A crucial meeting is set to commence tomorrow with heads of Government of CARIFORUM and the European Union (EU) Commissioners in Montego Bay, St. James.
The meeting, which ends on Friday, is expected to discuss the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which will replace the non-reciprocal preferential trade regimes of the Cotonou Agreement. The region has been making slow progress in concluding discussions under the EPA.
Last round
Dr. Richard Bernal, head of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery, said Wednesday's meeting was crucial as the region is expected to have the last round of negotiations for the EPA next week.
"The meeting will focus on a number of important and unresolved issues and those include market access for goods, services and sugar," he said.
The Gleaner learned that Prime Minister Bruce Golding is scheduled to be at that meeting with other CARICOM heads of Government such as Owen Arthur, Prime Minister of Barbados and chairman of CARICOM; Ralph Gonzalves, prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Peter Mandelson, EU Trade Commissioner and Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid.
"The fact that the prime ministers and the trade commissioner are meeting is a clear demonstration of the commitment of both parties to complete the negotiations on schedule," said Bernal.
Scrapped agreement
The region on Friday was stunned when the EU decided to scrap a 32-year-old agreement with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) sugarexporting countries.
The decision was passed without a vote during a meeting of EU ministers dealing with competition issues. The protocol gave ACP producers a guaranteed price three times above world levels. But EU nations say it is necessary to end that arrangement to ensure EU trade ties with poor countries fell in line with world trade rules.
Dr. Bernal, however, pointed out that sugar was one of the pressing issues that will be discussed at the three-day meeting.
"It is an effort at the highest political level to resolve the outstanding issues in the negotiations," said Bernal.
