Decision

19 December 2023: Joint CARIFORUM-UK Council establishment of a Special Committee on Services – Decision No 02/2023

Published 8 August 2025

This page relates to a meeting that took place on 19 December 2023, during the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government, and was published later.

Decision No 02/2023 of the Joint CARIFORUM-UK Council established by the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the CARIFORUM States, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, concerning the establishment of a Special Committee on Services.

The Joint CARIFORUM-UK Council,

Having regard to the Economic Partnership Agreement between the CARIFORUM States, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part (‘the Agreement’), and in particular Article 229(1)  thereof,

Having regard to the Rules of Procedure of the Joint CARIFORUM-UK Council established by the Joint CARIFORUM-UK Council on 19 December 2023 by Decision No 01/2023, and in particular Article 11 thereof,

Whereas the CARIFORUM-UK Trade and Development Committee at its First Meeting held on 7 October 2021 agreed that it is appropriate to establish a Special Committee on Services to address trade matters related to services and in order to attain the objectives of the services provisions of the Agreement,

Has adopted this decision:

Article 1

1. The CARIFORUM-UK Special Committee on Services is hereby established to carry out the functions set out in Article 2.

2. The CARIFORUM-UK Special Committee on Services shall also be a forum for the Parties to exchange experiences, information and best practices and to consult on issues related to the objectives set out in Title II of Part II of the Agreement.

Article 2

The CARIFORUM-UK Special Committee on Services shall:

(a) keep under review all aspects of Title II of Part II of the Agreement that relate to trade in services;
(b) generally keep under review all other aspects of the Agreement that relate to trade in services;
(c) engage in dialogue and exchange of information on matters relating to trade in services of the Agreement, including on the following matters:
    i. development and implementation of the regulatory framework governing trade in services in the territory of the Parties at the community, national and sub-national levels;
    ii. matters relating to trade in services under the Agreement and market developments in the various services sectors;
    iii. any issue liable to affect the attainment of the objectives of the services provisions of the Agreement;
(d) monitor and assess the impact of the services provisions of the Agreement on the economies of the Parties;
(e) assist the CARIFORUM-UK Trade and Development Committee with regard to the following functions, subject to approval between the Parties:
    i. to supervise and be responsible for the implementation and proper application of the provisions of the Agreement relating to services to evaluate the results obtained in its application and to discuss and recommend cooperation priorities in this regard;
    ii. to undertake action to avoid disputes and to resolve disputes that may arise regarding the interpretation or application of provisions of the Agreement relating to services in accordance with the provisions of Part III thereof; and
    iii. to discuss and undertake actions that may facilitate trade, investment and business opportunities in the services sectors between the Parties; and
(f) make recommendations to the CARIFORUM-UK Trade and Development Committee and the Technical Sub-Committee on Development Cooperation with a view to enhancing the implementation and operation of the services provisions of the Agreement.

Article 3

The Special Committee on Services shall be composed of representatives of the UK, on the one hand, and of representatives of the Signatory CARIFORUM States, on the other.

Article 4

This decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

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Done in duplicate at Nassau, Bahamas and London, United Kingdom on 19 December 2023.