Liz Truss submits UK's application to join the CPTPP

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Ministers at the Department of International Trade are looking to strengthen trade ties with the Caribbean Community (CARIFORUM) countries. CARIFORUM countries include Jamaica, Barbados, Belize and Trinidad and Tobago, with total UK trade worth £3.2 billion last year.

UK-Caribbean Trade Envoy Darren Henry pledged a significant increase in trade activity in the coming months.

In the latest move for the UK, which is aiming to boost trade relations across the world after leaving the EU, the Conservative MP for Broxtowe, added: “I’m focused on developing greater trading opportunities between the UK and the Caribbean and see trade as a key pillar to delivering mutual prosperity.

“There are opportunities to grow this across a number of sectors.”

Whitehall officials are also keen to build on the CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement, which was signed this week by Suriname.

The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) provides duty-free and quota-free access to the United Kingdom from the Caribbean allowing goods such as bananas and rum to be exported.

The Agreement also includes the gradual liberalisation of tariffs on many UK exports including machinery, whisky and cars.

As well as this, the agreement also provides generous market access for both sides on services trade.

As Suriname joined the agreement, which was initially introduced in March 2019 as the UK prepared to leave the EU, around £19 million is expected to be added to the annual total of CARIFORUM nations in trade terms.

Whitehall officials told the Express the Caribbean was “a region of priority” for the UK, with one adding: “We are looking to dominate on the world stage in terms of trade and show that Britain will thrive outside of the Bloc.”

International Trade Minister Ranil Jayawardena, added: “This agreement will be key to strengthening our bonds of prosperity, and will support jobs and livelihoods in both our countries as we look to build back better from COVID-19.”

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As part of measures to enhance trade, DiT officials hosted a virtual roadshow to help businesses across the UK identify new export and investment opportunities across the Caribbean region as well as Latin America.

More than 1,000 companies in the UK took part in the week-long event to enhance their commercial growth.

It comes as a trade agreement between the UK and Kenya became uncertain after Kenyan politicians expressed concerns over the final deal which was signed in December last year.

Kenyan MPs stressed it was “illegal” under Kenyan law.

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