CIECA doesn't see the difference

[NewsWhore]

The Caribbean Center for Economic Research (CIECA) warned yesterday that as negotiations for the European Partnership Agreement continue between the DR, Caribbean Community (Caricom) and the European Union (EU), there are not that many differences between this proposed agreement and conventional free trade agreements, like DR-CAFTA. According to CIECA, an EPA will not recognize the asymmetries that already exist between the economies of Caricom nations and the EU, and that in fact there will not be a development aspect to the agreements, as was defined under the Cotonou agreements. CIECA says that the DR, during the negotiations with Caricom and the EU, should define a policy consistent with national interests and conjunctly consistent with regional development. Francisco Checo, president of the institution, says that DR-CAFTA has created an incredibly open market in the DR, in comparison to Caricom countries, and the country should make sure this doesn't become an obstacle to an equal distribution of the EPA's benefits and costs.

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