The Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) aims to create a single economic space among the 15 member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). As a grouping of small states , CARICOM sees the CSME as a key instrument in responding to the challenges of economic globalisation. The CSME is meant to stimulate and facilitate improved competitiveness in regional economies and to heighten bargaining power in the different theatres of international economic negotiations . CARICOM is generally regarded as one of the most advanced forms of regional integration among the developing countries. Nonetheless considerable difficulty has been encountered in meeting target dates set for the establishment of various aspects of the CSME. This paper reviews the state of CSME implementation as of early 2005 and the issues involved in resolving the problem of the ‘implementation deficit’. It concludes by suggesting a range of scenarios for the future course of the CSME.

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