This statement analyzes the Economic Partnership Agreement EU-CARIFORUM.

While supporters of the EPA praise it as the only ‘full-fledged’ EPA that promotes regional integration, its opponents criticize it as being too onerous and not in line with Caribbean development objectives. This statement analyzes the missing link in the debate, a factual analysis of the agreement and its commitments, by answering, among others, the following key questions:

1. What is CARIFORUM’s approach to liberalisation?

2. How soon will the trade liberalisation commitments bite?

3. What are the implications of the other provisions of the trade in goods chapter?

The statement does not express any view on the development impact of the EPA.