EU: Defiant Guyana to be Punished

By David Cronin BRUSSELS, Oct 10 (IPS) - The European Union is preparing to impose swingeing taxes on goods imported from Guyana as punishment for the Caribbean island's refusal to accept a free trade accord. Unlike 13 other governments in the Caribbean, Guyana has opted out of signing an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU. A document expected to be rubber-stamped by the EU's foreign ministers Oct. 13 suggests that Guyana will therefore no longer benefit from the favourable treatment scheme for its Europe-bound exports that has been in place since 1975. As a result, it would be subject to higher tariffs on its exports of rice, rum and seafood. Some leeway is likely to be granted to sugar exports, at least on a temporary basis, according to diplomats. Guyana is the largest sugar exporter in the Caribbean. Patrick... [read full story]