Vice President Margarita Cedeno is expected in Trinidad to sign a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between Caricom and the United States. Releases from Trinidad indicate that President Danilo Medina will be attending a meeting to be held in Trinidad prior to a gathering of Caribbean leaders with US Vice President Joe Bidden. Biden is due in Port of Spain tomorrow, Tuesday 28 May for a two-day visit and will also meet with regional leaders to discuss security and other issues.
The Trinidadian media say that Caribbean Community (Caricom) leaders are expected today, Monday 27 May for preliminary discussions on regional security, trade, energy and human and social development
Trinidad’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar will be hosting the event.
A release from Trinidad’s Prime Minister Office stated that in addition to Vice President Cedeno and PM Persad-Bissessar, the regional leaders coming for the mini-summit are President of Haiti and current Caricom chairman Michel Joseph Martelly, President of Guyana Donald Ramotar; Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie, Grenada Prime Minister Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of St Kitts/Nevis Denzil Douglas, St Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and Deputy Prime Minister of St Lucia Philip Pierre, representing Prime Minister Kenny Anthony.
Caricom chairman, President Michel Martelly of Haiti, will sign on behalf of the 15-member regional grouping, while Vice President Biden will sign on behalf of Washington.
“The meeting will chart the way forward for the TIFA including an initial action agenda intended to galvanize trade and investment activities both between the two sides and within Caricom.” A council led by a nominee of the Caricom Chair and the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) will be established for this purpose.
The council is expected to meet at least once a year and its responsibilities will include monitoring trade and investment relations, identifying and working to remove barriers to trade and investment. It will also facilitate expanded linkages between the private sectors on both sides.
In 2011, the last year for which finalized figures are available, Caricom had a favorable trade balance with the US amounting to US$1.2 billion with exports totaling US$8.6 billion. www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Biden-coming-tomorrow-208971931.html
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