Regional Standards Must be Harmonised – Stern

State Minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Michael Stern, has said that despite efforts to harmonise standards between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Latin America, there still exists differences between national and regional standards.
This he said should not continue as the mutual recognition agreements, with respect to acceptance by trading partners of conformity assessment procedures, must serve to ensure that standards are properly used to overcome trade barriers.
Addressing a seminar hosted by the Embassy of Chile, at the Pegasus Hotel yesterday (Sept. 25) Mr. Stern said, “standards are global now.even locally, people are demanding quality in products and services.”
The State Minister noted that while trade agreements exist to facilitate free trade at all times, national policies “often put our exporters at a disadvantage.”
Mr. Stern noted further that measures instituted to unfairly protect national trade, constitute barriers to free trade, and that “we must work together to ensure that this does not continue. The Chilean experience, in addressing these challenges, will be very instructive.”
He expressed the hope that the trade relations between Jamaica and Chile would become the benchmark for trade in the CARICOM and Latin American region, adding that, “we are heartened that the trade agreements can generate new dynamic and international commercial relations.”
“We also share the view that the success of the trade agreements, depends on the development of a comprehensive work schedule at both private and public sector levels. Together we can pursue this agenda, (and) in so doing, establish a relationship that accommodates trade that is fair, free and mutually beneficial to all,” he stated.
Mr. Stern said that the potential of huge markets, in terms of trade, “that are virtually on our door steps” should be exploited. “Our Latin-American neighbours constitute a significant market, and on the other hand, the importers have enjoyed access to a wide range of goods and services from the region,” he pointed out.
The State Minister said that the seminar, which saw Chile sharing its experience on the negotiations and implementation of free trade agreements, “provides us with the opportunity to gain a meaningful insight into the experiences and contribution to the dialogue from our perspective.”