Haiti has signed the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and joins the 14 Caribbean States that signed the EPA in October 2008. This will strengthen Haiti’s ties both with the EU, and with other Caribbean countries. The Cariforum-EU EPA is North-South trade and development agreement of new generation. It aims to promote sustainable development, boost trade, investment and innovation, help build a regional market among Caribbean countries, and tackle poverty in the region.<\/p>\n
European Trade Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said: “The Cariforum – EU Agreement marks a new era in the economic relations between the two regions. I am very happy that Haiti’s specific needs could be accommodated, enabling it to join the other 14 Caribbean countries and the EU in their endeavor of creating a prosperous future for the region through increased trade and investment.”<\/p>\n
Commissioner for Development De Gucht added: “Haiti’s decision to join all its Cariforum partners in this agreement is truly significant as it offers a real opportunity to boost the nation’s trade at this critical time of global economic downturn.”<\/p>\n
The only Least Developed Country (LDC) in the Western hemisphere, Haiti has recently been grappling with a range of pressing problems. These include hurricane damage, security issues and a food crisis. So it did not join signing the EPA last year.<\/p>\n
However, the EU pledged to work with the Haitian government and other Caribbean partners to enable Haiti to sign up at a later date. Haiti proposed adjusting some of its commitments on tariffs and the EU accepted such request, in the light of its specific needs as a LDC.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Haiti has signed the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and joins the 14 Caribbean States that signed the EPA in October 2008. This will strengthen Haiti’s ties both with the EU, and with other Caribbean countries. The Cariforum-EU EPA is North-South trade and development agreement of new generation. It aims to promote sustainable development, boost trade, … <\/p>\n