The Caribbean Community in Trade and Environment Negotiations

Abstract

This chapter addresses the current issues in the trade and environment debate and the ongoing negotiations in the Doha Development agenda from the point of view of the small vulnerable economies of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).¹ Trade-related environmental issues are of extreme importance to these countries, but there has been little regional research or policy dialogue about these issues. This is primarily because this region, in its interface with the global community, has to grapple with so many complex issues that technical resources are stretched to the limit and priority is given to areas such as services and agriculture, the most important economic sectors. Erosion of trade preferences has led to serious contraction in many of these economies, and spaces for alternative development strategies through insertion into the globalization process are limited by structural rigidities and resource constraints.