Guyana, Haiti Decline To Sign European Trade Pact

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Leaders of 13 Caribbean nations are vowing to sign a controversial trade deal with the European Union.

The Economic Partnership Agreement would lift import duties and end quotas on Caribbean products that have capped the amount of goods shipped to Europe.

Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson says the countries' leaders agreed Wednesday to sign the deal in October.

St. Lucia had previously warned that small islands would be flooded with cheap European goods.

But of 15 Caribbean community nations, only Guyana and Haiti still oppose the deal. Guyana President Bharrat Jagdeo says he would be forced to accept it if Europe boosts tariffs on his country's exports, including rum, sugar and seafood.

Source: Op.Gov.Gy - Iht.Com