David Yee-Sing (right), managing director of CMA-CGM (Jamaica) Limited, exchanges business cards with Pierre Latrille (second left), counsellor, Trade in Services Division, World Trade Organisation (WTO), during a coffee break at the WTO Maritime Services Workshop conducted last week by Mr. Latrille. Looking on are Bertrand Smith, director of legal affairs, Maritime Authority of Jamaica, and Sacha Vaccianna, research, projects and communications executive the Shipping Association of Jamaica. - Contributed

Shipping industry professionals received answers for a number of important questions when Pierre Latrille, counsellor with the Trade in Services Division of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) conducted a two-day WTO Maritime Services Workshop last week in the training room of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ) from November 13-14.

Mr. Latrille's visit from Geneva was facilitated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and he was introduced to seminar participants by Alison Roofe, deputy director in the ministry's Foreign Trade Department.

Multilateral trade negotiations

In welcoming Mr. Latrille, Sacha Vaccianna, research and projects executive of the SAJ, noted that the WTO expert came at a time when a number of multilateral trade negotiations are taking place that need to be clarified and explained within the General Structure of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).

After giving an overview of the GATS, Mr. Latrille went on to explain the specificities of maritime scheduling and worked with participants on some practical exercises in maritime scheduling.

On the second day, Mr. Latrille gave a historical overview of the 1993 and 1995/6 maritime negotiations and their current legal consequences. This was followed by practical exercises on the scope of present maritime negotiations in the GATS.

A discussion entitled 'Analysis and Overview of the Jamaican Maritime Transport Services Sector' also took place on day two of the seminar with presenters being:

Bertrand Smith, director of legal affairs, Maritime Authority of Jamaica.

Annica Anderson, representing Kingston Wharves Limited.

Pat Belinfanti, assistant vice-president of public relations, Port Authority of Jamaica.

David Yee Sing, managing director, CMA-CGM (Jamaica) Limited.

The SAJ takes this opportunity to thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade for facilitating Mr. Latrille and the World Trade Organisation for making possible his most timely visit.