Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a member of the World Trade Organization (also referred to as the WTO). It is the only international organization dealing with the global rules of trade. Its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and as freely as possible. WTO issues affects us all in one way or another as it deals with goods and services of which we consume daily. The WTO can cut living costs and raise living standards, settle disputes and reduce trade tensions, stimulate economic growth and employment, cut the cost of doing business internationally, encourage good governance, help countries develop, give the weak a stronger voice, support the environment and health, and contribute to peace and stability.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Foreign Investment and Diaspora Affairs is the Ministry responsible for the coordination of WTO matters and as part of its remit, the Ministry currently houses the WTO Reference Centre. The objective of the Reference Centre is to enable government officials, the private sector and the academic community to have a regular updated and direct privileged link to the trade information resources of the WTO Secretariat, Geneva. The Reference Centre serves as a good resource tool for policy makers, technical practitioners and students. The Reference Centre houses information on trade issues regarding not only WTO, trade issues on OECS, CARICOM and CARIFORUM can also be found at the Reference Centre. It is equipped with books, reports, publications, and computers to access online databases and e-learning platforms.
WTO Reference Centre Documents
- CARICOM Free Movement Information Note
- The Right of Establishment
- Free Movement - Travel and Work
- Free Movement and Competitiveness
- Competition Policy and Law in the CSME
- Social Security in CARICOM
- CSME Travel and Work 2nd Edition
- The Movement of Capital
- Consumers in CARICOM
- The CARICOM Competition Commission
