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FOREIGN MINISTER
RETURNS FROM TRADE TALKS IN WASHINGTON
Foreign Minister Hon. Fred Mitchell has returned
from Washington D.C. where he attended the first meeting of the
CARICOM Trade Ministers with the United States Trade Representative
Rob Portman, held 12th April, 2006.
The foreign trade component to Mr. Mitchell’s
Ministry was added in February of this year. Mr. Mitchell will be
working with the other Ministers to ensure that the extension of the
Caribbean Basin Initiative Legislation in the United States remains
valid until at least 2008. A waiver is required for the United States
to continue the preference legislation in favour of the Caribbean.
The legislation is right now in non compliance with World Trade
Organization (WTO) rules. The waiver is needed to protect the
preferences for Bahamian produce.
In 2004, the last year for which figures are
available, some 92 million dollars worth of goods were exported to the
United States. This represents mainly crawfish. The fishing industry
employs about 20,000 people in The Bahamas.
Mr. Mitchell was accompanied by H.E. A. Leonard
Archer, Ambassador to CARICOM.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
17th April, 2006
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