Status of Negotiations in the WTO, Contonou, FTAA and the CSME

This paper attempts to provide an overview of the current status of negotiations in the WTO, ACP/EU, FTAA and the CSME. It will highlight the critical issues within each forum. It is hoped that this presentation will reinforce the need for participation from all sectors (organisations, civil society, business community, agricultural cooperative societies) in this process if the needs of the Caribbean are to be articulated and realized through the multilateral system. This is particularly significant when viewed from the perspective of the world inequality that has persisted despite the ,avowals of the protagonists of globalisation and trade liberalization. What is the current state of negotiations in the WTO? What is the Cotonou Agreement about? Everyone must have heard of the FTAA by now. But some of you may wonder, where does agriculture fit into this? And lastly how is the CSME going to impact on my operation, my field of study, especially when we face "bigger" global challenges. This paper will answer these questions by first presenting today's situation. Then it will offer simple suggestions for improving our chances in the multilateral trading system.