Caribbean Community, Central America to negotiate free trade deal, official says
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) – The Caribbean Community intends to negotiate a free trade agreement with Central America perhaps within the next six months, the organisation’s top official says.
The decision came after a two-day meeting in Belize in late February involving trade ministers from the two regions, said Edwin Carrington, secretary general of the 12-member Caribbean Community, or Caricom.
“The agreement is to negotiate the talks as quickly as possible,” Carrington told The Associated Press.
Carrington said negotiators have suggested modelling the pact on one that Caricom signed with Costa Rica several years ago, with only minor modifications. The Costa Rica deal covers hundreds of items, including juices, construction materials and leather.
Caricom did not specify which Central American countries would be involved.
The Caribbean and Central America currently trade in products such as vegetables and beef.
