Friday, September 12, 2008

Free Trade: 13 Caribbean nations to sign controversial trade deal with the EU

Despite leaders of 13 Caribbean nations vowing to sign a controversial trade deal with the European Union, Guyana and Haiti still oppose the deal.

The Economic Partnership Agreement would lift import duties and end quotas on Caribbean products that have capped the amount of goods shipped to Europe. However, it is feared that small islands would be flooded with cheap European goods.
Guyana President Bharrat Jagdeo was reported as saying he would be forced to accept it if Europe boosts tariffs on his country's exports, including rum, sugar and seafood.
Published by Mike Hitchen, Mike Hitchen Consulting