“Clearly we were able to further discuss components for possible settlements and while we have not reached a point where I could say there is a settlement, I would say I feel that we are closer to a settlement than we were when we met first on 18 Jan.,” Dr. Cort told the Antigua Sun last week, after meeting with US Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Susan Schwab.
The finance minister said he could not disclose the terms being discussed, but said he is hopeful the parties will be able to thrash out the terms of a settlement before 6 June, the date that the World Trade Organization (WTO) activities has been deferred for settlement talks.
“I am hoping that between now and then we would be able to arrive at some understanding in terms of the components of the settlement, failing which, if there is a situation in which we need to extend the time to give further opportunity to conclude settlement talks, then the parties would not be averse to so doing,” he added.