagship electronic trade newsletter of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM). Published in English, it is a rich
source of probing research on and detailed analyses of international trade policy issues and developments germane to the Caribbean. Prepared by the
Information Unit of the CRNM, the newsletter focuses on the CRNM, trade negotiation issues within its mandate and related activities. Its intention is to
provide impetus for feedback by and awareness amongst a variety of stakeholders, as regards trade policy developments of currency and importance to
the Caribbean.
http://www.crnm.org