Eight Cariforum states have taken steps to reduce tariffs in accordance with a trade pact with the European Union and the region has expressed concern over the planned differentiation in EU development policy which could see some countries losing aid as they are classed as middle income.
The Second Meeting of the Joint Cariforum-EU Council under the Economic Partner-ship Agreement (EPA) last week examined challenges that have arisen in the implementation of the EPA, with a view to ensuring that errors are resolved and the agreement remains on track.
In a press release, the Caricom Secretariat said 13 of the 15 signatory Cariforum states attended the Brussels, Belgium meeting with eight delegations led by ministers. The 15 signatory Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific (Cariforum) States to the EPA are the independent Caricom member states and the Dominican Republic.
The meeting formally agreed to amend the EPA, in order to allow the incorporation of the commitments of The Bahamas into Annex IV of the EPA which addresses Investment, Trade in Services and E-commerce.