EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson insists there are no strings attached to new EU trade offer

But a Caribbean representative says the proposal is not as sweet as it seems.

The EU and the ACP are negotiating new so-called Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) - effectively free trade deals - with six ACP regions.

The agreements should be completed by the close of the year when a current preferential market arrangement ends, but negotiations have not been going too well and the EU is anxious that there be no delays.

So, its executive arm, the European Commission, has stepped in to tell the ACP that it will scrap most tariffs and quotas on exports as soon as a deal is signed.

Deal?

In a statement on Wednesday, Mr Mandelson said quota-free access for ACP exports will create the best possible opportunities for economies.

"Trade and development for ACP countries is about much more than just access to the European market," EU Trade Commissioner, Peter Mandelson, said.

"But by removing all remaining tariffs and quotas for all African, Caribbean and Pacific countries we will create the best possible opportunities for these economies," he added.

However, important Caribbean crops such as rice and sugar were not included, much to the disappointment of Junior Lodge, a Caribbean negotiator based in Brussels.

We will create the best possible opportunities for these economies. Peter Mandelson, EU Trade Commissioner

The duty-free provisions for these two crops would be phased in.

Levies on sugar would be phased out by 2015 while a reform in subsidies for EU sugar farmers is carried out and a firm date has not yet been set for rice.

...or no deal?

Junior Lodge described the commission's offer as "derisory" and warned it could cause more harm than good.

Mr Lodge said:"The European Commission offer threatens to poison the negotiating climate, especially at a time when both sides are making strides (on) flexibilities."

The ... offer threatens to poison the negotiating climate Junior Lodge, Caribbean trade negotiator

"We therefore hope that good sense will prevail and the European Commission will offer all ACP regions a more constructive and attractive market access offer," Mr Lodge added.

Last month the EU trade commissioner, Peter Mandelson, said the Caribbean looked likely to be in a position to sign its economic agreement in July, before the other ACP regions.

That prediction now looks in jeopardy.

Caribbean and other regions are worried that the EU is rushing them into reciprocal market access under the new deals, but the commission insisted today that it is not asking them to respond in kind.