Get the Trade in Services Scoop!

Dear Services Shepherds, Let’s review, the good, the bad and the ugly of trade in services during the month of November. The Good The TTCSI launched ‘Services of the Caribbean’ (SOCA) in Washington D.C. SOCA is comprised of Caribbean private sector organizations whose aim it is to develop, design and implement a policy and business advocacy campaign to promote the enhancement of the United Sates Caribbean Basin Initiative. The BCSI launched the first of many pieces of economic research on the services sector in Barbados – a gap analysis of the performance of the global services sector in the areas where Barbados has some potential competitive advantage. The analysis identified and compared the skills required in these sectors, with the skills actually being produced in Barbados, as well as best practice associations and centers of excellence with whom partnerships could be formed to fill any gaps. The Bad Antigua and Barbuda describe the latest talks with US on the ongoing internet gaming dispute as ‘disappointing’. Will Antigua and Barbuda really suspend obligations it has under international law to the United States in respect of intellectual property rights, as the WTO has allowed? The Ugly CARICOM has issued a very strong statement to the Dominican Republic regarding their ruling in September which retroactively strips ten of thousands of Dominicans, mostly of Haitian decent, of their citizenship. Their request of membership to CARICOM has been suspended and CARICOM’s relationship with the DR in other fora is presently being reviewed. An eventful month trade-wise! Keep an eye out for the CSIs 2013 round-up which will be sent to you at the end of the month… and don’t forget, Services Scoop, the regional trade in services magazine, will be released early next year. We wish you both happy readings and happy holidays! Coalition News CARICOM Statement on Developments in the Aftermath of the Ruling of the Constitutional Court of the DR on Nationality Services of the Caribbean (SOCA) Effort Launched by TTCSI BCSI Launches Economic Research on the Services Sector in Barbados CNSC Partcicipates in Regional Dialogue: Promoting Services Development and Trade in Latin America and the Caribbean TTCSI and OECS CSIs to Attend ACP Private Sector Support Strategy Conference Events Trade News Services Waiver for LDCs in the WTO: Only a Blank Promise? CARIFORUM and EU Reaffirm Commitment to Trade and Development Partnership Antigua and Barbuda Describe Latest Talks with US on Internet Gaming Dispute as ‘Disappointing’ TTCSI’s CEO’s Comments at Sixth Annual Excellence in Services Awards 2013 Inaugural Meeting of US-CARICOM Council on Trade and Investment Held Opportunities Quality Assurance Manual for Spas CARICOM Notices Cultural Development Programme Digital Jam 3.0 Get the latest updates from our partner, the CARIFORUM EPA Implementation Network. Much more news can be found on the CNSC website. Be sure to follow the day-to-day happenings on the CNSC Facebook page.