Jagdeo cautions CARICOM against free trade deal

Guyana\'s President Bharrat Jagdeo is cautioning CARICOM countries not to negotiate a new free trade agreement with Canada, based on reciprocity.



Following their inter-sessional summit in Belize this year, Caricom leaders said they were ready to begin new trade talks with Ottawa.



President Jagdeo says it is important that the region negotiates a development dimension criteria, before trade talks begin with Canada.



Regional technocrats have warned CARICOM not rush into a new deal, which would replace the 1985 duty-free Caribbean-Canada (CARIBCAN) agreement.



They argue that CARIBCAN is non-reciprocal and would require a World Trade Organisation (WTO) waiver.