TRADE-HAITI: Concern Over Question of CARICOM Tariffs

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Ives Marie Chanel

PORT-AU-PRINCE, May 6 1998 (IPS) - Officials in Haiti are openly concerned over proposals by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) – the regional trade treaty group – to revise its tariff structure.

Jean Daniel Elie, Director General of the Haitian Ministry of Commerce, says Haiti still has “lots of questions” after recent discussions with CARICOM officials.

“We are trying to see if we’re going to apply the same tax for goods which come from outside of CARICOM and under what conditions. CARICOM’s tariff schedule is different than Haiti’s, and parliament has not yet voted on a new import duty bill,” he says.

The bill submitted to the Haitian parliament, calls for tariffs of up to 10 percent which would be incompatible with CARICOM’s duty on goods from outside the treaty area, approved in 1991.

The CARICOM tariff structure progressively reduces the present 40 percent average maximum tariff to 20 percent by the year 2000. CARICOM member countries expect that import tariffs will drop as low as zero for less advanced countries, but the more adva nced ones, such as Barbados, Trinidad, and Jamaica, will maintain a minimum of 5 percent.

The proposed Haitian schedule clashes with CARICOM guidelines. although it does conform with the zero option being pushed by the United States.

The technical mission, led by Orlando Marville, Assistant Secretary General for CARICOM Foreign Affairs, was held in Haiti from April 26 through 30. Elie headed a delegation of Haitian officials for the discussions on terms and conditions under which they would participate.

The talks centered on policies regarding commerce, tourism, education, economic relations, and legislative and procedural matters which stand in the way of Haiti’s full participation into the common market. Jean Augustave, the Director General of the Haitian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the meetings were an important step in smoothing the way for Haiti’s eventual inclusion.

According to Augustave, the Haitian contingent will now be in a better negotiating position when the next round of talks takes place with CARICOM’s secretariat in early June.

The working session last week permitted representatives from both sides to at least pave the way for the decisive phase of the discussions, which will consist, in the main, of negotiations with each of CARICOM’s principal subsectors.

When Haiti becomes a fully-functioning member of CARICOM, it will be able to take advantage of a petroleum treaty signed with Mexico and Venezuela. Haiti will also be able to enjoy financing privileges accorded by the Lome Convention.

In a published statement, the Haitian ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed there is no target date set for Haiti’s membership in CARICOM to become fully operational. Haiti was officially admitted to the body on June 30, 1997.