1. OFFICE OF TRADE NEGOTIATIONS
Press Release
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Contact:
Marsha Drakes, Tel: (246) 430-1678
marsha.drakes@crnm.org
For Immediate Release: No. 04/2011
May 2, 2011
WORKING GROUPS ON LABOUR AND ENVIRONMENT TO BE CONVENED IN BARBADOS
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS – This week in Barbados, the OTN will convene Working Groups
on Labour and on Environment which will focus on helping to clarify the Region’s position
on Canada’s proposal to address both issues within the scope of the ongoing negotiations for
a CARICOM‐Canada Trade and Development Agreement. The establishment of these
Working Groups was mandated by the CARICOM Heads of Government at their 32nd
Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government held in July 2010.
The Working Groups will be comprised of trade officials, as well as labour or environment
officials from each Member State. Representatives from regional labour or environmental
organizations, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and CARICOM
Secretariats will also participate.
It is anticipated that the Working Groups will be able to formulate specific
recommendations that would be able to facilitate CARICOM decision‐making on the
strategic response to Canada’s request for the formal launch of negotiations on Labour and
Environment in the negotiations.

2. As the facilitator and coordinator, the OTN will report the recommendations of the
Working Groups to the Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in July
2011, through the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and the Prime
Ministerial Sub‐Committee on External Negotiations.
The meeting of the Working Group on Labour will be convened on 3-4 May 2011 and the
meeting of the Working Group on Environment will take place on 5-6 May 2011.
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