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CARICOM

Caribbean Community

PM embraces reservations about EPA
29-Jul-2008
Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer indicated that there are still lingering questions over whether Caricom countries will all sign on to the European Union-Cariforum Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) next month, though he has maintained his personal support for the idea of moving forward with the agreement.
Caribbean urged to renegotiate EPA
28-Jul-2008
A former chief negotiator for the region said it is not too late for Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries to pull out of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Europe.
ALBA, Petrocaribe and Caricom: Issues in a new dynamic
16-Jul-2008 Norman Girvan
The growth of relations between several Caricom states and the Venezuelan-promoted ALBA and Petrocaribe initiatives is one of the most significant recent developments in regional affairs. An immediate issue that has arisen is whether membership of ALBA might conflict with the obligations of membership of Caricom itself. There are also larger issues of a strategic nature for Caricom.
Saga of deal with Europe
14-Jul-2008 Jamaica Observer
While the majority of Caricom governments have signalled readiness to sign the EPA, reservations remain strong enough. Meanwhile, conflicting signals keep coming out of Brussels.
What good is Caricom? Regional unity losing steam
4-Jul-2008
The question must now be asked, just how effective is Caricom, and does it serve any useful purpose? This has proven to be a watershed year for the regional body coming less than two years after the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), prevailing rampant food price, high energy cost and uncontrollable crime, all afflicting the region. Has Caricom address these issues effectively?
Caricom nations divided on EPA issue
3-Jul-2008
Caricom countries remain divided on the issue of the CARIFORUM-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
Economic Partnerships Matter
1-Jul-2008
We are told that the fundamental principles and objectives of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and CARIFORUM states are defined by the Cotonou Agreement. We are advised that this agreement seeks to create sustainable development of the states, their smooth and gradual integration in the world market, and eradication of poverty.
FTAA vs ALBA - Choosing trade routes
21-Jun-2008 Newsday
Even as the FTAA cools on the back-burner and Venezuela President Hugo Chavez pitches ALBA as a viable trade alternative, there are concerns that ALBA may not suit Trinidad and Tobago’s palette.
Maritime sector to see changes when EPA takes effect
3-Jun-2008
With the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) scheduled for July this year between CARICOM states, the Dominican Republic and the European Union (EU), several services within the local maritime sector could see changes taking place when the Agreement takes effect.
The EPA conundrum
21-May-2008
There are strident calls for the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), due to be signed by Cariforum in July, to be amended, varied or simply not signed. Any possible renegotiation of the treaty, it is acknowledged, might come at a potentially intolerable cost.
PM again bats for EPA signed with Europe
3-May-2008
Prime Minister Bruce Golding has again sought to allay fears that CARIFORUM countries may have given up more than they will gain from the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union.
EC rejects view CARIFORUM forced into EPA
29-Apr-2008
The European Commission (EC) has flatly rejected as unfounded, suggestions that the CARIFORUM Group - Caribbean Community (Caricom) states and the Dominican Republic - was forced into the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) reached last December and that the negotiations were designed to split the ACP Group.
Caricom sees EU trade deal by end of June - minister
9-Apr-2008
The Caribbean region expects to sign a new trade agreement with the European Union by the end of June, Trinidad and Tobago’s trade and industry minister said on Tuesday.
EPA text released
4-Apr-2008
CARIFORUM states including The Bahamas are now free to perform their respective legal reviews of the Economic Partnership Agreement [EPA] between the grouping and the European Union now that a legal scrub of the document has been completed, the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery [CRNM] Director General Ambassador Richard Bernal confirmed yesterday.
Girvan: EPA bad deal for region
4-Apr-2008
The devil is in the detail. That is how former secretary general of the Association of Caribbean States, Professor Norman Girvan, has described the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union (EU) and CARIFORUM countries (CARICOM and Dominican Republic).
’We will all live to regret it’
31-Mar-2008 Jamaica Observer
Professor Girvan warns that the EU-Caribbean EPA could widen inequalities among Caricom states
Caricom’s corporate conglomeration
27-Mar-2008 Jamaica Observer
At the 19th Intercessional Meeting of Caricom Heads of Government in the Bahamas, Prime Minister Golding called on Caribbean companies to join together in joint ventures because, acting independently, individual enterprises will be unable to penetrate European markets or to achieve the levels of efficiency that each country requires to enter and dominate those markets. He said the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) will provide a challenge to which the region must respond.
Rowley: Trade agreement with Canada next
22-Mar-2008
A trade agreement with Canada is the next item on the agenda for the Caribbean Community (Caricom).
Caricom, EU to sign EPA in June
8-Mar-2008 Trinidad & Tobago Express
Caribbean Community (Caricom) Governments and the European Union will not be signing the controversial Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in April, as scheduled. They will instead sign the EPA two months later.
EPA harmful’ - Academics lobby for renegotiation of trade deal
5-Mar-2008
A group of academics, while stopping short of labelling the trade pact an outright failure, are proposing that Cariforum renegotiate the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), saying it gives up too much to the Europeans in exchange for too little.