EPA Negotiations: Where do we stand? - Caribbean - State of Play - Recent developments - Additional resources	Click here for a complete summary of the state of play in all regions (in pdf format)

Current state of play

After the initialling of a comprehensive EPA by the EC and all CARIFORUM countries, the signing ceremony has been postponed several times. This was due to different reasons, such as time needed for technical preparations of the final document, WTO negotiations that conflicted with the date of EPA signature, and recently the announcement of some Caribbean countries (Guyana, St. Lucia; Grenada also undertaking a review) to hold consultations before signing.

Currently, Caribbean Heads of Government are expected to meet on 8 September to discuss the signature of the EPA. (By this date, national consultations in Guyana are expected to be completed.) Signature might then take place later in September (previously announced to take place on 2 September.)

Trade regime from 1 January 2008

The Caribbean is the only region to have initialled a full EPA with the EU so far.

CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement

Text of the agreement:
-> CARIFORUM-EU EPA
Additional resources:
-> Annexes
-> Protocols
-> Press release and disclaimer by the European Commission
-> Exclusions List Agreed by Principal Negotiators (Dec 15th, Barbados) , published by the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery

Summary of the agreement:
“On December 16 the European Commission initialled an Economic Partnership Agreement with Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Surinam, and Trinidad and Tobago (the CARIFORUM countries) covering all areas under negotiations.

Goods liberalization
The coverage of goods liberalised by CARIFORUM countries under this Agreement amounts to 61.1% of EC imports in value over 10 years, 82.7% over 15 years (85.1 % of tariff lines) and 86.9 % over 25 years (90.7 % of tariff lines). The main exclusions are agricultural and processed agricultural products; some chemicals, furniture and other industrial products. The Agreement covers all provisions necessary for a FTA agreement, such as provisions on import and export duties and charges, non-tariff measures, trade defence instruments (anti-dumping and countervailing measures, multilateral and bilateral safeguards), special provisions on administrative cooperation in custom matters, a protocol on rules of origin.

Services liberalization
The Agreement includes a Title on Services, Investment and E-commerce and the related schedules of commitments, which give rise to an agreement compatible with GATS article V. The sectoral coverage is significant with more than 80 percent for Dominican Republic , and between 50 to 62 percent of services sectors for all others except Haiti and Bahamas who will join the services and investment part of the agreement within 6 months. On the EC side, there are important new commitments in the areas of movement of service providers (sellers of goods, investors, short term business visitors, graduate trainees), as well as for entertainers, artists, chefs de cuisine and fashion models. Beyond market access the Agreement contains significant regulatory principles in a number of sectors, in particular tourism at the request of Cariforum, to help them develop competitive services sectors and ensure benefits for the region and its citizens. In addition the EPA includes provisions to cooperate against corrupt practices of investors, as well as binding provisions on non-lowering of standards in the environmental and social fields and for cultural diversity laws and regulations. Finally the EPA also incorporates the first Protocol on culture implementing the UNESCO Convention on cultural diversity and providing Cariforum artists with easier movement of persons and co-production market access.

Other features
The Agreement contains provisions on Customs and Trade Facilitation, Technical Barriers to Trade, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, Agriculture and Fisheries, Current Payment and Capital Movements, Competition, Innovation and Intellectual Property, Public Procurement, Environment and Social Aspects. Part I of the Agreement contains Development Cooperation provisions setting out priority areas of action for the implementation of the Agreement. In turn each individual substantive chapters of the Agreement includes specific areas of cooperation. A Development cooperation declaration establishes the link with the Aid for Trade strategy and recalls the Commission and Member States ' intention to contribute to the funding of a regional development fund. Finally, the agreement contains a detailed dispute settlement mechanism, as well as general, final and institutional provisions.”
(Summary provided by the European Commission, EPA Flash News, 20 December 2007 )

Click here for recent developments in the Caribbean region.

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