Saturday, December 28, 2013

The WTO Brings Gifts

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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

The countries that can capitalise most on the new trade opportunities in less advanced countries are those that are internationally competitive and have the capacity to expand. The Caribbean’s share It seems then that most Caribbean countries will gain principally from lower prices on imports because Customs departments become more efficient, very good and valuable of course; but that will not result in much of the $1 trillion making it to the Caribbean. ******************** -

OK. Mr. Ambassador, this stills sounds like a pig in a poke. A snow job even!

Break it down. Please beak it down!

What must we Saint Lucians now do? So, what are you so gushingly, but sickly sweet-talking about?

For all that's up there and more, the question still remains: What's in it for me?

December 29, 2013 at 11:19 AM
Anonymous said...

Poor jab! Mr. Laurent did not read enough Greek mythology to be knowledgeable of the expression: "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts"!

December 29, 2013 at 9:52 PM
Anonymous said...

Poor jab! Mr. Laurent did not read enough Greek mythology to be knowledgeable of the expression: "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts"!

December 29, 2013 at 9:52 PM
Anonymous said...

Laurent from school days has always been prone to sugar coat almost everything. When such people say sit, it is time, as if all Hell has broken loose, to run! Remember his rosy-coloured pictures he painted regarding the Banana industry. Laurent can clearly read copy. Unfortunately, he does not analyze nor synthesize.

December 30, 2013 at 8:00 PM
Edwin Laurent said...

Anonymous (30th Dec) apparently did not read the article too closely and was unfortunately misled by the irony of the title.
The article sought to explain what Trade Facilitation really means and challenged the view that the agreement will be a bonanza for developing countries. At least not the small ones like St Lucia.
Their main benefit will come just from making their customs departments more efficient. The big gainers will be large exporters that already dominate world trade China, the US, Japan, Brazil, Germany etc.
Anonymous (29th Dec) asked what countries like St Lucia should do. I address that question in my next article where I suggest that;
•they need to determine precisely what changes to the trade rules are needed to help them expand their trade and
•work with other countries, particularly small ones to get their issues on the agenda and then negotiate to get them accepted by the WTO
Simple as it sounds, this will not be easy at all.

Edwin Laurent

January 9, 2014 at 1:55 PM

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