Support to the CARIFORUM -EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)

The Project at A Glance

One of the most advanced Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) signed by the EU with its ACP partners, is the CARIFORUM–EU EPA. Signed in 2008, the Agreement provides for an asymmetric and progressive opening of trade in goods, services, and investment.
International Economics Consulting, as a part of a consortium implementing the PSF Framework Service Contract, will contribute to a more strategic EU business presence in the CARIFORUM region in line with the regional dimension of the CARIFORUM – EU EPA.

What We Found

In 2008 the EU and 14 Caribbean countries signed the EPA geared towards strengthening trade and investment relations and promoting regional integration between the Parties and CARIFORUM countries. Despite the Agreement having been implemented for over a decade, trade between the two regions has remained stagnant. This is why, the EU has commissioned a series of studies to bring out the opportunities for investment by EU firms in the CARIFORUM region and boosting trade between the parties.
Considering the knowledge of the functioning of the EPA among many stakeholders is rather poor, the intervention also seeks to demystify the EPA, inform about the remaining gaps in implementation of the EPA and all related benefits and tools by having some intensive advocacy campaigns about the priority sectors and the Agreement with the key stakeholders of both the CARIFORUM and EU.
This intervention will ultimately bring out the opportunities for investment by EU firms in the CARIFORUM region and boost trade between the parties. It will also inform about the remaining gaps in implementation of the EPA and all related benefits and tools.

Our Strategy and Impact

The EPA provides and advocates a framework for cooperation in areas such public education, eco-innovation and trade between CARIFORUM and EU States. CARIFORUM States have introduced significant legislative and regulatory reforms as well as progressive policy and strategy changes since signing the EPA resulting in increased competition and greater market access.
Our Team will analyse and enhance awareness on business opportunities for EU private sector entities within the 9 sectors of focus in the context of functioning of the CARIFORUM-EU EPA. This will include quantitative and qualitative information on sectors of priority for EU trade and investment, identification of market access conditions and requirements, and identification of obstacles to the ease of doing business in the priority sectors.
Ultimately, the Team will produce nine sectoral reports which will be followed by intensive advocacy campaigns about the priority sectors and the Agreement with the key stakeholders of both the CARIFORUM and EU.

Our Core Solutions

As businesses seek to expand operations into new markets, the need to explore global supply chains and understand the international regulatory framework becomes crucial. At International Economics Consulting, we build tailor-made strategies for both import and export-oriented business solutions.