Reuters AlertNet Lite - EU, Caribbean sign economic partnership agreement

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

EU, Caribbean sign economic partnership agreement

15 Oct 2008 16:16:46 GMT
Source: Reuters

BRUSSELS, Oct 15 (Reuters) - The European Union has signed a wide-ranging trade deal with Caribbean countries that aims to attract investment, lower import tariffs and reduce poverty in the region, the EU's executive arm said on Wednesday.

Known as an Economic Partnership Agreement, or EPA, the deal was the first genuinely comprehensive north-south trade and development agreement in the global economy, the European Commission said.

"It includes a package of measures to stimulate trade, investment and innovation, and to promote sustainable development, build a regional market among Caribbean countries and help eliminate poverty," the Commission said in a statement.

It added that while Guyana had not yet signed the agreement, the country's president had indicated that his government intended to do so in the coming days. (Reporting by Jeremy Smith; editing by Dale Hudson)

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Latest news

• EU, Caribbean sign economic partnership agreement

• Developing states seek elusive unity over EU trade

• Loggers still advance on Amazon Indians - official

• Guyana kills feared bandit accused of mass murder

• Brazil court delays ruling on Indian rights case

MORE >>

AlertNet news is provided by