CARICOM Competition Policy Regime: Implementation Concerns

Abstract

The Caribbean Community (Caricom), established by the Treaty of Chaguaramas in 1973, was largely modelled on the European Community Common Market and had as its final objective the creation of a Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), like the European Union. In March 2000, protocols amending the Treaty of Chaguaramas (Protocols III, VIII) were signed by Heads of Government thereby establishing the CSME. A critical tool for advancing the integration of Caricom markets is the Caricom Competition Policy (Protocol VIII), but this is part of a larger package that includes the free movement of labour and capital.