Jagdeo takes EPA objections to UN Assembly

Sep 25, 2008 News

Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo

Head of State, President Bharrat Jagdeo has taken his arguments relating to the controversial Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) to the 63rd session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York.

In his address, the President said that even at this late hour, he is pleading with the European Union leaders to review the agreement before they irretrievably harm the good historic relations that have existed between the African Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP) and the European Union (EU).

The Head of State noted that developing countries, particularly those with small populations and economies in transition, cannot compete with economic giants of the world especially in the face of subsidies, which has long been established by studies done by the World Bank, the Commonwealth and others.

According to Jagdeo, some regional blocs are insisting on their own definition of what special and differential treatment should be, even while the issue is being discussed at the level of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Jagdeo once again reiterated that the agreement may fundamentally affect development in societies and jeopardize future negotiating positions at the WTO.

“The European Commission has threatened to impose tariffs under the GSP on our exports if we do not sign up to Agreements that reflect the EU’s model of WTO compatibility even though the model includes issues that have been removed from the WTO agenda – the so called Singapore issues.

These agreements will also seriously prejudice our negotiations with other countries and may jeopardize the future of our integration movement,” the President said.

He added that the use of threats to get countries to sign the agreement indicates ironically how the EU hopes to start the partnership under the EPA.

President Jagdeo told the assembly that the same group of countries has continuously lectured that national consultations and working with civil society are essential hallmarks of good governance and yet when the same civil society opposes the EPA on the ground that it is not sufficiently developmental in nature, they are told to ignore them and that they are complainers.

“I wonder if the leaders of these countries know, or care about, what is being done in their name,” Jagdeo questioned.

At previous gatherings, the President had signaled his intention to sign a ‘goods only’ agreement with the EPA, as he had noted that he is not satisfied with certain aspects of the EPA, which he had described as being flawed and has very little development features.

He was particularly upset with the aspect of the deal which dealt with reciprocity wherein some 87 per cent of the goods imported in to the CARIFORUM countries will be done so duty free.