By Belize Live News Staff: Belize participated in the Fifty-Ninth Regular Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), held in Georgetown, Guyana, on November 27-28, 2024. The delegation, led by Osmond Martinez, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, engaged in discussions aimed at advancing regional trade and economic development under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
Key agenda items included the free movement of skilled nationals within CARICOM, trade in goods—especially revisions to import duties impacting Belize—and the adoption of regional standards for pre-packaged food labeling. Updates on the implementation of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement, aimed at streamlining international trade, were also presented.
A significant milestone was the launch of the CARICOM Interactive Marketplace and Suspension Procedure (CIMSUPRO), a digital platform designed to connect CARICOM producers with buyers.
For Belize, a critical issue was the Partial Scope Agreement with El Salvador. Member States agreed to convene a special meeting in early 2025 to finalize and certify the agreement, which builds on a 2023 General Framework between the two nations. The agreement is expected to bolster bilateral trade once completed.
Minister Martinez also conducted bilateral meetings with key counterparts. Discussions with Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson-Smith, focused on poultry import requirements into Jamaica. Meanwhile, Barbados’ Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Druard Symmonds, expressed interest in importing poultry from Belize. Talks highlighted Belize’s capacity to meet Barbados’ demand, positioning the country for increased poultry exports to the region.
Minister Martinez was accompanied by senior trade officials, including Mr. Andy Sutherland, Director General for Foreign Trade, and representatives from Belize’s Customs and Excise Department.
The 59th COTED meeting highlights Belize’s commitment to deepening regional economic integration and enhancing trade opportunities within CARICOM.
