At the end of the first quarter of 2009, the CARICOM Heads of Government took a decision to incorporate the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM) into the CARICOM Secretariat as a Specialized Department. Under the new name of Office of Trade Negotiations (OTN), the restyled CRNM was in operation leading the negotiations with Canada by the close of 2009.

The incorporation involved new institutional relationships between the OTN and the wider Community Organs. As a Department of the Secretariat, the OTN reports to the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) which gives it guidance, and defines its negotiating mandate as authorized by the CARICOM Heads of Government. It reports through the Secretary-General of CARICOM. Click on Link below for more:

 Special OTN Update: The Office of Trade Negotiations - The Year 2009 in Review .