When the World Trade Organization (WTO) resumes work shortly, the Members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), like others, will need to be prepared to address the issues on WTO reform which include proposals on special and differential treatment (S&DT) and differentiation/graduation. In addition, preparations will commence for the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) to be held in Kazakhstan, 8-11 June 2020.

Of the fifteen (15) CARICOM Member States, thirteen (13) are WTO Members. The Bahamas is an Observer and commenced membership accession in 2001. CARICOM countries represented in Geneva are now Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean jointly, and Guyana. The CARICOM members participate at the WTO as individuals but the Caucus of Ambassadors coordinate trade and other issues making joint representation as necessary. Read more…