Ministry of Foreign Affairs hopes to open opportunities Canada
Turning to trade, negotiations for a CARICOM/Canada Trade Agreement go back to 2007 and are now in the second round. Today the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade held consultations in Belmopan and Belize City on the several aspects of the agreement which will hopefully lead to the opening of new markets in Canada. The consultations are focusing on agriculture, sanitary and Phytosanitary issues, technical barriers and customs procedures. Orla Kantun-Coleman represented the ministry and she told News Five about the benefits for Belize when the agreement is signed.
Delahnie Bain
“You’re working on a trade agreement between CARICOM and Canada, how is Belize participating in those negotiations?”
Orla Kantun-Coleman, Ag. Dir., Min of Foreign Affairs/Foreign Trade
“Well, when we negotiate trade arrangements with any other country we negotiate as CARICOM. But CARICOM consists of several member states, including Belize so we would be part of the whole CARICOM arrangement that’s negotiating with Canada. And of course we would have to make sure that at the individual level, we look after our own concerns and interests. So in other words, at the national level we do our consultations and then we group all together at the regional level or at the CARICOM level and then we refine these positions and try to have a consensus on the different areas and then we meet with Canada, having formed a regional position on the different areas.”
Delahnie Bain
“What benefits or effects will this trade agreement with Canada have for us?”
Orla Kantun-Coleman
“Well, one perspective it is enabling our goods to enter into the Canadian market, more or less duty free. A large of extent of these goods can enter into Canada’s market. A second potential benefit is that if you reduce these import duties on products coming from Canada, then it means that consumers and to some extent, producers who use let’s say raw materials from Canada will be able to obtain these goods at a cheaper or a reduced cost.”
Another benefit, according to Kantun-Coleman, is that tapping into the Canadian market will provide the opportunity to ‘shop around’ for imported products.
The consultations were attended by representatives from both the public and private sectors. Some persons felt that there simply is not enough information available while another concern raised is ‘why consider Canada instead of Central America as a market?’
Orla Kantun-Coleman
“This is a concern that have been raised from the onset. When we meet with our CARICOM colleagues we have made it clear that Central America is of far more priority and importance to us than Canada can ever be. However, we take decisions by consensus at the regional level and heads have indicated that in order of priority we are to pursue the arrangement with Canada. So while here, at least in the immediate future, we don’t necessarily see any major benefits accruing to us, we cannot take a standoff position. In other words, if Belize alone decides not to be a part of this thing it would really turn out to hurt us.”
Delahnie Bain
“There were some concerns about the need for more information about this subject. What happens with that now?”
Orla Kantun-Coleman
“Well, you know that’s the part that I always find puzzling to me because I know that me and my staff really go out of our way to make sure that information is sent around and that we literally do physical consultations. Sometimes it’s small groups, medium size, large; you name it, we’ve done it. But, as I’ve said before in the room, consistently we’ve had poor turnout and now today we have a big turnout and because people have not been participating in the process all along, of course it’s going to catch you—not by surprise—but you’ll be lost. I would hasten to point out that a month and a half ago we expended a great deal of resources in making sure that a comprehensive workshop was done, detailing, going through the finer details of what is in the agreement and breaking it down, making it as simple as possible. But notwithstanding that, yes, we would do these one on one sessions with anyone who’s asking for it.”
Despite concerns by some stakeholders, Kantun-Coleman says more consultations will take place.
