The European Commission welcomes the agreement on a full Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the countries of the Caribbean region under the CARIFORUM sub-grouping of ACP countries. The agreement guarantees and extends access for the Caribbean countries' exports to the EU.
The full EPA includes WTO-compatible trade in goods, trade in services, rules on trade related issues, as well as development cooperation.
EU Commissioner for Trade Peter Mandelson and EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel released the following statement: "We welcome the Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and CARIFORUM.
This agreement will help bring together progressive liberalisation, economic governance, and regional integration to put trade at the service of development in an innovative and ambitious package".