Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05GEORGETOWN1309
2005-12-15 13:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Georgetown
Cable title:
GUYANA TRADE MINISTER BLASTS 'UNFAIR' TRADE SYSTEM
how-toVZCZCXRO6486 RR RUEHAP RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHGI RUEHGR RUEHHM RUEHLZ RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHPB DE RUEHGE #1309 3491307 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 151307Z DEC 05 FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2875 INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE RUCNWTO/WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 001309
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON EAGR GY
SUBJECT: GUYANA TRADE MINISTER BLASTS 'UNFAIR' TRADE SYSTEM
AT WTO MINISTERIAL
REF: A. GEORGETOWN 1249
B. GEORGETOWN 1281
UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 001309
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON EAGR GY
SUBJECT: GUYANA TRADE MINISTER BLASTS 'UNFAIR' TRADE SYSTEM
AT WTO MINISTERIAL
REF: A. GEORGETOWN 1249
B. GEORGETOWN 1281
1. SUMMARY: Guyana's Minister of Foreign Trade, Clement
Rohee, criticized developing countries for negotiating trade
rules that "further marginalize" developing countries. The
remarks are the latest in a series of public pronouncements
expressing distrust of the Doha Development Agenda. END
SUMMARY.
2. Guyana's state-owned Guyana Chronicle newspaper reported
Foreign Trade Minister Clement Rohee's statement on the
opening day of the Hong Kong Ministerial that developed
countries were "selfish and unrealistic" in their efforts to
advance the Doha Development Agenda. The Minister also
expressed suspicion of developing countries' commitment to
the poverty reduction strategy of the UN's Millennium
Development Goals. Speaking for the Caribbean Regional
Negotiating Machinery, Rohee specifically cited preferences
for sugar and bananas as an issue where CARICOM will not
compromise. Rohee also dismissed special and differential
treatment measures as "meaningless" in the absence of such
preferences, noting that the European Union's recent
announcement of a cut in sugar price supports was a "painful
day for CARICOM". The Minister reportedly stopped short of
condemning trade liberalization, acknowledging that "trade-
based solution rather than handouts must be the way
forward".
3. COMMENT. Adhering to previous statements in the run-up to
Hong Kong (reftel A),Guyana's trade negotiator has
unsurprisingly arrived at the WTO ministerial with gloves
off. Rohee's notion that trade liberalization can be a
catalyst for poverty alleviation--but that it must not come
at the expense of special treatment for small, evolving
economies-- generally squares with President Jagdeo's
previous comments to EmbOffs (reftel B). Such remarks
reinforce Guyana's sense of distrust and desperation in its
efforts to retain favorable preferences in the face of more
open trade.
BULLEN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON EAGR GY
SUBJECT: GUYANA TRADE MINISTER BLASTS 'UNFAIR' TRADE SYSTEM
AT WTO MINISTERIAL
REF: A. GEORGETOWN 1249
B. GEORGETOWN 1281
1. SUMMARY: Guyana's Minister of Foreign Trade, Clement
Rohee, criticized developing countries for negotiating trade
rules that "further marginalize" developing countries. The
remarks are the latest in a series of public pronouncements
expressing distrust of the Doha Development Agenda. END
SUMMARY.
2. Guyana's state-owned Guyana Chronicle newspaper reported
Foreign Trade Minister Clement Rohee's statement on the
opening day of the Hong Kong Ministerial that developed
countries were "selfish and unrealistic" in their efforts to
advance the Doha Development Agenda. The Minister also
expressed suspicion of developing countries' commitment to
the poverty reduction strategy of the UN's Millennium
Development Goals. Speaking for the Caribbean Regional
Negotiating Machinery, Rohee specifically cited preferences
for sugar and bananas as an issue where CARICOM will not
compromise. Rohee also dismissed special and differential
treatment measures as "meaningless" in the absence of such
preferences, noting that the European Union's recent
announcement of a cut in sugar price supports was a "painful
day for CARICOM". The Minister reportedly stopped short of
condemning trade liberalization, acknowledging that "trade-
based solution rather than handouts must be the way
forward".
3. COMMENT. Adhering to previous statements in the run-up to
Hong Kong (reftel A),Guyana's trade negotiator has
unsurprisingly arrived at the WTO ministerial with gloves
off. Rohee's notion that trade liberalization can be a
catalyst for poverty alleviation--but that it must not come
at the expense of special treatment for small, evolving
economies-- generally squares with President Jagdeo's
previous comments to EmbOffs (reftel B). Such remarks
reinforce Guyana's sense of distrust and desperation in its
efforts to retain favorable preferences in the face of more
open trade.
BULLEN