http://dr1.com/trade en-us N/A robert@dr1.com Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:13:07 EST 20 http://dr1.com/trade/articles/882/1/Businesses-push-EPA-ratification/Page1.html
24 October 2008 - DR1 Daily News
]]> no@spam.com (Lu Olivero) Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:07:33 EDT http://dr1.com/trade/articles/882/1/Businesses-push-EPA-ratification/Page1.html http://dr1.com/trade/articles/864/1/EPA-brings-hope/Page1.html Koenig explained the rules of origins clause is more flexible than in the DR-CAFTA agreement and this would make it easier for Dominicans to export local produce to Europe. According to Koenig, exports to the EU total 29.3% of the DR's total exports for a total of US$661.9 million. In comparison the DR exports 26.4% to the US for a total value of US$597.3 million. Koenig also said that the Netherlands is the second largest recipient of Dominican goods, receiving more than 50% of all goods exported to Europe. Products exported to the Netherlands include nickel, cacao, tobacco, mangos, cigars, bananas, coconuts, avocados and scrap metals.

17 October 2008 - DR1 Daily News
]]> no@spam.com (Lu Olivero) Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:23:17 EDT http://dr1.com/trade/articles/864/1/EPA-brings-hope/Page1.html http://dr1.com/trade/articles/863/1/The-EPA039s-framework/Page1.html
17 October 2008 - The European Commission
]]> no@spam.com (Lu Olivero) Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:40:36 EDT http://dr1.com/trade/articles/863/1/The-EPA039s-framework/Page1.html http://dr1.com/trade/articles/861/1/EPA-signed/Page1.html Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM) Director General Henry Gill, who handled the trade agreement negotiations on behalf of the Caribbean, said the signing marks economic maturity in the Caribbean, as reported in Listin Diario. Host Barbados, together with Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Dominican Republic signed. Only Haiti and Guyana, the other two members of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) did not sign.
The EPA will allow Caribbean goods to enter the European Union duty-free and quota-free come 1 January 2008, while there is a phased period between three to 25 years for European goods to enter CARIFORUM markets duty-free as well as an important number of exclusions for sensitive products.
Development co-operation will be an integral part of the EPA to ensure that the Caribbean states are able to adjust to the new challenges and to maximize the benefits from the opportunities offered by this agreement. The European Union Aid for Trade strategy and co- operation under the Cotonou Agreement offer many opportunities to develop programs in support of the implementation of this agreement. Special programs have also been put in place for sugar, bananas, rice and rum with a view to help Caribbean states become more competitive and diversify their economies.
It was the first time that Caribbean countries, including the Dominican Republic, negotiated as single group a forward-looking free trade area with a large group of developed countries. In addition to setting new rules for trade with Europe, the agreement opens doors for increased inter-Caribbean trade.
http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/bilateral/regions/acp/epa151008_en.htm

16 October 2008 - DR1 Daily News
]]> no@spam.com (Lu Olivero) Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:33:38 EDT http://dr1.com/trade/articles/861/1/EPA-signed/Page1.html http://dr1.com/trade/articles/859/1/Our-Caribbean-EPA--sealed-and-ready-for-business/Page1.html
Our Caribbean: EPA – sealed and ready for business

IT IS A done deal. The Caribbean's full Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU) that has been negotiated over a period of four years and eight months, was sealed with the signatures of participating states on Wednesday, amid lingering controversies and reservations.

Its 250 Articles, covering 2 000 pages, are now ready for the challenging tasks of implementation.

All of the 13 CARIFORUM countries (CARICOM and Dominican Republic) that had agreed last month to sign the EPA text with representatives of the EU did so on Wednesday at Sherbourne Conference Centre.
]]> no@spam.com (Lu Olivero) Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:32:49 EDT http://dr1.com/trade/articles/859/1/Our-Caribbean-EPA--sealed-and-ready-for-business/Page1.html http://dr1.com/trade/articles/860/1/EPA-signing-in-Barbados/Page1.html See: www.jamaicaobserver.com

16 October 2008 - DR1 Daily News
]]> no@spam.com (Lu Olivero) Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:29:21 EDT http://dr1.com/trade/articles/860/1/EPA-signing-in-Barbados/Page1.html http://dr1.com/trade/articles/837/1/DR-makes-most-of-EPA/Page1.html
02 October 2008 - DR1 Daily News
]]> no@spam.com (Lu Olivero) Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:46:38 EDT http://dr1.com/trade/articles/837/1/DR-makes-most-of-EPA/Page1.html http://dr1.com/trade/articles/810/1/DR-will-sign-the-EPA/Page1.html Guyana, a staunch opponent of the agreement, decided not to sign, along with Haiti. Guyana has decided to enter into a "trade in goods only" agreement with the EU, while Haiti may consider signing in the future. Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados (host of the special summit and expected venue for the formal signing), Suriname, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, The Bahamas, Belize, as well as Grenada and St Lucia all agreed to sign the agreement.
For continued coverage of the EPA click here: www.dr1.com/trade

12 September 2008 - DR1 Daily News
]]> no@spam.com (Lu Olivero) Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:22:34 EDT http://dr1.com/trade/articles/810/1/DR-will-sign-the-EPA/Page1.html http://dr1.com/trade/articles/798/1/EPA-meeting-in-Barbados/Page1.html For more on the EPA and the DR, see http://www.dr1.com/trade

08 September 2008 - DR1 Daily News
]]> no@spam.com (Lu Olivero) Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:42:58 EDT http://dr1.com/trade/articles/798/1/EPA-meeting-in-Barbados/Page1.html http://dr1.com/trade/articles/780/1/High-hopes-for-EPA/Page1.html However, not all parties involved are supporting the agreement and argue that the EPA was signed in haste, without full consideration of the consequences. Critics have claimed that negotiators were bullied into the agreement, but as has been explained, the current version of the EPA is considered the best agreement the region could get.
The liberalization scale for goods in services is unparalleled in a trade agreement and the inclusion of services in the agreement is a first for an accord of this type. The EPA also includes special exemptions for Haiti.
Still on the agenda are details about the regulation of banana, rum and sugar and whether or not there should be a quota system. However, this must pass to the World Trade Organization for discussion, as the current standard is now considered illegal under WTO rules.
Another concern voiced by smaller nations is that the EPA would reduce tariff revenues. The concern is well founded, considering that many smaller Caribbean nations depend on these revenues since they lack an organized domestic tax structure. Supporters of the agreement argue that the gradual liberalization will allow for smaller economies to adapt.
Despite dissident opinions the EPA brings high hopes of increased exports by regional players to Europe, which has a consumer base market of 400 million people, with unparalleled purchasing power. According to Jose Vanderhorst Silverio, Fernando Gonzalez and Oscar Rosa, the EPA is the best way for the Caribbean to achieve greater integration with Europe.

22 August 2008 - DR1 Daily News
]]> no@spam.com (Lu Olivero) Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:10:58 EDT http://dr1.com/trade/articles/780/1/High-hopes-for-EPA/Page1.html