Other trade agreements/agreements are available in the CARICOM and ACP/EU sections, as well as in the brochure: www.tradeboard.gov.jm/tblweb/documents/TradeAgreement.pdf bilateral and multilateral trade agreements are welcome. Some of them have been concluded in recent years, notably with the United States and Canada. Latin America is of course the undisputed regional area in which CARICOM should expand its commercial network. To deepen trade relations with Latin America, Caribbean countries need to develop bilateral agreements that better take into account goods and services for which they have a comparative advantage. As the world moves closer to the development of a sustainable development agenda, trade will be an important instrument in this process. The Caribbean should not hesitate to seize every opportunity to take advantage of trade agreements that strengthen their competitiveness and promote production, cooperation and integration. Briefing Note by ECLAC Caribbean Chief, Diane Quarless (December 2014) The vulnerability of Caribbean states to negative external shocks and natural disasters underscores the need for strength in unity. In trying to create international partnerships, Caribbean countries have recognized the need to look first at each other. In this region, the Caribbean Community`s Single Market Economy (CARICOM) is recognized as an ambitious sanitized health effort for the establishment of an integrated economy and, despite many challenges, significant progress has been made. Caribbean countries have the opportunity to take advantage of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed with the European Union in 2008.

Since then, commercial complementarities with CARICOM have made little progress and, in some cases, have declined. European Union markets represent a great opportunity to increase exports, diversify imports and deepen economic ties beyond the Caribbean. The time has come for CARICOM states to develop mechanisms to monitor the implementation of EPAs and to use this trade framework. Negotiations for a trade agreement with CARICOM/Canada were suspended in 2015. There is also the 1979 Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation between the Government of Canada and the governments of Caribbean Common Market Member States. See text under: www3.nd.edu/-jbergstr/DataEIAs2006/FTA5yrData_files/PDF%20Files/North%20America/Canada%20%20CARICOM%20 (1973) .pdf The CARICOM-USA Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) was adopted on 28. The aim is to strengthen economic relations between the United States and CARICOM countries by strengthening cooperation and promoting trade and investment.