Reflections on the CARIFORUM-EC Economic Partnership Agreement : Implications for CARICOM

Revised from "CARICOM Perspectives on the CARIFORUM-EC, EPA" - Appearing in: M. Chuck-A-Sang and K. Hall (eds), 2009. CARICOM: Policy Options for International Engagement)

This paper offers basically from a CARICOM perspective, a strategic appraisal of the external trade policy changes encapsulated in the CARIFORUM-EC, Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). This has been recognised as the first “full and comprehensive” EPA among the six that are being negotiated by the European Commission, (EC) and the African-Caribbean-Pacific (ACP) group of countries. At this point, the EPA is both a legal agreement and an instrument designed to promote specified development objectives. Ultimately, its strengths, weaknesses, the opportunities it will create and the threats it will face, will unfold during its implementation. How this is actualized will be a principal determinant of its success in attaining those objectives.

Author(s): Clive Thomas