BOGOTA, Colombia, CMC – The third and ultimate spherical of negotiations for an Advance Preferential Market Entry settlement between Colombia and the Caribbean Group (CARICOM) is anticipated to happen later this 12 months, to finalize the expanded settlement by the tip of 2025.
The most recent spherical of negotiations concluded right here earlier this week, and the 2 days of discussions have been described as ”productive,” geared toward increasing preferential market entry between the events.
In accordance with the delegates, the assembly “reaffirmed each side’ dedication to deepening commerce relations and strengthening regional financial integration, noting that the discussions targeted on important market entry points, together with tariff mechanisms, product sensitivities, the change of commerce knowledge, and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements.
“These SPS measures are important to defending human, animal, and plant well being from meals security dangers, pests, and illnesses. Each delegations exchanged detailed data on their respective tariff regimes and supplied clarification on the rationale for excluding sure merchandise from liberalization commitments inside their provides”.
Antigua and Barbuda was represented on the two-day assembly by Juray Roberts, Undertaking Growth Officer, and Ileathea Cabral, Undertaking Growth and Analysis Officer, from the Workplace of the Nationwide Authorising Officer (NAO) of the Ministry of Overseas Affairs, Commerce, and Barbuda Affairs.
Roberts stated that “for Antigua and Barbuda, it stays critically necessary to protect the safety of industries underneath Article 164 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which permits Much less Developed International locations (LDCs) inside CARICOM to droop preferential remedy on sure imports quickly”.
She stated that this safeguard helps native industrial improvement. Merchandise protected underneath Article 164 proceed to obtain particular remedy inside the regional buying and selling area till 2031.
Cabral additionally shared that the Antigua and Barbuda delegation expressed help for excluding from the CARICOM provide of preferential market entry, items listed underneath the ‘25 by 2025 plus5’ Regional Meals Safety Initiative, which goals to scale back CARICOM’s meals import invoice and bolster regional meals resilience.
The assembly was knowledgeable that Suriname and Haiti have now been included within the 1995 Partial Scope Settlement between CARICOM and Colombia.
Suriname will accede as a Extra Developed Nation (MDC), assuming solely present commitments with out new liberalization obligations. On the identical time, Haiti will be part of as a Much less Developed Nation (LDC) with related exemptions.
The authorized documentation is being finalized to formalize this accession, the assembly was informed, with each CARICOM and Colombia acknowledging the necessity to steadiness financial sensitivities with business alternatives, and reaffirming their shared dedication to fostering inclusive, clear, and development-oriented commerce outcomes.
