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Alicia Stephen, OECS Secretariat

Trade Facilitation Committees: A Perspective from the OECS. Alicia Stephen, OECS Secretariat. About the OECS:. Came into being in June 1981 9 Member States 6 of which are WTO members Functional cooperation and policy coordination. Domestic. EPA. Regionals. WTO.

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Alicia Stephen, OECS Secretariat

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  1. Trade Facilitation Committees: A Perspective from the OECS Alicia Stephen, OECS Secretariat

  2. About the OECS: • Came into being in June 1981 • 9 Member States • 6 of which are WTO members • Functional cooperation and policy coordination

  3. Domestic EPA Regionals WTO Drivers of the OECS TF Agenda

  4. Perceived benefits • enhanced competitiveness • increased FDI • increased government collections

  5. Trade Facilitation has been the purview of Customs Departments

  6. A multi-agency approach

  7. Identify national focal points Establish six (6) national task forces Establish OECS regional task force

  8. Based on the Needs Assessments… Consolidated Regional negotiating positions Regional Implementation Programme Regional TA/CB Programme

  9. …some key functions were identified • Participation in Trade Facilitation Negotiations • Development & Implementation of TA/CB Programme • Implementation of future TF obligations

  10. Re-conduct assessment of implementation capacity & status of compliance periodically • Monitor implementation incl. planning, negotiations with donors • Undertake public awareness • Ensure coherence Also see JOB(09)11

  11. Getting “buy-in” • link committee to the TFNA exercise • link to existing programmes • link negotiations-domestic situation

  12. Secure political mandate/authority APPROVED!!

  13. Engage the private sector strategically • give stakeholders the information that is relevant • guard against overload!!!!

  14. Identify a “champion” in each agency nationally regionally

  15. Pitfalls!! Informal group Too many meetings!!! No plan Working in isolation Having the “wrong” person lead

  16. What have we achieved? • One committee active in OECS and two are being established • Draft TORs for committees developed • Greater participation in TF negotiations

  17. Able to source technical assistance for TF • E.g. support for committees • Increased communication exchange among related parties (coherence) • OECS, CCLEC, CRNM/CARICOM

  18. Thank You! astephen@oecs.org

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