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| Following talks between Prime Minister Golding and Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo, the two sides agreed that Jamaica would go ahead with the suspension of the CET on the first 9,000 tonnes of the staple on the way from the US, due to arrive in the island next Tuesday. (File photo) | |
KINGSTON, Jamaica, May 14, 2008 - Jamaica and Guyana have reached a compromise to settle a rice row over the decision by the Bruce Golding administration to seek a waiver of the Common External Tariff (CET) in order to import rice from the United States (US).
Following talks between Prime Minister Golding and Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo, the two sides agreed that Jamaica would go ahead with the suspension of the CET on the first 9,000 tonnes of the staple on the way from the US, due to arrive in the island next Tuesday.
Industry and Commerce Minister Karl Samuda revealed on Tuesday that in turn, Jamaica gave a guarantee to buy 60,000 tonnes of rice from Guyana every year.
Guyana will also supply an additional 14,000 tonnes of rice in two weeks.
The Golding government had requested a suspension of the CET to import rice from extra-regional sources, but Guyana had indicated it could supply Jamaica's demand for the commodity.
The rice issue was raised at the just-concluded Twenty-Sixth Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) in Antigua and Barbuda, where discussions were held on Jamaica's need for a stock of rice due to an emergency situation, and Guyana's ability to supply the commodity.
Suriname, which also produces and exports rice, also indicated its ability to supply to Jamaica but said it is prepared to agree to the suspension of the CET as a special consideration of Jamaica's emergency needs.
Meantime, Ministers at the COTED meeting also agreed to ensure the effectiveness of the Monitoring Mechanism for Rice and CARICOM member states were urged to submit data on the production, import and export of rice and the application of the CET.
The reports, covering the periods January to June and July to December, are to be submitted twice yearly.
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