When will CARICOM file a complaint with the WTO?

[jankdc]

Another tactic in overturning the kickbacks to rum producers in PR and USVI is for the CARICOM to go to the WTO and file a complaint. For some reason only the Dominican Republic and now Barbados is willing to take it there. Maybe writing to other member states and requesting that they join these countries in filing a complaint would work.

Friday 21 December 2012

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Trade Ministers issued a statement on 11 December stating that “CARICOM countries continue to have serious concerns about the threat to the competitiveness of Caribbean rum in the United States market resulting from the massive subsidies provided by the Governments of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) and Puerto Rico to multinational rum producers in those territories”.

After seven months of writing about this matter, I welcome this statement from the trade ministers underlying that “rum production and export are critical to the social and economic well-being of the Region”.

Much valuable time has been lost and much has to be done quickly if the rum industry of the CARIFORUM countries is not to be displaced in the US market. CARIFORUM consists of the 14 independent CARICOM countries and the Dominican Republic.

In previous commentaries I drew attention to the adverse effects on CARIFORUM countries if the USVI and Puerto Rico governments continue to provide massive subsidies to rum companies in their territories – derived from a tax refund from the US Federal government called a “cover-over” tax. To recap, CARIFORUM countries stand to lose US$700 million in foreign exchange annually, the jobs of 15,000 workers directly employed in the rum industry and another 60,000 jobs that benefit from it. Governments will lose over US$250 million in annual tax revenues.

Read full article.

[Capn Jimbo]

True enough...


Jan, thanks again for your attentions and link. Even though this article has been linked several times here, it is a must read if you haven't already done so. It is well to note that this commentary by Sir Ronald Sanders was made before the "fiscal cliff" legislation was passed almost two weeks later on January 1st, and which continued the taxes and tax rebates to the USVI and Puerto Rico. I'd guess that what has happened recently will move things much faster.

This is now going on three quarters of a Billion - yes billion - dollars each year that favors Diageo, Cruzan and Bacardi at great cost to Amercian taxpayers, and doing great harm to all other distillers of Caribbean rum, not to mention hurting smaller American distillers like Phil Prichard - who is furious. This doesn't count over $4 Billion USD to Diageo and Cruzan in recent special subsidies.

Don't forget what you can do:

1. Spread the word and post everywhere
2. If you see a Caribben rum reviewed or admired, join in and let the thread know that this rum is under threat.
3. End all your posts with:

Save our Caribbean Rum!
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/sto ... uerto.html

4. Add these lines to your signatures everywhere
5. Distribute on Facebook, Tweets, and your own mailing lists.

Also - check the main post "Stop the Massive Rum Subsidies..." post in this section for addition quotations, and suggested arguments, and for daily updates. Add your own updates on this main thread.

For example: Stephen Colbert lambasted the rum subsidies on the 7th: be sure to watch the clip (it's short so start from the beginning)...
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colber ... incentives

Thanks for posting...


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Special Note: What I think here is rather irrelevent compared to commentator Sir Ronals Sanders, who speaks to Jan's question rather depressingly (here).

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Sign the Petition to Save Caribbean Rum:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/sto ... uerto.html

[da'rum]

That article is depressing. I fear we are defending people who aren't defending themselves and DIAGEO and the gang have picked a nice weak target to blast into oblivion.


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Capn's Log: Yes that's true, but only to an extent. Barbados and the DR are among the larger distillers, and it is important to note that all it takes is one country to make a formal complaint. Of course unaminity adds public relations impact, but it only takes one country, one ligitgant, one complaint and one decision by the WTO to succeed.

Remember too, that American support will encourage those members who are tilting, and they will soon be notified of our efforts.

Sign the Petition to Save Caribbean Rum:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/sto ... uerto.html

[jankdc]

Sorry for the repost. I hadn't seen it. That second article that you posted on CARICOM was depressing.

One of the things that I was suggesting is contacting the foreign governments to back the Dominican Republic and Barbados to file a WTO complaint.

Here is the info for Jamaica:

Ministry: Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
21 Dominica Drive
Kingston 5
Tel: (876) 926-4220-8
Fax: (876) 929-6733
Email: mfaftjam@cwjamaica.com
Website: www.mfaft.gov.jm
Minister:
Sen. the Hon. Arnold Nicholson,
QC
Email: hmfaftja@cwjamaica.com
Minister of State:
Hon. Arnaldo Brown, MP
Email: hmosmfaftja@cwjamaica.com
Permanent Secretary:
Ambassador Paul Robotham, CD
Email: psmfaja@cwjamaica.com

Guyana:

Ministry of Foreign Trade & International Co-Operation

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN TRADE & INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION

254 South Road, Bourda
Georgetown, Guyana
South America
Tel.#: 592-226-5064; 592-226-8427
Fax #: 592-226-8426
Permanent Secretary
John Issacs
Fax:223-0900
Tel. # 227-7726
Tel. # 226-1607 Ext 314, 300
Email: psmoftic@moftic.gov.gy
Website: http://www.moftic.gov.gy

Trinidad and Tobogo:


Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment

Address: Levels 11 to 17, Nicholas Tower; 63-65 Independence Square; Port of Spain; Trinidad, West Indies
Telephone: (868) 623-2931-2934
Fax: (868) 627-8488 / 0002
Website: http://www.tradeind.gov.tt/ Link to Web Site


I didn't find anything on haiti, but did find this: http://primature.gouv.ht/contact.htm

There's a start. Any other countries to look for?


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Capn's Log: For some reason, several of the Jamaican emails came back; however I found what I hope are good connections to Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana and Haiti. Thanks.

Sign the Petition to Save Caribbean Rum:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/sto ... uerto.html