Experts seek to improve trade negotiating by developing countries

Regional trade advisers converged at the Commonwealth Secretariat on 16 October 2006 to examine how to better assist ACP countries in their trade negotiation and policy formation.

The five-day programme -- named the Hubs and Spokes Annual Regional Trade Policy Advisers’ consultative meeting -- drew experts from Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP). It was opened by Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Ransford Smith.

Mr Smith lauded the experts’ “invaluable work” and the positive feedback it received, especially in providing technical support in economic partnership agreement negotiations.

“Trade policy is dynamic and becoming increasingly complex. The Secretariat will be looking to you [advisers] as its ambassadors to deal with the dynamics of trade policy in your respective regions,” he said.

The ‘Hub and Spokes’ Project is a joint initiative by the Secretariat, the European Commission and the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie with the support of the ACP Secretariat. The project seeks to strengthen ACP countries’ capacity to formulate and implement trade policies through the provision of regional trade advisers and experts. 

The advisers will discuss project constraints and assess the impact achieved on the ground at the workshop. Secretariat staff will also share their experience of trade policy-related programmes to secure partnerships between their work and ‘Hubs and Spokes’ activities.

Secretariat Links:

• Hub and Spokes Project

Related Websites:

• European Commission