International Trade and Small States
Trade issues relating to small states are a major focus for the Commonwealth Secretariat's work.
The Commonwealth Secretariat helps its member states, especially its small states and least developed countries (LDCs), to confront the new and emerging challenges posed by negotiations on trade liberalisation and the erosion of their Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the African, Caribbean and Pacific Groups of States (ACP) and the European Union (EU).
The Commonwealth seeks to help its small states to harmonise these new global economic obligations with their long-term economic goals.
The Commonwealth Secretariat's work in trade policy for small states is conducted within the context of the Doha Development Agenda, bilateral initiatives, regional integration frameworks with Members, and the negotiation of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the African, Caribbean and Pacific Groups of States (ACP) and the European Union (EU). Secretariat assistance to small state members focuses oin the following areas:
EXPLORE International Trade and Small States
- Operationalising the Doha Development Round
- Fisheries
- Increasing Inter- and Intra-regional Economic Partnerships for Development
- Using Services Trade for Growth
- Establishment of WTO non-resident facilities in Geneva
- Hub and Spokes Project
- Small States Trade Experts Meeting
- Commonwealth Tourism Ministers Meeting
- Small States in the Global Trading System
Forest Carbon Finance