Barbados is hosting a series of meetings this week on the subject of a regional Economic Partnership Arrangement (EPA) with the European Union which will seek to advance preparations for Phase II of the Caribbean/EU negotiations.
The EPA has been formed with the intent of giving the Caribbean region access to the European Free Trade Area by the elimination of trade tariffs between the two blocs. Similar EPAs have been created in the African and Pacific regions.
The week-long series of meetings is scheduled to take place through May 3 and will include a Caribbean trade experts’ conference which will examine a study by the RNM (Regional Negotiating Machinery) on investment, market access for goods and services and development cooperation and adjustment issues. There will also be meetings between the officials and ministers of CARIFORUM and ACP (Africa Caribbean Pacific) states. CARIFORUM comprises Caribbean Community states plus Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
It is hoped the result of the meetings will be a more clearly defined pan-Caribbean position heading into the ACP Council of Ministers’ summit in Brussels, to be held between 14 and 16 May.
By Amanda Banks, Tax-News
