Last night we told you about the EPA, Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and CARICOM. It will give the European Union duty-free access to the Caribbean and the Dominican Republic, a group called CARIFORUM. It was committed to 7 years ago, but when the time for signing came up two days ago, cold feet and lukewarm public receptions forced a postponement of that date. Now, CARICOM heads will meet in Barbados on September 10th to talk about it. But Belize’s head of government, Prime Minister Dean Barrow won’t be attending that meeting because he’ll be busy with tenth celebration here. But, basically, he has nothing much to contribute because Belize is firm, fixed and clear in its position that it has no other option than to sign unto the EPA. And with that clear, trade economists and diplomats agree that the best that can be done is to prepare for it. That’s why an orientation session was held today with government stakeholders.

CEO in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alexis Rosado discussed Belize’s present position and its limited options.

Jules Vasquez,
This is seen as one of the most unequal and unfortunate arrangements the CARICOM region has entered into because it gives one of the largest trading bloc, probably the largest and most power trading blocs, unfettered access into our vulnerable and small markets.

Alexis Rosado, CEO – Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade
“It is an arrangement that is not the fairest, some would say, but others would say look, we have been preparing for this for so long, something we committed to back in 2000 when we signed the agreement and we should have prepared and our negotiators knew exactly what they were getting into, our leaders knew what they were getting into. It is just a pity that the public isn’t as well informed.

The apprehension arises from the fact that as you said this is one of the richest economies of the world, the European Union, and they have such potential and capacity to really flood us with their products. We’re opening up our markets, to a large extent we already have in place duty free for many of the European products and yet they are not here. So the fact that we are liberalizing 75% of our goods market doesn’t mean that we are starting from zero and by the year 2033 we would have liberalized 75%. The fact is that we already have a whole long list of goods that enter or can enter Belize duty free. It can be possible that we will get, at the consumer level, we will get goods cheaper on the shelves. It is possible because the duties will be lower.”

Jules Vasquez,
Are we compelled to sign it so that we can protect our banana and sugar industries?

Alexis Rosado,
“That is one reason why we should seriously consider signing onto it because the moment we refuse to join into EPA, the preferences that we now enjoy will automatically be annulled. If we send the signal that after having engaged in discussions for over three years, we now do not want to be a part of this, the EU has the right under international law to remove whatever preferences they grant us at a moments notice. That means, like you said, that bananas and the sugar industry really cannot survive in our view.

But it is not all bad under the EPA because you mentioned earlier what opportunities are there, what are the positives. There are opportunities in the sense that we have access to a market of 450 million people. If we get our act together, we can sell our produce there at a competitive level because most other countries have to pay import duties. We don’t have to. I feel the little resources we have should be addressed in a manner and in a direction to maximize whatever opportunities lie ahead and to prepare for whatever challenges are there.”

On December 17 of 2007, CARICOM heads agreed to the EPA after getting through one last modification which allows Caribbean performing artists such as dancehall reggae performers, for that matter, Garifuna performers, freedom of access to the European Union.