The Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat has announced that GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC -Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and United States officials will meet here on Friday to discuss trade and investment issues.
It said that the ninth meeting of the CARICOM-United States Trade and Investment Council would also discuss agricultural sustainability, food and nutrition security, the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), trade in services, trade facilitation, and good regulatory practices.
“The two sides are expected to review the CBI, the US trade preference programs for the region and explore ways to enhance the trade and investment relationship between the United States and CARICOM,” the Secretariat said.
It said as CARICOM accelerates efforts to achieve the goal of a 25 percent reduction in food imports by the year 2025, the discussion on agricultural sustainability and food and nutrition security would highlight the use of biotechnology and other tools to promote climate resilience in agriculture, and CARICOM’s 25 by 2025 initiative.
“On trade facilitation, officials are expected to discuss avenues for streamlined procedures to facilitate exports and the participation of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in international trade.
“CARICOM and US representatives would also examine ways to enhance engagement under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA). This agreement rationalizes CARICOM and Unites States’ desire to promote long-term development, expansion, and diversification of trade in products and services,” the statement said.
The one-day meeting will be chaired by Dominica’s ambassador to CARICOM, Felix Gregoire, on behalf of the 15-member regional grouping and by Ambassador Jayme White, the Deputy US Trade Representative on behalf of Washington.
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