Written by Theo Chambers

Canada should step up efforts to wrap up a trade deal this year with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), according to a report released by the C.D. Howe Institute. In “A Canada-CARICOM “Trade-not-Aid” Strategy: Important and Achievable,” author Phil Rourke says a Canada-CARICOM trade deal could serve as a model for agreements with other low- and middle-income countries.

“Canada’s aggressive trade negotiation strategy needs to close some deals and divert resources to others, such as in Asia, if it is to be successful.  While the Canada-CARICOM negotiations have made little progress to date, a more development-friendly model with a narrower agenda could wrap up the deal relatively quickly,” says Rourke.

For the report go to: http://www.cdhowe.org/pdf/Commentary_371.pdf