| – October signing agreed uponBy agreeing to sign on to the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union, Regional Heads have undermined the tools traditionally used to protect regional interests, namely multilateralism and regional integration.This is according to President Bharrat Jagdeo, who noted that Guyana was the lone opposition to the EPA in its present form at the recently concluded Special Meeting of Regional Heads in Barbados.At a media conference called yesterday to deal with the issue, Jagdeo explained that because of the size of the economies in the region, multilateralism and regional integration were used as a form of protection.He explained that as it relates to multilateralism, the EPA has agreed to place in the agreement several issues that were taken off the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO’s) agenda and by including it in the EPA, Europe will now have a legitimate right to approach the WTO and lobby to place it back on the agenda.Developing countries had initially fought developed countries to remove a number of contentious issues from the WTO agenda. “By doing this we have undermined the multilateralism as a tool,” Jagdeo said.As it relates to South-South partnership, Jagdeo noted that the MFN clause in the EPA which states that any preferences the region extends to any of its large southern partners such as Brazil, must be extended to Europe. This, he noted, is another example of regional integration being undermined.In underscoring this point, Jagdeo pointed out that because of the proximity and special circumstances associated with trade with Brazil, Guyana may want to negotiate a more favourable deal with that country, but by doing so will be bound to extend the same to Europe.President Bharrat Jagdeo“This undermines our South-South partnerships.”He did note, however,Cheap China Jerseys, that most countries will not feel the full brunt of the negative effects of the EPA immediately but the future generations will be impacted.This, according to Jagdeo, is because of the phased manner in which the EPA will come into effect.As it relates to the costs entailed in implementing the EPA, Jagdeo could not say since it has not been tabulated as yet .He noted that the source of the funding is also unclear.The president stated that in twenty-five years when the market has been fully liberalized,China Jerseys Football, Guyana will be losing $$B in revenue.Meanwhile, a statement issued by the CARICOM Secretariat yesterday stated that the leaders have agreed to a date in October to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU).The actual date is to be finalised after discussion with the EU, but it is scheduled to be in time to ensure provisional application by 31 October 2008.The statement also noted that the leaders agreed that a small committee comprising of the Prime Ministers of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and Jamaica as well as the Secretary-General of CARIFORUM, His Excellency Edwin Carrington, would iron out the details regarding the arrangements for the signing ceremony to be held in Barbados.The EPA, which was initialed in December last and replaces previous preferential trading arrangements with the European Union, is a contentious issue for Guyana.Yesterday, President Jagdeo said that he remains committed to the struggle and any signature that he places on the EPA will be involuntary and will only be done if he is faced with the threat of the EU sanctions of putting Guyanese exports to Europe under a GSP (Generalised System of Preferences).Under the GSP, exports will be forced to pay duties.Jagdeo also noted that he was boggled as to why regional leaders did not decide to pause and garner ACP support which would be possible in just a few short weeks in Ghana where the ACP is scheduled to host its summit.Barbadian Head of State David Thompson had, however,Bengals Shirts On Sale, debunked Jagdeo’s call at the Barbados Special Meeting which concluded on Wednesday evening, saying that the time for pausing has ended. “Pausing will be the thief of time,” Thompson had said.Prime Minister of Jamaica Bruce Golding also voiced his support of signing the agreement saying, “Did we get what we want, no…Did we get a good agreement, yes…Could we have gotten a better deal …I doubt it.”He also added that the he did not believe that re-negotiating another deal was possible.Golding also emphasized the dangers of CARIFORUM exports being subject to the GSP and questioned whether the region could afford to have its exports be subjected to 20 per cent duties.He affirmed that the region could not withstand the duties. “Those who are saying let’s not sign must address the question of what to do with exports that will be uncompetitive when it attracts the duties.”Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves noted that the concerns raised by Jagdeo were valid but posited that he would have to sign sooner or later.PM Golding told a press conference following the meeting that the region might not have gotten all that it wanted out of the negotiations but it was the best possible outcome that could be obtained given the new multilateral trading framework globally.He said it was not in the interest of the region not to sign as it would be injurious to the interest of the citizens.He said that he and his colleague heads of government would continue to discuss with Jagdeo the concerns which he expressed during the one-day meeting with a view to having Guyana be a signatory to the EPA at the earliest opportunity.Thompson characterised the meeting as productive in its search to arrive at a common position on concerns surrounding the EPA.He said the challenge now was to extract the opportunities and seize the advantages presented by the Agreement.He posited that Guyana is one of the countries which could benefit most from the Agreement.Golding also stated that the EPA did not undermine the viability of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy but strengthened it,Cheap Shoes For Sale China, given its provisions.He noted that the Agreement would force the region to be more competitive and achieving this internal competitiveness would serve the region well not only in the context of the EPA but in other trading relations.The Jamaican Prime Minister complimented the CARICOM Secretariat for producing a comprehensive and detailed plan for implementation of the EPA, which he said was the most urgent requirement of the region.Recently, the Guyana Government held a public consultation where the decision to support Jagdeo’s position was reinforced.At that forum, eminent Guyanese statesman Sir Shridath Ramphal had publicly stated that Caribbean governments must heed the voice of reason and pause, review and renegotiate before the region’s fate is sealed by ill-advised signatures that commit to a new era of European dominion.Jagdeo during his press conference yesterday reminded of the heartening call by Ramphal who had urged that collectively, stakeholders should put signing on hold until after the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States’ Summit in Accra.“Then let us,Cheap Adidas Superstar China, with the rest of the ACP, engage the EU…The EU needs the six EPAs even more than any one region needs it…don’t let us sell ourselves short…There will be threats of many kinds and at many levels….But if we have unity among ourselves in the Caribbean and with the rest of the ACP, we will prevail.”During the consultations,Stitched NFL Jerseys, it was touted that if Jagdeo was to garner enough support, there may be a possibility that the EU would have to review its position.Jagdeo has long denounced several aspects of the EPA among them reciprocity,Stitched Carolina Panthers Jerseys, which according to him would see the EU being able to bring its services to the region to compete with its local counterparts when, in return, the region did not have any services to export to Europe that could compete there. |
