The Government has done its review of a Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), which has been in the process of completion since 2011.

Work started on the FTP in 2011 under the then Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) government. It was eventually approved by the former People’s National Party administration in January 2015.

The current JLP Government had undertaken a review of the developing policy since taking over in March. That update has now been completed and is now before the Cabinet for review.

According to Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, “Its adoption will be another linchpin of the Government’s growth agenda”.

“Being a small island state, we are unlikely to be able to grow significantly without robust trade,” Senator Johnson Smith told a press briefing at her ministry in New Kingston on Wednesday.

On the Brexit issue, she said that Government will continue to collaborate with its CARIFORUM partners, in consultations with the UK to retain our preferential market access in that country.

“In that regard, we have requested a meeting with the UK secretaries of state with responsibility for international trade and international development cooperation respectively,” Johnson Smith said.

She said that she will also be attending the inaugural meeting of Commonwealth trade ministers in March, by which time the Government is hoping to have a clearer idea of the UK’s strategy for its exit from the EU.

“At the same time, we will be seeking to strengthen our relations with EU countries. In fact, during Diplomatic Week we will be holding our third EU-Jamaica Political Dialogue under the provisions of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement,” the minister said.

Johnson Smith also revealed that the report from the Bruce Golding-led CARICOM/ CARIFORUM Review Commission will be submitted to herself and Prime Minister Andrew Holness in mid-February.

She said that following discussions at the Cabinet level, the report will be made public.

“As you know, the report attracted keen interest across the region and, therefore, required broad consultations. It was therefore in order to facilitate the appropriate analysis that the life of the Commission was extended,” she said.

She said that Golding will also make his own announcements as chairman in that respect, in due course.

The commission was appointed by Prime Minister Andrew Holness during the last week of June 2016. It comprises of members from a wide cross section, including the private sector, academia, business, finance and trade unions. Its first meeting was held in July 5 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. The commission is expected to carry out its work and submit a final report within six months.

Senator Johnson Smith said that she will continue to chair the 15-member group of ACP CARIFORUM states until the end of June, and will also remain the high representative for the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement.

She noted that the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) provide Jamaica’s market access to the EU member states on preferential terms, and is therefore a high priority for the Government.

The minister pointed out that the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, which sets out the framework for relations between the ACP Group of States and European Union (EU) member states, will expire in 2020.

“This is the agreement under which we receive national and regional developmental support from the EU to the tune of millions of euro. We are therefore, working together with the Caribbean region and the rest of the ACP Group of States to actively prepare for the negotiation of a successor agreement to Cotonou,” stated Johnson Smith.

“We have accomplished much. There has been much progress and there remains much to be done every day,” Senator Johnson Smith told the press conference.

“I work with an excellent team here at the ministry. I would have not have achieved the successes enumerated today without their hard work and support, so I want to publicly thank all members of staff of the ministry whether serving here or overseas,” she added.