Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter

Dr. Richard Bernal (right), director general of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM), and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Anthony Hylton, at the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica trade breakfast held at the Terra Nova Hotel, New Kingston, on Tuesday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

The private sector must become more involved in trade negotiations in an effort to represent its own interests before it is too late, says Dr. Richard Bernal, director general of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM).

According to Dr. Bernal, attendance at international trade briefings had been poor and depended on payment from external donors for a better showing.

"We need to be proactive as it's firms that trade, not governments, so whatever the results of the external trade arrangements it's you that will be affected," Dr. Bernal told an audience of Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica members during a Trade Breakfast meeting held at the Terra Nova Hotel in St. Andrew on Tuesday.

Also speaking, Senator Anthony Hylton, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, reminded those gathered that it was the private sector in developed countries that had the most influence at World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations.

Senator Hylton added: "... there is hardly any area of economic policy unaffected by the WTO."

Boot camp

The RNM will be holding an international trade 'Boot Camp' in January as part of its private sector outreach. Dr. Bernal has consistently stressed that the private sector needs to lend its expertise and concerns to help the RNM develop its negotiating platform to represent their interests.

He said private sector interests often only expressed interest after an agreement was signed.

Dr. Bernal said he was encouraged by the results of the private sector outreach sessions held throughout the region on the ongoing Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations to liberalise market access for goods and services between CARIFORUM (CARICOM and the Dominican Republic) and the European Union.

He also invited private sector members to attend negotiations as advisers.

- ross.sheil@gleanerjm.com

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/