  
  
WT/TPR/M/437  
14 June 2023 
(23-4040) Page: 1/50 
Trade Policy Review Body  
3 and 5 Ma y 2023   
 
  
TRADE POLICY REVIEW  
OECS -WTO  MEMBERS  
MINUTES OF THE MEETING  
Chairperson: H.E. Mr Saqer Abdullah Almoqbel (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)  
CONTENTS  
 
1  INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON  ................................ .......................  2 
2  OPENING STATEMENT BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OECS -WTO MEMBERS  ...........  3 
3  STATEMENT BY THE DISCUSSANT  ................................ ................................ ................  8 
4  STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS  ................................ ................................ ........................  11 
5  REPLIES BY THE REPRESENTATIVE S OF THE OECS -WTO MEMBERS   
AND ADDITIONAL COMMENTS  ................................ ................................ .......................  35 
6  CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON  ................................ .........................  49 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note: Advance written questions and additional questions by WTO Members, and the replies provided 
by the OECS -WTO Members  are reproduced in document WT/TPR/M/ 437/Add.1  and will be available 
online at http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp_rep_e.htm.  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  1  INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON  
1.1.  The fourth  Trade Policy Review of the OECS -WTO Members  was held on 3 and 5  May 2023. The 
Chairperson, H.E. Mr Saqer Abdullah Almoqbel  (Kingdom of Saudi  Arabia) welcomed the delegation s 
of the OECS -WTO Members , headed by the Honourable Everly Paul Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign 
Affairs and Trade of Antigua and Barbuda, and Chair of t he OECS Council of Ministers of Trade ; and 
the discussant, H.E. Ms Nadia  Theodore  (Canada) . 
1.2.  The Chairperson was pleased that, in addition to physical presence, the meeting also benefit ted 
from the Interprefy online connection, allowing for a wider participation of the Membership.  
1.3.  The Chairperson recalled the purpose of TPRs and the main elements of procedures for the 
meeting. The Report by the OECS -WTO Members  is contained in document WT/T PR/G/ 437, and that 
of the WTO Secretariat in document WT/TPR/S/ 437 and its six annexes.  
1.4.  Questions by the following delegations were submitted in writing before the deadline: Thailand, 
Canada, United  States, Singapore, China, Dominican  Republic, European  Union, and Colombia . The 
following delegations submitted written questions after the deadline: Brazil, United  Kingdom, 
Argentina, and Ecuador . 
1.5.  The Chairperson first recalled some elements of the OECS -WTO Members' previous Review 
in 2014. In the last Review, WTO Members had highlighted that they were cognizant of the fact that 
the OECS -WTO Members are particularly vulnerable to exogenous shocks, as they have a narrow 
economic base, are highly reliant on imports and are frequently affe cted by natural disasters, 
especially hurricanes. They had commended the OECS -WTO Members on their open economies, 
prudent macroeconomic policies, including their  fiscal consolidation and debt restructuring 
programmes, and the streamlining of their taxatio n systems.  
1.6.  Members had also praised the OECS -WTO Members' strong support for the multilateral trading 
system and their participation in the Trade Facilitation Negotiations. While recognizing the 
OECS -WTO Members' open investment regime, certain Members st ated that more was needed in 
terms of ease of doing business to attract foreign investment. Members had welcomed the 
establishment of the OECS Economic Union, which allows for the free movement of people, goods , 
and capital across the OECS region. Some con cerns were expressed regarding the use of customs 
service charges and other taxes on imports, as well as import licences. OECS -WTO Members were 
also encouraged to harmonize their tariff schedules.  
1.7.  Noting that the OEC -WTO Members had started dismantling th eir export subsidy schemes, 
Members expressed their hope that these would be abolished by end 2015, as required by WTO 
rules. Some of these issues have also emerged in the current Review and were discussed in the 
documents prepared for it.  
1.8.  The OECS -WTO Mem bers received 169 advance written questions from 12  Members for this 
Review, 145 of which were sent within the deadline, on different issues covering patents, copyright, 
and other intellectual property rights protection; standards; WTO notifications; trade  facilitation; 
customs procedures; rules of origin; tariffs and the Customs Service Charge; fiscal policy and 
taxation; import prohibitions and licensing requirements; free zones; Citizen by Investment 
programmes; implementation of the CARICOM Single Marke t and Economy;  the EPA with the EU; 
incentives;  and government procurement, among others. Prior to th e meeting, the 
OECS -WTO Members provided written replies to most of the questions submitted within the deadline, 
and the Chairperson was looking forward to hearing the OECS -WTO Members' replies to other 
questions during the two -day meeting .  
1.9.  The meeting provide d a good opportunity for Members to discuss issues of interest to t hem 
and of importance to the multilateral trading system. The Chairperson looked  forward to a fruitful 
exchange.  
1.10.  The Chairperson closed h is introductory remarks by wishing OECS -WTO Members  a very 
successful fourth  Trade Policy Review.  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  2  OPENING STATEMENT BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OECS -WTO MEMBERS  
(HONOURABLE EVERLY PAUL CHET GREENE ) 
2.1.  H.E. Ambassador Saqer  Abdullah  Almoqbel, Chair of the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB) ; 
H.E. Ms Nadia  Theodore, Ambassador of Canada to the WTO and discussant ; Senator , the 
Honourable Keisal Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ; 
H.E. Ms Andrea  St. Bernard, Head of Grenada's delegation ; H.E. Mr Steven  Goldstein, Head of 
Saint Kitts and Nevis delegation ; Mr Ricky Jn  Baptiste, Head of Saint  Lucia's delegation ; 
Dr Didacus  Jules, Director -General of the OECS ; Ms Jacqueline Emmanuel, Director of Economic 
Affairs and Regional Integration  at the OECS Commission ; H.E.  Ambassador Colin  Murdoch, OECS ' 
Ambassador in Geneva ; other Representatives of OECS Member States and the OECS Commission ; 
distinguished Ambassadors and delegates.  
2.2.  It is an honour  to address you on the occasion of the fourth Trade Policy Review (TPR) of the 
WTO Members of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) – Antigua  and Barbuda ; 
Dominica ; Grenada ; Saint Kitts and Nevis ; Saint Lucia; and S aint Vincen t and the Grenadines. Allow 
me to extend apologies on be half of my colleague Ministers who are absent due to pressing matters 
of State which they had to attend to at short notice. Nonetheless, as you can see, we have a fairly 
large delegation here this week.  
2.3.  Mr Chair, thank you for your remarks and your welcom e. We are also particularly pleased to 
have H.E.  Ms Nadia  Theodore, Ambassador of Canada to the WTO, as our discussant. We are even 
more pleased that Ambassador Theodore is also someone whom the OECS can lay claim to because 
of her familial ties to Saint  Lucia.  
2.4.  At the outset, also allow me to recogni ze the staff of the Trade Polic ies Review  Division and our 
officials in capitals, including the OECS Commission, for the herculean efforts that went into 
producing our TPR Reports. Much of this work was conduct ed during a time of great difficulty not 
just for the OECS, but also for the entire global community owing to the COVID -19 pandemic.  
2.5.  Since the third OECS ' TPR, our Member States have been beset by several significant external 
shocks – some of them economi c and others related to the environment and the climate crisis. 
In 2015 for example, Dominica lost nearly 90 % of its GDP due to the passage and impact of tropical 
storm Ericka. In 2017, hurricanes Irma and Maria, two Category  5 hurricanes, caused significa nt 
damage in four OECS countries. Hurricane Maria was most destructive in Dominica, resulting in total 
damages assessed at 226 % of the country's GDP.  
2.6.  Mr Chair, of the Category  5 hurricanes to have affected the Caribbean since 1980, nearly 
three -quarters have occurred since the turn of the 21st century. Many scientists, including the 
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), link these more intense weather activities to a 
warming climate due to greenhouse gas emissions.  
2.7.  Climate change pos es a severe and direct threat to many of the sectors on which the OECS 
relies on for its economic survival, namely agriculture, tourism , and fisheries. Much of the 
infrastructure which is vital to support trade, services, industrial development , and modern ization 
are also at risk, such as telecommunications infrastructure, roads , and ports.  
2.8.  The OECS was also hit hard by the COVID -19 pandemic. Beyond the public health burden, there 
was also a significant trade and economic burden. It adversely affected merch andise trade and 
disrupted travel and tourism -related services, which induced a deep recession in these economies. 
As a result, the GDP growth in all six countries drastically declined in 2020, ranging from 4 % to 
around 19 %.  
2.9.  The sharp decline in GDP trans lated to commensurate losses in goods and services trade and 
in 2020, the combined exports of these six countries fell by around 19 %, which is more than twice 
the drop in world trade during that period, at about 8 %.  
2.10.  In the midst of COVID -19, the region fa ced another natural hazard when the La  Soufrière 
Volcano in Saint  Vincent  and the Grenadines erupted in April  2021, also impacting neighbouring  
countries. Total damages were assessed at 18.1% of the country's 2020 GDP.  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  2.11.  This is the backdrop against which w e are conducting this TPR exercise and ours is a story of 
persistent vulnerability to various exogenous economic, environmental and climatic shocks. 
Nonetheless, ours is also a story of resilience and the OECS remains committed to deepening its 
integration  into the global economy, and pursuing sound economic and developmental policies at 
home.  
2.12.  We are pleased to note that according to the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), our 
economic activity strengthened in the first  half of 2022 as the pandemic effe cts continued to 
dissipate. This strengthening was supported by continued recovery in travel services, particularly 
stayover and cruise categories, which boosted demand for other services sectors such as 
transportation, wholesale , and retail trade.  
2.13.  Consis tent with the rebound in economic activity, government revenue collection expanded 
strongly in the first half of last year, resulting in improvements in governments' fiscal balances, 
although total outstanding public sector debt rose. The International Mon etary Fund (IMF) has also 
noted that the region's financial system has remained broadly stable so far, with adequate capital 
and liquidity buffers, even though non -performing loans remain high.  
2.14.  Speaking of the financial system, we must place on record our  deep concern about the loss 
of correspondent banking relationships in major global financial capitals, a process widely known as 
de-risking. This "de -risking" by correspondent banks poses a serious threat to the present and future 
stability of the financial sector and the proper functioning of our economy.  
2.15.  Overall, economic activity in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) is expected to 
further strengthen in the short to medium -term, aided by pent -up demand for travel. Nonetheless, 
there are several downside risks, which could impede the continued recovery. These include the 
protraction of the military conflict in Ukraine and other geopolitical c onflicts which could result in 
greater macroeconomic uncertainty and volatility in commodity prices.  
2.16.  While we remain optimistic, we are also mindful of the challenges which were identified by 
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its Article  IV Consulta tion on the ECCU last July. These 
include siz eable  fiscal deficits, due to continued pandemic -and disaster -related spending and 
temporary support to address rising living costs. As a result, gross financing needs and public debt 
are expected to remain at e levated levels in the near term.  
2.17.  Essentially, our vulnerabilities, the challenges associated with our small size, as well as those 
emanating from the uncertainty and turbulence that characterize the external environment, have 
framed our macroeconomic performance and outlook. It is out of these experiences spanning several 
decades, that we decided to pursue a deeper form of regional integration through the establishment 
of the ECCU in 2011. The ECCU continues to be our overarching development policy framework and 
the basis for joint action in pursuing the collective social and economic future of OECS Member 
States.  
2.18.  Some of the main objectives of the Economic  Union are economic growth, development and 
international competitiveness by the convergence and coordination of the economic policies of OECS 
Member States.  
2.19.  In 2018, the OECS adopted a new Development Strategy: Shaping our Shared 
Prosperity  2019 to 2028. This new Development Strategy represents a new approach to holistically 
respond to the ongoing and emerging threats and opportunities to the social and economic 
development of the  OECS. It also reaffirms the commitment of the OECS Member States to achieving 
sustainable development.  
2.20.  The OECS is also pursuing a number of sectoral development policies and strategies. In the 
area of tourism , which remains our dominant economic sector, the specific objective is to contribute 
to an environment that maximally leverages in a sustainable manner, the tourism sector for 
generating output and creating jobs, thereby contributing to the attainment of GDP growth and 
reduced unemployment.  
2.21.  With respect to agriculture, gone are the heydays when this sector contributed double digits 
to OECS GDP on a consistent basis. Agriculture now accounts for less than 10 % of GDP for five of WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  the six OECS countries and f or four of them, Government expenditure in agriculture is less than 
1.5% of GDP. Meanwhile, the six OECS -WTO Members all import greater than 50 % of the food they 
consume, with four countries importing greater than 80 %. This means that the region remains 
extremely vulnerable to disruptions in global agricultural markets, including conflicts and export 
restrictions.  
2.22.  However, the OECS Food and Agriculture Systems Transformation (FAST) Strategy, completed 
in May last year, is a response to the call for increas ed food security, food self -reliance and 
agricultural development across the OECS. We are also fully onboard with the rest of the Caribbean 
Community (CARICOM) to reduce the Region's large food import bill by 25% by 2025.  
2.23.  With respect to manufacturing, li ke agriculture, it is no longer as big a sector for OECS 
countries. Since the last Review, the contribution of the sector to regional GDP has declined, moving 
from 4.2 % to 3.7 % and averaging 3.8 % from 2015 to 2021. Growth in manufacturing output also 
declined by 0.2 % from 2015 to 2021.  
2.24.  In the coming years, our objectives are to:  
• Increase manufacturing production through general sectoral support as well as targeted 
support for the regional processing and labour  intensive tradeables subsectors;  
• move up the high -value chain; and  
• lay a platform for entry into Global Innovation for Local Market (GILM) Industries.  
2.25.  Broadly speaking, increasing trade and particularly exports, through enhanced 
competitiveness, micro , small, and medium e nterprise (MSME) development, entrepreneurship and 
trade promotion are priorities for the OECS Member States and ke y elements of OECS regional trade 
policy.  
2.26.  At the national level, OECS Member States have also been pursuing actions to stabilize and 
grow their economies. In Antigua  and Barbuda, the Government has elaborated a Medium -Term 
Fiscal Strategy (MTFS) for the pe riod 2 021-2023. The overarching goal of Antigua  and Barbuda's 
MTFS is to place the country on a path of fiscal and debt sustainability and broad -based economic 
growth, while ensuring that the country's debt to GDP ratio trends towards the prudential benchm ark 
of 60% as established by the Monetary Council of the ECCU.  
2.27.  For Dominica, through the National Resilience Development Strategy  2030, the country has 
set the goal of building the world's first climate resilient country. The climate resilience vision is a 
developmental paradigm which seeks to climate proof the key pillars of national policy which are 
economic diversification, sustained sustainable and inclusive growth, employment creation and 
revenue generation, social development, social protection and p overty reduction, environmental 
management, and cultural preservation.  
2.28.  In Grenada, the National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP) is the anchor for Grenada's 
development agenda and priorities for the period 2020 -2035. The strategic focus of the NSDP res ts 
on the three sustainable development pillars of first - the society, second - the economy, and 
third- the environment. Accordingly, Vision  2035 is translated into the following three National 
Goals: (i) high human development; (ii) vibrant, dynamic, com petitive economy with supporting 
climate -and-disaster -resilient infrastructure; and (iii) environmental sustainability and security.  
2.29.  In the case of S aint Kitts and Nevis, the return to pre -pandemic levels of economic growth is 
expected by the end of 2024, and beyond that, growth is expected to converge towards its 
medium -term path. The budget is also expected to be broadly balanced through 2025. There are 
also growing prospects for an acceleration of the transition to renewable energy and increased 
investment in resilience by the broader public sector. The authorities are also committed to 
maintaining a prudent fiscal stance going forward, inclusive of small budget surpluses for the next 
three years, supported by the phasing -out of electricity price su bsidies and streamlining of income 
support measures.  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  2.30.  Saint Lucia's 2020 -2023 Medium Term Development Strategy represents a clarion call for 
collective action to drive the country's development agenda. The Strategy seeks to accentuate the 
interconnected na ture of development planning by ensuring economic, social , and environmental 
considerations are incorporated and mainstreamed into Saint  Lucia's national planning framework. 
The Strategy has six key result areas: agriculture, infrastructure, tourism, citiz en security, 
education , and healthcare.  
2.31.  With respect to S aint Vincent  and the Grenadines, it continues to recover from the twin 
disruptions of COVID -19 and volcanic eruptions. The authorities' decisive policy 
responses  - supported by two IMF Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) disbursements and financing from 
other International Financial Institutions  - helped protect lives and livelihoods and contain economic 
scars. The economy was projected to grow by 5 % in 2022, supported by large -scale investment 
projects and recoveries in tourism and agriculture. Growth is projected to strengthen further in 2023 
as large -scale construction projects get into full swing.  
2.32.  Specific to trade policy, the primary objective for the formulation, development , and 
implementation of trad e policies in the OECS continues to be the need to expand and diversify OECS 
exports and the need to enhance OECS trade competitiveness.  
2.33.  It is instructive to note that OECS countries have massive deficits with respect to their 
merchandise trade. In 2021 f or instance, OECS countries had a significant negative balance of trade 
deficit valued at US D 3.0 billion or about 85 % of 2021's total trade. By comparison, OECS Member 
States typically enjoy a positive services trade balance. For example, in 2021, only one of the six 
OECS -WTO Members had a services trade deficit. Nonetheless, the positive balance of trade with 
respect to  trade in services fails to compensate for the negative balance of trade in goods.  
2.34.  Going forward, the OECS intends to further strengthen its trade policy coordination. Already, 
Member States coordinate very closely on trade policy matters, including at th e WTO where we 
speak with a singular voice. At the moment, we are actively working to enhance our human resources 
in the area of trade policy, further building out our regional integration regime, namely by pursuing 
a customs union, and seeking greater inv olvement of the private sector through the revitalization of 
the OECS Business Council to aid in our trade policy formulation and execution.  
2.35.  The OECS continues to place the greatest of priorities on its participation in the wider 
CARICOM grouping. Here, t he OECS is committed to a high level of regional integration in areas 
such as trade and functional cooperation. CARICOM serves as a useful buffer for the OECS against 
external forces, and helps to strengthen the ability of the OECS to engage on the interna tional stage 
as well as with key bilateral partners.  
2.36.  Since the last Review, the OECS concluded one major bilateral trade agreement - the 
Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the United  Kingdom (UK), which the OECS negotiated 
as part of the wider Cari bbean Forum (CARIFORUM) bloc. The CARIFORUM - UK EPA began to be 
provisionally applied between CARIFORUM States, including the OECS, and the UK from 
January  2021.  
2.37.  We take note of the need to address the issue of tariff cuts under the CARIFORUM -UK EPA as 
well as under the older CARIFORUM -European  Union EPA. We remain committed to doing this as 
soon as possible. We also recogni ze that greater efforts need to be made to enhance trade 
performance under the two agreements through actions to address challenges f aced in the export 
market, such as sanitary and phytosanitary issues, as well as supply -side constraints.  
2.38.  Through the wider CARICOM grouping, we are also parties to trade agreements with Colombia, 
Costa  Rica, Cuba , and the Dominican  Republic. Under each o f these agreements, there is a need to 
improve OECS export performance.  
2.39.  OECS Member States also continue to be eligible for the preferential market access granted 
under three non -reciprocal and unilateral trade arrangements in the Western Hemisphere – the 
Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), the Commonwealth Caribbean -Canada Trade Agreement 
(CARIBCAN) and the CARICOM -Venezuela Trade Agreement. These arrangements play an important 
role in our export development, albeit with scope for improvement particularly w ith respect to our 
ability to further penetrate those markets.  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  2.40.  The OECS remains committed to multilateralism, including trade multilateralism with the WTO 
at the core of our efforts. Less than a year from now, we will have the 13th Ministerial Conference 
(MC13) and the OECS will play an active and constructive role in the build -up to the conference and 
during the conference. We continue to prioritize meaningful outcomes on WTO Reform, including 
Dispute Settlement Reform; renewal of the E -Commerce Work Prog ramme and Moratorium; 
Agriculture; Development, particularly the G -90 Agreement Specific Proposals and Fisheries 
Subsidies.  
2.41.  Particularly on Dispute Settlement Reform, we want to see the rules -based system fully 
restored, inclusive of adequate accommodatio n for the interests of developing countries with respect 
to accessibility and compliance, among others. We take note of the Multi -Party Interim Appeal 
Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA) which some WTO Members concluded after the collapse of the 
Appellate Body (AB). We are not opposed to the MPIA in principle, however, our priority has been 
to find a multilateral solution to the current AB impasse.  
2.42.  We also want to acknowledge some of the concerns raised by Members with respect to the 
notification challenges faced by the OECS. We assure Members that our failure to notify under 
several WTO Agreements is not a wilful act, but one that results from the i mmense capacity 
constraints faced by our small public administrations. Nonetheless, as our robust participation in this 
TPR exercise demonstrates, we see tremendous value in transparency and we intend to redouble 
our efforts toward s our outstanding notific ations, including by making use of all available technical 
assistance.  
2.43.  We are also pleased to note that the majority of our Member States have submitted answers 
to the nearly 150  questions posed by the WTO Membership for this TPR exercise.  
2.44.  Finally, we renew to all WTO Members the commitment and support of the OECS to a more 
durable multilateral trading system. As I have said before, the size of our delegation here today is 
a demonstration of our commitment t o this cause. We therefore call on all WTO Members to stay 
the course and to further strengthen our collective efforts to shore up the system for the benefit of 
all, but especially the smallest and most vulnerable.  
2.45.  Mr Chair, many thanks to you, the discussant, the Secretariat team, the interpreters and all 
Members that have posed questions and the ones here today to participate in this very important 
exercise.  
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  3  STATEMENT BY THE DISCUSSANT  
3.1.  First, I would like to extend a warm welcome to the delegation of t he Organi sation of Eastern 
Caribbean States. The Honourable Everly Paul Chet Greene , Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade for 
Antigua  and Barbuda and Chair of the OECS Council of Ministers of Trade. From Grenada, 
H.E. Andrea St . Bernard, Special Envoy. Fr om Saint  Kitts and Nevis, H .E. Steven  Goldstein, 
Honorary  Consul. From Saint  Vincent  and the Grenadines, the Honourable Keisal  Peers, Minister of 
Foreign Affairs and Trade. From Saint  Lucia, Mr  Ricky Jn  Baptiste, Director of External Trade. From 
the OECS Commission, Director -General Dr  Didacus  Jules; my good colleague, 
Ambassador  Murdoch ; and to all of your team members here with you today – welcome.  
3.2.  Trade Policy Reviews would not be possible without the detailed work of delegations and the 
Secretari at. This detailed work is even more appreciated when it comes from small delegations with 
limited resources. In this regard, I would like to thank the OECS for its comprehensive Report and 
the Secretariat for providing substantial research and information that enables Members to perform 
this important Review function.  
3.3.  It is a great honour and a great pleasure for me to serve as discussant in this fourth  Trade 
Policy Review of the OECS. Part of who I am and what I am, is undeniably connected to the Caribbea n 
region. I am the product of parents born at either ends of the island of Saint  Lucia - a mother from 
Castries and a father from Vieux  Fort - who immigrated to Canada in their early adult life but made 
it their responsibility for their first generation  Canadian kids to know, understand and be proud of 
their ancestral heritage. I often refer to myself as being, "made in Canada, with Caribbean spices". 
So, thank you for allowing me this opportunity. And thank you or giving my father something new 
to brag abo ut in Gros  Islet this Friday.  
3.4.  I would like to focus my comments today around three broad themes:  
(i) Short but important context of the overall landscape of the OECS -WTO Members during 
the period of review;  
(ii) OECS -WTO Members engagement at the WTO and the role in relation to broader policy 
goals; and  
(iii) some common themes that I see coming out of Members advanced questions.  
3.5.  Let me begin with two pieces of OECS -specific facts . First, t he total population of the six 
OECS -WTO Members is about 630,0 00; and second, i ndividually, these small -island economies – 
Antigua  and Barbuda , Dominica, Grenada, Saint  Kitts and Nevis, Saint  Lucia, and Saint  Vincent  and 
the Grenadines - are some of the WTO's smallest Members by both population and area.  
3.6.  The eight years of the period of review covers a time during which the region has endured 
several significant external economic and environmental shocks: to name a few - tropical storm 
Erika in 2015, in 2017 – two Category  5 hurricanes - Hurricane Irma and hurricane Maria and the 
eruption of the La Soufrière volcano in 2021. And then of course the global health pandemic and the 
impacts from the Russia n Federation 's war on Ukraine.  
3.7.  This is important context, and as came thro ugh in the remarks by the Honourable 
Minister  Greene – persistent resilience is at the heart of the region.  
3.8.  Tourism is the dominant economic sector for the OECS – the share of receipts as a percentage 
of exports among Member States is among the highest in  the world, with the OECS average in 2019 
standing at 57 %. Much of the region's employment also relies on tourism, ranging from 35% in 
Dominica to almost 90% in Antigua  and Barbuda. This meant that the effects of the pandemic were 
particularly perilous. Da ta from the Commonwealth Secretariat reveals that the pandemic resulted 
in GDP loss of USD 1.2 billion and a loss of USD 800 million in global exports for OECS -WTO Members 
during the first year of the pandemic.  
3.9.  However, preliminary data for 2022 reveals t hat several of the OECS countries have reached 
75% of their pre -pandemic stayover arrival figures, with the caveat that intra -regional and the cruise 
sector have not achieved that level of recovery.  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  3.10.  As outlined in the Secretariat Report, all OECS -WTO Members undertook a mix of fiscal reform 
measures that included replacing some taxes, increasing the rates and coverage of others, trimming 
expenditure, in particular current expenditure and rationalizing fuel prices and debt restructuring. 
Although progres s was made until 2019, goals had to be revised due to the COVID -19 pandemic. As 
we move out of the pandemic, over the medium -term fiscal consolidation will no doubt resume and 
creating fiscal space for productive investment and resilience building will be critical to support a 
resilient and inclusive recovery.  
3.11.  Turning now to the participation of the OECS -WTO Members in the work of the WTO , for the 
small highly open, island developing states of the OECS, the primary preoccupation in the 
formulation, develop ment and implementation of trade policies continues to be the need to expand 
and diversity of exports; the need to enhance their trade competitiveness in order to achieve this; 
and the need to more effectively participate in and leverage the opportunities of the trade 
agreements that they are parties to.  
3.12.  On the multilateral side, the Member States of the OECS place a high value on an equitable, 
open, transparent, inclusive and rules -based trading system. The fact that the OECS has had a 
Mission in Geneva s ince 2005 is but one example of the commitment to the system and the 
OECS --WTO Members' active engagement in it.  
3.13.  Recall that I noted the fact that these Members are among some of the smallest at the WTO. 
Despite their small size, the OECS -WTO Members cons istently show up and make strong efforts to 
participate actively and fully in the working committees and across the range of negotiating areas.  
3.14.  The OECS is an active participant in several different negotiating groups, including the 
ACP Group, the G -90, the Group of Small and Vulnerable Economies, and the G -33 forum for 
development countries, among others.  
3.15.  A few examples of the contributions that OECS -WTO Members have made to the work of the 
WTO:  
3.16.  All OECS -WTO Members have ratified the Trade Facilitation Agreement.  
3.17.  The degree of implementation of commitments does vary, with three Members -Dominica, 
Saint Kitts and Nevis , and Grenada  - being very advanced in the implementation of their 
commitments – having implem ented 97.1%, 83.2% and 80.3% of the total, respectively as of 
November  2022. At the same time, Saint  Vincent  and the Grenadines had implemented 63% of its 
commitments under the TFA, Saint  Lucia, 49.2% and Antigua  and Barbuda, 38.7%. Members would 
benefit from knowing more about the specific plans OECS -WTO Members have to get to full 
implementation, as soon as possible and if possible, earlier than the post 2028 dates that have been 
indicated for certain provisions. I do note that the OECS Member St ates classified as high income 
continue to face challenges in accessing funding to assist with their TFA implementation as well as 
in benefiting from certain technical assistance activities.  
3.18.  The OECS also played an active role in the outcome on fisheries subsidies achieved at MC12, 
including through the CARICOM and ACP Groups and have already demonstrated a commitment to 
the same level of active engagement as we move to the completion of the outstanding work on 
fisheries subsidies.  
3.19.  OECS -WTO Members have p unched above their weight in terms of engagement in the WTO 
Work Programme on E -Commerce. As highlighted in the Government Report and as we have learned 
through their engagement here in Geneva, OECS -WTO Members see e -commerce as a means to 
promote inclusiv e growth, innovation, diversification, job creation, and sustainable development, 
particularly in a post -pandemic context.  
3.20.  At the same time, while the expansion of e -commerce and digital trade provides such 
opportunities, including for MSMEs, it also crea tes a number of specific challenges, including in terms 
of digital divide, that prevent OECS -WTO Members from fully seizing this innovation and growth 
potential. These Members see a role in the WTO, including through their support of the Work 
Programme and  moratorium on e -commerce, to help mitigate these challenges.  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  3.21.  Three OECS -WTO Members – Antigua  and Barbuda, Dominica , and Grenada – are active 
participants in the JSI on Investment Facilitation for Development and have made concrete proposals 
at the table . The core objective of the future Agreement, which is to facilitate greater participation 
of developing and least -developed Members in global investment flows, is an area highlighted in 
many of the individual OECS -WTO Member reports.  
3.22.  Members are also participants in the Informal Working Group on MSMEs and provide valuable 
perspectives on ways in which WTO Members can better support MSME's participation in global trade. 
Gaining the perspectives of small island economies in these discuss ions is crucial and will only help 
to ensure that what we do here in Geneva, remains relevant to the people and businesses who we 
are doing it all for.  
3.23.  Similarly, the OECS -WTO Members participation in the work on women and trade, including 
endorsing the d eclaration on trade and women's economic empowerment demonstrates the 
commitment to intensify efforts to increase women's participation in global trade.  
3.24.  While understanding the particular challenges of small delegations, OECS -WTO Members may 
wish to consid er how participating in the JSI on e -commerce might help support its goals on 
digitalization.  
3.25.  The OECS Members have underscored disappointment at the inability to reach an outcome on 
agriculture at MC12. Given the importance of this sector for OECS -WTO Members, and the 
demonstrated and constructive engagement of OECS Members at the WTO, I believe that they are 
in a strong position to support forward looking solutions to this critically important issue area.  
3.26.  Finally, the OECS -WTO Members have placed a high  level of priority on WTO Reform, noting 
that while in terms of the regular work of the WTO across its various functions reform is likely to be 
incremental, it must also be Member -driven, open, transparent , and inclusive. They have also 
expressed concern o n the ongoing impasse in the Dispute Settlement System as it relates to the 
Appellate Body, noting its commitment to a two -tiered Dispute Settlement System and underscoring 
the need for the system to ensure that it is equitable, accessible , and cost -effect ive for small 
developing countries and LDCs.  
3.27.  It is clear that the OECS -WTO Members remain committed to continued integration into the 
global trading system, with the WTO playing a key role in that regard. It did not go unnoticed to me 
that the three pilla rs around which the OECS Development Strategy has been developed are very 
much aligned with what the global trading system is supposed to deliver for all:  
(i) Generating Economic Growth.  
(ii) Promoting Human and Social Wellbeing.  
(iii) Sustainable  Use of Natural Endowments.  
 
3.28.  Before I close, let me highlight some of the themes that jumped out at me in reviewing the 
questions raised by Members in their advanced written questions.  
3.29.  I would first note that the questions this year, compared t o the last Review in 2014, are 
slightly more qualitative. To me this speaks to a maturing of the OECS' trade  policy framework.  
3.30.  Members continue to have a number of concerns mostly around measures affecting imports, 
including import restrictions and tariff s, and are increasingly seeking assurances on regional 
harmonization of these measures. Members also continue to raise questions regarding investment 
regimes, and to point to concerns around notifications. So, again, as the OECS's trade  policy profile 
increases, so too do Members' expectations regarding predictability and transparency. Despite the 
associated challenges, this also shows increasing interest in the OECS -WTO Members as a market, 
as an investment destination, as a trading partner – and I'd like to think that having alert eyes on 
you is thus a good problem to have.  
3.31.  To conclude, I congratulate the OECS -WTO Members on the contributions they have made to 
the WTO and the multilateral trading system. I look forward to the Review and to the discussion.  
  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  4  STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS  
THAILAND  
4.1.  Thailand is delighted to participate in the fourth  Trade Policy Review of the OECS -WTO Members 
and would like to extend our warmest welcome to the delegation from the OECS -WTO Members, 
namely Antigua  and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint  Kitts and Nevis, Saint  Lucia, and 
Saint Vincent  and the Grenadines.  
4.2.  Thailand thanks Ambassador Saqer  Abdullah  Almoqbel from Kingdom of Saudi  Arabia for the 
leadership and the introductory remarks. We also thank the discussant, Ambassador Nadia Theodore  
from Canada, for insightful analysis of the OECS -WTO Members ' economic development and trade 
policies. We also appreciate the comprehensive reports pre pared by the WTO Secretariat and the 
OECS -WTO Members.  
4.3.  Thailand notes and commends the OECS -WTO Members for the perseverance they have 
demonstrated, as  small and vulnerable economies, in response to various external shocks that tend 
to impact them more sev erely than other countries. During the review period, they had to deal with 
a series of natural disasters that resulted in significant infrastructural damages and loss as well as 
disruptions in the production of goods and services. Furthermore, having a na rrow economic base 
with tourism at its core, the OECS -WTO Members  witnessed that their GDP significantly contracted due 
to a serious decline in tourist arrivals during the outbreak of the COVID -19 pandemic. As a country 
significantly rel ying on income from  tourism, Thailand could fully empathize with the OECS -WTO 
Members on the decrease of tourists and income generated thereof.  
4.4.  Having said that, Thailand is pleased to learn that the OECS -WTO economies are currently in 
the process of recovery which naturally  takes much longer compared to other more advanced 
economies. We would like to convey our best wishes for the OECS -WTO Members to overcome these 
difficult times, and truly believe that the path to efficient and sustainable recovery lie upon the trade 
liberalization and facilitation. In this vein, Thailand commends the OECS -WTO Members ' continued 
efforts in repealing incentives contingent upon export performance and in implementing trade 
facilitative measures in accordance with the WTO Trade Facilitatio n Agreement.  
4.5.  In addition, Thailand takes note the challenges that the OECS -WTO Members, as net food 
importing countries, have to encounter in terms of the food insecurity, especially during the review 
period where the supply chains were interrupted, and th e global food prices were on the rise. 
Thailand recognizes an urgent need to address this issue in order to improve access and make food 
more affordable, particularly for the least -developed and net food -importing developing countries. 
We are committed to participating in discussions to identify feasible solutions for helping build 
resilience against current and future acute food instability  crises, as set forth in paragraph  8 of the 
Ministerial Declaration on the emergency response to food insecurity.  
4.6.  Thailand applauds the OECS -WTO Members for their active engagement, albeit their constraint 
in human resources, in many areas of the WTO work, with a view to ensuring a fair, equitable, open, 
transparent, inclusive , and rules -based multilateral trading system . Notably, Thailand shares the 
same commitment with the OECS -WTO Members in having a binding two -tiered system and calling 
for the restoration of the fully and well -functioning dispute settlement system by 2024 as mandated 
by Ministers at  the MC12. Thailan d looks forward to working closely with the OECS -WTO Members 
to achieve meaningful and balanced outcomes for the upcoming MC13.  
4.7.  Last but not least, Thailand notes that the trade and economic ties between Thailand and the 
OECS -WTO Members have been relative ly modest, with the average total trade value of 
USD 25.1 million between 2018 and 2022. However, we firmly believe that there remains a number 
of potential areas that both sides could explore and work together to promote mutual interest and 
further streng then our  trade and economic relations.  
4.8.  Thailand submitted, for this review, a list of  questions and would like to thank the OECS -WTO 
Members for their responses, which Thailand will study with interest.  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  4.9.  To conclude, Thailand is pleased to participate in th e fourth  Trade policy review of the 
OECS -WTO Members and we  wish the OECS -WTO Members every success in the fourth  Trade Policy 
Review.  
CANADA  
4.10.  Canada is pleased to participate in this review of OECS -WTO Members. We thank the OECS 
Member States and the Secretariat for their reports covering developments since the last Review. 
Both reports identified a number of challenges faced by the OECS Members.  
4.11.  For small, highly trade -dependent island states, the p andemic had a devastating impact on 
economic production and trade. This was particularly so in the tourism sector that many of these 
economies heavily rely on. In addition, the region experienced an increasing number of 
environmental challenges, the erupti on of La  Soufrière volcano in Saint  Vincent  and the Grenadines, 
and the rising costs for food, energy and other imported commodities. These rising costs have been 
attributed, among other things, to supply -chain disruptions caused by Russia n Federation' s illegal, 
unprovoked and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine. There have truly been an unprecedented series of 
challenges over the past few years. We would like to acknowledge the resilience of the Governments 
and peoples of the OECS Member States during this d ifficult period.  
4.12.  As was the case in 2014 when the last Review was carried out, most OECS –WTO Members 
have generally open trade and investment regimes. Canada acknowledges advances made in 
facilitating trade, particularly through the ongoing implementation of the Trade Facilitation 
Agreement. However, Canadian companies still find it challenging to do business in the region. 
The OECS -WTO Members should continue to work toward s the improvement of the investment 
climate in order to attract and retain more fore ign direct investment.  
4.13.  Canada commends the OECS -WTO Members on their efforts to achieve the objectives of the 
OECS Economic Union – deepening regional integration, and promoting the free movement of goods 
and services among members. Canada encourages the OECS to continue the challenging work ahead 
to harmonize policies under this treaty, including tariff schedules, and to make progress with the 
reform program mes that are underway.  
4.14.  In the spirit of its longstanding friendship with the OECS and its Members both collectively 
and individually, Canada will continue to lend its support and advice. The OECS -WTO Members have 
prioritized climate resilience and alternative energies in their economic development strategies. 
Canada welcomes this and looks to support cooperation in this area.  
4.15.  Canada is pleased to see the constructive participation of the OECS -WTO Members in the 
informal discussions on dispute settlement. Until we find a multilateral solution that preserves the 
essential features of the dispute settlement system, our best means to safeguard our rights is the 
Multi-Party Interim Appeal  Arbitration Arrangement. The MPIA is a temporary measure that provides 
for binding dispute settlement and access to appellate review in disputes between its 53  participants. 
Canada invites the Members of the OECS to consider participating in the MPIA.  
4.16.  As another example of how OECS -WTO Members play a constructive role in advancing the 
work of the WTO, Canada would like to highlight their contribution to the reinvigor ation of the work 
programme on e -commerce and to the extension of the moratorium.  
4.17.  Canada welcomes the participation by all six OECS -WTO Members in the Informal Working 
Group on MSMEs and by a number of them in the negotiations on investment facilitation fo r 
development. Canada encourages OECS -WTO Members to join the other joint initiatives. Canada 
also encourages OECS -WTO Members that have not done so to join the Buenos  Aires Declaration on 
Trade and Women 's Economic Empowerment.  
4.18.  Canada calls upon the OECS -WTO Members to address their outstanding notifications. As was 
discussed last week in a Market Access Committee workshop, the TPR reports are a rich source of 
information that can be repurposed to support fulfilment  of notification obligations. Canada 
encourages OECS -WTO Members to work with the Secretariat in this regard.  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  4.19.  In conclusion, we have submitted a number of questions on the reports submitted. We are 
reviewing the responses received.  
UNITED  STATES  
4.20.  The United  States welcomes the Honourable Everly P aul Chet Greene and the distinguished 
delegation from the Organi sation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). We appreciate this 
opportunity to participate in the fourth Trade Policy Review of OECS -WTO Members.  
4.21.  The United  States values its economic relationsh ip with Eastern Caribbean States, and will 
continue our work to strengthen our commercial relationship, including under the Trade and 
Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between the United  States and the Caribbean Community.  
The TIFA is an important pla tform for discussions on expanding two -way trade and investment and 
we look forward to continued engagement under the Agreement.  
4.22.  U.S. trade preference programs, known collectively as the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), 
illustrate another hallmark of U.S .-Caribbean economic partnership. Through the CBI, OECS 
Members States benefit from duty -free access to the U.S. market for most goods.   
4.23.  The United  States commends the progress that the OECS -WTO Members have made since the 
last Trade Policy Review in 2014.  For example, as noted in the Secretariat Report, all OECS -WTO 
Members made reforms during the review period to consolidate public finances and strengthen fiscal 
sustainability. We do recogn ize, however, the impact of significant exogenous shocks that affected 
fiscal performance in the region, including the COVID -19 pandemic and multiple devastating natural 
disasters.  
4.24.  The OECS -WTO Members also took important steps during the review period to deepen 
regional economic integration. Members advanced a number of initiatives, such as the completion 
of the 2015 OECS Policy on Rights Contingent on the Right to Freedom of Movement Within the 
Economic Union. They also advanced efforts to establish the O ECS Customs  Union, as provided for 
in the Revised Treaty of Basseterre. Moreover, the OECS has grown, with the addition of Martinique 
and Guadeloupe as associate members in 2015 and 2019, respectively.  
4.25.  We applaud continued efforts during the review period to fully implement the WTO 
Agreements. For example, every OECS -WTO Member ratified the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) 
and took steps to implement the Agreement. As noted in the Secretariat and OECS -WTO Members ' 
reports, the degree of implementation of TFA implementation varies across countries. We strongly 
encourage OECS Members to fully implement their TFA commitments. Likewise, we encourage OECS 
Members to continue with efforts to make all the legal and regulatory amendments needed to comply 
with WTO Agreement provisions. Additionally, we strongly encourage OECS Members to accept the 
WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsides which benefits our oceans, our fishers, and our communities. 
We would also like to work with OECS Members in the further negotiations t o pursue additional, 
ambitious disciplines on harmful fisheries subsidies.  
4.26.  The Secretariat in its Report notes there were no changes to import prohibitions or the import 
licensing regimes in OECS countries. As we noted in 2014, the administration of import  licensing 
regimes can be trade restrictive, and we encourage OECS -WTO Members to review their regimes to 
ensure that trade flows smoothly and unobstructed.  
4.27.  The Secretariat has reported on an inconsistency in OECS compliance with WTO notification 
obligations, including regarding agriculture and SPS measures. Moreover, OECS -WTO Members lack 
an inventory of SPS measures. We encourage the prompt submission of the  outstanding 
notifications.  
4.28.  We note that the reason given for inconsistent notifications is a lack of technical and human 
resource capacity. The WTO Friends of Transparency Group encourages practical and technical 
improvements, such as simplified notificat ion templates and greater automation of notifications, 
while also encouraging greater technical assistance that can improve Members ' ability to meet their 
notification obligations. We urge OECS countries to become active in the Friends of Transparency 
group and to share your experiences with notification challenges at the committee level. Timely and WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  complete notifications enable the WTO to function effectively and provide information that 
businesses use in their decision -making.  
4.29.  Furthermore, we would like t o continue to work with the OECS as we seek fundamental reform 
of the Dispute Settlement System . Although we may not agree on every issue, we appreciate the 
thoughtful and creative spirit in which the OECS has engaged on these difficult issues. We encourag e 
the OECS to continue its positive engagement with the United  States and all Members as we seek a 
reformed Dispute Settlement System that delivers on the interests of all Members. This is the type 
of engagement that we need from Members in order to achiev e the reform that we are all committed 
to.  
4.30.  We commend the WTO Members of the Organi sation of Caribbean States for their commitment 
to the trade policy review process. We look forward to continued engagement, both bilaterally and 
within the WTO, to strengt hen our commercial relationship.  
SINGAPORE  
4.31.  Let me begin by extending a very warm welcome to the delegation from the Organisation of 
the Eastern Caribbean States OECS -WTO Members, led by the Antigua  and Barbuda Minister of 
Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Chair of the OECS Council of Ministers of Trade, Everly Paul Chet 
Greene. We would also like to express our appreciation to the Chair , Ambassador 
Saqer  Abdullah  Almoqbel ( Kingdom of Saudi  Arabia), the discussant Ambassador Nadia  Theodore 
(Canada), as well as the Secretariat for their insightful reports and statements. Allow me to make 
three points.  
4.32.  First, despite the vast geographical distance (close to 18 ,000 km) separating Singapore and 
the OECS region,  we share many similarities. Singapore, together with Antigua  and Barbuda, 
Dominica, Grenada, S aint Kitts and Nevis, S aint Lucia, and S aint Vincent  and the Grenadines, are 
small island states, with small populations and possess little natural resources. Hence, we have to 
work doubly hard to achieve economic development, inter alia, by supporting free and open trade, 
maintaining an investment friendly environm ent and embracing innovative approaches to respond 
to new challenges. We have also enjoyed healthy bilateral trade. In 2022, bilateral trade in goods 
grew year on year by 36.1% to US D 124 million while Singapore 's total service exports to five OECS 
Members  amounted to US D 26 million in 2021. With the pandemic stabili zing and more positive 
business sentiments, our bilateral trade relationship has the potential to grow further.  
4.33.  Second, Singapore commends the OECS -WTO Members for their resilience in respondin g to 
the COVID -19 pandemic as well as the challenges of natural disasters. Concerted vaccination efforts, 
coupled with fiscal stimulus packages have enabled tourism and tourism related activities to 
rebound. The OECS has also introduced innovative financin g mechanisms for climate -resilient 
transport and housing infrastructure. Most importantly, the OECS Members have continued to pursue 
trade liberali zation and pursued closer regional integration through the OECS Economic Union and 
CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). Singapore also commends the OECS -WTO Members ' 
efforts, at both the national and regional levels, to ride the wave of digital transformation by creating 
an enabling digital environment. Examples include investing in developing e -government a nd 
e-commerce infrastructure, improving wireless internet access, and building capacity in digital skills 
and technology adoption. These are all noteworthy endeavours that will facilitate cross -border trade 
by linking the OECS up with the interconnected di gital global economy. We look forward to exchange 
experiences and collaborate more closely with OECS -WTO Members to leverage the digital 
transformation and deliver concrete benefits to our peoples.  
4.34.  Third, Singapore and the OECS Members are committed to strengthen the rules -based 
multilateral trading system.  We welcome the OECS -WTO Members ' ratification of the Trade 
Facilitation Agreement and look forward to steady progress in its implementation. In particular, the 
OECS has not allowed capacity constraints to prevent it from playing an active and constructive role 
in the WTO. In this connect ion, the OECS has contributed significantly to the on -going work on WTO 
reform including Dispute Settlement Reform and trade and environmental sustainability.  Singapore 
would like to  encourage OECS -WTO Members to join the Multi -Party Interim Appeal Arbitra tion 
Arrangement (MPIA), which will be an important signal of its commitment to maintain a two -tier and 
functioning Dispute Settlement System . Additionally, as one of the three co -convenors of the Joint WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  Statement Initiative (JSI) on E -Commerce, we urge WTO -OECS Members to consider joining this 
initiative.  
4.35.  In closing, my delegation looks forward to continue working closely with the OECS delegation 
in Geneva, led by Ambassador Colin  Murdoch and wish them  every success for its fourth  TPR. 
CHINA  
4.36.  First of all, I would like to extend my warm welcome to the delegation of the OECS -WTO 
Members  led by Honourable  Everly Paul Chet Greene, and my appreciat ion to  the Governments of 
the OECS -WTO Members for the preparation for this review. Our gratitude also  goes to the 
discussant, H .E. Ambassador Nadia  Theodore  for your in sightful analysis and  the Secretariat for their 
hard work . Chair, I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate on your election as 
Chairperson . China looks forward to fruitful  work of the TPRB under your leadership ,  
4.37.  China commends the OECS -WTO Member ' remarkable efforts in implementing their social 
economic strategy  since the last Review  in 2014. These efforts include implementing the Revised 
Treaty of Basseterre (RTB) establishing the OECS Economic Union, launching new OECS 
Development Strategy (ODS): Shaping our Shared Prosperity 2019 to 2028, supporting the 
multilateral trading system, as well a s enhancing regional integration.  
4.38.  As stressed in Secretariat Report, during t his period of review , the OECS -WTO Members  have 
been significantly affected by  natural disasters  and exogenous shocks , especially the COVID -19 
pandemic , hurricanes , and volcanic eruption in the region . We are impressed by most of the 
OECS -WTO Members ' achievement in having a steadily economic growth between 2014 to 2019 
despite the devastating impacts of the disasters. And i t is encouraging to note that the OECS -WTO 
Members are cu rrently in the process of recovery  from the effects of the COVID -19 pandemic. China 
sincerely hopes that the OECS -WTO Members will achieve a strong economic rebound.  
4.39.  As stressed in their Report, the Members of the OECS continue to place a high level of pr iority 
on a fair, equitable, open, transparent, inclusive , and rules -based multilateral trading system. We 
appreciate the OECS -WTO Members ' constructive participation in the WTO, especially their active 
engagement in the negotiations to achieve an outcome on fisheries subsidies at MC12, and their 
commitment to engaging meaningfully in discussions to resolve challenges in the Dispute Settlement 
System . 
4.40.  Moreover, China welcomes the OECS -WTO Members ' acceptance of the Trade Facilitation 
Agreement (TFA) and enc ourages their broader implementation of this important agreement. In 
particular, China is pleased to note that three OECS -WTO Members – Antigua  and Barbuda, 
Dominica , and Grenada are active participants in the JSI on Investment Facilitation and have made 
concrete proposals. Meanwhile, we note that environment protection is a very important issue for 
the OECS -WTO Members. We look forward to your participation in the inf ormal dialogue on Plastic 
Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade.  We would also encourage the OECS -WTO 
Members to continuously play its active role in WTO, further enhance transparency and jointly 
strengthen the multilateral trading syste m and multilateralism.  
4.41.  During this period of review , the bilateral economic and trade relations between China and 
most of the OECS -WTO Members have continued to deepen and grow smoothly . This year marks 
the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomat ic relations between China and 
Antigua  and Barbuda. D uring these years, we have developed a sound bilateral relation and 
economic cooperation. Antigua  and Barbuda is an important destination for China 's outbound 
tourism, and we have developed sound economi c and technological cooperation. Dominica is another 
good friend and partner of China in the Caribbean. New progress has been made in our cooperation 
in agriculture, education, medical care and climate change. In March of this year Dominican Foreign 
Minist er Vince Henderson participated in the Boao Forum for Asia （BFA）, and we both pledged to 
boost bilateral ties. China and Grenada have also made impressive progress on the bilateral 
economic and trade cooperation. In 2022, the bilateral trade volume increase d by 12.6% 
year-on-year.  
4.42.  Furthermore, the economic and trade cooperation between China and the OECS -WTO 
Members enjoys a broad prospect.  We are looking forward to deepening economic and trade WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  cooperation with the OECS -WTO members. Tourism remains the domi nant economic sector for the 
OECS. As the pandemic control measures are lifted, the OECS -WTO Members will see more China 's 
tourists there. In this year, China will continue to host international exhibitions and conferences such 
as China International Import Expo, China Import and Export Fair, etc. We welcome your 
participation in all these events, and look forward to working together with the OECS -WTO Members 
to further increase imports from OECS.  
4.43.  For this review, we have submitted writte n questions. We appreciate reply from the 
OECS -WTO members. we will study them carefully.  To conclude, I wish this review a complete  
success.  
DOMINICAN  REPUBLIC  
4.44.  The delegation of the Dominican  Republic wishes to thank Mr  Everly  Paul Chet  Greene, 
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Antigua and Barbuda and Chair of the Council of Ministers of 
Trade of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, for presenting the Report. We also wish to 
extend a warm welcome to the delegation accompanying him. We wish  to thank Ambassador 
Nadia  Theodore, Permanent Representative of Canada, for her valuable presentation, and to 
highlight the work of Ambassador Colin  Murdoch and all his team in Geneva.  
4.45.  The reports explain that the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), founded more 
than half a century ago, is a grouping of 11  small island developing States in the Eastern Caribbean. 
It comprises the six independent members of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, 
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint  Lucia, and Saint  Vincent and the Grenadines, and the non -independent 
States of Montserrat, Anguilla, the British  Virgin  Islands, Guadeloupe, and Martinique.  
4.46.  The Eastern Caribbean States, like the Dominican  Republic, are all islands, and they all face 
the challenges that this poses.  
4.47.  Furthermore, our States are members and share the principles and objectives of 
the United  Nations (UN), the Organization of American States (OAS), the Organisation of African, 
Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and CARIFORUM, to name but a few.  
4.48.  The reports highlight how OECS ‑WTO Members were affected not only by the COVID -19 
pandemic, along with the vast majority of countries, but also natural phenomena, such as the 
volcanic eruption in Saint  Vincent  and the Grenadines, and a series of natural disa sters in the region, 
including disasters caused by climate change. We also note with interest that the six OECS -WTO 
Members are small, vulnerable economies with a narrow economic base and a GDP per  capita that 
ranges from around USD  8,000 to USD  20,000, de pending on the State.  
4.49.  We welcome the fact that CARICOM, which comprises six of the OECS member States, has 
concluded five bilateral trade agreements of varying breadth and depth with regional partners over 
the years. This includes the free trade agreement with the Dominican  Republic, which entered into 
force in 1999.  
4.50.  Other highly important agreements mentioned include the CARIFORUM -EU Economic 
Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European  Union and the 15  Caribbean States in the 
CARIFORUM group, and the agreement between the CARIFORUM States and the United  Kingdom.  
4.51.  In its relations with the Caribbean States, the Dominican  Republic seeks to strengthen 
cooperation in areas such as the exchange of experiences in tourism, health services, culture, sport, 
air connectivity, and trade and investment. In this respect, important meetings and activities have 
recently been carried out in the region.  
4.52.  Our delegation expresses its thanks in advance for the replies to its written questions on 
various topics, such as the areas in which the CARIFORUM -EU EPA could be improved, the 
strengthening of economic relations with the Dominican  Republic within the framework of the EPA, 
WTO notifications and current mechanisms to safeguard agriculture and animal and plant health. 
The replies to the questions submitted will be given careful consideration by our capital.  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  4.53.  To conclude, we would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our thanks to the Organization 
of Eastern Caribbean States and wish it a successful Trade Policy Revi ew. 
EUROPEAN  UNION  
4.54.  I would first like to welcome all the delegations of the OECS countries, led by Honourable 
Everly Paul Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Antigua  and Barbuda and the Chair 
of the OECS Council of Ministers of Trade (Hea d of Delegation), the OECS Commission as well as the 
Ambassadors here in Geneva. Let me extend my appreciation to the discussant, 
H.E. Nadia  Theodore , Ambassador of Canada for introducing us to the six Eastern Caribbean 
countries ' trade policies and practices today.  
4.55.  Since the last TPR in 2014, OECS countries have been exposed to considerable external 
shocks. As small island states that are reliant on tourism for their economic sustainability, they were 
hit particularly hard by the COVID -19 pandemic, on top of the well -known threats related to climate 
change, severe weather conditions and natural disasters. Economic instability related to the 
Russia n Federation' s war in Ukraine have now added to the list of challenges for the OECS gr oup. 
4.56.  In view of these challenging conditions, the EU must commend the block for its significant 
achievements in economic integration and the continued commitment to achieving ever -closer ties 
in other areas. The EU is also particularly impressed with the s ignificant progress accomplished under 
the Trade Facilitation Agreement.  
4.57.  The EU knows very well that the force lies in unity. As a major supporter and donor of the 
Caribbean integration process, the EU continues to see the OECS as a forerunner of regional 
integration and will back that process by all available means.  
4.58.  The EU is also an important trade partner for OECS countries and has become a first export 
destination for OECS countries  between 2011 and 2019, and is currently the second export 
destination .  
4.59.  The OECS countries are also part of the EU 's Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the 
CARIFORUM group.  
4.60.  Signed in 2008, the EPA not only provides duty free and quota free access to the EU market, 
but it also contains commitments on trade in services , investment, trade -related issues such as 
competition policy, government procurement, intellectual property rights, as well as sustainable 
development aspects. It also allows for the necessary flexibilities to account for the special needs of 
less develop ed Members and we are currently reviewing the functioning of the Agreement focusing 
more on the effective implementation of those provisions that are instrumental for improving the 
bilateral and investment climate.  
4.61.  The EU supported OECS Member States with the implementation of the EPA in key areas such 
as innovation and intellectual property rights, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary 
measures, and capacity building, notably in the customs and trade facilitation areas, with significant 
effects in terms of improving conditions for trade.  
4.62.  The EU will continue to provide trade related cooperation assistance to OECS countries in the 
future. For instance, through the ongoing "Strengthening Regional Integration Programme ", the EU 
is seeking to consolidate the OECS Economic  Union and promote a more inclusive and 
climate -resilient economy. In addition, as part of the Global Gateway strategy, we are currently 
compiling a 360 º package of financial de -risking and operational tools that aim to create better 
conditions for quality investments, in particular in the areas of a green and digital transition.  
4.63.  In this context, the OECS States will however need to step -up efforts to moderni ze their 
investment frameworks and improve conditions of doing busines s. In this regard, the EU welcomes 
the active participation of some OECS Members in the ongoing negotiations towards an agreement 
on Investment Facilitation for Development and encourages all OECS -WTO Members to join this 
initiative.  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  4.64.  In times of global unc ertainty and the constant emergence of new challenges, it is more 
important than ever to maintain and strengthen the rules -based economic cooperation. The WTO - 
and its reform – will continue to be an important element for this. In this regard, we commend OECS 
countries ' support on solutions to overcome the impasse of the Dispute Settlement System. In the 
meantime, we would invite them to consider joining the Multi -Party Interim Appeal Arbitration 
Arrangement (so called MPIA), which is a temporary but activ e mechanism for solving trade disputes.  
4.65.  However, we would also welcome further progress by OECS countries in implementing WTO 
rules and existing Agreements, notably in terms of notifications ' compliance. We also encourage 
OECS countries to consider accession to the Government Procurement Agreement and, on the 
environmental front, we hope that OECS countries will take part in plurilateral environmental 
initiatives, such as the Informal Dialogue  on Plastics Pollution and Sustainable Plastics Trade. Finally, 
we also encourage the OECS countries to consider joining the Joint Statement Initiative on Services 
Domestic Regulation.  
4.66.  Only by continuously progressing towards a rules -based trading system t hrough such 
initiatives, will we be able to fully leverage the opportunities offered by trade agreements and 
partnerships and attract new investments and capital inflows.  
4.67.  The EU appreciates the OECS WTO -Members ' replies to our advance questions, which we will 
review carefully. On behalf of the EU, I wish all OECS -WTO Members a successful fourth  Trade Policy 
Review.  
COLOMBIA  
4.68.  We warmly welcome the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Chair of the Council of 
Ministers of Trade, the other representative s of the OECS member countries and their entire team 
in Geneva.  
4.69.  We thank the discussant, Ambassador Nadia  Theodore of Canada, for her analysis and 
comments. The points she made have served to enrich this discussion. We also recognize the hard 
work of the S ecretariat and the countries' authorities in the preparation of the reports.  
4.70.  Colombia and the countries of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States share regional 
and multilateral frameworks.  
4.71.  In particular, at the bilateral and regional level, we have had a Partial Scope Agreement on 
Trade and Economic and Technical Cooperation with CARICOM, of which you are a part, since the 
mid-1990s.  
4.72.  Within this framework, a cooperation plan has been developed to share knowledge, 
experiences and best practices regard ing programmes and instruments to increase productivity and 
competitiveness, promote exports and investment, strengthen entrepreneurship and innovation, 
formulate and implement sustainable tourism policies, facilitate trade and support small -scale 
activity . 
4.73.  These activities have sought to complement our trade agreement in pursuit of a broader vision 
that would boost bilateral trade and investment flows.  
4.74.  I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States 
for its com mitment to the multilateral trading system, highlighting not only its fourth Trade Policy 
Review, but also its ratification of the Trade Facilitation Agreement, which may serve as a catalyst 
for the customs union that has been under construction since 2011 . 
4.75.  Furthermore, I wish to highlight our support for elements of its trade policy, such as the 
promotion of micro, small and medium -sized enterprises, the adoption of measures to assist and 
facilitate business, the promotion of new employment opportunities and the diversification of the 
economy.  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  4.76.  In fact, we also agree with the spirit of a number of policy objectives for the agriculture sector, 
including diversification to non -traditional exports, alleviation of rural poverty, food security, 
promotion of agro -tourism and resilience against climate change.  
4.77.  I would like to conclude by inviting the OECS member countries to join the Multi -Party Interim 
Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA), which will benefit everyone and improve the functioning 
and credibility of the WTO. We value the diplomatic, trade and cooperation ties that have become 
progressively stronger between our countries, and I wish the OECS a successful conclusion of its 
Trade Policy Review process.  
BRAZIL  
4.78.  Let me start by extending a wa rm welcome to the delegation of the Organisation of Eastern 
Caribbean States OECS -WTO Members, headed by H .E. Minister Everly Paul Chet Greene.  
4.79.  Brazil thanks the OECS Commission and its WTO Member States for the engagement in this 
fourth Review of their trade policies and practices, especially for providing Members with an overview 
of the OECS ' economic performance, trade policies, and adherence t o the multilateral trading 
system.  
4.80.  We would also like to express our appreciation to the WTO Secretariat for its thorough and 
comprehensive Report, as well as to you, Chair, and the discussant, Ambassador Nadia  Theodore, 
for your contribution to a success ful trade monitoring exercise.  
4.81.  Brazil attaches great importance to trade policy reviews, understanding that they contribute 
to enhancing transparency and predictability for trade stakeholders. In the current context of 
multiple crises - the COVID -19 pande mic, climate change, and international conflicts - information 
is one of the most important tools that the WTO's Members have at their disposal to cooperate and 
coordinate in order to find a resilient path to growth and sustainable development.  
4.82.  While ackn owledging that the trend of economic growth and improvement of other economic 
indicators in the Eastern  Caribbean have been affected by the COVID -19 pandemic, Brazil notes with 
satisfaction that OECS economies are currently on the path to recovery. In this  regard, Brazil is 
pleased to have carried out cooperation activities with the OECS Secretariat to fight the pandemic, 
through which we were able to deliver medicines, test kits, and vaccines to some of the 
organization's members.  
4.83.  Moving on to WTO issues,  we appreciate that, during the period under review, the OECS 
members ratified the Trade Facilitation Agreement and continued their efforts to amend legislation 
to allow them to fully implement the WTO Agreements.   
4.84.  Brazil believes that the commitment of E astern Caribbean countries to the multilateral trading 
system is an important element for strengthening regional integration and promoting economic 
development. In this sense, Brazil commends the efforts made by OECS countries to further 
harmonize and mode rnize their customs legislation, especially for making more use of electronic 
tools in their procedures.   
4.85.  Transparency and harmonization are crucial elements for more open and efficient trade flows. 
Brazil, therefore, invites the OECS -WTO Members to close ly engage with other WTO Members by 
notifying relevant trade measures to the respective committees, especially in the case of SPS 
measures, which have a direct impact on agricultural trade and, therefore, on food security.  
4.86.  Let us have now a closer look on the bilateral trade relations between Brazil and the OECS.  
4.87.  In spite of the recent setbacks caused by the crises, Brazil and the OECS countries have 
managed to preserve an important trade flow. Although bilateral trade flows remain modest between 
OECS -WTO M embers and Brazil, at just over USD  250 million in 2021, it more than doubled if 
compared to 2020, the first year of the pandemic.   
4.88.  For the coming years, we see potential not only to improve numbers in the existing exchange 
of goods and services between o ur countries but also for further diversification and complementarity. WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  Brazil is committed to strengthening our partnership with OECS countries, and we are eager to 
explore new opportunities to expand our bilateral trade portfolio beyond primary goods. It is worth 
noting that, not long ago, when President Lula first served as Brazil 's President, Brazil 's trade with 
OECS countries went from USD 8 million, in 2003 to USD 2.8 billion in 2010. With President Lula 
back to office, we expect that our renewed engag ement with our partners from Latin  America and 
the Caribbean can bring forward a similar boost in our commercial relations.  
4.89.  Let me conclude, by wishing the delegation of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean 
States -WTO Members a very successful Trade Poli cy Review  
UNITED  KINGDOM  
4.90.  May I warmly welcome the OECS delegation, led by the Honourable Everly Paul Chet Greene, 
to its fourth  Trade Policy Review. We are grateful to the OECS Members and the WTO Secretariat 
for their reports, and to you and our equally distinguished discussant, Ambassador Nadia  Theodore, 
for your insightful comments.  
4.91.  The countries of the OECS are of course nations with whom we have long and enduring ties, 
most members of the Commonwealth, some even shar ing the same head of state, to be crowned 
this very week, and many of whose people have enriched the society, economy , and culture of the 
UK – and for that, I thank them. We were delighted that our Foreign Office Minister David  Rutley 
was able to visit the  OECS Secretariat in beautiful S aint Lucia in March and we look forward to the 
UK-Caribbean Forum with Foreign Secretary Cleverly in June.  
4.92.  Let me also thank the Governments of the OECS countries for ratifying the CARIFORUM -UK 
Economic Partnership Agreement . We are grateful for their collaboration in the implementation of 
the EPA. The UK looks forward to continuing work with the CARIFORUM States to make the EPA a 
meaningful, living agreement, an Agreement that creates opportunities for both Caribbean and UK 
businesses.  
4.93.  We must stay alive to the individual challenges Members of this Organization face. As such, 
let me highlight the unjust environmental disparities faced by OECS Members. We must seek to 
champion trade and climate at the WTO but also make it cen tral to our own policies.  
4.94.  Following the destruction caused across the north -eastern Caribbean, by Hurricane Maria back 
in 2017, I would also like to show my support and wish Dominica luck in becoming the first "climate 
resilient " nation.  
4.95.  The UK also look  forward to seeing the benefits of the regional agricultural policy introduced 
over the review period, which will, we hope, reduce rural poverty and build resilience against climate 
change.  
4.96.  Multilaterally, the UK has been a strong advocate of SIDS, combini ng our own expertise, 
convening power and multilateral influence to seek action on the challenges that SIDS face. This 
was demonstrated throughout our COP presidency, where we gave a voice to the SIDS whose 
experience on the front line of climate change he lped galvani ze the world into action.   
4.97.  In December  2022, the UK launched the Principles for Improved Aid Impact in SIDS at the 
Effective Development Cooperation Summit in Geneva, alongside Canada and the Alliance of Small 
Island Sates (AOSIS). We very muc h look forward to working with the international community to 
drive action on SIDS climate and economic resilience ahead of the pivotal UN SIDS Summit.  
4.98.  I am also keen to highlight the important and influential voice of the OECS within the 
Commonwealth Sma ll States Office, an organi zation the UK is very proud to support.  
4.99.  Let me also address certain areas of market access with OECS Members, where the UK sees 
room for progress. The UK is keen to reduce barriers to trade where we can and are pleased to see 
that the Chief Veterinary Officers in Dominica and S aint Lucia have agreed to conduct a Risk 
Assessment to the UK to remove the ban on bovine and other meats. Although the barrier currently 
stands as high priority, I am encouraged by the now swift movement to wards a resolution. I hope 
that soon our succulent British beef and lamb will be used in Dominican households and restaurants. WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  The UK believes that sharing best practice and recent data will allow us to progress this more 
effectively.   
4.100.   Here in Geneva, we of course recogni ze the capacity constraints the OECS team faces. That 
being said, we would encourage greater WTO notifications, especially around agriculture and SPS. 
Making use of technical assistance and capacity building where necessary.  
4.101.   Nevertheless, despite having a very small team in Geneva, I would like to praise the OECS 
for its proactive and pragmatic multilateral presence. Few would disagree that the OECS delegation 
punches well above its weight, or even its height. And let me in th at respect congratulate my notably 
tall friend, Ambassador  Murdoch.  
4.102.   To focus on some of the multilateral successes, let me first congratulate OECS nations on 
ratification of the Trade Facilitation Agreement over the review period.  
4.103.   Let me also highlight t he OECS ' positive engagement with Dispute Settlement Reform , the 
IFD and e -commerce work programmes, as well as fisheries negotiations. All of which have 
demonstrated the constructive cooperation the OECS brings to this Organization.  
4.104.   Last but far from least, we welcome the OECS ' support for the Joint Declaration on Women 's 
Economic Empowerment adopted at MC11 and the domestic efforts its Members have outlined in 
this trade policy review to promote women 's economic empowerment.  
4.105.   To conclude, we are grate ful to our OECS friends for engaging in this important transparency 
exercise and wish them a most successful fourth Review, just as look forward to growing the trading 
and political relationship to which we are so committed.  
ARGENTINA  
4.106.   We would like to ext end a very warm welcome to the delegation of the OECS -WTO Members, 
headed by Mr  Everly Paul Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Antigua  and Barbuda 
and Chair of the OECS Council of Ministers of Trade. We take this opportunity to wish them  every 
success in this exercise.  
4.107.   We would also like to thank OECS -WTO Members and the Secretariat for their reports, as 
well as H.E.  Ambassador Nadia  Theodore of Canada for her remarks. They have provided us with 
the necessary information to deepen our und erstanding of the policies, trade practices and economic 
environment of the OECS members present here.  
4.108.   The meeting held in February last year between the President of Argentina and the high -level 
authorities of the OECS members clearly shows that our count ries' ties are at a high point. We wish 
to reiterate the importance we attach to this strategic relationship and we hope to continue 
strengthening our ties.  
4.109.   In this respect, we stress that Argentina is in a position to implement cooperation projects 
by pr oviding experience, genetic material and machinery to develop the food production sector. 
Argentina has financed dozens of projects of this kind in the Caribbean region through the Argentine 
Cooperation Fund. We recognize that food security is a major issu e for the region and developing 
projects in this area is certainly an excellent way of overcoming the existing challenges.  
4.110.   Bilateral trade between Argentina and the Members under review, which is mainly 
concentrated in agricultural products, is relatively  small. In view of this, we reiterate our full 
commitment to strengthening trade relations for the benefit of our productive sectors.  
4.111.   We believe it is important to open up the CARICOM market to Argentine meat products. We 
hope to come to a satisfactory ar rangement that results in the lifting of barriers to market access in 
the foreseeable future. Opening the market will increase the availability and range of food and thus 
help ensure food security for the region's population.  
4.112.   We are pleased to see that th e OECS economies are currently in the process of recovery 
following the COVID -19 pandemic. In 2021, the economies returned to growth, experiencing a 6.2% WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  increase in real GDP. We are confident that, with the appropriate policies, it will be possible to 
address the various challenges that they face and ensure growth in the coming years.  
4.113.   Argentina commends the OECS -WTO Members for their commitment to the rules -based 
multilateral trading system and for their constructive engagement in various areas of WTO work . In 
particular, we wish to highlight the OECS' active and constructive role in the informal discussions on 
the WTO Dispute Settlement System. We also wish to draw attention to the contribution of 
Antigua  and Barbuda, Dominica, and Grenada in preparing the  chapter on special and differential 
treatment of the Joint Statement on Investment Facilitation for Development, which is a fundamental 
part of the future agreement.  
4.114.   With respect to their multilateral obligations, we note that notifications to the WTO re main 
an issue for OECS -WTO Members, owing to a lack of technical capacity and human resources and 
the effects of the COVID -19 pandemic. We believe that this is another area in need of work.  
4.115.   Lastly, as part of this Trade Policy Review, we have submitted a series of questions on areas 
including the ASYCUDA World customs IT system, the incentives schemes for foreign investment 
and food security. We look forward to receiving the replies, which will be duly studied by our 
colleagues in Buenos Aires, and we hope  to maintain a fluid bilateral dialogue between our 
delegations.  
4.116.   In addition to reiterating our appreciation of this renewed opportunity to exchange reflections 
on the OECS -WTO Members' trade practices, we would like to draw attention once again to the 
importance of all aspects of this exercise in transparency. We wish the OECS members a successful 
conclusion to this review.  
ECUADOR  
4.117.   I would like to begin by welcoming you, Ambassador Saqer  Abdullah  Almoqbel, to this first 
Trade Policy Review Body meeting th at you have chaired. I wish you every success in your role.  
4.118.   I would also like to welcome Mr  Paul Chet Greene, Trade Minister of Antigua  and Barbuda 
and representative of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), and thank him for his 
presentatio n this morning.  
4.119.   I likewise take this opportunity to welcome the senior representatives of the OECS members 
present here and my esteemed colleague Ambassador Colin  Murdoch, whose tireless work 
representing the OECS at the WTO I especially appreciate. I woul d like to express my gratitude to 
Ambassador Nadia  Theodore, the discussant in this exercise, for her valuable remarks.  
4.120.   Ecuador wishes to commend the OECS for its participation in this fourth Trade Policy Review. 
It is an exercise in transparency and commi tment to the objectives of the World Trade Organization 
for Antigua  and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint  Kitts and Nevis, Saint  Lucia, and 
Saint Vincent  and the Grenadines.  
4.121.   For the OECS and the rest of the world, the period under review was marked by the 
COVID -19 pandemic and the ensuing period of economic instability. The services sector, one of the 
economic pillars of the OECS countries, was hit especially hard.  
4.122.   We appreciate the resilience shown by the OECS member countries during the tough times 
of the  COVID -19 pandemic. The most severe consequences were felt in the tourism sector, which is 
key for OECS countries, as we have heard in the reports and the discussant's presentation in 
particular. Its impact on their economic and social development led to a  drastic reduction in GDP 
and exports.  
4.123.   On top of this, the region has been exposed to natural phenomena that have also caused 
disruption to the economy, trade and the lives of people in those countries. As we can see, the 
discussion of topics relevant to t rade and the environment is key for OECS members, and placing 
these issues on the WTO agenda is of particular importance to them.  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  4.124.   Notwithstanding these factors, the serious commitment of the OECS to its obligations under 
the multilateral trading system and  regional and bilateral negotiations, including the fulfilment of its 
notification obligations, stood out from the reports submitted by the Secretariat and the Members 
under review.  
4.125.   We take note of the agricultural trade challenges in terms of the food sec urity of countries 
that are largely food importers. Ecuador, as a producer and net exporter of agricultural products, is 
always willing to work with the OECS on a productive exchange in this area.  
4.126.   In general, we hope that the OECS members' programmes to promote diversification of their 
economy, investment, and trade, and enhance the competitiveness of their export and services 
sectors yield positive results in order to increase the number of economic partners, boost income 
from trade and fos ter the sustainable development of the OECS members.  
4.127.   Ecuador welcomes the engagement of the OECS members in the WTO agenda. I wish to 
highlight their work on the recently adopted Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, e -commerce, 
investments, and micro, small and medium -sized enterprises, and their interaction with other 
countries with small, vulnerable economies. My country would like to invite OECS members that 
have not already done so to consider joining the initiative on plastics pollution, the main a ims of 
which are to tackle ocean pollution and protect the environment. These issues are important for all 
humanity and maritime countries in particular.  
4.128.   Ecuador is confident that its bilateral trade ties with OECS members will continue to 
strengthen withi n the framework of WTO rules. We are certain that our bilateral exchange will lay 
the foundations for mutually beneficial trade and bolster the relationship between our peoples. My 
country wishes the OECS member countries a successful Trade Policy Review.  
MAURITIUS   
4.129.   We join other delegations in warmly welcoming the high -level delegation of the Organisation 
of the Eastern Caribbean States OECS -WTO Members led by H.E.  Mr Everly Paul Chet Greene , 
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Chair o f the OECS Cou ncil of Ministers of Trade. I also 
acknowledge the presence of H.E.  Douglas, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of 
Saint Kitts and Nevis ; H.E. Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of 
Saint Vincent  and Grenadines ; and H.E.  St. Bernard, Special Envoy of Grenada.  
4.130.   We seize this opportunity to thank all OECS Members and the Secretariat for their respective 
reports. We also thank today 's discussant, H.  E. Nadia  Theodore, for her insight.  
4.131.   We are pleased to participate in this fourth Trade Policy Review of OECS -WTO Members. We 
thank the OECS delegation for highlighting trade and trade related measures adopted individually 
and collectively to address the challenges that they face. The period under review being even more 
difficult as we were all affected by the COVID -19 pandemic and from which we are still recovering.  
4.132.   Mauritius may be some 15,000  kms away from the OECS Sub -region; two oceans and one 
continent do separate us. And yet, we can connect to what we have just heard. We share a c ommon 
history and as a small island developing state, we share the same realities, including the inherent 
constraints and difficulties which have been reflected in the reports such as limited production base, 
remoteness from major markets and vulnerability  to external s hocks and natural disasters. To be 
able to thrive in a competitive world economy despite such weaknesses, requires good leadership 
and well thought strategies. Being highly reliant on tourism, we note the serious challenges that 
most OECS mem bers have faced during the pandemic that brought economic activities almost to a 
halt and even reversing gains from years of steady growth.  
4.133.   We commend OECS members for their efforts towards reforming their economies and 
adopting appropriate legislation. We  note that OECS members have amended their International 
Business Companies legislation to maintain accounting information in line with international 
standards. They also apply several incentive schemes, including sector specific incentives such as 
for the  tourism sector under the Hotel Aid Act, to encourage and promote both domestic and foreign 
investment.  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  4.134.   Mauritius would like to further commend OECS members for their continued efforts to amend 
their legislation to allow them to fully implement the WTO Agr eements. We acknowledge the 
resource constraints faced by these countries in drafting of legislation and regulations, and 
eventually in the implementation given the need to create new administrative infrastructures. We 
join them in their call for flexibili ties to take account of the developmental needs of SVEs. For 
instance, the reinforcement of support mechanisms, technical assistance and capacity building 
especially in fulfilling our commitments at the WTO as well as for effective participation in 
negotia tions and rule -making.  
4.135.   The Secretariat Report clearly identifies fisheries as one area where there is food 
self-sufficiency  and acknowledges the key role of the sector in terms of food security and export 
earnings. Thus, every time  OECS members and other S IDS call for policy space and SDT during the 
fisheries subsidies negotiations, other Members would surely listen to us, understand our position, 
and accede to our request. The second wave of the negotiations must deliver on sustainability while 
ensuring th at small and vulnerable Members are able to develop their fisheries sector in future.  
4.136.   Let me acknowledge the excellent work done by our colleague, Ambassador  Murdoch and 
his team in Geneva - be it on fisheries, agriculture, e -commerce, TRIPS waiver or any other issues 
of interest under discussion at the WTO. They confirm that for small island developing states "size 
is not destiny ". What we need is commitment and proactiveness in pursuing our common agenda. 
We, therefore, look forward to working with you in  this regard.  
4.137.   To conclude, Mauritius wishes a successful Review to the OECS delegation.  
JAMAICA  
4.138.   Jamaica joins others in extending a very warm welcome to the delegations of the OECS, led 
by the Honourable Everly Paul Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs  of Antigua  and Barbuda, and 
Chair of the OECS Council of Ministers, to their fourth  Trade Policy Review.  
4.139.   We thank the Chair, our discussant, and the Secretariat team for their respective 
contributions to this exercise.  
4.140.   Jamaica aligns itself with the statement s to be delivered by the distinguished representatives 
of CARICOM and the ACP Group s.  
4.141.   Jamaica and the respective Member States of the OECS enjoy cordial relations, built on a 
shared history, culture, our designation as small island developing sta tes (SIDs), and our mutual 
vulnerabilities to the devastating impacts of climate change and extreme weather events. As 
highlighted by the Secretariat 's Report, exogenous shocks, and major health emergencies such as 
the COVID -19 pandemic, significantly unde rmined the collective efforts of the OECS -WTO Member 
States to achieved fiscal consolidation during the review period. Moreover, recovery from the 
COVID -19 pandemic has been uneven for the affected Member States and is compounded by rising 
price levels and  a challenging global environment.  
4.142.   Jamaica, therefore, applauds the OECS -WTO Member States on the progress achieved since 
their last Review exercise and thank them for their comprehensive Report. The OECS -WTO Member 
States demonstrate an enduring commitme nt to deepening regional integration, particularly at the 
sub-regional level, and the wider Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Several OECS Member States 
have responsibility within the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet, for critical areas of Community Development 
includin g services, labour, science and technology and transport, and continue to advance the 
Community 's efforts in this regard.  
4.143.   Additionally, the sub -region continues to work towards the expansion of regional and 
international trade through active implementation  of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy 
(CSME) and several trade agreements, including the CARIFORUM -EU Economic Partnership 
Agreement and the CARIFORUM -UK Economic Partnership Agreement.  
4.144.   Bearing in mind the vulnerabilities previously highlighted, we can not overstate the 
importance of a fair, open, and predictable rules -based trading system to our collective pursuits of 
sustainable development and economic growth. As small vulnerable economies, OECS -WTO Member WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  States have actively pursued the strengthenin g of the WTO, and the multilateral trading system. We 
view favourably the submissions of the sub -region on issues such as Investment Facilitation, and 
the E-Commerce Work Programme on Digital Divide and Moratorium.  
4.145.   Against this background, I use this oppo rtunity to express Jamaica 's appreciation to 
Ambassador Colin  Murdoch, Head of the OECS Mission in Geneva for his delegation 's active 
engagement in the work of the Organi zation, especially in the negotiations leading to the successful 
outcome of the 12th Ministerial Conference in June  2022. We are further heartened by the 
constructive engagement by the OECS Mission on follow -up actions to implement the outcomes from 
the Ministerial Conference.  
4.146.   Jamaica is pleased with the high priority that OECS -WTO Member S tates attach to meeting 
their attendant WTO obligations. We note positively their ratification of the Trade Facilitation 
Agreement. In addition, Members have undertaken other reforms to ensure that their foreign 
investment regimes are WTO -compliant. OECS -WTO Members have sought to enhance their 
respective investment and business climates by modernizing customs legislation, implementing 
trade facilitation measures, and enacting legislation on government procurement. A number of 
OECS -WTO Members have also mad e amendments to their intellectual property rights (IPR) 
legislation, which demonstrates the high regard being given to ensuring that businesses and 
individuals can reap the full benefit of their inventions – a crucial component for successful trade. 
We we lcome indications that the region will pursue the establishment of a Regional Patent Body, 
and an OECS Regional Directorate on IPRs. Jamaica would encourage collaboration with and greater 
involvement in WIPO, and stands ready to share our own experiences i n this area.  
4.147.   Members have raised questions related to the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market 
and Economy; possible implications of the implementation of the Medium -term Fiscal 
Strategy  (MTFS); dispute settlement reforms; the methodology for assessing the Customs Service 
Charge  (CSC); and plans on draft legislation on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing 
among other issues. We thank the OECS delegations for the responses already provided to the 
approximately 160 questions that we re submitted by WTO Members , and look forward to the 
exchanges on other aspects of the ir trade policies that may be raised during today 's discussions.  
4.148.   Jamaica, however, notes from the Secretariat 's Report that the sub -region 's efforts to meet 
their impleme ntation and notification obligations are significantly hampered by human resource 
constraints. We, therefore,  encourage  OECS -WTO Members to continue exploring avenues for 
targeted assistance to small developing countries through aid -for-trade, and capacity  building 
initiatives in this regard. Moreover, within the context of ongoing efforts to boost trade policy 
implementation, and to improve trade and doing business within the sub -region, Jamaica also urges 
other WTO Members to ensure that negotiations take  into account the need for adequate policy 
space and special and differential treatment for its vulnerable Members such as those within the 
OECS -sub-region, and to consider the consequences of preference erosion for the region.  
4.149.   In conclusion, Jamaica looks  forward to continuing its collaboration with the OECS -WTO 
Members in our joint efforts to advance our mutual interests within the multilateral trading system . 
We wish the delegations of the OECS the very best for a successful fourth Trade Policy Review.  
BARBADOS  
4.150.   Barbados is very pleased to welcome the Honourable Ministers and Heads of Delegation of 
the Organisation of Ester Caribbean States (OECS) and the high level delegation from the OECS 
Secretariat.  
4.151.   At the beginning, Barbados would like to put on reco rd the exemplary manner in which 
Ambassador  Murdoch  and the OECS team in Geneva lead and represent not just the OECS, b ut the 
Caribbean, here on the ground.  
4.152.   As a fellow small, capacity constrained developing countries we appreciate how challenging 
the pre paration of the TPR is. We commend you on what has clearly been a high level of planning 
and coordination that went into undertaking this TPR as a Group of Members. This is true 
commitment to the WTO and its TPR process.  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  4.153.   We thank Minister Everly Paul Chet Greene  for an instructive and insightful opening 
statement, and the discussant, H.E.  Ms Nadia  Theodore (Canada), for her astute perspectives in 
laying out the context for this TPR. The usual thorough preparation of the WTO Secretariat for this 
Trade P olicy Review is also appreciated.  
4.154.   We know the economic vulnerabilities of small states such as the OECS and the increasing 
challenges posed by the climate crisis. It is therefore no surprise that the period under review, was 
marked by significant external environmental and economic shocks, including the COVID -19 
pandemic, that severely impacted the trade and economic prospects of these countries.   
4.155.   The pandemic disproportionately impacted small island developing states, largely because 
of the sudden and pro tracted halt in critical tourism receipts, supply chain issues, rising energy and 
food prices that caused the increase of consumer prices and led to the narrowing of real GDP by up 
to 24%. This was a notable difference in what pertained in the years direct ly preceding the pandemic, 
where real GDP increased steadily between 2013 to 2019 before sharply contracting by 17% on 
average in 2020.  
4.156.   While OECS Members are currently in the process of recovery, the pace of recovery has 
varied across its Membership. Reco very continues to be challenging given the increased costs in 
transportation since the pandemic; reduced or halted airlift which has limited tourism arrivals from 
reaching pre -pandemic levels; burgeoning debt levels brought on by structural challenges and the 
compounding effect of financing climate adaptation and other development priorities.  
4.157.   It is clear that if small island developing states like Barbados and the OECS are to rise above 
our inherent challenges, we must seek to embark on more innovative and forward -thinking  
strategies. The OECS trajectory based on regional integration; reinventing their economies; valuing 
the environment; building resilience; and advancing equity and inclusion is a welcome pathway.  
4.158.   We are particularly keen to see the evolutio n of the "2018 Development Strategy: Shaping 
our Shared Prosperity 2019 to 2028 " which uses a more systematic approach to holistically respond 
to the ongoing and emerging threats to the social and economic development of the OECS and its 
people through: in vesting in renewable energy, strengthening regulation, improving the business 
environment, highlighting the financial sector; boosting value -added in tourism, expanding digital 
services, and promoting the sustainable ocean economy and agriculture; while al so seeking to close 
the skills gap, by enhancing the quality of education, and improving social protection.  
4.159.   The OECS is an international inter -governmental organi zation committed to regional 
integration in the Eastern Caribbean. It has built an integration  architecture, which includes 
institutions of functional, economic, monetary , and technical cooperation and is a viewed as a 
well-established and respected sub -regional integration mechanism. The pace of OECS integration 
is an important model for the wider  CARICOM integration efforts, and it is an essential building block 
towards that goal. In fact, the manner in which the OECS works together is a lesson for all of us 
around this table.  
4.160.   Here at the WTO we work very closely and look forward to continuing ou r strategic 
engagement, including on the trade, environment and development nexus, investment facilitation, 
small economies, ecommerce and WTO Reform.  
4.161.   In closing, Barbados wishes the six OECS -WTO Members a successful conclusion to its fourth 
Trade Policy R eview.  
FIJI 
4.162.   Warm Greetings to the distinguished delegations of the OECS to its fourth Trade Policy 
Review today.  
4.163.   We recogni ze the Honourable Everly Paul Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade 
and Chair, OECS Council of Ministers of Trade; Honourable Denzil  Douglas, Minister of Foreign Affairs 
and International Trade of S aint Kitts and Nevis ; and the Honourable Keisal  Peters, Minister of 
Foreign Affairs and Trade of S aint Vincent  and the Grenadines ; as well as H .E. Mr Colin Murdoch, WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  Ambassador of OECS Mission in Geneva including delegates and officials who are part of the 
delegation based in capital and Geneva.  
4.164.   We also recogni ze and thank H .E. Ambassador Nadia  Theodore, P ermanent Representative  
of Canada for her thorough review of OEC S' Report.  
4.165.   As a small island developing state like the OECS, we share many common opportunities and 
challenges. The multilateral trading system is critical to provide avenues for development through 
the equitable and proportionate application of trade rule s that should enhance the trade vitality of 
small islands like OECS.  
4.166.   The OECS despite such challenges have ascribed and progressed and commend the valuable 
contribution of each of the OECS member states for all their commitment towards working together 
through the regional integration framework or the OECS Economic Union established in 2011. The 
countries commitment has bear fruits which culminated in many achievements over the years.  
4.167.   The progress made to address food security through the Agriculture Syste ms Transformation 
strategy in May  2022 as well as OECS efforts to aspire to fulfil its TFA commitments inter alia are 
highly commendable. OECS should sustain such good trade practices including adding value to its 
commodities. Digital trade through e -comme rce is the way for the future and as small islands this 
is an opportunity that could be tailored with tourism marketing to diversify into other potential high 
value products.  
4.168.   Despite the challenges posed by climate change and natural disasters, the OECS h as proved 
itself as a resilient group of countries who stood the odds against their vulnerabilities. This was even 
evident post COVID -19 pandemic, though the economic impact has been substantive on its tourism 
industry,  which is the backbone of the economy , measures instituted to recover have been successful 
as noted in the post pandemic figures.  
4.169.   As a vulnerable small economy, international cooperation as well as multilateralism are 
pivotal. Small economies are dependent on rules -based system for a predictable trading environment 
as well as for sustainability. Small economies are food dependents as in the case of OECS, food 
security is key for such NFIDCs group of countries and WTO should assure protection through trade 
flows.  
4.170.   Development institutions must take heed of development needs of small island developing 
states and offer special lending flexibilities in their favour. WTO rules must apply proportionally and 
provide policy space including in the fisheries subsidies agreement  where OECS global value capture 
is insignificant including its subsidies. This would be the only way in which multilateral trading system 
could make tangible contributions to address such needs.  
4.171.   Finally, Fiji would like to convey its gratitude to the OECS  delegation in Geneva led by 
Ambassador Colin  Murdoch and his able support team, Mr  Joel Richards for their contributions in the 
WTO negotiations including through our partnership as ACP family. Our statement aligns accordingly 
with the ACP Group statement  to be delivered by Kenya.  
4.172.   I wish the OECS delegation every success in its Review.  
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO  
4.173.   Trinidad  and Tobago aligns i tself with the statements to be delivered by the CARICOM and 
ACP Groups.  
4.174.   Trinidad  and Tobago is pleased to participate in the fourth Trade Policy Review of the 
OECS -WTO Members. We join others in welcoming to Geneva and to the WTO the Honourable 
Everly  Paul Chet Greene, H.E.  Andrea  St. Bernard, H.E.  Steven  Goldstein, Mr  Ricky  Jn Baptiste , and 
the Honourable Keisal  Peters, as well as Dr  Didacus  Jules and all other capital -based officials who 
have travelled to Geneva for this review. We extend to our fellow CARICOM member States best 
wishes for a successful and productive Review. We also take this opportunity to commend 
Ambassador Colin  Murdoch and Mr  Joel Richards for their  invaluable contributions at the WTO and 
within the CARICOM Group, not least of all on WTO Reform, the development dimension, small and WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  vulnerable economies, fisheries subsidies, investment facilitation and electronic commerce, among 
other key files.  
4.175.   In ad dition, Chair, we congratulate you on assuming the chairmanship of this Body and for 
your stewardship of this meeting. We also thank the Secretariat and the OECS -WTO Members for 
the preparation of their respective reports ahead of this review. Thank you as  well to Ambassador 
Nadia  Theodore of Canada for embracing the role of discussant, for your thoughtful reflections on 
key developments relating to the economic and trade policy measures undertaken by the Members 
in question and for engaging with the main e lements emerging from the questions posed by 
Members.  
4.176.   We applaud the firm commitment demonstrated by the Members under review to the 
rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core. That commitment has been amply 
demonstrated in this house , where OECS -WTO Members play an outsized role despite notable human 
resource constraints. We recall Minister Peters ' role as Minister Facilitator on electronic commerce 
at MC12. We also recogni ze the OECS Mission 's tireless work within the ACP Group on WT O Reform, 
as well as within the CARICOM Group on investment facilitation and trade facilitation, and as 
Coordinator of the Group in 2020 and 2021. The OECS -WTO Members have been consistent and 
vocal advocates on systemic considerations relating to developm ent, such as on preservation of the 
right to special and differential treatment, including but not limited to access to technical assistance 
and capacity building, and on meaningful integration of developing country Members into the global 
trading system. These Members have also been insistent that discussions and negotiations at the 
WTO must be invariably inclusive and transparent, duly taking into account the constraints and 
legitimate concerns of small delegations.  
4.177.   We are all well aware that the COVID -19 pandemic has had devastating impacts on the SVEs 
of the Caribbean region and elsewhere. OECS Members ' economies have traditionally been 
services -focused economies, with services contributing approximately 65% of GDP in 2021, 
according to the Secretariat 's Report. Reliance on tourism -related services as a key source of 
revenue meant that OECS -WTO Members were profoundly impacted by the global pandemic, as 
evidenced in a sharp contraction in GDP by an average of 17% in 2020.  
4.178.   We commend policy  and decision -makers for the strategic policy approaches undertaken 
during the pandemic and in the broader context of the formidable and interconnected global crises 
we face today. These Members have sought to remain open to international trade, recogni zing the 
catalytic  potential of trade for the pursuit of economic growth and sustainable development, with 
the aim of ensuring the wellbeing of their citizens. Like many other SVEs, OECS -WTO Members are 
net importers of merchandise, and are highly vulnerable to exogenous sh ocks, climate change, 
extreme weather events and natural disasters, not least of all hurricane Maria in 2017 and the 
La Soufrière volcanic eruption in 2021. It is truly commendable that, despite these catastrophic 
events and their reversal of hard -fought e conomic and development gains, OECS Members have 
continued to leverage trade policy in the pursuit of their development priorities, while seeking to 
remain within the boundaries prescribed by WTO rules and obligations. We commend efforts to build 
capacity to trade in key sectors, such as in respect of digitally -deliverable services exports. On this 
note, we commend the Members under review for their robust engagement at the WTO under the 
Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, including through useful writte n submissions.  
4.179.   In addition to shared commitments in respect of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and the 
concomitant implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and the Economy, Trinidad  and Tobago 
and the OECS -WTO Members are Parties to several other trad e agreements. These include the 
CARICOM -Colombia Agreement on Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation, the 
CARICOM -Costa  Rica Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the CARICOM -Cuba Trade and Economic 
Agreement, the CARICOM -Dominican  Republic FTA, the CARIFORUM -EU Economic Partnership 
Agreement (EPA), the CARIFORUM -UK EPA and the CARICOM -Bolivarian Republic of  Venezuela, 
Agreement on Trade and Investment.  
4.180.   As a fellow CARICOM member State, small island developing state (SIDS) and small and 
vulnerable eco nomy (SVE), Trinidad  and Tobago 's fraternal ties, mutual interests and shared 
challenges with the OECS -WTO Members are evident. As such, Trinidad  and Tobago commends the 
efforts of OECS -WTO Members to secure their developmental interests and, in this regar d, wishes 
to echo and amplify their call for the consideration of flexibilities needed in the WTO to take account 
of the development challenges and needs of SVEs. We also support the call to expand support WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  mechanisms, including technical cooperation, to as sist in the fulfilment of WTO commitments. 
The 2015 Nairobi Ministerial Decision on substantially and meaningfully addressing the needs of 
SVEs in every area of WTO work is pertinent in this regard.  
4.181.   In closing, Trinidad  and Tobago applauds OECS -WTO Member s once again on their sterling 
efforts and outsized contributions to our work in this house. We congratulate the delegation in 
advance on the completion of a successful Review.  
GUATEMALA  
4.182.   On behalf of Guatemala, I would like to welcome the delegations of th e Organization of 
Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), headed by Mr  Everly  Paul Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs 
and Trade and OECS Chair.  
4.183.   I would also like to take this opportunity to draw attention to the analysis of the WTO 
Secretariat, as reflecte d in the report prepared for this review. It provides a very complete and 
detailed overview of the OECS members' trade policies. Likewise, we extend our most sincere 
appreciation to the Ambassador of Canada, Ms  Nadia  Theodore, for her statement as discussa nt 
today and for the meticulous presentation that she kindly shared with us.  
4.184.   Guatemala values its ties to OECS members, with which it has maintained friendly relations 
over the years. This has been reflected in the solid rapprochement that our countries h ave forged 
within the framework of the Group of Small, Vulnerable Economies (SVEs) at the WTO. Discussions 
within the Group have enabled us to identify more clearly what the major characteristics and 
challenges common to our two countries are, combine effo rts in seeking joint solutions and pay 
special attention to the flexibilities and measures put forward to increase its participation in world 
trade and improve its integration in the multilateral trading system.  
4.185.   With regard to today's review, we greatly we lcome the ratification of the Trade Facilitation 
Agreement and the efforts made in each of the countries to implement it.  
4.186.   It is also worth noting the formulation of the OECS Growth and Development Strategy 
2019-2028, with which it seeks to strengthen mecha nisms for achieving sustainable development 
for its members, based on three strategic pillars: (a)  generating economic growth; (b)  promoting 
human and social well -being; and (c)  sustainable use of natural endowments.  
4.187.   Given that tourism is one of the main economic inputs for OECS members, the various efforts 
undertaken to strengthen competitiveness in this area, as evidenced by the revision and updating 
of the Common Tourism Policy (2011) and the contributions to the CARICOM Tourism Policy, are 
welcome.  
4.188.   Guatemala acknowledges the various actions taken by the OECS to boost trade and diversify 
its exports, which it has done by using tools to help enhance competitiveness, develop MSMEs and 
promote trade, a task that has been assigned to the Competitive Busines s Unit based in Dominica.  
4.189.   To conclude, our delegation applauds the OECS for its efforts during the period under review 
and encourages its members to make further progress in tackling challenges in their future work. 
We wish the OECS delegation a successful  conclusion to its Trade Policy Review.  
SOUTH  AFRICA  
4.190.   We would like to join the delegations that preceded us in congratulating the Organisation of 
the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) delegation headed by H .E. Mr Chet Greene and his team for 
the fourth Trade Policy Review. We thank the OECS and the Secretariat for their detailed reports. 
We also thank H.E.  Ms Nadia  Theodore of Canada for her observations as a discussant.  
4.191.   The OECS TPR takes place when the world is reelin g from the effects of the C OVID -19 crisis. 
As highlighted by both reports, like many other countries, the OECS countries ' economic growth was 
hit by the negative impacts of the pandemic resulting in slowed down economic activity. This was 
further exasperat ed by a series of natural disasters in the region, adding strain to the already limited 
human and financial resource capacities of these economies. Overall, this led to GDP contractions of WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  up to 24% with the real GDP of the OECS -WTO Members contracting by 17% on average in 2020.This 
translated to a GDP loss of USD  800 million in global exports for OECS -WTO Members.  
4.192.   However, as noted by both reports, OECS -WTO Members remained resilient and are currently 
in the process of recovery, with GDP having grown by 6. 2% on average in 2021, though the pace of 
recovery has varied across countries. This together with various levels of fiscal stimulus packages 
have seen a rebounding in tourism and tourism related activities.  
4.193.   We note with interest the various reforms and st rategic priorities and that are being 
implemented by the OECS to enhance and improve the trade regime to secure higher and sustained 
levels of economic growth and development, including (i)  the new OECS Growth and Development 
Strategy (OGDS) for 2019 -2028,  which sets out a growth and development path for the OECS and 
represents a systematic approach to holistically respond to the ongoing and emerging threats to the 
social and economic development of the OECS; (ii)  work towards establishing the OECS Economic  
Union to serve as the platform for enhanced growth and development prospects for the OECS region; 
and (iii)  the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), including ultimately a customs union 
with the free circulation of goods.  
4.194.   Being small and vulnerable c ountries, with a narrow economic base, dependent on tourism 
and to a lesser extent financial and government services and construction as major contributors to 
GDP and employment; and noting their challenges as net food importing countries that are exposed 
to external shocks, the post MC12 agenda on the food security work programme to address the 
challenges of Net Food Importing Developing Countries (NFIDCs) becomes even more important for 
the OECS. As WTO Members, we need to collectively reflect on what the  system can do to protect 
the interest of vulnerable economies as they pursue their growth trajectories. Importantly, the 
conclusion of the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement in line with its development mandate of ensuring 
an effective S&D in line with SDG  14.6 is critical to ensure the MTS advances issues that matter and 
broadens the benefits for all its Members.  
4.195.   Given the OECS 's narrow economic base, international trade is fundamental for the OECS 
countries. We therefore commend the OECS for advances it has m ade on implementation of its TFA 
commitments. We note that the average rate of implementation of the TFA for the OECS -WTO 
Members is approximately 68.5%. Challenges around implementation remain and these together 
with any identified gaps, as well as human and financial resource constraints should be discussed 
and addressed in the TFA Committee.  
4.196.   In conclusion, we commend the OECS for the role it plays in the WTO, including its focus on 
promoting and enhancing a Member -driven, open, transparent , and inclusive  multilateral trading 
system, and its active participation in the work of the WTO. We wish the OECS a successful TPR.  
KENYA ON BEHALF OF THE ACP GROUP  
4.197.   On the occasion of its fourth WTO Trade Policy Review, Kenya on behalf of the ACP Group, 
wishes to congratulate the Organi sation of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). We also present 
our compliments to H.E.  Ms Nadia  Theodore , Ambassador of Canada, for her guidance and analytical 
work as a discussant.  
4.198.   From the outset, I would like to commend the valuab le contribution of each of the OECS 
member States, who are also members of the ACP Group and active participants in their own right, 
to the work at the WTO. On this occasion, OECS members are showing once more that they are 
strong contributors and supporte rs of the multilateral trading system, by striking a balance between 
national economic and developmental policy objectives while building their capacity to adhere to the 
rules of the WTO.  
4.199.   We are all aware that OECS members are seriously vulnerable to exte rnal shocks such as 
natural disasters and continue to sustain a disproportionate high number of hurricanes that disrupt 
trade and adversely affect the region's economies, ecosystems, and human communities. All OECS 
members rely on the tourism sector as it accounts for an average 57% of exports and employs 35% 
up to 90% in some OECS countries. Unfortunately, in 2020 amidst the C OVID -19 pandemic, the 
region was not spared from the unprecedented impact of the lockdown and endured sharp declines 
in their econom ic activities. This put an end to six years of consecutive steady growth. Today, WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  however, the multifaceted endeavour  to tame negative external shocks seem to prevail, yet OECS 
members were resilient. We are pleased to see that data in the OECS shows that s ome members 
have recovered 75% of their pre -pandemic stayover arrival figures.  
4.200.   OECS members have gone above and beyond to bounce back from the negative external 
shocks. Regional efforts and coordination to reaching policy objectives have been commensurate  
with national objectives as well. Notably, the establishment of the OECS Economic Union since 2011 
to deepen regional integration, enhance growth and development prospects for the region is an 
example. Emanating from this cooperation is the adoption of th e OECS Development Strategy (ODS) 
in 2018, with ambitions to take up the challenge of responding to present and future threats to "the 
social and economic development of the OECS and its people " by generating economic growth, 
promoting human and social wel lbeing, and sustainable use of natural endowments.  
4.201.   We note that all six OECS countries are Net Food Importing Developing Countries (NFIDCs) 
with all importing greater than 50% of the food consumed - some reaching 80%. Notwithstanding 
the challenges in impl ementing agricultural policies, and as the sector remains a significant portion 
of ACP countries ' economies, we wish to commend the OECS on their initiatives to tackle food 
security uncertainties. We salute initiatives like the Food and Agriculture Systems  Transformation 
(FAST) strategy completed in May  2022 to promote linkages, create synergies for increased food 
security and food self -reliance and agricultural development.  
4.202.   Since  2016, OECS members have been implementing the TFA with an average 
implementa tion rate of 68%, consistent with their commitments at the WTO. Nevertheless, OECS 
members have reported that challenges in securing additional funding and technical assistance have 
surfaced.  
4.203.   Lastly, the ACP Group congratulates the OECS members for their continuous efforts 
domestically and globally. The ACP Group wishes the OECS every success in implementing initiatives 
that seek to improve its economy and renews its call for WTO Members to support them in seizing 
opportunities, and to overcome the challen ges. 
NIGERIA  
4.204.   Nigeria wishes to thank the  six Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States  – Antigua  
and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint  Kitts and Nevis, Saint  Lucia, and  Saint Vincent and the 
Grenadines  - for the successful conduct of its fourth Trade Policy Review. We thank the various 
heads of the delegation led by the Honourable Everly Paul Chet Greene , Minister of Foreign Affairs  
and Trade ; and the discussant H .E. Ms. Nadia  Theodore , the distinguished Ambassador of Canada 
to the WTO for their statements and responses. A very special thanks also goes to the distinguished 
Ambassador H .E. Colin Murdoch and his expert team including Mr  Joel Richards for their excellent 
work at the WTO.  
4.205.   Permit me to commend both OECS States and WTO Secretariat for the various 
comprehensive reports which reflects an excellent overview of the OECS trade and economic policies 
that includes an overview on all OECS -WTO Members that sought fiscal consolidation during the 
review per iod aimed at achieving primary surpluses in their central government accounts. This fourth 
Trade Policy Review Exercise remains testimony of the regions ' efforts in the compliance with its 
WTO commitments through implementation of its obligations under its  trade agreements at the WTO 
and other trade partners.  
4.206.   We also note that with a combined GDP USD  6.6 billion  in 2021 and an impressive per  capita 
GDP when compared to many developing countries ranging from USD  8,000 to USD  20,000, the 
OECS services sector in particular tourism, is a major contributor to both GDP and employment in 
the region.  
4.207.   It is worthy of note that the various reform measures undertaken by the OECS such as 
replacing some taxes, increasing the rates and coverage of others, trimming expend iture witnessed 
some considerable success when its real GDP increased steadily between 2013 to 2019. However, 
like many countries in the world, the OECS also experienced significant economic shocks due to the 
effects of the pandemic after 2019, resulting i n real GDP contractions of up  to 17%. This was WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  primarily caused by a significant decline in tourist arrivals which shows the importance of the tourism 
sector in the region.  
4.208.   We commend the OECS Governments for their swift action in providing a COVID -19 stimulus 
package and other necessary policies undertaken in order to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.  
4.209.   We applaud the OECS -WTO Members for maintaining a common monetary and exchange 
rate policy aimed at maintaining monetary stability through a fixe d exchange rate regime. We 
commend The OECS as part of CARICOM  and through its establishment of the CARICOM  single 
market economy (the CSME) that operates to remove all barriers to the free movement of factors 
of production despite the consolidation of the  CSME being still a work in progress. We believe this is 
worthy of emulation. As strong advocates of regional integration ourselves at the ACFTA, we believe 
that deeper regional economic integration shall lead to a more efficient economy.  
4.210.   Regarding the OE CS-WTO Members participation at the WTO, we would like to highlight the 
valuable contribution of the OECS in the ongoing Dispute Settlement Reform discussions. We believe 
that the restoration of the WTO two -tier Dispute Settlement System  is key in safeguar ding Members 
rights. The OECS has also been very active in negotiations at key WTO committees negotiating the 
Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, Investment Facilitation , and the E -Commerce work programme. 
The OECS has also contributed to WTO negotiations throu gh their various memberships at the ACP, 
G-90, Small Vulnerable Economies -NAMA, G -33.  
4.211.   We definitely take note of the natural disaster which the region has suffered and we also 
fully support that as members of the SVEs group, there is need for WTO negotiat ions to take into 
account the consequences of preference erosion for the region. We also commend the OECS on their 
ratification of the TFA during the period under review and we are confident that they are committed 
to fulfilling their obligations under the  agreement while addressing the capacity constraints.  
4.212.   In conclusion, we congratulate the entire delegation of OECS, my delegation will continue 
working closely with the Geneva based delegates of the OECS in many committees of shared 
interests. We wish them  a successful fourth  Trade Policy Review Exercise.  
BAHAMAS ON BEHALF OF THE CARICOM GROUP  
4.213.   I am pleased to deliver this statement on behalf of the CARICOM Group on the occasion of 
the fourth  Trade Policy Review of the OECS -WTO Member States.  
4.214.   We welcome the high-level delegation from the OECS headed by  the Honourable Everly Paul 
Chet Greene , Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Antigua  and Barbuda and Chair of OECS Council 
of Ministers of Trade ; Honourable Keisal  Peters Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of S aint Vincent 
and the Grenadines . 
4.215.   We applaud the OECS for their very comprehensive Report which acutely highlights the 
challenges of small island developing states , particularly in the wake of the COVID -19 pandemic and 
amidst the global battle to abate the impact of climate change. We also applaud the efforts of the 
WTO Secretariat for its comprehensive Report which also demonstrates an appreciation for the 
challenges faced by SIDS members in a post -COVID -19 environment and we appreciate the 
meanin gful communication from the discussant, Ambassador Theodore of Canada. Coming from The 
Bahamas, we agree that spice is indeed nice and we recognize the excellent contributions made by 
the OECS Mission in Geneva at the WTO and in CARICOM ably led by Ambassa dor Colin  Murdoch.  
4.216.   The structure of the OECS grouping is a very unique one with many opportunities, but also 
fraught with many challenges which require constant monitoring and adaptive management. Like 
many SIDS, the region is exposed to climactic disaster s. As outlined in the OECS Report 
WT/TPR/G/437, the impact of hurricane Maria on Dominica in 2016 resulted in damages estimated 
at 22 6% of that island 's 2016 GDP. With OECS 2019 tourism receipts accounting for an average 
of 57% of all exports, climactic di sasters continue to accentuate the economic challenges faced by 
the OECS as with all SIDS.  
4.217.   Recognizing the changing social, environmental and economic landscape, we applaud OECS 
members for taking the pragmatic step of adopting a comprehensive development strategy spanning WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  all six countries in its membership. More importantly, we are pleased to hear that the regional 
development strategy respects the level of development of each member country and the 
comparative and competitive advantages of each jurisdict ion to build greater regional resilience to 
the hazards each country and the region as a whole face.  
4.218.   On the tourism front, we are pleased to see the OECS development strategy includes steps 
to actively develop a more sustainable product by placing greater reliance on implementing 
marketing and decision -making driven by market data. We also note and applaud the plan to utilize 
World  Bank funding during the 2023 -24 cycle to update the OECS Common Tourism Policy in order 
to place greater emphasis on the Blue E conomy and increase competitiveness.  
4.219.   Paying careful attention to the data that some OECS countries import more than 80 % of the 
food which they consume, we commend the OECS on the launch of its Food and Agriculture Systems 
Transformation (FAST) strategy to improve food security, food self -reliance and agricultural 
development.  
4.220.   Amidst plans for broad based growth, we applaud the OECS for their efforts to address the 
contraction in manufacturing as a share of GDP which fell from 4.2 % in 2015 to 3.7 % by 2021 a nd 
for recognizing the opportunity to exploit niche markets in manufacturing, such as the global 
innovation for local market industries in areas such as chemicals and machinery.  
4.221.   Finally, and in line with the purpose of today 's meetings, we note the commitment by the 
OECS to a "fair, equitable, open, transparent, inclusive and rules -based multilateral trading system ". 
Most importantly, we support the view of the OECS that such a system must meet the needs of all 
countries, no m atter the stage of development. The efforts to swiftly conclude implementation across 
the OECS member States of the Common Customs Tariff (CCT) and the Trade Facilitation Agreement 
is indicative of this commitment.  
4.222.   We wish the OECS delegation a wonderful s tay here in Geneva and look forward to its book 
launch today entitled "Enabling Sustainable Trade in the OECS ". We convey best wishes for a 
successful Review.  
GUYANA1 
4.223.   Thank you, Chair, H.E.  Mr Saqer Abdullah Almoqbel ; Honourable Everly Paul Chet Greene, 
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Antigua  and Barbuda, and Chair  of the  OECS Council of 
Ministers of Trade ; Honourable Keisal Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of 
Saint Vincent  and the Grenadines ; Dr Didacus  Jules, Director Gener al of the OECS Commission ; 
Ambassador Colin  Murdoch ; members of the delegation . I join others in extending a warm Guyanese 
Caribbean welcome to you.  
4.224.   Chair, o ur commendation to you on the conduct of this session thus far, and our appreciation 
equally to Am bassador Nadia  Theodore of Canada, the discussant for setting the tone. We also 
extend our thanks to the Governments of Antigua  and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, 
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint  Lucia, and S aint Vincent  and the Grenadines and the Secretariat 's Trade 
Policies Review  Division, for the comprehensive reports.  
4.225.   As fellow small island developing states (SIDS) we are cognizant of the OECS -WTO Member 
States ' extreme vulnerability to natural disasters, the vagaries of climate change and exog enous 
shocks, we praise our sister CARICOM States in the progress that they have made thus far. In this 
respect Guyana associates itself with the statements by the ACP and CARICOM Groups.  
4.226.   We ae aware of the importance of the tourism sector to the economie s of the OECS Members 
and note the impact that COVID -19 has had on it. Therefore, we are heartened to acknowledge the 
initiatives and strategies being implemented, as well as the incremental progress made towards 
recovery.  
4.227.   The OECS States are Net Food Impo rting Developing Countries (NFIDCs), with their food 
import bill being greater than 50% of the food consumed and we commend initiatives such as Food 
 
1 Statement delivered during the second day of the meeting.  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  and Agriculture Systems Transformation (FAST) strategy completed in May  2022, to tackle food 
security uncer tainties. Similarly, the CARICOM Agri -Food Systems Strategy, which is being 
spearheaded by Guyana, aims to reduce the Region 's food import bill by 25% by 2025 and to create 
synergies for increased food security and food self -reliance and agricultural devel opment.  
4.228.   In closing, Guyana would like to express our best wishes to the OECS -WTO Member States 
for a successful conclusion of their fourth Trade Policy Review, as they continue to make their 
valuable contributions to the multilateral trading system amidst  the challenges they face. In this 
regard, it is hoped that the necessary support and assistance would be accorded to the States as 
they seek to honour their commitments under the Trade Facilitation Agreement, and the other WTO 
Agreements.  
  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  5  REPLIES BY THE  REPRESENTATIVE S OF THE OECS -WTO MEMBERS  AND ADDITIONAL 
COMMENTS  
OECS -WTO MEMBERS  (Honourable Keisal Peters)  
5.1.  Ambassador Saqer  Abdullah  Almoqbel, Chair of the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB) ; 
H.E. Ambassador Nadia  Theodore, Ambassador of Canada to the WTO and discussant ; 
H.E. Andrea  St. Bernard, Head of Grenada's delegation ; Mr Ricky  Jn Baptiste, Head of Saint  Lucia's 
delegation ; Dr Didacus  Jules, Director -General of the OECS Commission ; Ms Jacqueline  Emmanuel, 
Director of Economic Affairs and Regional Integration,  OECS  Commission ; Ambassador 
H.E. Colin Murdoch, OECS Ambassador in Geneva ; Ambassador Daven  Joseph of 
Antigua  and Barbuda ; other Representatives of OECS  member States and the OECS Commission ; 
distinguished Ambassadors and delegates.  
5.2.  I cannot emphasize enough how extremely pleased we are with the success of this the 
fourth  Trade Policy Review for WTO Members of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States 
(OECS). Mr  Chair, we are particularly de lighted with your efficient work.  
5.3.  We saw it fitting to participate in this review at a very high level because of the priority that 
we assign to this exercise. We also managed to use our brief time in Geneva as productively as 
possible and were fortunate to meet with many Members on the margins of our Review. We are 
encouraged and we will be leaving Geneva with renewed optimism in our collective ability as 
WTO Members to shaping an even more durable and relevant multilateral trading system.  
5.4.  H.E. Nadia  Theodore, Ambassador of Canada to the WTO, our friend, our discussant, we are 
extremely grateful for the tremendous amount of Caribbean spices that you used to flavour your 
statement. Canada has been a long -standing friend of the OECS. Therefore, when you were 
suggested by the Secretariat as one of the possible discussants, we did not hesitate in requesting 
you specifically. Our friendship with Canada was further cemented when the Honourable 
Justin  Trudeau me t with our Heads of Government in the Bahamas in February. Now this relationship 
has been given an additional stamp of approval with your role in our Review this week.  
5.5.  Ambassador Theodore, you demonstrated a keen awareness of the context and landscape in 
which the OECS operates. Thank you for further highlighting the challenges confronting the OECS 
since our last Review, including our susceptibility to natural disasters and climatic events; our 
persistent vulnerability to exogenous shocks, such as geopolit ical turmoil as is the case with the 
situation in Ukraine; as well as our structural constraints, such as narrow economic corridors as 
keenly demonstrated by our heavy reliance on the tourism sector.  
5.6.  You hit the nail on the proverbial head in highlighting  that the OECS member States place a 
high value on an equitable, open, transparent, inclusive and rules -based trading system. A system 
which is fully operationalized, including with respect to discharging its dispute settlement functions, 
helps to ensure t hat there are guardrails in place to preserve the interests of all Members, but 
especially the smallest and most vulnerable.  
5.7.  In short order, I anticipate that the OECS will be reaching out to the Government of Canada to 
discuss a trade to bring you back h ome.  
5.8.  We also want to thank Members for their very constructive statements during our TPR  Exercise. 
Several themes were common throughout most of the statements. First, a recognition of the 
challenges facing OECS -WTO Members as small vulnerable economies a nd small island developing 
states . Second , positive encouragements to improve our transparency and notifications. Third, 
encouragements for the OECS to join some Joint Initiatives. Fourth, the active engagement and 
pragmatism of the OECS in Geneva.  
5.9.  Small vulnerable economies and small island developing states face many of the same 
challenges. These include the persistent threat of natural disasters, the disproportionate impact of 
climate change, narrow production structures and vulnerability to external sh ocks just to name a 
few. In the space of a few hours, the passage of a hurricane can undo decades of human 
development and economic growth and development in a small island developing state .  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  5.10.  As our friend from Mauritius indicated, every time OECS members and other small island 
developing states call for policy space and Special and Differential Treatment, other WTO Members 
should listen to us and understand our position and accede to our requests. These requests are not 
flippant, and typically go to  the core of our lived realities.  
5.11.  This also brings me to an important point which I omitted on Wednesday. Some 
OECS  countries are classified as high -income by international financial institutions such as the 
World  Bank. Even in the WTO, this classificatio n has prevented some OECS members from 
benefitting from certain types of technical assistance and capacity building under agreements such 
as the Trade Facilitation Agreement. Allow me to place on record that high -income, especially for 
very small countries , is not a true measure of the development of a country. This is especially the 
case when one considers high -income in the context of the importunate vulnerabilities which we 
face.  
5.12.  Regarding notifications and transparency, we have taken note of Members' comments. As we 
indicated, we are not willfully failing to notify, but we do have real human and financial constraints. 
As we move to enhance our trade policy, including trade policy coordination within the OECS, we 
intend to address this issue he ad-on, including with the support of the technical assistance and 
capacity building available within the WTO.  
5.13.  On the various calls for the OECS to co -sign several initiatives, we have taken note. Of course, 
we are not opposed in principle to many of the i nitiatives underway. However, there are limits to 
our ability to participate fully given our resource constraints here in Geneva.  
5.14.  With respect to the OECS engagement in Geneva, this is something that will continue, and we 
intend to build on this as we hav e plans to strengthen our work at the WTO.  
5.15.  As I close, let me once again that you Chair for your effective stewardship of this process. We 
are immensely grateful to the dedicated and efficient work of the staff of the Trade Polic ies Review 
Division, parti cularly those with responsibility for the Americas Region, ably led by Mr  Angelo  Silvy 
and his team. You did great work, and  you were also very patient and flexible in your engagements 
with us. We also commend the work of the interpreters, translators , and editors to this process.  
5.16.  The staff of the OECS Commission and our officials in member States also did an incredible 
job in very trying circumstances.  
5.17.  The OECS has taken note of all the statements made. We thank WTO Members for their 
interest in our work  and their support during this week. We look forward to continuing our work with 
you to strengthen the WTO, including at the next Ministerial Conference.  
SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES  (Honourable Keisal Peters)  
5.18.  I take this opportunity to express our appreciation to the staff of the WTO Trade Polic ies 
Review  Division and the OECS Commission for their hard work and support in completing our Trade 
Policy Report. Thanks to H.  E. Saqer Abdullah Almoqbel, Chair of the Trade Policy Review Body and 
H. E. Nadia Theodore, Ambassador of Canada to the WTO and discussant. I also thank the Member 
States who reviewed our Trade Policy Report and submitted questions.  
5.19.  The fourth OECS Trade Policy Review has provided an opportunity for S aint Vincent  and 
the Grenadines t o examine its trade policies and practices. This offers important transparency 
dividends to the whole Membership of the WTO.  
5.20.  Saint Vincent  and the Grenadines as a small vulnerable economy and small island developing 
State (SID) faced many challenges durin g the reporting period including:  
• A series of severe natural disasters, from 2010 onwards, which have cumulatively 
caused loss and damage in excess of XCD 700 million ; 
• the negative socio -economic impact caused by the COVID -19 pandemic ; WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  • 32 explosive eruptio ns of the La Soufrière  volcano resulting in the disruption of lives 
and Livelihoods ; 
• the grave and gathering menace of climate change and its associated costs, which 
directly threaten growth and development prospects;  
• High global fuel prices and its "knock -on" effects;  
• Geo-political turmoil such as the Russia n Federation -Ukraine conflict, which 
exacerbated the underlying global economic downturn, has had significant inflationary 
impact.  
5.21.  In an effort to combat these challenges, Saint  Vincent  and the Grenadines under its 
Post-Disaster Recovery Needs Assessment, has quantified recovery needs and formulated a realistic 
recovery framework based on national priorities and capacities. These are built around three broad 
and achievable objectives aimed at enhan cing the country's economic development agenda in an 
inclusive and comprehensive manner. These are achievable by:  
• ensuring the sustainability of the productive value chains that incorporate new and 
better technologies;  
• the development of effective and eff icient governance mechanisms, human capacities 
and support services; an d  
• the strengthening of the financial sector.  
5.22.  Since the last Trade Policy Review in 2014, Saint  Vincent  and the Grenadines has sought to 
build on the development path espoused in the Na tional Economic and Social Development Plan 
(NESDP) 2013 -2025. This development path includes Re -engineering Economic Growth. Some of 
the development initiatives include:  
• The completion and operation of the Argyle International Airport (AIA) in 2017;  
• an aggressive thrust for alternative energy through geothermal exploration and other 
green energy sources;  
• a focused approach at defining and integrating our Blue Economy into national 
development strategies;  
• the Implementation of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) initiative 
under the Caribbean Regional Communications Infrastructure Programme;  
• the construction of a Modern Port facility;  
• the development of a National Export Strategy which is currently under review; and  
• the development of an Import Export Guide to facilitate trade in goods.  
5.23.  In addition, Saint  Vincent  and the Grenadines looks favourably  on its regional integration 
processes with the Organi sation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Caribbean Community 
(CARICOM). These are the bed -rock platforms from which we seek to competitively engage and 
further integrate into the global economy.  
5.24.  Saint Vincent  and the Grenadines int ends to continue to be a constructive player in the WTO. 
As we look towards the 13th Ministerial  Conference (MC13), we are anticipating meaningful 
engagement and progress in a number of areas, such as WTO Reform, including the reform of the 
Dispute Settlem ent System; fisheries subsidies; agriculture , and e -commerce among others. Having 
facilitated the thematic session on e-commerce, I am pleased to see that the work program me has 
been reinvigorated.  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  5.25.  We also believe that there is scope to better integrate s mall economies into the global 
economy, and we believe that this can be meaningfully achieved by further institutionalizing 
development as a core principle in the WTO.  
5.26.  To offer some brief thoughts on some of these priority areas for MC13, let me reiterate  our 
commitment to reforms to improve the functioning of the WTO. We note that a number of proposals 
are emerging. Nonetheless, this work must remain open, inclusive, transparent , and friendly to the 
capacity constraints of small delegations.  
5.27.  On Dispute S ettlement Reform, we continue to support the two -tiered system. This is 
fundamental for due process and natural justice. Even as we participate actively in the informal 
dispute settlement reform conversations through the OECS, we call for the full restorat ion of the 
proper functioning of the system as soon as possible and certainly no later than 2024.  
5.28.  In Fisheries Subsidies, we call for Members to remain faithful to the mandate for appropriate 
and effective Special and Differential Treatment (SDT). The pro posed de minimis  threshold, or small 
players exemption, should be seen as appropriate and effective SDT. If we depart from the mandate, 
I fear that we will be led down a path of unrighteousness.  
5.29.  On Agriculture, we continue to prioritize domestic support , special safeguar d mechanisms and 
special products. There should also be a meaningful outcome on public stockholding .  
5.30.  In closing it is important to mention that S aint Vincent  and the Grenadines honours  it 
obligations to the multilateral trading system and places a high va lue on the trade policy review 
mechanism. We would like to reiterate the importance of technical assistance and capacity building 
for developing countries.  
DOMINICA  
5.31.  I deliver this statement on behalf of Honourable Dr  Vince  Henderson, Minister of Foreign 
Affairs and Trade of Dominica who was not able to be with us this week. Minister Henderson sends 
his apologies.  
5.32.  Dominica feels both privileged and elated to join our fellow OECS member States in the 
exercise of another WTO Trade Policy Review. We view this process as the epitome of transparency 
and a cornerstone of the WTO's Transparency Mechanism. It is also an opportunity to share with our 
fellow WTO Member States the efforts which we have made, during the period under review, to 
create a more conducive en vironment for the conduct of trade embracing wholesomely the WTO 
Trade Facilitation Agreement as the catalyst.  
5.33.  We also want to take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the multilateral trading 
system and to play our part in confronting, in a constructive, positive, result oriented manner, the 
challenges being faced by this august Organization.  
5.34.  This Trade Policy Review is set within the context of a country being ravaged twic e by natural 
disasters  - Tropical Storm Erika (2015) and Hurricane Maria (2017)  - which caused loss and damage 
equivalent to over 300% of GDP; the final year under review was spent battling the ravages of the 
COVID -19 which to a large extent set back econo mic growth prospects, projected by the 
International Monetary  Fund (IMF), of 5.5% for the year 2020. The advancements which are 
reflective, within the content, of our Report, is therefore indicative of a story of triumph over 
adversity and the setting of t he foundations for the realization of the first climate resilient country 
in the world . 
5.35.  In the building of resilience, fighting climate change and laying a development path to ensure 
a sustained and purposeful recovery the Government of Dominica has crafte d a comprehensive 
National Resilience Development Strategy (NRDS) characterized  by three major forces: sustainable 
development goals; building the first climate resilient country in the world and people centred  
development. A Climate Resilient Recovery Pla n (CRRP)  which creates targets, defines initiatives and 
outlines resources required to implement resilience measures was also crafted. Finally, a Disaster 
Resilience Strategy (DRS) was realized wh ich will guide individuals, communities, organizations and WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  the State to adapt and recover from disasters without compromising long term prospects. These 
documents present a vivid framework for Dominica to 2030.  
5.36.  Dominica continues to recognize its obligation to strive to ensure a harmonized trade policy 
within the regional  construct – CARICOM and the OECS; we are aggressively implementing a National 
CARICOM Single Market and Economy Work Programme and work continues in the area of deepening 
integration within the OECS Economic Union. Our united front, in the pursuit  of this Trade Policy 
Review, is testament to our thrust towards harmony.   
5.37.  Dominica has also received the approval of our Cabinet for our National Trade Policy. This 
document will serve as the yardstick by which we pursue our trade related activities local ly, 
regionally , and internationally.  Our vision is to achieve g lobally competitive exports driving a more 
balanced, diversified, sustainable and resilient economy. The mission is to establish a market -driven, 
development -led, sustainable trade policy capable of catalysing expanded economic growth, reduce 
poverty , and attain improved living standards for all Dominicans. The ultimate goal being to  
significantly improve Dominica's external trade performance and its balance of trade position and to 
improve  the ease, efficiency, and confidence of the country's domestic trading environment. In this 
National Trade Policy , we have earmarked the following sectors for development:  
• The Creative (Orange) Economy;  
• The Green Economy;  
• The Blue Economy;  
• The Circular Ec onomy; and  
• The Digital Economy.  
5.38.  We are currently working on an implementation plan to bring to life the contents of the pages, 
of this, Dominica's National Trade Policy.  
5.39.  Dominica continues, through its National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC), to imple ment 
our Trade Facilitation Road Map; we are in pursuit of realizing 48 activities which will enable the full 
implementation of the TFA on our municipal plane. Currently, we have implemented more than 90% 
of our Trade Facilitation Measures. We want to take  the opportunity to thank UNCTAD for its 
continued assistance in enabling our trade facilitation goals.  
5.40.  Fellow Members, i n 2015, the Dominica Customs Division, with assistance from the 
International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group, worked on a project to facilitate 
national connectivity of key border control agencies. An IFC Conversion Tool was developed an d 
implemented, which allowed the agencies access to the Automated System for Customs Data 
(ASYCUDA) from their offices and manage their import trade data requirements on the system. The 
NTFC however identified a number of critical aspects which are still p ending to make the Single 
Window fully operational. It is premised on the same that we applied for and received support from 
the Investment Climate Reform Facility to pursue a consultancy geared as establishing our readiness 
for the implementation of a Sin gle Window in Dominica. The consultancy is complete and the Final 
Report has identified the way forward. Dominica is presently pursuing the recruitment of a Manager 
to assist in the bridging of the implementation gaps identified in the consultancy and brin g the Single 
Window to life in Dominica.  
5.41.  Dominica continues to play an active role in the discussions geared towards the birth of a 
future Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement. Dominica visualizes benefits from 
participating in this Joi nt Initiative to revolve around the promotion of greater transparency of 
regulations concerning investment; building constructive relationships between investors and 
relevant authorities; and the establishment of amicable consultation/mediation mechanisms to avert 
investment disputes from escalating. Dominica recogni zes the importance of a Self -Needs 
Assessment to explore the readiness for the negotiation and implementation of an Investment 
Facilitation Agreement; Dominica is currently poised to benefit from a Self -Assessment with the 
support of the OECS Commission which has hired a Consultant to facilitate this activity.  
5.42.  On the environmental front, the Government of Dominica believes strongly in clean energy 
transitions; this is of pertinence to our future trajectory. Our Government recognizes that energy 
services are key to unlocking the potential for more sustainable environmental, social and economic 
development in Dominica. A National Energy Policy has been developed and is intended to address  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  the needs of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Dominica; help combat increasing energy costs; 
and reduce Dominica's greenhouse gas emissions in line with its aspirations the "Nature Island of 
the Caribbean" and "the First Climate Resilient Country in th e World". The National Energy Policy 
represents the desire of the Dominican people to improve the quality of life and living standards on 
Island for this generation and future ones; this Policy was approved in January  2021.  
5.43.  Members, our National Energy Pol icy is forward thinking and establishes the framework for an 
energy transition which will deliver national development outcomes for the environment, society and 
the economy of Dominica and aligns with Government's stated target of 100% Renewable Energy 
by 2030. The transition to a more affordable, resilient and low -carbon energy system will require 
phasing out fossil fuels in power generation and transport. Dominica's long -term goal, in this Sector, 
is to explore and utilize renewable and alternative energy  potential and work continues on a 
Geothermal Development Project, in the Roseau Valley, with the construction of two additional wells 
in Laudat; with financial and technical support from the World  Bank. The Government has also 
conducted five  procurements associated with the drilling of these wells valued at over 
XCD 35.1 million. This includes the civil works for access roads and well pads.  
5.44.  On the services front we continue to enhance our sites and experiences to ensure that 
Dominica becomes a premier tour ist destination; we have also been investing in the building of 
hotels to ensure sufficient, luxury accommodation for stay over tourist. We also continue to support 
our non -established service sectors through our Small Business Support Unit both by means o f 
technical and financial support. The Government also works collaboratively with our professional 
service providers to enhance their ability to deliver a satisfactory service and to take advantage of 
the market opportunities provided within the numerous t rade arrangements negotiated for their 
benefit.  
5.45.  In brief, Dominica's economic outlook, in the short term, would comprise the a cceleration in 
the implementation of the Public Support Investment Programmes (PSIP) largely financed by 
proceeds from the Citizenship by Investment (CBI)  Programme; the construction of the international 
airport ; and private sector initiatives inclusive of the building luxury hotels to support the tourism 
sector.  
5.46.  In conclusion, I want to thank the WTO Secretariat for the oppor tunity to highlight our 
development -oriented activities undertaken during the period of review; the technical assistance 
and support given by the staff of the WTO is invaluable. I thank you on behalf of the Government 
and people of the Commonwealth of Domi nica. We also want to thank the OECS Commission and its 
Mission in Geneva for the support given throughout this exercise. Dominica will continue to ensure 
that its trade -oriented development goals will be guided by the guidelines, principles , and rules of 
the WTO. The outcome of this review, I am sure, will establish our vigilance in this effort.  
5.47.  Lastly, I want to thank the Members who have submitted questions. This illustrates your 
interest in what we are pursuing. We were happy to respond to your queries . 
GRENADA  (H.E. Andrea St. Bernard)  
5.48.  It is a distinct pleasure for me to be here today to express my gratitude on behalf of the 
Government of Grenada as we conclude this fourth Trade Policy Review of the OECS. I bring 
greetings on behalf of our Minister for  Trade, Hon ourable Joseph  Andall, Minister for Foreign Affairs, 
Trade and Export Development.  
5.49.  This last two days of the review have been very successful and indeed Grenada is pleased 
with the manner in which the Chair and the discussant have conducted the process. Grenada has 
learned from this process and has taken on board the feedback and comments from Members. We 
also express thanks to the delegations who took the floor during the meeting and those who 
submitted written questions in advance. It is evident that this Trade Policy Review Mechanism is 
open and transparent and means well for the future of thi s multilateral trading system.  
5.50.  Turning briefly to the Secretariat and our country reports, it is evident that Grenada has made 
tremendous progress since our third Trade Policy Review held in 2014. Some of the main takeaways 
under the period of review as hi ghlighted are as follows:  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  (a) Implementation of a Home -Grown Structural Adjustment program with support from a 
formal Extended Credit Facility arrangement with the International Monetary Fund 
(IMF). This has enabled Grenada to strengthen its competitivenes s, embark on prudent 
fiscal management and generate higher levels of growth.  
(b) Establishment of COVID -19 Economic Support Secretariat (C.E.S.S) - Grenada 
experienced a significant decline during the COVID -19 Pandemic in all sectors of the 
economy, includ ing in the tourism and education sectors which have been significant 
contributors to our GDP. In fact, during the height of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, 
Grenada experienced a significant decline in its GDP. To mitigate this decline, the 
Government of Gre nada established the COVID -19 Economic Support Secretariat to 
provide financial support to MSMEs. Due to our resilient nature, we have managed the 
reopening of all sectors and are now back to pre -pandemic levels of growth. 
Nonetheless, our experience with the pandemic has cemented the need to accelerate 
reforms to boost economic growth and development and to build resilience, including 
with respect to investment facilitation reforms.  
(c) Another highlight for Grenada has been the implementation of our new i ncentive regime 
which was a significant move to improve the level of investment opportunities for 
Grenada. It also simplified the process to access available incentives through an 
automatic application for investors who fall within our priority sectors.  
5.51.  During the period under review, Grenada made significant improvements to its legislative 
framework to improve transparency at the border. In the area of Trade Facilitation, Grenada 
submitted its instrument of ratification of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreem ent and is working 
assiduously to get technical and financial assistance to implement its Category  C commitments. One 
of the noteworthy achievements is the establishment of our Customs Appeals Commission which is 
now functioning and receiving appeals.  
5.52.  During the period under review, Grenada enacted Consumer Rights legislation and is in the 
process of establishing the office of consumer rights.  
5.53.  In regard s to exports, Grenada implemented a National Export Strategy 2017 -2021. The aim 
of this export strategy is  to improve the level of exports and to find new markets for our export 
products and services. The Export Strategy not only focuses on goods but also covers the services 
sector. There are six priority areas which are as follows:  
• agriculture and fisheries;  
• creative industries;  
• maritime and yachting;  
• health and wellness;  
• tourism; and  
• professional services.  
5.54.  We point to our implementation of an MSME Policy in 2019 to help develop this sector. The 
aim of the policy is to stimulate the sustainable development, growth and expansion of viable 
MSMEs; and to create appropriate conditions for the entrepreneurial spirit and culture to flourish in 
urban, sub -urban and non -urban communities throughout Grenada.  
5.55.  In the context of the WTO disciplines on Investment Facilitation for Development, Grenada 
joined these negotiations in 2019 and has been very much involved in the process. In fact, yesterday 
Grenada delivered its first face to face statement at the Investment Facilitation for Devel opment 
Open Plenary.  
5.56.  Grenada at this time will like to reaffirm its support to the ongoing negotiations at the WTO 
leading up to MC13 next year and is also committed to the WTO Reform.  
5.57.  Moving to concerns raised by Members, we have taken note of the need to  improve our WTO 
notifications and we will work jointly with our OECS colleagues to address this matter. In the area 
of trade facilitation , we have highlighted previously about our achievements, however, we will 
continue to approach regional and internatio nal donors f or technical and financial assistance.  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  5.58.  Finally, Grenada expresses thanks once again for this Trade Policy Review and to our fellow 
colleagues from the OECS. We thank Minister Greene of Antigua and Barbuda for delivering the Joint 
opening statem ent on behalf of the OECS . We have stated the process of reviewing the questions 
posed by Members and we will submit our written responses to the Trade Polic ies Review Division  
within the stipulated timeline.  
SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS  (H.E. Steven Golstein)  
5.59.  I deliver this statement on behalf of the Honourable Denzil Douglas, Minister of Foreign Affairs 
and Trade of S aint Kitts and Nevis who could not be here with us. I also extend apologies on his 
behalf, for his absence.  
5.60.  Saint Kitts and Nevis is pleased to joi n with its OECS colleagues to participate in its fourth 
Trade Policy Review by the World Trade Organization (WTO). I take this time therefore to thank the 
OECS Commission for its meticulous work in preparing the reports and getting us to this stage. We 
would also like to acknowledge the WTO Secretariat, including the TPR Division and all involved for 
their dedicated work over the past months. Indeed, we can all truly say that despite the challenges 
posed by the COVID -19 pandemic we have truly come a long wa y. 
5.61.  As a small island developing state, we consider the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM) 
as one of the is one of the most important instruments in the discharge of the WTO's monitoring 
function.  
5.62.  The Trade Policy Review Mechanism has worked very effectively in ensuring transparency of 
trade policies and practices of WTO Members. Further it has contributed to maintaining and 
strengthening the multilateral trading system (MLTS). In that regard, S aint Kitts and Nevis remains 
committed to the process and on this occasion feels the need to reiterate the importance of 
transparency in strengthening the WTO functions.  
5.63.  It is no secret that the multilateral trading system has faced unprecedented challenges in  the 
past few years. Nonetheless, S aint Kitts and Nevis, as with its colleague OECS Members, remains 
committed to the centrality of the WTO for an integrated, rules -based global trading system. We 
remain supportive of all efforts that have been made to saf eguard and strengthen the WTO for 
promoting development and inclusivity.  
5.64.  Saint Kitts and Nevis values the interest of the Membership in the Review, and thank them 
for the questions posed which in our view highlight the value of this process. We have alread y 
registered our responses and thank the Membership for its robust engagement over the past two 
days.  
5.65.  The road to get to this stage has been arduous and long. Indeed, while this could be said by 
other Members, as a small island developing state characteriz ed by vulnerabilities such as limited 
capital, and human resources, we remain exposed and experience tumultuous times.  
5.66.  Further, the challenges to us a SIDS that arise from the impacts of climate change and natural 
disasters are particularly acute within th e context of the inherent characteristics that typify us.  
5.67.  Yet, we have made tremendous strides in our trade policy implementation, intent on further 
catalysing  trade as an engine of growth. Of course, we are mindful of ridding ourselves of the 
challenges a ssociated with poverty, unemployment , and income inequality.  
5.68.  In the area of Trade Facilitation, we boast a very active National Trade Facilitation Committee 
(NTFC) focused on the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). Our roadmap for 
trade facilitation considers all the relevant legislative and institutional reforms to bolster trade 
facilitation efforts.  
5.69.  We are forging ahead to institute a transformed cross border clearance eco -system through 
efficient, transparent, risk based, coordinate d, digital, seamless , and technology -driven procedures. 
Indeed, our efforts are not void of challenges as we continue to encounter difficulties in accessing 
funding based on donor criteria and our classification as a middle -income country.  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  5.70.  Meanwhile, howev er, we understand that the trade facilitative measures initiated by the 
Government could be instrumental in a drastically reducing time and cost of border and documentary 
compliances for exports and imports among other noteworthy benefits. So, we prod alon g in 
anticipation of enhanced and strategic donor support and technical assistance.  
5.71.  It must be emphasized, that trade is a vital aspect of S aint Kitts and Nevis' development 
strategy and an enabler of its economic competitiveness.  
5.72.  Our services sector continues to be the dominant sector in the economy accounting for 80% 
of GDP. We will seek to develop this sector that has tremendous potential, particularly in the area 
of professional services .  
5.73.  The Federation is endowed with several professional service providers in areas such as 
engineering, quantity surveying, architecture, educational service providers, cultural service , ICT, 
and management services . 
5.74.  Of course, we cannot discuss trade policy outside the context of the COVID -19 pandemic  and 
its impact on global supply chain and other related factors.  
5.75.  Our MSME's were the hardest hit by the recent pandemic and our manufacturing sector 
suffered a tremendous blow. This sector continues to be a major contributor to the socio -economic 
developm ent of the Federation. It provides substantial export earnings and employment and while 
affected by the pandemic showed much resilience and rebounded in quick time.  
5.76.  In recent times the availability of a supportive mechanism for businesses, including 
manufa cturing entities, has been brought into sharp focus, especially after the advent of the 
COVID -19 pandemic. To this end, the sector will be guided by the revised National Manufacturing 
Strategy, which will cover the period 2022 to 2027. This National Manufa cturing Strategy identifies 
solutions and recommendations that will continue to make the Manufacturing Sector of the 
Federation competitive, and productive and a viable generator of employment for the citizens and 
residents of S aint Kitts and Nevis.  
5.77.  We con tinue to strive and accelerate our attempts to reduce our food import bill by 25% 
in 2025. It was just less that one week ago when we hosted one of the largest National Agriculture 
Fair on S aint Kitts and Nevis  which provided us with the impetus that we ca n indeed make 
agriculture and food security high and prominent features on our agenda for economic 
transformation.  
5.78.  We continue to support the overarching goals of the multilateral trading system and we 
anticipate the acceleration of engagements on e -commer ce, and investment facilitation among other 
critical subjects that are of interest to us as we play our part in strengthening, protecting and, 
preserving the system.  
5.79.  Today, international trad e is a significant part of the economy of S aint Kitts and Nevis and it 
is inextricably embedded as a priority area in the overall economic policy framework.  
5.80.  We are confident, as we move along this trajectory, that S aint Kitts and Nevis, along with the 
OECS membership, will play an increasingly important role in global trade in the years to come. We 
commit to addressing our shortcomings and some of these have been highlighted in some of the 
questions we received.  
5.81.  Finally, I say many thanks to the Members once again for this opportunity and for your special 
interes t taken in St. Kitts and Nevis' Trade Policy.  
SAINT LUCIA  (H.E. Ricky Jn Baptiste)  
5.82.  Saint Lucia wishes to first, align itself with the statement delivered by Honourable  Minister 
Peters  on behalf of the WTO Members of the Organi sation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).  
5.83.  We would also like to express our gratitude for the warm welcome we received on Wednesday. 
My delegation is especially encouraged by the collective interest, and importan tly, with the manner WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  in which this fourth OECS Trade Policy Review exercise was conducted. The spirit of transparency 
was indeed present. Saint Lucia sees this as a productive platform and appreciates the many 
questions, constructive feedback, and advise t hat were shared with us during the first session.  
5.84.  Saint Lucia is also gratified by the Membership's widespread acknowledgement of our 
remarkable resilience in the face of truly unprecedented challenges. We also thank Members for 
recognizing the progress we have made in our fiscal consolidation so as to create t he necessary 
policy space to strengthen and propel our economic recovery.  
5.85.  We would like to thank Members for their advance written questions. We will certainly 
endeavour  to submit the few pending responses within the shortest possible timeframe. My 
delegat ion also looks forward to providing clarification on any other trade related policies, measures , 
and practices of interest to the Membership.  
5.86.  In reflecting on some of the key points contained in the written submissions, permit me to 
inform that we are hear tened by Members' keen interest in our foreign direct investment regime, 
including the functions and operations of our investment promotion agency. We assure you that we 
offer fair, transparent , and attractive incentive packages to both foreign and domesti c investors.  
5.87.  With respect to some of the questions related to our import and export policy measures, we 
recognize that there is still room to engage in further efforts to reduce import procedures that may 
prove burdensome or costly. We continue to work tow ards improving our legal and administrative 
environment in order to unlock the business potential and to increase the competitiveness of our 
economy. More specifically, we are working assiduously towards updating our customs and trade 
facilitation architec ture which includes updating of our HS nomenclature to the 2022 edition, 
harmonizing of our incentives regimes, and streamlining of our licensing regime.  
5.88.  We have taken special note of Members concerns over our technical regulations and standards 
practices.  We are happy to report on the establishment of improved standards mechanism and the 
recently commissioned testing facilities – we do hope, that we have provided the clarity that was 
sought by some Members . 
5.89.  As it relates to trade facilitation, we have take n note of the commendations received for our 
ratification of the Agreement. Saint Lucia draws inspiration from the experiences of the Members of 
our OECS grouping that have registered higher rates of implementation and looks forward to 
emulating their succ ess. Towards this end, Saint  Lucia takes this opportunity to solicit the support 
of Members and the donor community as we seek to mobilize the necessary technical assistance and 
resources to increase our implementation rate.  
5.90.  With respect to our notificatio n obligations, we acknowledge that there has been some lapses 
and deficiencies, particularly with respect to agriculture and sanitary and phytosanitary measures. 
This is by no means reflective of the level of our commitment to the WTO and its covered 
agree ments. We therefore wish to thank Members for their encouragement as we look forward to 
taking greater advantage of the technical assistance and capacity building support available within 
the Secretariat to address our outstanding notification obligations.  We are also appreciative of those 
who actively advocate for the simplification of notification templates.  
5.91.  Climate adaptation and resilience continues to be a key area of priority and therefore we are 
heartened that the Members have inquired about our envi ronmental sustainability agenda.  
5.92.  As it relates to the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, we are currently conducting an 
assessment of our own national legislation with a view to ensuring that not only do we ratify the 
Agreement but that we also ensure that  its provisions are well enshrined in domestic law.  
5.93.  We are confident that this fourth Trade Policy Review has deepened Members' understanding 
of the trade policies and practices of Saint  Lucia and that this review has also given them an 
appreciation of the  intentions and strides being made by the Eastern Caribbean States towards 
collectively advancing our trade and economic outlook.  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  5.94.  We have heard and are also well advised to use the information from this review to make the 
necessary reforms that would enhan ce our appeal as a partner and destination for trade and 
investment.  
5.95.  In closing, Saint  Lucia expresses its sincerest thanks and appreciation to the WTO Secretariat 
for its dedicated work in generating the reports and in convening this important exercise.  
5.96.  Of course, it would be remiss of me, if I did not say special thanks to our discussant, 
H.E. Ambassador Nadia Theodore from Canada, for her insightful, concise and, most important, her 
contextual assessment of the Trade Policy and Investment regime of the s ix OECS -WTO Members. 
Ambassador, not only were you eloquent in delivery but it was particularly pleasing to watch you 
beam with pride as you declared your deeply rooted ancestral heritage in Saint  Lucia, and your 
special connection with the entire Caribbea n region. I daresay your dad has earned the right to brag.  
5.97.  Finally, we thank you Chair for presiding over a very productive first day; and for helping us 
to, up to this point, navigate, with unencumbered efficiency.  
DISCUSSANT  
5.98.  Before I begin, Minister Pete rs has kindly allowed me a minute to acknowledge that 5 May in 
Canada is the National Day of Awareness for Murdered Missing Indigenous Women, Girls and 
Two-Spirited People. Red dresses are hung various places across the country as a symbol to their 
memory and is the purpose for the red dress pin I have on today.  
5.99.  I do wish to thank the 22  Members – including some that spoke on behalf of large groups – 
that have provided thoughtful and constructive comments on the trade policy of the OECS and 
particularly the  OECS -WTO Members.  
5.100.   The comprehensive and insightful remarks by the Honourable Minister Greene set the stage 
for what was a fruitful discussion. The comments we've heard, I believe, show a great deal of 
awareness and of forward -looking interest in the OECS -WTO Members as small  island developing 
states, as vulnerable economies, as trading partners, as investment – and, yes, travel destinations, 
and indeed as the active and committed Members of our Organization, and the system it underpins 
and the values of fa irness and openness it stands for.  
5.101.   I have heard some remarkably consistent threads in and among Wednesday's statements 
by Members. Some notable motifs and keywords that, I think, show a high level of commonality in 
how Members view and understand – in all the meanings of that word – the OECS -WTO Members, 
their circumstances, their roles , and their potential.  
5.102.   Let us go over a few of these keywords we've heard.  
5.103.   First, "challenges" . It is, I think, abundantly clear to the Membership that the OECS -WTO 
Members h ave recently and even over successive reporting periods, faced the very real and often 
devastating challenges of geography, of climate and indeed climate change, of a global pandemic 
that has turned their renown among discerning travellers  into unprecedent ed economic and trade 
turbulence, and for them of a faraway war that only compounds their fundamental, structural 
concerns regarding food security .  
5.104.   Second , "resilience". We have heard numerous Members praising the capacity of the 
OECS -WTO Members to stand up to these challenges with assurance and determination, and 
highlighting their creativity in moving beyond, and ahead. We have heard Members highlighting how 
the OECS -WTO Members do not dwell on their circumstances, but become champions of the very 
means to surmount them, and turn them into innovation and opportunities, such as on climate 
change, and on trade diversification.  
5.105.   Third, "constraints". The Members we've heard on Wednesday very much take heed and are 
very much mindful of the institutional -capacity issues affecting the OECS -WTO Members, including 
as regards their limited human resources in the face of multiple, competing and concurrent priorities. 
And Members understand how this can create difficulties for the fulfilment  of obligations. At t he 
same time, Members look forward to comprehensive, up -to-date notifications - and not because they  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  are merely interested in the OECS -WTO Members complying, but clearly out of genuine interest, and 
out of the genuine belief that transparency promotes pred ictability, which in turn facilitates and 
promotes trade and investment. Some Members have identified creative, efficient ways to help 
manage the notifications workload, and I encourage the OECS -WTO Members to give these due 
consideration. I am glad to hea r that the plans underway through strengthened regional coordination 
will also help make progress on this issue.  
5.106.   Fourth , "engagement". Not ones to see these constraints as obstacles, the OECS -WTO 
Members clearly believe in the rules -based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core as 
part of their development strategy, as one answer to their challenges, as one path to resilience. 
What I  have heard from the statements on Wednesday is a clear view that the level of commitment 
and pa rticipation by the OECS -WTO Members in our Organization is very much commensurate to 
that belief of theirs in it, and indeed more than commensurate to their small geographic and 
population size. I know I said this on Wednesday – though I  am not the only on e – but the OECS -WTO 
Members indeed punch above their weight.  
5.107.   And to paraphrase a former U.S. President, the OECS -WTO Members clearly ask themselves 
as much what the WTO can do for them as what they can do for the WTO. As Members have noted:  
• we see this in  their ratification of the Trade Facilitation Agreement, which as we  have 
heard at a Workshop last month helps promote resilience – and there's that word again 
– in times of crisis through coherent and simplified customs border procedures; 
digitalization; and a clear legal framework;  
• we see this in their engagement in the Work Programme on E -Commerce and in the 
Informal Working Group on MSMEs, which accords with the OECS -WTO Members' focus 
on diversification, growth, and job creation;  
• we have seen this in t heir active contribution to the MC12 outcome on fisheries 
subsidies, and we continue to see this as we continue that work;  
• we also see this in how the OECS Development Strategy views free trade and a 
predictable trade framework as part and parcel of econom ic growth, diversification and 
sustainability;  
• and overall, we see this in the OECS -WTO Members' steadfast belief in and support of 
the system, as exemplified by their commitment to WTO reform, and to a two -tiered 
dispute -settlement system.  
5.108.   To conclude, M r Chair, Ministers, Ambassadors, Representatives, colleagues, as this fourth 
Trade Policy Review of the OECS -WTO Members draws to a close, it is clear to me that those Members 
who spoke on Wednesday, and most likely others as well, will be following with g reat interest the 
ongoing development of the OECS -WTO Members' trade -policy framework.  
5.109.   At the end of this decade, at your fifth Trade Policy Review, I trust that this very body will 
be hearing about the successful implementation of the OECS Development Strategy; about the 
benefits of the OECS Customs Union; about a tourism sector that will be more vibrant than it has 
ever been; about diversified and innovative businesses and industries; about a continued 
commitment to the WTO; about climate r esilience; about stronger or newfound trade and investment 
partnerships; about more, good jobs for your people and in particular for your youth; about inclusive, 
sustainable growth; and about the hope that yet more will still lie ahead.  
UNITED  STATES  
5.110.   The U nited States would like to thank Minister Greene , Minister Peters, Dr  Jules, and 
Excellencies  of the WTO -Members of the O ECS for your dedication and effort in carrying out this 
successful Trade Policy Review . 
5.111.   The United  States also values the guidance of t he Chair and the discuss ant and the hard 
work of the Secretariat in preparing the Report which made this review possible.  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  5.112.   The United  States submitted a number of questions and we appreciate the re sponses  we 
have received, the se responses will be helpful t o us as we continue our engagement with the Eastern 
Caribbean States here at the WTO . The United  States values its economic relationship with the 
Eastern Caribbean State s and we appreciate our work together at the WTO and under the trade and 
investment framework to deepen our trading relationship.  
5.113.   We thank you and your delegations and look forward to continuing to work closely together 
in our collective efforts to create a more valuable and durable multilateral trading system. The WTO 
Members of the OECS hav e made clear , you treat challenges as opportunities , and this is evident, 
not just in your words and comment s but also in your actions and engagement here at the WTO. 
Congratu lations on a successful Trade Policy Review.  
EUROPEAN  UNION  
5.114.   I would first like to thank OECS -WTO Members for the comprehensive overview presented 
on Wednesday and this morning, of the main developments that occurred in their trade and economic 
policies dur ing the review period. This review has been useful for better understanding the trade 
policies of OECS -WTO Members.  
5.115.   As already mentioned on day one, the EU is an important trading partner for OECS countries, 
and in the framework of the preferential trade a greement with the CARIFORUM Group, the EU has 
become the first export destination for goods from OECS countries. The EU is working closely with 
the region via both trade and cooperation tools, and we are implementing our agreement 
successfully. This brings  about favourable conditions for exporters and investors from both sides to 
cooperate and expand our economic relationship. However, important implementation challenges 
remain, and we need to work further together to overcome them. Full implementation will  be 
particularly important for supporting investment in OECS countries, a key prerequisite for continued 
growth in the region. To this end, we also hope to successfully conclude the second review of the 
CARIFORUM -EU Economic Partnership Agreement.  
5.116.   Another key priority will be to improve intra -regional trade flows, notably between OECS 
countries and the EU 's outermost regions, and countries, territories. We will continue our 
trade-related assistance through revamped development cooperation programmes aimed a t 
improving administrative capacities and business competitiveness. The EU is also interested in 
continuing to support the implementation of the trade facilitation agreement.  
5.117.   I would like to reiterate that the EU is, like others, impressed by the high resi lience that 
OECS countries showed to overcome external shocks such as natural disasters, supply chain 
disruptions, and a reduction in global tourism flows due to the COVID -19 pandemic.  
5.118.   However, the EU trusts that OECS countries will duly take into account the challenges 
highlighted by Members during this review. In particular, we strongly encourage OECS countries to 
progress in terms of notification compliance. While we note the lack of human resources in some 
OECS countries, referred to also this morning, we believe that transparency and a full 
implementation of WTO rules are crucial for predictability and economic certainty, thus creating an 
enabling trade and investment climate. The statements by Members on the first day clearly 
underlined this.  
5.119.   In this r egard, we take note of the replies provided by Dominica this morning. We however 
noticed that not all our questions have been answered, and we hope to receive the outstanding 
answers soon.  
5.120.   We are also looking forward to our continued cooperation in the WTO , notably in the run -up 
to the MC13 and in particular on WTO Reform, including in order to have a fully and well -functioning 
Dispute Settlement System accessible to all Members by 2024.  
5.121.   On behalf of the EU, I congratulate the OECS Members for concluding this successful Review.  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA  
5.122.   The Republic of Moldova would like to take this opportunity to briefly thank the WTO 
Secretariat, the discussant, and the OECS member s States for their efforts in preparing and 
conducting this complex Review Exercise.  
5.123.   The Republic of Moldova undergone its TP R last year, and as a small, vulnerable, developing 
economy with similar constrains related to capacity and small delegations, we fully understand how 
much effort has been made by OECS members to complete this transparency exercise.  
5.124.   We would also like to e xpress our appreciation for the active participation, valuable, and 
constructive contribution of OECS member States within different WTO working groups, formal and 
informal discussions, and we are looking forward to worki ng with your Geneva -based delegates  on 
common topics of interest.  
PERU 
5.125.   Peru would like to express its appreciation to you, Chair, the Secretariat, and the Ministers 
and Permanent Representatives of the Eastern Caribbean States.  
5.126.   This has been a rather useful review. It has promoted transparency and enabled us to 
understand th e considerable efforts that our partners and friends in the Eastern Caribbean have 
been making to ensure that multilateral trade rules work and that they are beneficial to their people. 
Congratulations for this successful Trade Policy Review.  
5.127.   Peru and the Eastern Caribbean countries share many areas of mutual interest, such as the 
promotion of trade and investment and the strengthening of trade facilitation. We also face common 
challenges, such as the adverse impact of climate change and natural disasters, and, of course, we 
have major opportunities and activities in common, including tourism.  
5.128.   Peru and the Eastern Caribbean countries have many areas to develop. In particular, we 
must continue to boost trade between our countries to achieve substantial figure s. 
5.129.   In this respect, we encourage them to continue working in the same spirit as mentioned by 
the discussant, Ambassador Theodore, who clearly expressed her genuine satisfaction at seeing 
small economies working decisively to support a fair and inclusive mu ltilateral trading system.  
  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  6  CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON  
6.1.  This fourth Trade Policy Review of the OECS -WTO Members has provided us with an excellent 
opportunity to better understand their trade policies and practices since their last Review in 2014  
and acknowledge the challenges these Members face. The Review has benefitted from the 
constructive and informative participation of the OECS delegation, headed by the Honourable 
Mr Everly Paul Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Antigua  and Barbuda, and Chair 
of the OECS Council of Ministers of Trade, and from the insightful comments of the discussant, 
Her Excellency  Ambassador Nadia Theodore, Permanent Representative of Canada to the WTO, and 
from the 2 5 delegations that took the floor during the meeting.  
6.2.  Members recognized that the OECS -WTO Members, as small island developing states , have 
narrow economic bases and are extremely vulnerable to external shocks, such as adverse weather 
conditions, natural disasters, and fluctuations of globa l commodity markets. The economies of the 
OECS -WTO Members are heavily reliant on receipts from tourism. The sharp decline of tourist 
arrivals caused by the COVID -19 pandemic led to an average GDP contraction of some 19% in 2020 
for the OECS -WTO Members as  a group. In this respect, we were glad to learn from 
Minister  Chet Greene on Wednesday that economic activities began to pick up in the first half of  2022 
and were expected to strengthen further in 2023.  
6.3.  Against this backdrop, Members welcomed that the OE CS-WTO Members had continued 
pursuing structural reforms during the review period, including the implementation of fiscal 
consolidation programmes aimed at achieving debt sustainability, and reforms seeking to improve 
productivity and diversify the economy . They encouraged the OECS -WTO Members to continue 
seeking economic diversification so as to reduce their dependence on income from tourism.  
6.4.  Some Members noted that climate change poses an existential challenge for the 
OECS -WTO Members. In this respect, th e OECS -WTO Members were commended for being strong 
supporters of environment -related actions. Some Members invited the OECS -WTO Members to 
participate in the dialogue on plastic pollution and sustainable plastic trade.  
6.5.  Members applauded the constructive ro le that the OECS -WTO Members play in the multilateral 
trading system, despite their small sizes in terms of population or trade shares. Members welcomed 
the ratifications of the WTO  Agreement on Trade Facilitation by all OECS -WTO Members. Noting that 
the degree of implementation varied across the OECS -WTO Members, Members urged them to fully 
implement all remaining commitments under the TFA.  
6.6.  Stressing the importance of transparency, some Members noted that there was a  backlog in 
the fulfilment of the OECS -WTO Members' notification obligations. Members understood that, as 
indicated by Minister  Chet Greene, the failure to notify under WTO  Agreements resulted from 
capacity constraint. Members urged the OECS -WTO Members to  make full use of all available 
technical assistance resources, so as to be able to submit the outstanding notifications in due course.  
6.7.  Some Members encouraged the OECS -WTO Members to accept the WTO  Agreement on 
Fisheries Subsidies. Other Members expressed  their understanding of the OECS -WTO Members' 
interest in the special and differential treatment in the fisheries subsidies' negotiations. Several 
Members invited the OECS -WTO Members to explore the possibility of joining the Multi -Party Interim 
Appeal -Arbitration Arrangement, as well as the plurilateral Agreement on Government Procurement. 
Some Members invited all OECS -WTO Members to sponsor the joint statement initiatives on 
eCommerce, Investment Facilitation for Development, and Services Domestic Regulat ion. 
6.8.  Members praised the OECS -WTO Members for their open trade and foreign investment regimes. 
They took note of the efforts to improve the business environment undertaken by the 
OECS -WTO Members since the last Review, including the streamlining of customs  procedures and 
the modernization of their incentives regimes. In particular, they appreciated the elimination by 
most OECS -WTO Members of incentives schemes associated with export performance. Members also 
welcomed the reforms introduced to the tax scheme s for international business companies to align 
domestic practices with international standards.  WT/TPR/M/437 • OECS -WTO Members  
 
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  6.9.  Other matters that drew the attention of Members during this Review included tariff schedule 
harmonization among the OECS -WTO Members, import licensing regimes , food security and 
agriculture reform, the implementation of SPS  measures, and intellectual property rights.  
6.10.  These are the key issues that emerged from our discussion. I hope that the delegation of the 
OECS -WTO Members will consider and further reflect o n these issues and on the many constructive 
comments they received during this Review. A total of 169  advance written questions from 
12 delegations were submitted for this Review. The OECS delegation responded to most of the 
questions submitted before the first day of this meeting. The Review will be concluded once the 
replies to any outstanding and follow -up questions are submitted, within 30  days from today.  
6.11.  I would like to congratulate the six OECS -WTO Members on their fourth Trade Policy Review 
and wis h them a safe journey home.  
 
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