MOREPRESS RELEASE
PRESS/TPRB/167
7 June 2001
(01-2846)
TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY
REVIEW OF THE ORGANIZATION OF EASTERN CARIBBEAN STATES
TPRB'S EVALUATION
The Trade Policy Review Body of the World Trade Organization (WTO) concluded its first
review of the WTO Members of the Organization of  Eastern Caribbean States on 5 and 7 June 2001.
The text of the Chairperson's concluding remarks is attached as a summary of the salient points which
emerged during the discussion.
The review enables the TPRB to conduct a collec tive examination of the full range of trade
policies and practices of each WTO member countries at regular periodic intervals to monitor
significant trends and developments which may have an impact on the global trading system.
The review is based on two reports which are prepared respectively by the WTO Secretariat
and the government under review and which cover all aspects of the country's trade policies, including
its domestic laws and regulations, the institutional framework, bilateral, regional and otherpreferential agreements, the wider economic needs and the external environment. A record of the
discussion and the Chairperson's summing-up together with these two reports will be published in due
course at the complete trade policy review of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and will be
available from the WTO Secretariat, Centre William Rappard, 154 rue de Lausanne, 1211 Geneva 21.PRESS/TPRB/167
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MORESince December 1989, the following reports have been completed: Argentina (1992 and
1999), Australia (1989, 1994 and 1998), Austria (19 92), Bahrain (2000) Bangladesh (1992 and 2000),
Benin (1997), Bolivia (1993 and 1999), Botswa na (1998), Brazil (1992, 1996 and 2000), Brunei
Darussalam (2001), Burkina Faso (1998), Cameroon (1995), Canada (1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998
and 2000), Chile (1991 and 1997), Colombia ( 1990 and 1996), Costa Rica (1995 and 2001), Côte
d’Ivoire (1995), Cyprus (1997), the Czech Republi c (1996), the Dominican Republic (1996), Egypt
(1992 and 1999), El Salvador (1996), the Eu ropean Communities (1991, 1993, 1995, 1997 and 2000),
Fiji (1997), Finland (1992), Ghana (1992 and 200 1), Guinea (1999), Hong Kong (1990, 1994 and
1998), Hungary (1991 and 1998), Iceland (1994 a nd 2000), India (1993 and 1998), Indonesia (1991,
1994 and 1998), Israel (1994 and 1999), Jama ica (1998), Japan (1990, 1992, 1995,1998 and 2000),
Kenya (1993 and 2000), Korea, Rep. of (1992, 1996 and 2000), Lesotho (1998), Macau, China (1994
and 2001), Madagascar (2001), Malaysia (1993 and 1997), Mali (1998), Mauritius (1995), Mexico(1993 and 1997), Morocco (1989 and 1996), Ne w Zealand (1990 and 1996), Namibia (1998),
Nicaragua (1999), Nigeria (1991 and 1998), No rway (1991, 1996 and 2000), OECS-WTO Members
(2001), Pakistan (1995), Papua New Guinea (1999), Paraguay (1997), Peru (1994 and 2000), the
Philippines (1993), Poland (1993), Romania (1992 and 1999), Senegal (1994), Singapore (1992, 1996
and 2000), Slovak Republic (1995), the Solomon Islands (1998), South Africa (1993 and 1998), SriLanka(1995), Swaziland (1998), Sweden (1990 and 1994), Switzerland (1991, 1996 and 2000 (jointly
with Liechtenstein), Tanzania (2000), Thailand (1991, 1995 and 1999), Togo (1999), Trinidad and
Tobago (1998), Tunisia (1994), Turkey (1994 and 1998), the United States (1989, 1992, 1994, 1996
and 1999), Uganda (1995), Uruguay (1992 and 199 8), Venezuela (1996), Zambia (1996) and
Zimbabwe (1994).PRESS/TPRB/167
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MORETRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY
REVIEW OF OECS-WTO MEMBMERS
CONCLUDING REMARKS OF THE CHAIRPERSON
We have had two days of frank and constructive discussion on the OECS-WTO Members'
trade policies and practices.  Jointly and individually, these Members made forceful presentations of
the special challenges they face due to their small size and populations, diseconomies of scale, high
infrastructure and social costs, and vulnerability to external shocks.  As a result, and despite the
number of Members attending the meeting itself, I am certain that all WTO Members will have gained
a better appreciation of, and will no doubt pay greater attention to, the problems and difficulties ofthese economies.  Members noted that, even given such difficulties, OECS-WTO countries had shown
strong economic performance in recent years.  However, the Members under review pointed to the
still significant number of people living in poverty and the pressing need to address this problem.
1. Many WTO Members attributed much of the overall economic accomplishments of the
OECS-WTO countries to their general openness and historical participation in international trade, a
well educated labour force and stable, well-functioning institutions.  WTO Members encouraged these
countries to continue in their path to diversify th eir economies, particularly with a view to reducing
their vulnerability.  Some WTO Members considered that continued emphasis on developing the
service sector offered the best growth opportunities, while other Members considered that agriculturewould, and should, remain a key sector of the economies.
2. Members of this Body recognized the efforts made by OECS-WTO Members to further
liberalize their economies, particularly through tariff reductions in the framework of their
participation in CARICOM.  Concerns were expr essed, however, with respect to the persistence of
quantitative restrictions, wide-spread import licensing requirements, and the use of safeguardmeasures.  Members also noted that, although reduce d, tariffs remained relatively high, but took the
point that this was mainly for revenue purposes;  some suggested that a more simplified tariff
structure might be more appropriate.  Some Members also suggested alternative revenue sources, with
a Member proposing the adoption of a Value-Added Tax, the feasibility of which OECS countries are
already studying.  Members also invited OECS-WTO countries to lower their tariff bindings to rates
closer to the currently applied rates, and thus improve the predictability of their import regimes.
3. Members were appreciative of the effort and progress made by OECS-WTO countries to meet
their WTO notification requirements and bring their domestic legislation into line with WTO
Agreements.  Several Members also encouraged the countries under review to improve their
commitments in the WTO with respect to services , putting them at a level comparable with their
current, relatively liberal practices.  Concerns were voiced with respect to the negative economic
effects of being singled out as tax havens in other fora.
4. This Review has made clear the extent to which complying with WTO rules is constraint by
limited human resources.  In this regard, I believe th is review has played an important role in helping
OECS-WTO countries conduct their own internal reviews of the trade-related policies and practices
they follow, and of the resources at their disposal to carry them out.  Although, as a result, means
might be found to make a more efficient use of those resources, including through ongoing initiativesfor greater regional cooperation, the inescapable conclusion is that at this juncture the countries under
review need the support of the international co mmunity to participate more effectively in the
multilateral trading system.  Acknowledging this, there were widespread expressions of support from
Members for additional technical assistance to OECS-WTO countries.  I hope the work undertakenPRESS/TPRB/167
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MOREthroughout this review to identify the trade-related needs of these countries will lead to concrete steps
to address these, including through a permanent presence in Geneva.
5. Several Members were understanding of the request by the OECS-WTO Members for special
consideration for them, anchored in the principle of  special and differential treatment granted in the
WTO to developing countries.  While noting the problem posed to OECS-WTO Members by the
erosion of preferential margins, some Members expressed support for an early granting of the waiverfrom WTO rules for the Cotonou Agreement.
6. Specific questions were also asked the OECS-WTO Members' on:
• compliance with WTO notification requirements;
• improvements to customs valuation and administration;
• import licensing procedures;
• use of quantitative restrictions;
• administration of price controls;
• binding of "other duties and charges" in the WTO;
• export assistance and promotion activities;
• harmonization of standards and standards bodies;
• the role of commodity boards;
• transparency in government procurement;
• protection of IPRs;
• investment incentive schemes, and their coverage;  and
• legislation, access conditions and incentives in specific service sectors.
7. Apart from the questions addressed to the OECS-WTO Members as a group, specific
questions were directed to individual OECS-WTO countries, including:
• to Antigua and Barbuda, on incentives schemes, free trade zones, imports of
reconditioned vehicles, telecommunications and the functioning of the International
Ship's Registry;
• to Dominica, also on incentives schemes;
• to Grenada, on tariff bindings and the application of the general consumption tax;
• to St. Kitts and Nevis, on labelling standards and the functioning of the International
Ship's Registry;
• to St. Lucia, on investment limitations in certain sectors;  and
• to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, on incentives for non-hotel tourism activities.
8. Members appreciated the oral and written responses and explanations provided by the
delegations of the OECS-WTO countries.
9. We look forward to receiving answers on still outstanding questions.PRESS/TPRB/167
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10. In conclusion, it is my sense that this Review has amply fulfilled its main objective of
assessing in a collective manner the trade policies and practices of the OECS-WTO Members,
particularly in the context of their development needs and objectives as well as of the external
environment.  The Members under review reaffirmed  their full commitment to the multilateral trading
system, and the presence of the six Ministers has been strong testimony to this.  But we have also
been made aware of the problems and difficulties hindering the fuller participation of the OECS-WTO
Members in the system.  Addressing these issues could be important for a greater participation of
OECS-WTO Members in the multilateral trading system, which would not only help the Members
reviewed take greater advantage of trading opportuni ties to foster growth and development, but also
enrich and be of benefit to the system as a whole.  In this respect, I am convinced the WTO offers the
best framework in which these Members can participate as equal partners with larger economies in the
global market.
END