| Economic Partnership Agreement between the CARIFORUM States and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | |
|---|---|
 CARIFORUM States United Kingdom | |
| Type | Free Trade Agreement andEconomic Integration Agreement |
| Context | Trade continuity agreement between the United Kingdom andCARIFORUM states |
| Signed | 22 March 2019 |
| Location | Castries, Saint Lucia |
| Effective | 1 January 2021 |
| Negotiators |
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| Original signatories | |
| Parties | |
| Depositary | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office |
| Languages | |
TheCARIFORUM–United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement is a plurilateralfree trade agreement between theUnited Kingdom andAntigua 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 promotetrade,investment, and sustainabledevelopment. It largely replicates the existingEuropean Union–CARIFORUM StatesEconomic Partnership Agreement framework, maintaining preferential trade access, with theCARIFORUM. 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]
From 29 December 2008 until 30 December 2020, trade between the CARIFORUM states and the UK was governed by theCARIFORUM–European Union Economic Partnership Agreement, while the United Kingdom was amember of theEuropean Union.[3]
FollowingBrexit, the UK sought to replicate and adapt existing EU trade agreements with third countries to ensure continuity in trade. The UK and theCARIFORUM 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 theCaribbean following Brexit and was widely welcomed by businesses and private sector associations in the region.[4]
The agreement covers the following countries:
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
United KingdomSuriname 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]
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]
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