– high commissioner says his country also concerned with labour, environment policies
The creation of strong rules that would encourage foreign investment by creating a more secure, transparent and predictable environment for Guyana and other regional investors in Canada and also for Canadian investors in Guyana and the wider region is among the important prospective benefits to be derived from a actualization of a Canada/Caricom free trade agreement, according to newly accredited Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Francois Montour.
Speaking at the recent Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry Annual Awards and Dinner, Montour reiterated the range of benefits which could be derived by both participating Caricom countries and Canada from a free-trade agreement including expanded duty-free treatment in Canada for goods originating in Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries.
Montour said he believed that a trade agreement “would provide better, broader access to the Canadian market” for Caricom goods what is currently enjoyed under the World Trade Organization (WTO) General Agreement on Trade in Services. (GATS).
The first round of the much-anticipated negotiations which are expected to lead to a free trade agreement was held in Barbados in November and according to Montour the Bridgetown meeting allowed for “extensive discussions… on our respective objectives and approaches across the various areas covered under a comprehensive trade agreement.”
Montour said the Canadian delegation made “detailed presentations” on that country’s approach to issues relating to labour and the environment. He said he recognized that the issues of labour and the environment are “sensitive issues for each independent state [within Caricom] and that Canada’s presentations on these issues had served to clarify concerns that had been raised by some countries.
Several categories of manufactured goods originating in the region including footwear, textiles and clothing are excluded from the concessionary trading regime provided for under the CaribCan Agreement and therefore currently face Canadian import duties of up to 20 per cent. Montour said a free trade agreement will eliminate those import duties. “It will ensure that Caricom remains on a level playing field with competitors that enjoy preferential access to the Canadian market,” he added.
Among the other benefits which Montour said would derive from a Caricom/Canada free trade agreement are the creation of jobs and the lowering of commodity prices. “It would also represent another step our government is taking to speed up economic recovery,” Montour added. Meanwhile, according to Montour, a chapter in a Caricom/Canada free trade agreement covering Temporary Entry for Business Persons would eliminate Canada’s labour market impact test which is normally required before entry can be granted to foreign workers.
According to Montour, a Caricom/ Canada trade agreement would also provide the region with information on Canada’s federal procurement system and rules including information on how to prepare tenders and would create opportunities for businesses to supply goods and services including construction services to the Canadian federal government.
