CARICOM assesses regional capacity to produce four key products

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has set up four assessment teams to determine whether member states can meet regional demand for paints, hydraulic cement, glass bottles and bitumen.

The teams will meet between October 12 and 27 to examine production capacity, market demand and the competitiveness of regional products against imports from outside the Caribbean.

Their findings are expected to guide regional trade ministers in determining future tariff policies for the four products.

The teams were established by the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) at its 62nd regular meeting in June 2026.

The Assistant Secretary-General of CARICOM Single Market and Trade, Ambassador Wayne McCook, said the teams had been directed to conduct thorough assessments while considering the interests of manufacturers, consumers and other stakeholders.

“The Council has directed the assessment teams to be rigorous in examining the regional supply and demand for products and give careful consideration to the sensitivities of all stakeholders and consumers who rely on a stable and predictable supply of the products being assessed,” McCook said.

The assessments will examine the competitiveness of trade among CARICOM member states compared with imports from other regions, including the impact of the Common External Tariff, non-tariff barriers and logistics costs.

The teams will also review the application of CARICOM’s Rules of Origin criteria to the products and seek contributions from public and private sector stakeholders, consumers and civil society groups.

The petroleum bitumen assessment team comprises representatives from Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

The team examining other hydraulic cement comprises Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.

The glass bottles team includes Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

Trump Rules Out Iran Deal as US Weighs Fresh Military Strikes

United States President Donald Trump has said he no longer wants a deal with Iran amid reports that the US military is preparing for possible fresh strikes against the country in the coming weeks.

Trump made the statement during a campaign rally with Republican candidates in San Antonio, Texas, suggesting that Tehran was willing to make major concessions to end the conflict.

“I think the deal isn’t really something that I want to do, but they’re willing to offer us anything to stop,” Trump said.

He, however, commended his special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, for his role in the ongoing diplomatic efforts, saying the envoy was “doing very well.”

The development came as NBC News reported that Trump and his national security team had discussed the possibility of resuming large-scale military operations against Iran in the coming weeks.

The report, citing a US official and another person familiar with the discussions, indicated that Washington was considering further military action despite ongoing efforts to end the conflict.

Similarly, Axios reported that a possible resumption of hostilities could involve extensive bombing of Iranian energy facilities, infrastructure and nuclear targets.

The reports also raised concerns about the potential political implications of renewed military operations ahead of the US midterm elections.

Trump’s approval ratings have reportedly declined amid mounting public concerns over the rising cost of living, particularly soaring petrol and diesel prices.

Earlier in the week, the president blamed uncertainty over Iran’s leadership for difficulties in the negotiations, arguing that Washington did not know who was making decisions on behalf of Tehran.

Iranian officials rejected the claim, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei accusing US officials of sending contradictory signals.

Baghaei argued that the problem stemmed from what he described as Washington’s inconsistent positions and mixed messages during the negotiations.

Meanwhile, crude oil prices have remained elevated despite a recovery in oil exports from the Middle East towards levels recorded before the conflict.

According to commodity intelligence firm Kpler, combined crude oil shipments from the Gulf, excluding Iran, alongside volumes from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, had recovered to approximately 18.5 million barrels per day.

Kpler’s lead freight analyst, Matt Wright, said the normalisation of oil shipments no longer depended entirely on a diplomatic agreement.

“Normalisation no longer needs to wait for a deal,” Wright said.

He, however, forecast a slower and uneven recovery if the conflict continued, suggesting that shipping operations would increasingly adapt to prevailing conditions rather than wait for a diplomatic breakthrough.

UK, Germany ratify defence treaty amid Russian threat

The United Kingdom and Germany have ratified a defence and security treaty aimed at strengthening cooperation against hybrid attacks, including cyber threats, sabotage and disinformation, amid growing concerns over Russia’s activities across Europe.

The British Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz formalised the ratification of the 2025 Kensington Treaty during a meeting in Berlin, Germany, where both leaders pledged to deepen security cooperation and strengthen economic ties.

Speaking at the German Federal Chancellery, Burnham said the two countries faced hybrid attacks regularly and needed to work together to address the threats.

He said the agreement would improve security across Europe while creating opportunities to boost economic growth and living standards in both countries.

Burnham described the treaty as the first of its kind between the UK and Germany since the Second World War, adding that its implementation marked a significant development in bilateral relations.

The British leader also disclosed that his government would seek to advance discussions on Germany joining the Global Combat Air Programme, a multinational initiative involving the UK, Italy and Japan to develop a next-generation fighter aircraft.

He said the partnership would extend beyond conventional military cooperation to include efforts to counter hybrid attacks, protect democratic processes and strengthen collaboration in quantum technology and space.

Burnham also expressed his intention to host the first joint meeting of the British and German cabinets in 2027.

The Berlin meeting came amid heightened concerns among European governments over alleged Russian involvement in activities targeting critical infrastructure.

Germany accused Russia last month of launching a drone fitted with explosives at Leipzig/Halle Airport, a major international freight hub that also serves as a logistics centre for support to Ukraine.

The British government subsequently summoned a senior Russian diplomat over what it described as an egregious and reckless attack, while the European Union’s foreign affairs chief also summoned Russia’s envoy in Brussels.

Moscow has denied involvement in the incident.

Hybrid warfare refers to activities that fall between conventional armed conflict and peacetime relations. Such operations may involve cyberattacks, sabotage, espionage, disinformation campaigns and attempts to disrupt critical infrastructure.

Former British national security adviser, Sir Mark Lyall Grant, said Russia had intensified such activities in response to European support for Ukraine following Moscow’s invasion.

Grant warned that undersea cables in the North Sea were among the infrastructure attracting Russian interest, adding that the issue was likely to feature in discussions between the British and German leaders.

Meanwhile, Burnham expressed support for closer relations between Britain and the European Union ahead of a planned UK-EU summit next month.

He said he was committed to securing deeper cooperation with European partners, arguing that closer ties would benefit economic growth and efforts to tackle irregular migration.

French Finance Minister Roland Lescure had also urged Britain to consider returning fully to the European Union in an interview with the BBC.

Merz said Germany would support efforts to bring Britain closer to Europe and the EU.

The renewed discussions come amid reports of political pressure on both leaders at home.

Burnham became British prime minister in July after Sir Keir Starmer was forced out by members of his party, two years after leading Labour to a landslide election victory.

Merz, meanwhile, has faced criticism over his government’s standing and setbacks in regional elections, prompting speculation about his political future.

Despite the domestic challenges, both leaders used the Berlin meeting to reaffirm their commitment to security cooperation and closer European relations.