PARAGUAY TO MEET CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES ON WTO

UNCLAS PORT OF SPAIN 000787 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD WTRO EAID TD XL SUBJECT: PARAGUAY TO MEET CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES ON WTO CBERA WAIVER REF: (A) POS 663; (B) STATE 88193 ¶1. A brief AP story appeared in the June 28 Trinidad Express business supplement regarding Paraguay and the waiver in the World Trade Organization (reftels) for countries enjoying benefits of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA). The article, reporting on a recent meeting in Guyana, said that Paraguay has agreed to meet with CARICOM trade ministers in Geneva. ¶2. Econ Chief inquired about the story with MFA International Trade Director Razia Ali in a conversation on June 28. Ali confirmed that such a meeting was planned, which she said would be late this week during the WTO ministerial meeting in Geneva. Minister of Trade and Industry Kenneth Valley, who is expected to travel to Geneva for the WTO ministerial, would represent T&T in the meeting with Paraguay. Ali said the meeting with Paraguay was well timed, because a Trade-in-Goods meeting, at which the CBERA waiver is to be considered, was scheduled to take place in Geneva approximately on July 4-5. According to her, however, few trade ministers were at the Guyana meeting, and thus little was accomplished in preparations for the meeting with Paraguay. AUSTIN