No Caribbean trade with Europe under Economic Partnership Agreement

Last Updated on Tuesday, 23 December 2014, 21:52 by GxMedia

The Caribbean is not reaping any benefits from the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union, six years after it was signed.

Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett  says that’s because Caribbean producers are facing several constraints including the high cost of energy, poor infrastructure.

She says a European Union review of the EPA and a study by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America also show that visa rules impact on the movement of members of cultural industries to Europe…

She says the review and study are currently engaging the attention of the 14-nation Caribbean Forum of the African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) group.

The Guyanese Foreign Affairs Minister says that every effort should be made by the Caribbean and Europe to ensure that trade picks up under the EPA.

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