Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter
BERNAL
CARICOM NEGOTIATORS believe they have secured a joint strategy with the Dominican Republic, ahead of their trade negotiations with the European Union (EU) in Barbados beginning this week. This follows a trip by the CARICOM Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) to that country last week.
RNM executive director Dr. Richard Bernal told The Gleaner that the consensus was essential in negotiating the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) over market access to goods and services with the EU, due to be completed by 2007. CARIFORUM, which consists of CARICOM and the Dominican Republic, is one of six different regions currently negotiating separate EPA's with the EU.
Dr. Bernal, the region's chief technical trade negotiator, stressed the need for consensus.
"The meetings in the Dominican Republic were specifically timed to allow us to go into the upcoming round with a common position. CARICOM countries are obviously experienced in co-operating with each other, but now with these negotiations the Dominican Republic is a new partner. Therefore both sides have had to learn more about each other," he said.
SIMILAR INTEREST
The Dominican Republic has similar economic interests to CARICOM members and Jamaica itself. It is heavily dependent on agriculture (including sugar and bananas) and services, especially tourism.
The EPA will replace the existing Lome (1975) and Cotonou (2000) trade agreements. These have been outdated by developments such as the end of the EU's preferential trading agreement for African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) produced sugar and bananas. Trade in goods and services with the EU which is one of the region's major trading partners has therefore become more vital, stressed Dr. Bernal.
"We are negotiating with the EU not what we do, but what will do. The contents of our trade are changing," he explained.
