CARIFORUM–United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement

CARIFORUM–United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement
Economic Partnership Agreement between the CARIFORUM States and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
  CARIFORUM States
  United Kingdom
TypeFree Trade Agreement and Economic Integration Agreement
ContextTrade continuity agreement between the United Kingdom and CARIFORUM states
Signed22 March 2019
LocationCastries, Saint Lucia
Effective1 January 2021
Negotiators
  • Alexis Downes-Amsterdam
  • Paul Whittingham
Original
signatories
Parties
DepositaryForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Languages

The CARIFORUM–United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement is a plurilateral free trade agreement between the United Kingdom and Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, designed to promote trade, investment, and sustainable development. It largely replicates the existing European Union–CARIFORUM States Economic Partnership Agreement framework, maintaining preferential trade access, with the CARIFORUM. The agreement is part of the UK's strategy to maintain and enhance trade relationships with developing countries following its departure from the European Union.[1][2]

Backgrounds

From 29 December 2008 until 30 December 2020, trade between the CARIFORUM states and the UK was governed by the CARIFORUM–European Union Economic Partnership Agreement, while the United Kingdom was a member of the European Union.[3]

Following Brexit, the UK sought to replicate and adapt existing EU trade agreements with third countries to ensure continuity in trade. The UK and the CARIFORUM states signed the CARIFORUM–United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement on 22 March 2019. The signing ceremony for the CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement took place on 22 March 2019, in Castries, Saint Lucia. At this event, the United Kingdom and nine CARIFORUM countries formally signed the agreement. The ceremony marked a significant step in ensuring continuity of trade relations between the UK and the Caribbean following Brexit and was widely welcomed by businesses and private sector associations in the region.[4]

Members

The agreement covers the following countries:

Suriname signed the agreement on 4 March 2021 and the agreement was provisionally applied to cover the country the following day.[5] Haiti is also eligible to join the CARIFORUM–United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement if it signs the agreement and brings it into effect.[6]

Economic impact

The CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) has significant economic implications for both the UK and CARIFORUM States. By granting immediate duty-free and quota-free access for CARIFORUM exports to the UK, the EPA helps preserve and potentially expand market opportunities for Caribbean producers, supporting export-led growth and regional integration. In return, CARIFORUM States commit to a gradual liberalization of tariffs on UK goods, though sensitive sectors are protected to safeguard local industries and government revenues. The agreement also covers trade in services, intellectual property, and government procurement, providing a comprehensive framework for economic cooperation.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Department for International Trade; Hollingbery, George (22 March 2019). "UK signs trade continuity agreement with Caribbean countries". GOV.UK (Press release). Archived from the original on 18 July 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  2. ^ Partington, Richard (22 March 2019). "UK secures post-Brexit trade deal with group of Caribbean countries". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  3. ^ "EU - CARIFORUM States". World Trade Organization. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  4. ^ Nicholls, Alicia (6 June 2019). "UK-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement: What does it all mean?". Caribbean Trade Law and Development. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  5. ^ Department for International Trade; Jayawardena, Ranil (5 March 2021). "Suriname signs CARIFORUM-UK EPA". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 18 July 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  6. ^ a b Department for International Trade (8 August 2019). "Trade with the CARIFORUM States from 1 January 2021". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
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