Permanent Mission/Embassy of Jamaica in Geneva

Official account of the Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the UN and other International Organizations at Geneva and Embassy of Jamaica in Switzerland

[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, GOJ @mfaftja]

The discussion reaffirmed Jamaica’s active and constructive engagement and contribution to the work of the WTO, in the lead-up to the Ministerial Conference, with a focus on building convergence in key areas including Agriculture, Dispute Settlement Reform and wider WTO Reform. The exchange with the Director-General also spotlights Minister Johnson Smith’s role as Minister-Facilitator for negotiations in e-commerce. The Foreign Minister is expected to help build consensus and galvanise support among Members for an effective outcome at #MC14.

The Ministerial Conference officially begins on March 26.

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[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, GOJ @mfaftja]

Foreign Minister Senator the Honourable @kaminajsmith met with Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to discuss Jamaica’s role at the 14th Ministerial Conference of the #WTO taking place in Yaoundé, Cameroon, where Jamaica will serve as Vice-Chair as well as Minister Facilitator on E-commerce.

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[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, GOJ @mfaftja]

The meeting underscored the importance of coordinated and constructive CARICOM engagement at MC14 to promote and advance the Region’s interests, while contributing to the WTO’s ability to deliver concrete outcomes.
The Foreign Minister was supported by Ambassador Wayne McCook, Assistant Secretary-General with responsibility for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. The Special Meeting was held in person and virtually, bringing together Ministers and regional representatives for focused engagement ahead of the Conference negotiations.

#mfaftja

[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, GOJ @mfaftja]

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator the Honourable @kaminajsmith on Wednesday (March 25) chaired the 125th Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development #COTED on the margins of #MC14 in Cameroon.

The session focused on coordinating CARICOM’s position across several priority issues ahead of Ministerial discussions set to begin on March 26. The CARICOM Ministers discussed the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions, the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement, Agriculture, Fisheries Subsidies and WTO Reform.

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[Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala @NOIweala]

At the Ministerial Side Event on Trade in Services for Development at MC14 in Yaoundé. Services account for more than half of economic activity in most economies and are the fastest growing segment of world trade. Through the @WTO-World Bank Trade in Services for Development initiative, we are working on providing better data, better regulatory frameworks, and real capacity on the ground. Thanks to Their Excellencies, Ministers @kaminajsmith ofJamaica, Gofe Balami of Ethiopia, @ofosu_adjare of Ghana, Cham Nimul of Cambodia, Sebahizi of Rwanda and @RhonddaBryant of the UK.

[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, GOJ @mfaftja]

In her intervention, Minister Johnson Smith stressed the need to safeguard Special and Differential Treatment and preserve the development dimension of the WTO, while supporting practical pathways to carry reform discussions beyond MC14.

She also advanced Jamaica’s priorities as a Net Food-Importing Developing Country, with a focus on food security, alongside a balanced approach to e-commerce that preserves policy space and strengthens support for small and developing economies

[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, GOJ @mfaftja]

It’s now three days into the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference and the dialogue continues to shape consensus across critical areas of global trade.

Jamaica remains actively engaged at the table, where Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator the Honourable @kaminajsmith sits as Vice Chair, Minister Facilitator and Head of Jamaica’s Delegation.

Here a few highlights from #Day3.

[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, GOJ @mfaftja]

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Honourable @kaminajsmith, has been leading Jamaica’s delegation at #MC14 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, serving as Vice-Chair of the Conference and Minister-Facilitator for negotiations on electronic commerce. She also chaired the 125th Special COTED and coordinated the CARICOM Caucus during the Conference.

Here’s the full story:

[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, GOJ @mfaftja]

The talks focus on narrowing gaps around the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, including the future of the moratorium on customs duties and how digital trade rules should reflect development priorities and policy space for smaller economies.

A late-night session on Friday (March 27) ran just past midnight, as Members worked through areas of divergence. Deliberations are set to continue through the weekend as efforts build towards a consensus-based outcome.

[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, GOJ @mfaftja]

The briefing reflected progress in ongoing consultations and outlined areas under active consideration. Discussions remain ongoing, with no consolidated text yet before Members.

The Minister is slated to reconvene on Sunday (March 29).

[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, GOJ @mfaftja]

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign trade, Senator the Honourable @kaminajsmith on Saturday (March 28) convened an early morning session in her role as Minister-Facilitator for e-commerce, providing an informal update to Members on the state of discussions.

[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, GOJ @mfaftja]

A late-night session on Friday (March 27) ran just past midnight, as Members worked through areas of divergence. Deliberations continued through the weekend towards a consensus-based outcome.

#mfaftja

[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, GOJ @mfaftja]

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Honourable @kaminajsmith in her role as Minister-Facilitator for e-commerce, guided discussions among WTO Members as negotiations intensified at MC14.

The talks focused on narrowing gaps around the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, including the future of the moratorium on customs duties and how digital trade rules should reflect development priorities and policy space for smaller economies.

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[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, GOJ @mfaftja]

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foriegn Trade, Senator the Honourable @kaminajsmith will this week chair the 125th Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on the margins of #MC14 in Cameroon, where she is leading Jamaica’s delegation and will also serve as Vice-Chair of the Conference.

The Special Meeting is aimed at advancing CARICOM’s position across several priority areas including electronic commerce, agriculture, fisheries subsidies and wider WTO reform. In preparation for her Chairmanship, Minister Johnson Smith was briefed by Ambassador Wayne McCook, Assistant Secretary-General (CARICOM Single Market and Trade), and Director Joel Richards of the Secretariat, on the agenda for the Special Meeting of the #COTED and draft decisions for the consideration of CARICOM Ministers.

The meeting will bring together Ministers and other regional representatives, providing a platform to coordinate positions and strengthen the CARICOM bloc’s engagement in international negotiations.

[Permanent Mission/Embassy of Jamaica in Geneva @PRUNJAMGeneva]

This first webinar of the series will explore how digitalization is reshaping trade rules and institutions, and discuss how developing countries can leverage digital trade opportunities, especially for SMEs and women-led enterprises.

[Permanent Mission/Embassy of Jamaica in Geneva @PRUNJAMGeneva]

Amb. Brown will participate in @wto @TradeExperettes webinar to be held 11 Dec 2025 under the theme "Framing Digital Trade: The Evolving Landscape of Global e-Commerce and Digital Policy Trends". We welcome your active participation.

[Permanent Mission/Embassy of Jamaica in Geneva @PRUNJAMGeneva]

The Embassy welcomes you to its cocktail hour before the start of the benefit screening of One Love -Pathé Balexert. Get your tickets https://t.co/7D0EEDb5W6

[Permanent Mission/Embassy of Jamaica in Geneva @PRUNJAMGeneva]

The Embassy looks forward to welcoming Jamaicans & friends of 🇯🇲 on 4 December 2025 for a worthy cause - relief and recovery efforts post-Hurricane Melissa. All details in flyer below, including QR Code for purchasing tickets👇 #OneLove

[Embassy of Jamaica in Belgium @JaEmbBelgium]

Today the Embassy participated in a virtual coordination meeting with Jamaican Heads of Missions in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and the Chargé d’Affaires of the Jamaican Mission in Germany.

The meeting focussed on how to efficiently facilitate, manage and monitor the relief aid from Jamaicans in the Diaspora, Friends and Partners of Jamaica in the countries within the Missions jurisdictions.

The official Government of Jamaica platform to channel support is:

https://t.co/PjD6zNmpzd