WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao has taken another significant step in its effort to become an independent member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) by formally appointing Caryl Monte as the island’s chief negotiator for the accession process.
The Council of Ministers has officially designated Monte to lead negotiations on behalf of Curaçao as the country continues its pursuit of membership in the international trade body. Curaçao has been engaged in the accession process since March 2020, when WTO members accepted its application and established a working party to examine the island’s bid for membership as a separate customs territory.
Under the new arrangement, Monte will operate from the Office of the Prime Minister at Fort Amsterdam and will represent Curaçao in negotiations and discussions in Geneva, Switzerland, where the WTO is headquartered. He will be supported by specialists from the various ministries involved in trade, economic development, finance and related policy areas.
As part of his mandate, Monte has been tasked with developing a roadmap for the accession process and reporting to the Council of Ministers every six months on the progress of negotiations.
The appointment formalizes a role Monte has effectively played for several years. He has been closely involved in Curaçao’s WTO ambitions since the beginning of the process and previously represented the island before WTO members when Curaçao's application was accepted in 2020. At the time, he described the move as a historic moment and emphasized Curaçao’s desire to participate directly in the global trading system.
Curaçao’s bid is unique within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. While Curaçao is already covered by WTO agreements through the Kingdom, the island is seeking independent membership as a separate customs territory, allowing it to participate directly in WTO decision-making and trade negotiations. According to WTO records, Curaçao became an observer government in March 2020, after which a special working party was established to oversee its accession process.
The process toward full membership is complex and requires the country to demonstrate that its trade regime complies with WTO rules and obligations. Negotiations involve reviews of legislation, customs procedures, trade policies, intellectual property protections, services regulations and market access commitments. WTO accession negotiations can take several years to complete, depending on the scope of reforms required and the progress of discussions with member states.
The appointment comes just weeks after a WTO delegation visited Curaçao to discuss the accession process with government officials. During that visit, Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas, Finance Minister Charles Cooper, Minister of Economic Development Roderick Middelhof and Monte reviewed the roadmap toward membership and the responsibilities of government institutions in implementing WTO obligations.
The government believes WTO membership could strengthen Curaçao’s international trade position, enhance transparency in trade policy and create new opportunities for local businesses seeking access to foreign markets. Officials have also argued that membership would support the island’s efforts to diversify its economy and strengthen its role as a regional trade and services hub.
With the formal appointment of a chief negotiator and a structured reporting mechanism now in place, Curaçao has signaled its intention to accelerate efforts toward achieving independent membership in the global trade organization.