Guyana, T&T sign MoU for removal of trade barriers, enhanced cooperation

…commission to be established to oversee its implementation
…PSC, GCCI laud initiative; pledge support

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was on Sunday signed between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), with the two countries agreeing to work with each other in eradicating trade non-tariff barriers, as well as in the areas of infrastructure development and transportation.

The signed copies of the MoU were exchanged at State House between Foreign Ministers Hugh Todd and Dr Amery Browne of T&T, while President Dr Irfaan Ali and Trinidadian Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley bore witness to the occasion.
Among the resolutions contained in the MoU, is for the two parties to work assiduously on the removal of barriers to the trade of agricultural products throughout the Region. This includes phytosanitary standards.
According to the MoU, “the Parties agree to work with each other in the areas of trade and investment, agriculture and food security, security, energy, and infrastructure, and other areas as may be determined, with the aim of developing a strategic cooperation partner for the mutual benefit of their respective countries and the wider Caribbean Community.”
It goes on to state that non-tariff barriers and “other impediments to the flow of goods and services between them”, as well as promoting cooperation in the areas of sports, culture, tourism and education, will be pursued under the MoU.

Commission
A high-level bilateral commission will also be established to overlook the implementation of the agreement. The commission will include high-level members of the Government and private sector.

In his remarks, President Ali explained that the group has agreed on an aggressive strategy moving forward that includes developing a model and framework for how the agri-food system will develop. He further pointed out that Trinidad has already committed to the cause, with a summit of their own scheduled to be held in July.
According to the President, they are well aware of the impediments and the barriers to regional integration. But they are committed to working together to address these issues and there is the political will to achieve what they set out to do.
“We are not naïve; we are not unaware of the impediments or blocks or constraints or challenges. And in our discussions, we took all of that into consideration. But what we have chartered is a joint commitment on how we’re going to secure the futures of the people of these two countries,” President Ali said.

The President also called on the private sector, investors, and the people of both countries to be completely on board. He also revealed that they are exploring the option of having a cargo ferry between Guyana and Trinidad, which will aid in regional integration and the movement of goods and people.
“Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago have a long and glorious history of working together. And what we have done today is to set the agenda and narrative that we don’t want it any other way but the way in which we will work together to realise the aspirations of the people of our countries,” President Ali said.

Rowley
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rowley expressed support for Ali’s utterances and noted that once the Region commits itself to do what needs to be done, then it will be able to achieve its goal.
According to Rowley, it is important that they change their supply and business model, in order to prevent a reoccurrence of the predicament they find themselves in now.
“What we have done here… is to go and look at what Caricom can and must do within Caricom to disentangle ourselves from the tenuous world food supply that will get more troublesome and put our shoulders to the wheel within Caricom, to our own production system.”
According to Rowley, price control doesn’t work and they cannot tell importers what to sell their food at. Additionally, transportation is out of their control. Rowley made it clear that the private sector must also step up and invest in local agricultural production potential.

Like President Ali, Rowley was also confident that they can implement the changes. According to him, people can expect to see, in the medium and long term, increased cooperation between the people of both Guyana and Trinidad.

Private sector
Meanwhile, both the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) sent out statements in which they lauded the agreement between Guyana and Trinidad, to address trade barriers within a timeframe.
According to the PSC, the commitments to address not only trade barriers but also issues surrounding women and youth, regional transportation and food security, are commendable. In the same breath, they also committed to playing their part in making the MoU work.
“Through its Council which represents the interest of 23 Business Services Organisations (BSOs), the PSC will be taking steps to engage the Private Sector in Trinidad and Tobago as well as the Governments of both countries to establish a roadmap to move these commitments forward,” PSC said.
“We, therefore, call on the Trinidad and Tobago Private Sector to work towards enhanced trade and economic relations and fully collaborate with Guyana’s Private Sector and the Government in a manner that will allow for a higher level of efficiency in areas of interest to both sides,” they added.
The GCCI in its statement called the intended establishment of a commission, as well as a timeline, for the removal of trade barriers as a “step in the right direction” and offered its support in any work that has to be done towards making regional trade easier.
“The Chamber would like to encourage its private sector colleagues in Trinidad & Tobago to support its government in the work to remove trade barriers. Such support would engender a relationship based on mutual respect and usher in a spirit of cooperation between the territories for advancement of the regional agenda and private sector development.”
“The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry would like to reiterate its role as a partner in the development of Guyana and its continued commitment to supporting private sector growth. The Chamber also reaffirms its willingness to serve Guyana and the wider Caribbean, remaining disposed to offer support in the work to remove trade barriers in the region,” GCCI said.
Months after assuming office, President Ali had charged the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry to assess and address the hurdles related to exporting food and agricultural products to markets within the Region. As such, concerns about barriers to trade in some Caricom markets were raised with the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) earlier this year.
The Ministry subsequently formed a National Working Group on Barriers to Trade against Exports from Guyana. According to the assessment on market access by the Working Group, most of the challenges found were related to technical measures including sanitary and phytosanitary measures. It also found several technical and administrative regulations that were all hampering the export of Guyanese products.