Robert Ready
1,810 Added | 4 Magazines | 17 Likes | 8 Following | 309 Followers | @notready | Retired Diplomat w interest in Canadian politics, understanding the Caribbean. Follows developments in international economic policies (trade; investment; air transport)
Cuba says regional marijuana liberalization is fueling trafficking
HAVANA (Reuters) - The liberalization of marijuana laws is fueling drug trafficking but Cuba will not follow the trend of loosening restrictions on marijuana, a government official said on Thursday.<p>Antonio Israel Ibarra, the secretary of the National Drugs Commission, gave no specific figures for …
CubaTrump trade rep threatens WTO on China market status
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer testified Wednesday before Congress that it would be a "cataclysmic" mistake for the WTO to grant China …
U.S. criticizes Ottawa's oversight of Chinese high-tech takeovers
The head of the House Armed Services Committee in Washington is urging Ottawa to be “more vigilant” in its national-security process when Chinese investors want to buy Canadian high-tech firms that specialize in sophisticated military hardware.<p>Representative Mac Thornberry was responding to The …
United StatesCaribbean nations stop OAS resolution on Venezuela
Here’s the million-dollar question about the failure at this week’s Organization of American States’ meeting to strongly condemn Venezuela’s …
VenezuelaVenezuela highlights Caribbean solidarity in the OAS
The Venezuelan Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Samuel Moncada, thanked Caribbean countries June 19 for their solidarity, …
Latin AmericaU.K. Should Consider EFTA Deal to Kick-Start Post-Brexit Trade: Think Tank - Bloomberg
Britain should consider a pact with the European Free Trade Association to kick-start its post-Brexit trading relations with 38 nations, according to …
This generation’s idiotic trade policy is about to be born
With apologies to Joss Whedon: Into every generation a truly moronic trade policy is born: one completely counterproductive idea in all of America, a chosen one. This policy alone will wield both the stupidity and the political opportunism required to undercut both the U.S. economy and American …
EconomicsTrump administration plans more sanctions on defiant Venezuela
Officials say they won't stop pressing the increasingly autocratic leadership of the country, which is mired in economic and political turmoil.<p>Updated 06/21/2017 05:55 PM EDT<p>Trump administration officials are warning that the U.S. will impose new, targeted sanctions on Venezuela if the leftist …
VenezuelaGlobal immigration card coming for Jamaicans living overseas
The Foreign Affairs Ministry has announced that it will soon complete the design for a global immigration card for Jamaicans living overseas. …
JamaicaInclusive trade should be a top priority for Canadian negotiators
<i>Andrea Stairs is managing director of eBay Canada.</i><p>Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be in Toronto on Thursday to speak at the Rotman School of Management on Canada-U.S. trade relations.<p>The renegotiation of the North American free-trade agreement might be the most attention-grabbing trade headline …
CETAThink tank leads corporate-funded campaign to sway Canadians on Chinese trade
An Ottawa-based think tank, with ties to corporate Canada and the federal government, is spearheading a campaign to persuade Canadians to embrace a free-trade deal with China.<p>As Canada’s negotiators ready for a third round of exploratory trade talks with China, the Public Policy Forum (PPF) is …
CanadaSolving Antigua & Barbuda's Airline Problem
Government agreement to launch new flights will boost tourism say officials.
Caribbean'A grotesque spectacle': Cuba decries Trump's policy toward island
Foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez says country will not return US fugitives who have asylum in Cuba as Trump tightens restrictions on travel and trade<p>Cuba’s foreign minister has described Donald Trump’s speech outlining a new policy towards the island as a “grotesque spectacle”, saying that “we will …
CubaUnusually Active Hurricane Season Has Gulf of Mexico in Sights - Bloomberg
The Atlantic hurricane season is less than three weeks old yet it’s already threatening the energy-rich Gulf of Mexico coastline.<p>Tropical systems in …
WeatherCountries pile on in attack of Canada’s dairy regime
Every year, World Trade Organization members huddle in Geneva to review how countries are meeting their pledge to end farm export subsidies.<p>This year’s gathering quickly turned into finger-pointing at Canada’s dairy supply-management regime. Canadian officials faced a barrage of more than 80 …
CanadaUK hires top New Zealand trade negotiator to head post-Brexit deals
Britain has hired New Zealand’s former trade head Crawford Falconer as chief trade negotiation adviser to manage the UK’s free trade deals once the country leaves the EU.<p>The Department for International Trade (DIT) has appointed the former ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) because …
BrexitBrazil Suspends Sales of Tear Gas to Venezuela
Move follows published documents showing Brazilian company agreed to sell 78,000 gas canisters to Venezuelan military<p>MIAMI—The Brazilian government said it has suspended tear gas sales to Venezuela in response to its neighbor’s deadly repression of protests.<p>The decision comes after Venezuelan …
TeargasVenezuelan official says Chinese riot-control gear averts casualties
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's national guard commander on Sunday defended his forces in the face of criticism from rights activists and the opposition, and said riot-control equipment supplied by China has averted casualties during a wave of massive street protests.<p>At least 72 people have been …
VenezuelaGrenada is Next Caribbean Nation to Ink Airbnb Pact
Parties will discuss the framework for a 'cohesive partnership.'
Sharing EconomyInaugural Jamaica Conference Invests in Caribbean Tourism
<i>Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s minister of tourism. (photo by Brian Major)</i><p>Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism is partnering with the United Nations World …
TourismRussia slams Trump's 'Cold War' policy on Cuba
Moscow (AFP) - Russia's foreign ministry on Sunday said it regretted US President Donald Trump's policy reversal on Cuba, calling it reminiscent of the Cold War era.<p>"The new line towards Cuba announced by US President Donald Trump takes us back to already half-forgotten rhetoric in the style of the …
CubaGuyana allows ExxonMobil, partners to start drilling for oil
GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The South American country of Guyana has issued its first oil and gas license to ExxonMobil, which has said it made "significant" oil discoveries off the Atlantic coast.<p>Resources Minister Raphael Trotman said late Thursday that the company and its partners, Hess Guyana …
OilCanada may lead regional effort to address Venezuelan crisis: sources
Canada could lead a regional effort to address the crisis in Venezuela, according to sources with knowledge of the diplomatic efforts in the South American country.<p>Earlier this week, Peru’s Foreign Minister Ricardo Luna publicly floated the idea of Justin Trudeau acting as a mediator for the …
VenezuelaU.S. punishes American firm after its Canadian subsidiary leases cars to Cuban embassy in Ottawa
Honda Canada Finance, Inc. lease agreements prompt fine of almost $90k<p>U.S. President Donald Trump rolled back some of the key measures of his …
Mulroney’s advice to Trudeau on NAFTA: head down and mouth shut
Americans should fear Canada’s economic clout but until formal free-trade negotiations begin, “we keep our heads down and our mouths shut,” says former prime minister Brian Mulroney.<p>Mr. Mulroney, whose Progressive Conservative government signed the original Canada-U.S. free-trade deal in 1988, said …
CanadaHP is turning trash into printer cartridges
All those printer cartridges from HP that usually cost an arm and leg will start helping to do some good in the world beyond your prints of kitten photos. During an event at its headquarters, HP announced that it is using recycled plastic from Haiti to manufacture select cartridges.<p>Gallery: HP Ink …
HaitiTrump to restrict Cuban travel and trade policy: report
President Trump on Friday is expected to announce a shift in U.S. policy toward Cuba that includes restrictions on business with government or …
CubaVenezuela AG accuses president of 'destroying legacy' of late Hugo Chavez
Venezuela's chief prosecutor asked the Supreme Court to block President Nicolas Maduro's plan to convene an assembly to revise the constitution, further deepening her divide with the government.<p>Luisa Ortega Diaz accused Maduro and his administration of "destroying the legacy" of the late President …
VenezuelaVenezuela government turns on 'traitor' prosecutor Ortega
CARACAS (Reuters) - Ruling Socialist Party officials have launched a series of attacks against Venezuela's chief state prosecutor this week, from accusations of insanity to promoting violence, after her high-profile break with the government.<p>A former ally of President Nicolas Maduro, the prosecutor …
VenezuelaVenezuela's bishops: President Maduro starves his people into submission
Vatican City, Jun 8, 2017 / 04:14 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- After a last-minute meeting with Pope Francis Thursday to discuss the dire situation of their …
Venezuela