Trade Issues

CAFRA gained accreditation to the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Meeting, Sponsorship came from the Centre of Concern, based in Washington, DC, and DAWN Caribbean.

The strong and effective lobbying Civil Society NGO’s and Women’s Organisations, resulted in a breakdown of Talks, and there was a halt to the Government’s proposal for a new round of Negotiations. NGO’s, including CAFRA had been calling for a Review of the existing Trade Regulations, before embarking on a new Round.

In early November, CAFRA participated in a Consultation to produce a Position Paper on WTO. This was one of the main lobbying tools at the Meeting. The WTO Meeting was followed by two meetings on Trade Issues held in Grenada. The first meeting was sponsored by UNIFEM to share research on the impact of NAFTA on Women in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados and St. Lucia.

The second meeting was sponsored by the Centre for Concern and DAWN Caribbean, and was called to develop a Strategic Plan for a Project on Gender and Trade. CAFRA was selected as the focal point for the Caribbean region, and the resulting project will include resources for CAFRA to do the required coordination.

The Deputy Chairperson, Jeanne Henriques attended meetings with the Green Party in the European Parliament, in Brussels during the last week of April. She spoke on the Gender issues and the impact of Trade Agreements, carrying the lobby further on behalf of women. The invitation was a direct result of the CAFRA/WIDE Position Paper on the future of Lome.

The CAFRA Chairperson, Margarette Macaulay attended a Civil Society Forum in Brazil, to discuss the Lome Agreement, and presented the Caribbean position, drawing on the experiences within the Caribbean Reference Group on Trade (CRGI) Caribbean Reference.