Posted on 11/02/2003 9:21:56 AM PST by Pikamax
Trinidad seeks leverage on locating HQ for free trade zone
By Doreen Hemlock Business Writer
October 30, 2003
In the growing debate over a Free Trade Area of the Americas pact, the small Caribbean nation of Trinidad-Tobago added a new issue Wednesday: how to decide where to put the headquarters.
A Trinidad-Tobago official called for a vote by all 34 FTAA nations on a site, a method that would help it reel in support offered by 13 fellow Caribbean Community nations to host the prestigious office in the island's capital, Port-of-Spain.
Miami and other rival cities in the Americas had expected a decision by consensus on all FTAA issues, including the headquarters, leaving room to negotiate more with Caricom and others on the site.
"We are in favor of a process of voting, not in favor of consensus," Trinidad-Tobago Consul Harold Robertson told an Americas' conference in Coral Gables. "That's an issue we hope the trade ministers will address in Miami next month."
The question showed the growing complexity of debates on free trade, as trade ministers from all nations in the America and the Caribbean except Cuba prepare to meet in downtown Miami from Nov. 19-21 to hammer out details for an FTAA slated to start in 2005.
(Excerpt) Read more at sun-sentinel.com ...
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