Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter
THE PRIVATE sector needs to become more aware of the importance of regional trade liberalisation negotiations with the European Union (EU) over goods and services following poorly attended stakeholder discussions, last week, despite their being publicly advertised, said Ambassador Dr. Richard Bernal, director-general of the CARICOM Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM).
Berthia Parle, president of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), last week criticised negotiators for not sufficiently consulting the tourism sector over the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between CARIFORUM (CARICOM and the Dominican Republic) with the EU. Dr. Bernal, whose office organised the discussions, responded that his office was doing all it could to involve stakeholders before completion of the agreement, expected by the end of next year.
NEGOTIATION POSITION
The RNM has met with tourism officials 15 times in the last three years, he told The Gleaner.
The participation of the private sector is vital, added Dr. Bernal, "We do not know each industry like those inside those industries do, which is obvious. Therefore, it is vital to have that information in our negotiation position."
"It is vital to remember that it is not countries that trade between each other but actually the companies within them," he emphasised.
Those who attended discussions said they were surprised at the low turnout. Attorney Michelle Brown, from Myers, Fletcher and Gordon, attended to learn more about the implication for financial services. "I think the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has put out quite a few notices, but I am not quite sure whether the private sector is, one, aware, and two, knows what it means."
Mrs. Brown said local financial companies should pay greater attention given the implications of much larger European competitors gaining greater access to this market, while the EU market will remain relatively closed given the economies of scale necessary to compete.
ESTABLISHED BRANDS
Producers will also need to be wary said Ellen Boyle, international trade consultant at Lascelles deMercado. "You have brands that are already established, such as Bacardi and Havana Club, and they will be a threat in the local market since they are far cheaper and we will need to compete as a nice brand. Appleton rum is still mainly consumed by Jamaicans in the United Kingdom and we are trying to get into the Spanish and Italian markets; the German market is also tough."
Karl James, general manager of Jamaica Cane Product Sales Ltd., welcomed the consultation, but said he remained sceptical about the benefits of EPA. As Mr. James reminded, the negotiations follow the recent abandonment by the EU of preferential trading agreements on banana and sugar.
"I'm yet to see the benefit from EPA. Someone has to convince me what the benefit of opening up our markets will be. We had very specific agreements with the EU on sugar, yet the EU has ended them," he said.
The RNM's private sector liaison officer is based at its head office in New Kingston.
Contact: 946-2329/927-5114 or http://www.crnm.org/
