I.                   introduction

                        Saint Lucia is a founding member of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), located between the islands of Martinique to the north and St. Vincent to the south.  The island has a population of 166,838 persons and an overall land area of 616 sq. km. of which 539.1 sq. km. is habitable.  The island’s topography consists of a central backbone of mountains intersected by valleys and short rivers and a narrow coastal plain.  There are two major seaports capable of berthing ocean going cargo vessels and two airports; a regional airport in the north and an international airport in the south.

                        Saint Lucia’s ability to take full advantage of international trade agreements, to which it is a signatory, is limited by size and capacity to compete effectively in a liberalized trading system such as the WTO.  As a small country, St. Lucia has a miniscule domestic market with very low levels of economic activity.  The country faces structural disadvantages relative to larger economies as it is unable to benefit from economies of scale which would be essential in achieving regional and international competitiveness in the production of goods and services.

                        Saint Lucia without representation in Geneva is further handicapped and cannot bring its several positions on the various Doha Round Issues to the attention of the committees as they meet. Our position on the Agreement on Agriculture, Small Vulnerable Economies (SVEs), Subsidies and Countervailing Measures and on Trade in Services, all appear to fall on deaf ears as there is no one present to plead our cause.  While there had been of late a Technical Office in Geneva manned by two OECS officials, it would appear that the current economic situation on the home front does not auger well for its future.

                        The absence of natural resources compound economic difficulties as efforts at economic diversification are stymied and the country is forced to continue to rely on a few economic sectors, which in the main provide some form of employment for the young population.

                        The size of the labour force is also constrained by a small population.  Inadequate levels of labour (supply) contribute to the relatively undiversified structure of the economy.  This problem is compounded by the varying levels of education and the paucity of opportunities at tertiary level and beyond.  Overseas training is expensive and the brain drain of skilled workers from the country is among some of the other contributors to the labour problem.

                        Saint Lucia is also a member of the wider CARICOM Community where it is afforded (along with other member states of the OECS) Less Developed Country (LDC) status.  As an LDC Saint Lucia does not have to reciprocate in any of the negotiated preferential positions in market access, relating to Bilaterals signed between CARICOM and its Latin American and CARIFORUM neighbours, thus allowing for some trading flexibility within the sub-region.

II.                MACRO-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT AND TRADE PERFORMANCE

                        Macroeconomic Performance

                        Over the review period 2001-2006 the Saint Lucia economy grew at an average rate of 2.43 per cent.  This period of modest but encouraging economic growth in real GDP was capped by strong growth of 5.41 per cent in 2006 marking the fifth consecutive year of economic expansion since the contraction and economic downturn of 2001.  To a large extent and in 2006 in particular, this expansion in the level of economic activity was driven by increased economic activity in construction (13.2), transport (14.73) and government services sectors (9.79 per cent), respectively.  Notably government and private sector investment in infrastructure (mainly roads and hotel accommodation) associated with Saint Lucia’s hosting of the 2007 Cricket World Cup (CWC) provided the main stimulus to the economy in 2006.

                        Saint Lucia’s economy has undergone a degree of structural change in terms of the relative importance of its key economic sectors.  In this regard the share of services (led by tourism) in the economy has increased over the review period while the key productive sectors, agriculture and manufacturing declined as a whole, resulting in the emergence of a services-oriented economy. Nonetheless, in light of its well known vulnerabilities to natural and external factors, Saint Lucia continues to pursue a macroeconomic strategy aimed at a creating a diversified and more resilient economy based not only on services but also on agriculture and manufacturing.

                        Trade and Sectoral pattern

Agriculture

                        More specifically the agricultural sector on average contracted by about 9 per cent over the review period due mainly to a net decline in output in the banana industry between 2001 and 2006.  As a result the share of agriculture in GDP averaged 4.4 per cent compared to 8.6 per cent in the last review period, six years earlier.  However, the sector showed signs of slow recovery in 2006 driven mainly by a 13.3 per cent rebound in banana output (33,982 tonnes).  This has been credited to a number of factors including favourable weather conditions and the positive impact of earlier interventions by government in streamlining and redirecting production in the banana industry (as is evident with increased EUREP-GAP compliance and participation in the Fair Trade Organization) among other confidence-building initiatives.

Manufacturing

                        Meanwhile the contribution of the manufacturing sector over the current and previous review periods (spanning twelve (12) years) remained relatively flat, hovering around the 8 per cent level. Over much of this period Saint Lucia’s main manufactured products have been processed foods, beverages, paper and electrical products.  However, even with growth of 6.7 per cent in 2006, the share of manufacturing activity in GDP fell to 6.8 per cent indicating a contraction of the sector. Nonetheless, the policy intent of the government of Saint Lucia is to persevere with the manufacturing sector by providing technical and institutional support with a view to enhancing productivity and improving its export/international competitiveness.

Tourism

                        In contrast the share of tourism (as measured by hotels and restaurants) has shown a steady increase in the share of the economy accounting for an average of 12.6 per cent between 2001 and 2006.  However, despite the confidence implied by the significant investment in the tourism sector in the preparation for the CWC 2007, value-added in the sector showed a contraction of an estimated 2.7 per cent.  As a consequence the share of tourism in GDP fell to 12.4 per cent from 13.5 in 2005. This decline has been attributed to an overall drop in stay-over arrivals of 4.9 per cent due in particular, to airlift and marketing challenges as well as the adverse impact of rising oil prices on travellers from the Caribbean region and Europe (mainly U.K.).

                        Nonetheless the tourism sector continues to be the lead sector and engine of growth in the Saint Lucian economy, as it continues to attract significant investment with ongoing expansion of the island’s room capacity.  Notwithstanding, government development strategy in the sector is based on maximizing the socio-economic benefits through increased local participation and enhanced intersectoral linkages as well as the development of new products and attractions in a sustainable and competitive manner.

Financial Services

                        The financial services sector represents another sector which recorded an increase in its level of economic significance over the review period with consistent growth of 4.75 per cent on average. As a result this sector has grown to a double-digit share of the national economy, 10.9 per cent compared to 9.2 per cent over the corresponding period in the previous review.  It must be noted however, this spurt in growth was not driven by the offshore or international financial services (IFS) sector but mainly by credit expansion and other related activity in the local economy.

Services – Other

                        A number of “other” or new economic sectors have grown in prominence in Saint Lucia’s economy over the review period.  In this regard the share of the Communications sector (in particular telecommunication services) in GDP has increased on average by over 2 percentage points compared to the previous review period.  This is largely reflective of government’s efforts at liberalization and the dismantling of former monopoly arrangements in the sector.

General

                        Notwithstanding significant increases in the average price of food, housing and fuel (and lighting), and the inherent heightened inflationary expectations due to rising oil prices the average rate of inflation over the period 2001-2006 remained in single digits at 2.3 per cent as compared to 2.7 per cent over the previous review period.  Inflation in 2006 coincided with this trend rate of 2.3 per cent down from 3.9 per cent in 2005.  In like manner this was attributed to increases in international commodity prices in particular increases in the price of food items and construction materials and the upward pressure of rising oil prices on production and transportation costs.

                        Fiscal policy is the main policy variable available to government to pursue its macroeconomic objectives.  As a consequence prudential fiscal targets in conjunction with growth prospects are foremost amongst government’s core macroeconomic targets.  These benchmark fiscal targets which are largely enunciated in the annual budget address, are developed by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB).  More recently these targets have been developed and incorporated in a Structural Adjustment and Technical Assistance Programme (SATAP) under the aegis of the ECCB.

                        However, even in the face of a 12.1 per cent increase in tax revenue in the last fiscal year 2006/2007 and a healthy current surplus (4.2 per cent of GDP), the fiscal position of central government showed some deterioration with an overall deficit equal to 6.6 per cent of current GDP in 2006.  This was due to an 11 per cent expansion in its capital expenditure programme.  Against the backdrop of such developments, on the expenditure-side government aims at maintaining acceptable fiscal balances through prioritization of capital spending and prudent debt management in conjunction with its Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP).  On the revenue-side a number of initiatives ranging from improved revenue collection to tax reforms aimed at lowering fiscal/revenue dependence on trade taxes are currently being considered or implemented.

                        Trade Environment, Patterns and Performance

                        A noted feature of the review period has been the widening external gap as the current account deficit on the Balance of Payments increased steadily from EC$296.02 million or 16 per cent of GDP in 2000 to an estimated EC$781.91 million in 2006 (or approximately 31.3% of GDP).  More pointedly Saint Lucia’s current account deficit grew at an average of 25.5% per annum between 2001 and 2006 underscoring the high import propensity and external dependence of the island.  This worsening of the current account balance has been mainly driven by a growing merchandise trade deficit as imports far outpaced exports.  Although other balances such as the services account and net current transfers from abroad, including remittances continue to be positive, these have proven to be insufficient to offset the negative balances on the incomes-from-abroad and merchandise trade accounts.

                        Saint Lucia’s main exports and principal foreign exchange earners continue to be tourism services mainly travel manufactured goods (mainly beverages, processed foods, paper products and assembly-type electronic products) and primary commodities mainly bananas.  In keeping with this narrow range of exports Saint Lucia’s pattern of trade is such that its exports are also concentrated in three (3) main markets namely the United Kingdom, the United States and CARICOM in that order.  Nonetheless, driven by increased production in the banana sector, total export receipts in 2006 is expected to have improved over 2005 in spite of the decline in the tourism sector.

                        Despite, the downward trend in performance in Saint Lucia’s exports, arising mainly as a result of erosion of its preferential market access, government in collaboration with various regional and international partners/stakeholders, continue to provide significant institutional and technical support to the private sector with the aim of boosting export performance and competitiveness.  These initiatives take various forms including small and medium enterprise development programmes in conjunction with the OECS Export Development Unit and Government of Saint Lucia’s own Small Enterprise Development Unit (SEDU) among others.

                        In contrast, as an import-oriented economy, Saint Lucia’s imports though wide ranging and varied have been dominated by consumer goods which on an average accounts for 54.3 per cent of imports.  However it is worth noting that there has been a slight increase in the share of intermediate and capital goods in Saint Lucia’s imports over the past six years.

                        As a member of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) Saint Lucia maintains a fixed exchange rate regime with its currency pegged to the USD.  Despite the inherent pressures placed on the availability of foreign exchange by a deteriorating current account, Saint Lucia has since October 2006 taken further steps to liberalize its foreign exchange regime by removing the previous limit of EC$250,000.00 on foreign exchange transactions.  This reform in its foreign exchange regime has been brought into force through an amendment to the Exchange Control Suspension Order No. 165 of 2006 section 32 (3).  [See Cap. 15.15 of the 2006 edition of Revised Laws of St. Lucia] refers.

                        Much of Saint Lucia’s trade arrangements are designed and conducted within the framework of the Caribbean Common Market (CARICOM).  In terms of its trade agreements Saint Lucia through its membership in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Caribbean Common Market (CARICOM) and the ACP group of countries participates in a number of bilateral and multilateral agreements.  More specifically Saint Lucia currently participates in four preferential trade agreements one with each of its principal trading partners:

(a)     CARIBCAN with Canada

(b)        The Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) which replaced the CBI agreement with the United States of America

(c)     The Cotonou Agreement with EU (U.K.).

(d)     CARICOM

                        Given that the Cotonou Agreement allows for the negotiation and establishment of WTO-compatible trade arrangements, Saint Lucia is currently engaged in negotiating an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU in conjunction with the other CARIFORUM Member States.  Through CARICOM, Saint Lucia has also been a signatory to five Hemispheric Bilateral Trade Agreements with the Governments of Cuba, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Columbia and Costa Rica.  In these agreements Saint Lucia’s status as a CARICOM LDC is respected and the Country is not expected to reciprocate any Tariff Concessions granted to the More Developed Members of CARICOM as negotiated under the terms and conditions of these treaties.

III.             TRADE POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

                        Elements of Saint Lucia’s Trade Policy

                        Despite the difficulties experienced in a liberalized trading environment, Saint Lucia continues to promote trade in Agriculture, Manufacturing and Services.

                        With dwindling fortunes in Agriculture as a result of a combination of the withdrawal of preferences in Europe and adverse decisions from the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), Saint Lucia has found it necessary to diversify into Trade in Services, with Tourism becoming one of the leading sectors.

                        In its drive towards Poverty Alleviation, the Government of Saint Lucia in its 2007/2008 Budget identified “five geographic regions with a view to bridging the divide and stimulating economic activity throughout the length and breath of the country.

                        Activities in these regions will be designed around Tourism products, new and old, ICT parks to capitalize on the skills base of our younger populace, and innovations in Agriculture coupled with new supporting facilities to promote aquaculture, hydroponics and tissue culture propagation.

                        Saint Lucia takes its obligations in the OECS and CARICOM quite seriously and tries within its limited resources to be WTO compatible.  The economy is small both in terms of population and land mass.  This means that the island is disadvantaged in market size and is also vulnerable to both natural disasters and external economic shocks.  Saint Lucia also fully supports the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).  It is believed that the CSME will lead to greater transparency and competition within the community.

                        In is drive to attract valuable investment opportunities, the Government of Saint Lucia offers incentive packages to potential investors, both domestic and foreign for up to 15 years.  Without these investment opportunities, most of the firms currently operating in Saint Lucia and contributing to the employment pool would have gone elsewhere.

                        Saint Lucia has also tried since 2001, to amend its laws towards creating a more enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

                        Since 2003, Saint Lucia has amended the Income Tax Act to allow for a flat charge on taxable incomes of both foreign and domestic companies, a rate of 30%.  Individuals are taxed on a sliding scale of 10% - 30% depending on taxable income levels.  These rates apply equally to residents as well as non-residents.

                        In its notification of Specific Commitments under the GATS, Saint Lucia advised that it has reserved a number of small business opportunities for nationals.

                        In 2001 the National Development Corporation Act of 1971 (NDC) was repealed to create the necessary authority to allow the NDC to act a “one stop shop” for investors, without prejudice to nationality.

                        Upon  expiration of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government of Saint Lucia and Cable and Wireless on May 20^th, 2004, full liberalization of the telecommunications sector came into effect, cancelling restrictions on investment in that area of services.

                        Pro-competition reforms in the telecommunications sector facilitated by the establishment of a common regulatory framework within the OECS sub-region resulted in the entry of a new service provider into the St. Lucian market.

                        The Government of Saint Lucia works closely with the productive sectors and provides external representation to address emerging trade disputes within budgetary limits.

                        Changes in the external trading environment are monitored and the private sector is advised of the challenges presented as a result.

                        Government also provides technical assistance at sector and firm levels for small and medium businesses through the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Commerce.  Government also undertakes Marketing and Trade Promotion activities at Domestic, Regional and International levels.

                        The Government of Saint Lucia, together with the private sector has jointly developed a National Export Development Strategy (SLNEDS).  The Strategy is a five year sectoral plan that sets out discrete actions, allocates resources and specifies responsibility for the pursuit of national development goals through the diversification and expansion of exports.”  However owing to budgetary constraints the plan is still to be implemented.

                        Institutional Framework

                        As at December 2006, there has been a rationalization of the portfolios and mandates of Government Ministries, resulting in the merger of the work programme of the Trade and Legal Unit of the Ministry of External Affairs and International Trade with the Ministry of Commerce.

                        The inclusion of the Trade and Legal Unit (previously responsible for external trade negotiations) into the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Commerce has placed responsibility for the co-ordination and formulation of Trade and Commerce policies within the ambit of a single government entity.

                        Economic policy formulation, including trade policy, begins in the various Government Ministries.  These policies are presented as plans and are costed and approved, before they are incorporated in the National Annual Budget.  Details of these plans are found in national policy planning instruments in the respective Ministries and in the Medium Term Economic Strategy Plan.

                        Economic policy formulation, including trade policy formulation is also informed by agreed obligations ratified by Heads of Government at CARICOM and OECS Council Meetings.  The integration of trade policy into overall economic policy at national level is achieved through these processes.

                        Since 2001 Saint Lucia’s trade policy harmonization has been through the following institutional mechanisms:

The Saint Lucia Council on External Trade

                        The Council on External Trade was re-activated by Cabinet decision to function as the main advisory body to the Government on the formulation and implementation of international trade policies.  The composition of the Council reflects broad representation across Public Sector, Private Sector, Civil Society, NGOs and Statutory Agencies; it is believed that with renewed interest in trade issues, tangible benefits will emerge.

The Inter-ministerial Committee

                        The Interministerial Council discusses all important trade issues from all negotiating spheres and meetings of the CARICOM Council on Trade and Economic Development (COTED) as well as implementation issues related to the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).  The composition of the Inter-ministerial Council includes Government Ministries and Statutory Agencies and Private Sector Trade and Commerce related organizations.

OECS Technical Mission

                        The establishment of the OECS Technical Mission and its permanent presence in Geneva has enabled and ensured that Saint Lucia and the other OECS Member States have greater and more visible representation at WTO meetings.  We have observed a significant improvement in the dissemination of information, networking between capital and Geneva has been enhanced, enabling us to better table our positions on important matters and to actively engage in the negotiations process along with other alliance groupings on multilateral issues.

                        Although our ultimate goal is to thrive for full representation in Geneva despite being handicapped by limited resources, we are satisfied to date with the assistance and advice passed on to us from time to time by the OECS Technical Mission.

                        Given the financial difficulties currently being experienced that may result in the closure of this office, we cannot help but reflect on the forward strides we have made towards WTO compatibility, simply on the basis of timely dissemination of information and our ability to act on same.  Closure will not only result in us becoming shut out from the debates as they happen, but the entire OECS States will slump into another long dark age and will not be reactivated until some accommodation can be made.

IV.              REGIONAL INTEGRATION – THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SINGLE MARKET     AND ECONOMY (CSME)

                        On August 17, 2004, (No 12 of 2004), Saint Lucia enacted the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramus into domestic law, establishing the ground work for the creation of the CSME, signifying Saint Lucia’s firm commitment to regional integration and the Caribbean Community.  As early as 1999, Saint Lucia had implemented Phase 4 of the Common External Tariff (CET).

                        To give effect to the provisions of the treaty, Saint Lucia also enacted the Caribbean Movement of Factors Bill No. 21 of 2006, The Caribbean Regional Organization for Standards and Quality Bill No 20 of 2005, Double Taxation Agreement S.I. 195 of 2000, among others.

                        As at July 1, 2006, The CARICOM Single Market became operational with the Single Economy expected to be in place during 2008.  However to give full effect to the treaty the Harmonization of certain laws and the legislation of regulations, such as; Competition Policy, Customs Regulations, Consumer Protection, Banking and Securities and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, are still to be enacted.

                        Transition however appears to be seamless, despite the absence of administrative structures and procedures in some important areas, particularly accreditation and the free movement of natural persons.

ORGANIZATION OF EASTERN CARIBBEAN STATES (OECS)

                        It is extremely difficult for us to survive as small disjointed island states in the global market.  If we are to maintain a competitive edge in those disciplines where we have some capacity, it is essential that we forge alliances with like minded small island developing nations in the pursuit of our goals.  Therefore we have began the process by deepening the already existing relationship, closer to home, with the other member states of Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, (OECS).

                        The Treaty of Basseterre was signed in 1968.  During that period we have been able to pool our resources and work in the interest of our citizens on several fronts, among which a common judiciary, a regional central bank, a regional civil aviation authority and pharmaceutical procurement body, stand out.

                        After thirty-nine years, we must now seek to forge a closer relationship through an Economic Union between our member states.  Plans are at an advanced stage and very soon a draft treaty will be put before the citizens of the sub-region for consultation.  Hopefully, the process will not be unduly protracted and the Union will come into being before our next Trade Policy Review.

V.                 Bilateral/Hemispheric and Preferential Trade Arrangements

                        Saint Lucia is a member of the Caribbean Community and Common Market, which has to date concluded five bilateral Trade agreements:

1          Caricom - Columbia:  a Trade, economic and Technical Cooperation agreement signed July 24, 1994.  Originally a non-reciprocal preferential agreement in favour of certain products from CARICOM.  An amending Protocol in 1998 allowed for additional preferential access to CARICOM in exchange for a limited number of products from Columbia.

2          Caricom - Venezuela:  a one-way partial scope agreement in favour of Caricom; signed October 13, 1992.  In 1998 Venezuela requested CARICOM to provide reciprocal preferential access similar to that granted to Columbia.  The two sides have agreed to engage in discussion on the problems encountered by CARICOM exporters.  In the meantime, CARICOM is consulting on the possible products from Venezuela for which it would be prepared to grant reciprocal preferential access.

3          Caricom - Dominican Republic:  A free Trade Agreement signed in August 1998 and provisionally entered into force December 1, 2001.  The CARICOM LDCs, including Saint Lucia, were not expected to reciprocate.  However, the agreement provides for a review at the end of 5 years.  While the free trade agreement focuses on trade in goods, provision has also been made for investment and trade in services to be negotiated.

4          Caricom - Cuba:  Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement signed in 2000 with an additional protocol enabling provisional application signed on December 8, 2002. The agreement is being provisionally applied between Cuba and those member States that have completed internal procedures to give it effect.  Saint Lucia is yet to complete its internal procedures.

5          Caricom - Costa Rica:  A Free Trade Agreement signed March, 2004.  The agreement provides for provisional application between any CARICOM member State and Costa Rica once Costa Rica had ratified the agreement and any member state has completed internal procedures to give it effect.  In keeping with the 1995 decision of CARICOM Heads of Government (16th Conference of Heads of Government), Saint Lucia, being a CARICOM LDC, does not have to reciprocate.

                        CARIBCAN: a multilateral preferential scheme between Canada and the Commonwealth Caribbean.  Beginning June 15, 1986, the Commonwealth Caribbean enjoyed duty free access to the Canadian market for most commodities originating in the Commonwealth Caribbean.  This agreement was subject to WTO waiver, expiring in December 2006.  The Canadian Government has secured an extension which will now expire in 2011.  Discussions towards the negotiation of a Free Trade Agreement between Canada and CARICOM have been ongoing since 2001.

                        Cotonou Agreement:  Saint Lucia is beneficiary to the commitments of the Lomé convention and its subsequent updates and modifications.  Lomé expired in February 2000 but was replaced with the Cotonou Agreement (CA) which was ratified by Saint Lucia in January 2002.  The CA has a life span of twenty years and contains a clause for revision every 5 years.  The trade preferences under Cotonou are however contingent on a WTO waiver scheduled to expire December 31, 2007.  The Cotonou Agreement therefore provides for the entry into force of Economic Partnership Agreements with the European Communities by January 1, 2008.  Accordingly, Saint Lucia is negotiating the EPA with the EC as part of the CARIFORUM region.

VI.              MULTILATERAL FRAMEWORK – THE WTO AND THE URUGUAY ROUND       AGREEMENTS

                        Implementation of the Uruguay Round Agreements

                        Saint Lucia, albeit a small island developing state, limited by size and capacity to compete effectively, has to participate forcibly in the liberalized trading system.  Over the last eight years, St. Lucia has undergone major structural changes from a primarily agricultural mono-crop economy with a growing population and high unemployment, to a diversifying economy with emphasis on the services sector.  In order for St. Lucia to take full advantage of the multilateral trade agreements to which it is a signatory;  St. Lucia must continue to accelerate its efforts at diversifying its economy with emphasis on higher value-added services.  In order to do so however, St. Lucia must be allowed to liberalize only at a pace consistent with its ability to direct and own its development.

                        St. Lucia has no specific Uruguay Round legislation, but many of the WTO Agreements have been incorporated into domestic law in a number of Acts of Parliament and various Regulations.  Since 2001, the trade policy of St. Lucia has undergone substantial changes, in response to regional and international developments, and as a result has become more open and transparent and WTO compliant.

                        St. Lucia has been active in the WTO in the context of the Doha Development Round, (DDA).  In the negotiations, St. Lucia has strongly advanced the argument that special and differential is integral to the negotiating process.  It has also joined with other members of the CARICOM in advocating non-reciprocity in NAMA and for flexibilities for small and vulnerable economies in the negotiation process.  St. Lucia has also highlighted the need for the negotiations to take account of the consequences of preference erosion for developing and particularly Small Vulnerable Economies.  St. Lucia has supported a request by a number of developing members of the WTO for an extension of time for providing export subsidies until 2018.  St. Lucia regards these subsidies as important to help it fuller integrate into the multilateral system, given what it views as weaknesses associated with its status as a "small and vulnerable economy."  St. Lucia has also attempted to advance the DDA agenda generally, in the context of its UN membership.

                        In the ACP-EU joint ministerial sessions, St. Lucia has lent support to regional and wider ACP efforts to encourage a successful conclusion to the Doha Round.

(1)               Trade in Goods

                        Tariffs and Import Licenses

                        Traditionally, St. Lucia’s trade policy focused on trade in goods and consequently emphasis was placed on an import substitution strategy for promoting economic development.  The strategy was implemented through a system of tariff and non-tariff barriers designed to enable manufacturing and agricultural sectors to become internationally competitive.

                        Since 1991, St. Lucia has applied the CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET) which subjects competing capital goods to a 15% tariff, competing intermediate inputs to a tariff of 20%, and non-competing final goods, general manufactured goods, agri-industry products, and garments to customs duties of 25-30%.  In 2000, St. Lucia applied Phase IV of the Schedule of CET reductions.  Some 39.1% of the lines are duty free.

                        The 2006 Budget Address acknowledged that trade negotiations now underway will force the Government of St. Lucia to re-assess its tax regimes, particularly with respect to import duty and the excise and consumption taxes.

                        The import-licensing regime of St. Lucia is regulated principally by the Customs (Management and Control) Act No. 23 of 1990, the External Trade Act, No. 5 of 1968 and the External Trade (Restricted Imports) Order, S.I. No. 31 of 1996.  St. Lucia has notified its import-licensing practices to the Committee on Import Licensing, and has also replied to the WTO questionnaire on import-licensing procedures.  The import-licensing regime was adopted to facilitate the regulating and monitoring of imports for national security, public health, public safety, animal health, and moral issues.

                        Other Charges and Duties

                        “Other charges and duties” levied on imports include: Consumption Tax, Excise Tax, Environmental Levy and Stamp Duty.  In its 2006 Budget Address, the Government of St. Lucia indicated its intent to review and implement a plan for reductions in the consumption tax imposed on a variety of food products.  The current taxes of between 5% and 30% would be reduced or eliminated for several items.

                        These proposals were made in order to address concerns over rising food prices.  The Government also proposed that excise taxes be reduced for hybrid vehicles, as well as those powered by diesel fuel, solar energy, or LPG and compressed natural gas.

                        Technical Standards

                        The Government of St. Lucia is aware that in order to promote industrial development and the enhancement of the economy of St. Lucia, the development and promotion of internationally recognised standards are imperative.  Equally, it recognises the need to ensure that imports are of the highest quality and that the health and safety of consumers are not compromised by the importation of and use of inferior goods.  It also has a duty to adequately protect the environment.

                        Accordingly, the Standards Act No. 14 of 1990 was developed as the main law regulating the use and application of technical regulations and standards in St. Lucia.  The St. Lucia Bureau of Standards (SLBS), under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Commerce was given the mandate for the preparation of standards and technical regulations, and is the national standards body.  In October 2001, the St. Lucia Bureau of Standards adopted the Code of Good Practice St. Lucia became a full member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in July 2004.

                        Technical regulations and standards are developed as well as adopted or adapted (i.e., adopted with modifications) from existing standards; the same technical regulations and standards are applied to imports and exports.  Under the Standards Act, No.14 of 1990, the SLBS implements a conformity-assessment programme for technical regulations.  Compliance with technical regulations for both domestic and imported products is governed by the Compulsory Standards Compliance programme that St. Lucia implemented in 2001.

                        Between 2000 and 2006 a total of 27 international standards were adopted by the SLBS with six of these being mandatory and hence becoming technical regulations.  By the end of 2006, a total of 100 standards had been developed by the SLBS 17 of which are ISOs, 7 are BSIs and 6 are IES.  At the end of April 2007, a total of 32 standards have become mandatory.

                        Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

                        The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is the body responsible for the implementation, dissemination of information and preparation of notifications of sanitary and phytosanitary measures in St. Lucia.  As at March, 2007, St. Lucia had submitted its notifications to the SPS Committee as well as the responses regarding the Operation of its SPS Enquiry Points and National Notification Authorities.

                        Trade in Services

                        Under the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations, St. Lucia committed four areas of service activity viz. tourism, recreational, financial (re-insurance), and maritime transport services for liberalization.  St. Lucia did not participate in the continued WTO negotiations on telecommunications or in the continued negotiations on financial services.  However, in May 2004, the Government of St. Lucia removed all restrictions on investment in the telecommunications sector, thus rendering that sector fully liberalized.

                        St. Lucia submitted an initial conditional offer on services in March 2005 pursuant to paragraph 15 of the Ministerial Declaration and Annex C of the General Council Decision of August 01, 2004.

                        Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights

                        Legislation governing intellectual property rights has existed in St. Lucia as far back as 1957.  However, since becoming a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and a signatory to a number of international agreements on intellectual property rights, St. Lucia has modernized its intellectual property rights system in order to bring its legislative framework in line with international standards.

                        Domestic legislation regarding copyright, trademarks, geographical indications, industrial designs, undisclosed information, and layout designs has been updated.  Legislation in other areas, such as patents, trade marks and plants varieties was passed in 2001, but was not yet in force as at early 2007.  St. Lucia has notified its legislation on intellectual property to the WTO.  Saint Lucia’s intellectual property legislation was reviewed in April 2001.

Technical Assistance

                        St. Lucia considers structured technical assistance to be a critical element in the development of the capacity needed to effectively participate in the increasingly burdensome demands of the multilateral trading system.  The main areas of focus include: enhancement of the domestic (human and institutional) resource capacity and capability to be responsive to an accelerating negotiating process, improvement in technological infrastructure, diversification of export portfolios, technical assistance in the area of legislation drafting for SPS systems, strengthening of the SPS surveillance systems as well as risk analysis to conform to international regulations, institutional building for the implementation of safeguard mechanisms, trade regulatory capacity building and trade development measures.

Aid for Trade

                        As a small sovereign democracy since 1979, St. Lucia has in spite of its limited resources slowly built its trading platforms in the areas of Agriculture, Manufacturing and Tourism.  However, since 2001 the performance of the economic sectors of Saint Lucia has encountered immense difficulties, particularly Agriculture, resulting in a marked decline in the contribution of that Sector, as the main contributor, to GDP.

                        Consequently, St. Lucia is of the view that the nomenclature of “Aid for Trade” should be re-defined to read “Aid to Trade” since Aid to Trade implies at the onset, aid that will assist in rebuilding those trading platforms that have been eroded as a consequence of loss of markets, particularly through competition from more formidable competitors.  Aid to Trade should be geared towards a mutual programme of Technical and Financial Assistance to address our needs in Trade Facilitation as well as the implementation of existing national development models including the National Export Development Strategy, the Industrial Policy and the Agricultural Development Plan for Saint Lucia.

                        Any initiative towards the development of Aid to Trade within the context of multilateral negotiations must assist in building supply-side capacity and trade-related infrastructure that SIDS like St. Lucia, need to in expanding its trade portfolio as well as benefiting in any meaningful way from the WTO Agreements.

                        Assistance under any Aid for Trade initiative should not be discounted from existing lines of credit or from any previous Aid or soft loan assistance programme, currently in place or negotiated. There should be a new wholesome programme, geared specifically at Trade and Trade related necessities in the recipient countries, with fixed pre arranged conditions and accountability at all levels.  There must be a strict monitoring system, with tangible results being the incentives for future aid.

CONCLUSION

                        It has been an uphill task for Saint Lucia and the other OECS member states to retain any gains they may have achieved by becoming subscribers to the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.  Following early on the signing of the Revised Treaty, Saint Lucia as part of CARICOM entered into trade negotiations with more developed regions, only to find that these more developed regions are bent on ignoring the findings of the More Developed Members (MDCs of CARICOM) who identified Saint Lucia and the rest of the OECS and Belize as Less Developed Countries (LDCs) and made provisions in the treaty, particularly in chapter 7 to accommodate our inadequacies.

                        Since becoming a member of the WTO, all we have seen is a gradual erosion of preferences that once allowed us to compete internationally.  This has had a debilitating effect on the social infrastructure and the economy.  Saint Lucia’s request is that our peculiar circumstances as a Small Island Developing State are recognized and the appropriate action be taken to reinforce our trading platforms which collapsed as a direct impact from the forces of globalization.

                        We need Aid to Trade;  meaningful subsidies that will assist us in underpinning the shortfall in economic returns brought on by the changes in market conditions as we adjust to the unfamiliar. The weaker and more vulnerable members of the WTO must not be made to feel disenfranchised by the more developed and affluent members of the organization.  This will only lead to fragmentation and chaos.

                        In spite of our shortcomings and the obvious disappointment that we feel as we watch our contribution to world trade dwindle to miniscule unrecordable digits, Saint Lucia remains committed to the liberalization of international trade, but this must be done fairly without hidden technical barriers or creative trade defense measures.  Nor must the More Developed Countries thwart the goodwill of the rules base organization by ignoring their decisions.

                        We will continue to thrive to be fully compliant within limits of our resources, both physical and financial, doing so in the face of tremendous challenges.  We are beset by several implications for growth and development and experience higher levels of volatility in the pursuit of our economic goals than many small land locked economies.

                        Critical considerations such as scarce resources, manpower, inability to experience economies of scale in almost every field of economic endeavour, limited avenues for diversification and at achieving sustainable economic development, are but some of the insurmountable problems we face from day to day.

                        Consideration must now be given as to what the WTO can reasonably demand from a small sovereign democracy like Saint Lucia without increasing the poverty level among the less fortunate, despite Government’s struggle to extricate them for this blight.  Our vulnerability to natural disasters is no comfort and the adverse rulings from the DSB from time to time on Bananas have not placated our situation.  We can only hope that the WTO will with greater knowledge of our capabilities demand no more from us than we are able to give.

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