Dr. J. Bernard Yankey - Director, Economic Affairs Secretariat, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Antigua

"The OECS and FTA Negotiations."

Comments

Dr. Gonzales asked whether a distinction should actually be made between small economies and micro economies and how the issue of reciprocity was related to such a distinction. He then observed that CARICOM and the OECS had never really negotiated as a region but just solicited handouts on an individual basis . He wondered how such a history was related to the issue of reciprocity.

Dr. Yankey stated that if the region were to derive the greatest advantage from trade negotiations, it would have to be recognised as a unitary trading bloc. Strategic alliances were also a good idea. It would be difficult to negotiate on behalf of both the OECS and CARICOM but our negotiators could meet the challenge.

Mr. Clarke asked about the degree of co-operation between the CARICOM and OECS Secretariats. Mr. Clarke also wondered whether a Chief Negotiator or Commissioner would be able to adequately represent the interests of the OECS.

Dr. Yankey answered that while the CARICOM-OECS relationship was relatively close, there remained a need for greater communication and more co-operation between their Secretariats.

Mr. David Bulbulia wondered whether the OECS should limit its efforts to those areas from which it was likely to get the best results.

Mr. Noguera asked whether the FTAA's liberalisation conditionalities were in the region's interest.

Dr. Yankey said that the region would have to evaluate the issue of trade liberalisation before entering into any FTAA agreements.

Dr. Lewis argued that no country would enter into a trade agreement if it did not expect to benefit. The region's major structural problem lay in its ambivalence about the agreements it acceded to; it needed to decide, one way or the other, its position on FTAs and act on this.