ABSTRACT
The political federation between 1958 and 1962 in the Caribbean failed because Jamaica held a referendum in 1961 to determine whether the country should remain a part of it. The anti-federation Jamaica Labour Party trounced the pro-federation People's National Party at the polls. Looking beyond Caribbean Community (CARICOM) there is added uncertainty over the trade agreements the UK has with the region and the prospect of it losing preferential access to the British market, which might in turn reduce foreign direct investment flows. Whichever strategy the UK adopts with the European Union (EU) post-Brexit, its trade preferences under the CARICOM–EU Economic Partnership Agreement may well be affected if a situation arises where the UK has to renegotiate its trade preferences with CARIFORUM as a bloc. The default position for CARIFORUM–UK trade relations is likely to be under World Trade Organisation rules, but this may well offer a decent foundation for future cooperation.
