Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698842116338.pdf (Saint Kitts and Nevis)
“TRADE AT A GLANCE” ISSUE NO 006 15TH FEBRUARY 2020 MEETINGS TO DISCUSS MINISTRIES ALIGNMENT WITH THE MINISTRY OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE ET AL The Ministry of International Trade et al sort audience with the Permanent Secretaries and respective Heads of Departments of various Ministries (listed below) to outline their alignment with Trade.
 Ministry of Youth Sport and Culture  Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Ecclesiastical Affairs  Ministry of Justice, Legal Affairs and Communications  Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Co-operatives, Environment and Human Settlement  Ministry of Sustainable Development  Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Aviation Mission of Meetings: highlight of To Ministry of International Trade et al thus ensuring that the mandates of the government are met.
each Ministry’s work correlates with the work how the Overview: All meetings were very successful and interactive.

Each Permanent Secretary saw the need to have frequent and consistent engagement among ministries to push the mandate of the government.

It was important to note throughout the meetings that all ministries are dependent on each other and none can work in silo.
emerging issues in the WTO (Italy 2020) The Center for WTO studies was set up in the year 1999 to be a permanent repository of WTO negotiations-related knowledge and documentation.

It was also envisaged that the Center would evolve into a research unit with interest in trade in general and WTO in particular to finally develop into an independent think tank in the area.

The Center was later situated in the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in November 2002.
Over the years, the Center has conducted a robust research program with a series of papers in all spheres of interest at the WTO.

It is currently engaging itself in an exercise to back its research with an equally robust publication program.

The Center has also created a specialized e-repository of important WTO documents, especially related to India, in its Trade Resource Center.
It has been regularly called upon by the Government of India to undertake research and provide independent analytical inputs to help develop positions in its various trade negotiations, both the WTO and other forums such as; Free and Preferential Trade Agreements and at Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreements.
Additionally, the Center has been actively interfacing with industry and Government units as well as other stakeholders through its outreach and capacity building programs by organizing seminars, workshops and subject specific meetings among others.

The Center thus also acts as a platform for consensus building between stakeholders and policy makers.
The establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) created a complex, rules-based system wherein developing and least developed countries are faced with opportunities and challenges.

It has become imperative for policy makers and negotiators to have a comprehensive understanding of these issues, particularly in the context of the Work Program of the WTO post-Ministerial Meeting of WTO held in Buenos Aires in December 2017.
Complexity of negotiating issues coupled with constraints in human resources pose challenges for developing countries to participate effectively in WTO negotiations.

The proposed specialized course on Emerging Issues in WTO & International Trade sought to bridge that gap.

This would facilitate effective participation in the Multilateral Trading System (MTS), particularly on the New and Emerging Issues.
Investment Facilitation, Global Value Chains, Electronic Commerce & Labor are among some of the new issues likely to be discuss and perhaps negotiated at the WTO.

It is important to take up these issues for an intensive study, so the trade negotiators from developing countries can take negotiating positions that are aligned with their development needs and domestic imperatives.
Countries should try to avoid getting swayed by unverified claims of huge gains that may be made by the developed countries or various international organizations.

Hence, developing countries need to intensely study the pros and cons of initiating negotiations on the new issues, and whether the outcome of negotiations can provide mutual gains to WTO Members.

All issues would be studied in depth from the perspective of developing countries.
Experts and resource persons specializing in the identified components of the trade discourse conducted the classroom sessions.

This included faculty of the Center for WTO Studies and the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Senior Officials of the Department of Commerce, Government of India and the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, as well as representatives from international institutions.
Indian trade negotiators at the WTO were also invited to provide their insights and stimulate discussion in these sessions.

The thirty-two participants hailed from Twenty (20) countries, with diverse backgrounds from private sector, Geneva based Senior Foreign Services Official and Trade and Customs Officials.

This diversity allowed for varying views to aid in the discussions of the topics being presented and offering perspectives that were not considered.
Submitted by Kevin Arthurton - Trade Policy Officer Eliminations In celebration of World Consumer Rights Day, the Consumer Affairs Department held its Fifth (5th) Primary School Quiz eliminations.

The eliminations were split into Four (4) zones Basseterre Zone - Beach Allen Primary, Tucker Clarke Primary, Irish Town Primary, Dean Glasford Primary & Dr William Connor Primary This zone was hosted by Deane Glasford Primary with Dr. William Connor Primary emerging the Winner.
Zone Two - Bronte Welsh Primary, Tyrell Williams Primary, Dieppe Bay Primary, Sandy Point Primary, Newton Ground Primary & St Paul’s Primary The Sandy Point Primary hosted the zone and won by St Paul’s Primary.

Zone Three - Cayon Primary, Saddlers Primary, Joshua Obediah Primary, Violet Petty Primary, Estridge Primary & Edgar T. Morris Primary The winner was Saddlers Primary School and hosted by Cayon Primary School.
Zone Four - Epworth/Maurice Hillier Memorial, Seventh Day Adventist, George Moody Stuart & Immaculate Conception Catholic School.
This was held in the St George’s Anglican Church Hall and won by Immaculate Conception Catholic School The Finals will take place during the week of March 15th - 21st, 2020 between the following schools: FINALS Saddlers Primary School Dr William Connor Primary School St Paul’s Primary School Immaculate Conception Catholic School The champion school will be awarded the CHARLETON EDWARDS MEMORIAL TROPHY St Kitts & Nevis Bureau of Standards The SKNBS houses St. Kitts and Nevis’ national multipurpose laboratory which provides the following services:  Chemistry – Analysis of elements in food, liquids and soil nutrients and constituents.
 Metrology – Provision of accurate measurements through calibration and verification of scales, balances and fuel pumps.

 Microbiology – Provision of a full complement of microbiological services to monitor restaurants and food processing outlets according to the Food Compliance Programme.

 Entomology – Provision of pest identification, pest management and extension services to farmers, backyard gardeners, and other stakeholders.
February 2020  Small Business Development Center in House Training  Small Businesses Tuesday - Small Business Expo (Independence Square)  WTO Electronic Commerce  WTO Regional Workshop on Government Procurement for Caribbean Economies  Trade Internal Staff Training  NCLI Metrology Exchange Workshop (Dallas)  Launch of Cariforum EU EPA & CSME Standby Facility for Capacity Building (Antigua)  CIACAM - Chemical & Waste Beyond 2020 (Geneva) March 2020  WTO Training Course on Trade & Gender  World Consumer Rights Day  Consumer Affairs Week of Activities  FAICM Chemical & Waste Beyond 2020 (Romania) Ministry of International Trade, Industry, Commerce & Consumer Affairs Bladen’s Commercial Development Basseterre St Kitts Tel: 869-467-1069 Fax: 869-465-1778 Email: foreigntrade@gov.kn