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Region to Benefit from Historic EPA Deal

Contact: Claudia Monlouis

Minister Guy Mayers flanked by Trade Adviser Calixte Leon, on the right and Permanent Secretary Titus Preville, on the left

Thursday,  December 20, 2007 –  The region is gearing to officially put into effect the  European Partnership Agreement (EPA) by the 19^th of April, 2008. The date was set on Sunday, 16^th December, after an agreement was reached between the European Union (EU) and the Caribbean Community, along with the Dominican Republic, which forms the entity CARIFORUM.

St. Lucia's  Minister  for  Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Senator the Honourable Guy Mayers made the announcement during a press meeting on the following day; saying in essence, the region was able to arrive at satisfactory terms under the new agreement.

The Minister, who was accompanied by his Permanent Secretary Titus Preville and External Trade Advisor Calixte Leon, promised that a comprehensive public education drive and media sensitization campaign will be mounted in earnest, come January 2008.

Meantime Parliament, Minister Mayers said, will set about the business of  making the  necessary legislative arrangements during the first quarter of 2008 to facilitate the implementation of the EPA.

“ By signing the EPA on schedule, CARIFORUM, including  Saint Lucia,  has avoided its exports to the EU having to face import duties that would have been applied under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). For instance, goods such as bananas, which now enter Europe without  attracting import duties, would have had to pay significant duties as of January 1st 2008. With the EPA in place; however, all exports from CARIFORUM into the EU will enjoy duty free status,” the minister said.

Mr. Mayers  further outlined five other areas, which he said, are important to note: 

1. Enshrined in the Agreement are provisions for development contained in a protocol on Development Cooperation, provisions for sustainable development and development aspects in various disciplines negotiated in the agreement.

2. A WTO compatible agreement which will allow for the Duty free and Quota Free access into the European market for bananas from saint Lucia and other CARIFORUM countries.

3. A ten-year period over which to amend our Other Duties and Charges to make them WTO compliant. Technical Assistance to help with the reform of our tax systems over that period.

4. Special treatment for article 164 items will continue to receive protection, in accordance with with the revised treaty of Chaguaramas.

5. A  transition period for the liberalization overall is major than what normally obtains under WTO provisions.

In the area of services Minister Mayers highlighted a huge achievement; in that the EU under the EPA agreement will allow Caribbean musicians, performers and cultural workers unprecedented access into the European market. Also in that category, he said, the EU agreed to contractual service suppliers—that is, to the temporary entry of natural persons into the EU, to provide services, and a special provision in respect to tourism.

The EPA is the successor to the provisions under the Cotonou Agreement, which granted preferential market access to the European Union for goods from Caribbean countries that were former colonies of European countries.

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