9th Conference of the Postgraduate and Early Professionals/Academics Network of the Society of International Economic Law (PEPA/SIEL) 2019
The conference is organised by the PEPA/SIEL in collaboration with the International Law Forum and other sponsors at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. SIEL’s Postgraduate and Early Professionals/Academics Network (PEPA/SIEL) is, among other things, interested in fostering collaboration and mentoring opportunities for emerging academics and professionals in International Economic Law (IEL). PEPA/SIEL fulfils these goals through various activities such as organising conferences at which emerging IEL academics and professionals can present and discuss their research in a supportive and welcoming environment. We are pleased to announce that the 9th Conference will take place on 17-19 May, 2020 at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Faculty of Law, in Jerusalem. The call for papers is available here.
CCJ to hold first hearing of a request for an Advisory Opinion
According to a media advisory released by the Caribbean Court of Justice, the Court will convene a hearing for further directions in an Advisory Opinion being sought by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The two-day hearing will take place on October 22-23, 2019. The Advisory Opinion request concerns whether a Member State can, pursuant to Article 27(4) of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, lawfully opt-out of a decision of the Conference of the Heads of Government taken under Article 46(4) concerning the expansion of classes of persons entitled to work and move freely in the Community and whether the nationals of those Member States which opt-out of a decision under Article 27(4), can nevertheless derive the benefits of the decision. For further information, visit www.ccj.org.
SRC holds annual MITP Graduation Dinner
On Saturday, October 19, 2019, the Shridath Ramphal Centre (SRC) held its annual graduation dinner for this year’s graduates of the flagship Masters in International Trade Policy (MITP) Programme at Champers Restaurant & Wine Bar, Rockley, Christ Church. The dinner was attended by the MITP graduates and their families, graduates of the Masters in Integration Studies, former MITP students, staff of the SRC and of the wider University of the West Indies family and other specially invited guests. The graduates were: Liane Aird (Grenada), Marvin Baptiste (Grenada), Chelcee Brathwaite (Barbados), Killia Chase (Barbados), Kevon Edey (Barbados), Claire Griffith (Barbados), Leisel Juman (Trinidad & Tobago), Ade O’Neal (Barbados), Samantha Orr (Trinidad & Tobago) and Diakia Straker (Jamaica). Mr. Baptiste, Ms. Brathwaite and Mr. O’Neal graduated with distinction. The Master of Ceremonies was SRC Director and MITP Coordinator, Neil Paul. Brief remarks were also made by Principal of The UWI Cave Hill, Prof. V. Eudine Barriteau, GCM; and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Justin Robinson. The graduation address was delivered by Dr. Wendy Grenade, Head of the Department of Government, Sociology, Social Work & Psychology. The class valedictorian Ms. Brathwaite delivered a response on behalf of the graduates, while Dr. Kai-Ann Skeete, SRC Trade Research Fellow, made closing remarks. Photos from the night may be viewed in the gallery below:
Reform WTO and resist protectionism, say Commonwealth trade ministers
Trade ministers from across the Commonwealth today made a commitment to resist all forms of protectionism, and to work urgently together towards reforming the World Trade Organisation, which sets the global rules for international trade. Following a meeting in London, ministers from the 53 Commonwealth member countries declared their collective support for free trade in a transparent, inclusive, fair and open multilateral trading system, with the WTO as its core institution. They agreed that any WTO reform should take into account the views of all members, underlining the special circumstances of the developing and the least developed countries, as well as small and vulnerable economies, including Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Ministers also endorsed an action plan designed to boost trade among their countries to at least $2 trillion by 2030, through the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda. Intra-Commonwealth trade is projected to reach $700 billion by next year. Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said: “The multilateral trading system is the only way for our countries, as diverse as they are, to trade in a predictable, stable, transparent and fair environment. While the global trading system may be far from perfect, it is the surest pathway towards eradicating poverty. “Building on this, the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda will help businesses, including micro, small and medium sized enterprises, to plug into global trade networks and benefit from world trade. In this way, intra-Commonwealth trade offers immense opportunities to contribute to reducing poverty and achieving sustainable development.” The Chair of the meeting, UK Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade Liz Truss said: “The UK along with its Commonwealth partners has today clearly set out its commitment to fight against protectionism. We must work together to promote free trade and reform the multilateral system to make sure it works for every nation, small or large. “Trade has the power to drive growth, jobs and opportunities – it is an essential tool in the fight against extreme poverty and insecurity. “By sharing experience across the diverse Commonwealth community, we can help to break down existing barriers to trade which currently prevent businesses in all our countries from trading successfully.” Ministers called for an end to the impasse regarding the WTO’s Appellate Body – a key panel of judges, whose rulings help resolve the trade disputes. They highlighted the need to update WTO rules to address new challenges and opportunities, including e-commerce. They pledged support for a global agreement that would prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, and eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing by the end of 2019. In their communiqué issued from the meeting, ministers also welcomed progress made under the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda, including the work of active country-led ‘clusters’ focused on five areas: digital, physical, regulatory, supply side and business-to-business connectivity. The outcomes of the meeting will inform leaders’ discussions at the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda in June 2020. Read the 2019 Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting communiqué Read the Commonwealth Statement on the Multilateral Trading System About the Connectivity Agenda The Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda on Trade and Investment was adopted by the Commonwealth Heads of Government in April 2018. It aims to support global growth, job creation, the sharing of best practices and learning and sustainable development among members. Work under the Connectivity Agenda is carried out through country-led thematic working groups, or ‘clusters’, in the following areas: physical (led by The Gambia), digital (UK and South Africa), regulatory (Barbados), supply side (Vanuatu) and business-to-business (Bangladesh) connectivity.
Closing the Digital Gender Divide through Trade Rules
SRC Deputy Director, Dr. Jan Yves Remy, was one of the contributors to the “Mainstreaming Gender in Trade Agreements” essay series by the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI). Dr. Remy’s article is entitled “Closing the Digital Gender Divide through Trade Rules”. Read Dr. Remy’s article here.
WTO World Trade Report 2019 Launched
The 2019 edition of the WTO’s World Trade Report highlights that services have become the most dynamic component of international trade and that its role will continue to expand in the coming decades. It stresses the need to enhance cooperation in the international community to support this expansion. The report was launched during the WTO Public Forum on 9 October 2019 by Director-General Roberto Azevêdo. Read more here
6th SRC Lunch Time Chat: The CCJ at the Centre of Caribbean Integration
Join the SRC for our next SRC Lunch Time Chat on the riveting topic of the,
Regional Officials to attend CARICOM Forum on International Investment Agreements
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Investment officials from CARICOM Member States will come together for the CARICOM Forum on International Investment Agreements from 30 September to 2 October 2019 in Barbados. They will examine reform of international investment agreements (IIAs) including investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS). Recognising the importance the Caribbean Community attaches to foreign investment that promotes sustainable development, the Forum seeks to better position CARICOM countries to engage on re-design of the international investment regime in a way that contributes to their sustainable development. The meeting will provide training and a platform for strategic discussion. Sessions will address the legal framework governing foreign investment, key protections in IIAs and how they are interpreted and the current design of investor-state arbitration and the experiences of CARICOM countries with this form of ISDS. The Forum will also feature a policy briefing on recent IIA reform initiatives, as presented in the 2019 World Investment Report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Participants will also conduct a strategy session on reform of IIAs and ISDS. The event is jointly organized by the CARICOM Secretariat, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), UNCTAD and the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Assessing the Impact of Barbados’ Proposed Data Protection Bill on the Barbadian Private Sector
Dean C. Forbes, Gabrielle Whitehall and Jan Yves N. Remy$*Today, more than 120 countries have privacy and data protection laws or regulations in place. Many of the new or modernized laws tend to be based on comprehensive legislation, rather than sectoral rules, as data needs to move across industry groups and borders. With its new data protection bill, Barbados is planning to join the ranks; this is a significant move, and it is one fueled at least in part by the entry into force of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) on May 25, 2018. The GDPR was designed to harmonize data protection laws across Europe and to protect EU residents’ data privacy rights; and, its coming triggered significant privacy and…
First CARICOM-India Summit to be held Wednesday
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque anticipates that diplomatic political cooperation between the Community and India will deepen when the two sides meet on September 25th in New York. Heads of Government of CARICOM will have discussions with Honourable Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, in the first CARICOM-India Summit which will be held on the sidelines of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. CARICOM-India rationalises cooperation through a Joint Commission which was established by Foreign Ministers of the two parties. The Commission promotes and develops closer relations between the parties in political, economic, environmental, health, scientific, and technical fields. The new Ambassador of India to CARICOM, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa is optimistic that the high-level engagement in New York will pave the way for enhanced bilateral relations, particularly in the area of trade. He said during the period April 2018-March 2019, India’s trade with CARICOM was pegged at US$ 674.32 Million. Dr Srinivasa added immense opportunities exist for CARICOM and India to further enhance bilateral trade in areas such as agriculture and food security, health and pharmaceuticals, small and medium enterprises, marine development and oceanography and disaster management. CARICOM Secretary-General, accredited Dr. Srinivasa on Thursday 12 September, at the CARICOM Secretariat Headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana. PHOTO CAPTION: Accreditation ceremony for India’s new Ambassador to CARICOM