On 22 August 1998, two years into his first presidency, President Leonel Fernandez spearheaded the signing of a free trade agreement with the English-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) to take advantage of the central geographic position of the Dominican Republic. Thirteen Caricom countries signed on 1998, but the implementation would be delayed until 1 December 2001 and then agreed upon by Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago. The agreement called for the free movement of labor and capital, and the coordination of agricultural, industrial and foreign policies.

Though baby steps had been taken regional integration has been an illusive goal for Caribbean nations. Many factors can be held responsible for the historical disunity. Racial dynamics, language differences, legal hurdles, historical and cultural developments and uneven economic developments could be looked at as factors of the disunity that has existed among Caribbean, but the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement between CARIFORUM and the European Union was a decisive step in providing a platform for regional unity, integration, partnership and understanding.

The EPA was signed 06 February 2008 unity the DR and CARICOM and giving the DR opportunity to strengthen its relationship with the European Union and its Caribbean neighbors.

Updated on 26 March 2008