EPAs: still no signatures

Following the missed deadline of December 2007, the European Union's attention has turned to the Caribbean, in an effort to conclude one agreement.

But opposition to the deal in the Caribbean has been vocal and strong and delays and missed deadlines continue. The latest signing ceremony due to take placeat the beginning of September was again postponed. And the combined efforts of European and Caribbean campaigners have helped to stall the deal further.

Senior politicians are among those expressing grave concern over the effect the proposed EPA will have on the region’s most vulnerable people:

• Grenada's new Prime Minister has expressed the need to review the deal.

• The Caribbean Conference of Churches spoke out about the detrimental effects the deal could have on the most vulnerable in society.

• Guyana has said it will not sign the deal without public consultation planned for September.

• Opposition parties in Trinidad and Tobago, The Bahamas and St Lucia have urged governments to facilitate a review of the deal before setting a new date for signing.

• The Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions has joined in the call for the government to postpone signing the deal.

• The Barbados Manufacturers' Association has called on government to take a fresh look at the deal.

At this stage Haiti and Guyana are refusing to sign the whole deal but the pressure on countries to conclude a deal is immense. Threats to aid resourcing, tariff reimposition and unwillingness to look for alternatives have been shown in private, in contradiction to the EU's public position which states they will operate in a spirit of co-operation and partnership.

Negotiations are also continuing in the other regions across Africa and the Pacific. Head of Government from across the ACP will meet at the beginning of October and are likely to discuss the serious opposition that remains to what the EU are offering. Traidcraft is continuing to monitor the negotiations and campaign for the deals to take on board the needs and concerns of poor people.

Click here for more on what's wrong with EPAs.