Countries cannot reach agreement on bananas

However he says the region is committed to meeting the year-end deadline.

Following a meeting of regional trade officials in Trinidad to discuss the EPA, Ambassador Bernal told BBC Caribbean there are still issues to be resolved.

"The situation is not as encouraging as we had hoped. There are still some areas which the region has to complete its work with regards to the market access offer," he said.

Ambassador Bernal added that the region could also be more ambitious in some areas, particularly in its offer on services.

Last week, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson called on ACP countries to conclude their negotiations by year-end, or risk losing preferences.

The Caricom Chief negotiator said it was an extremely difficult task, however the region was "working assiduously" and doing everything possible to conclude the negotiations on schedule.

Meanwhile St Vincent's agriculture minister Montgomery Daniel said one of the issues holding up the negotiations is the failure of Caricom and Cariforum countries to reach a common position on bananas.

"Belize, Jamaica and the Windwards are of the position that we should have a managed market, but the Dominican Republic and Suriname continue to hold out for the new position as has been identified by the EU," Mr. Daniel said.

The EPAs will succeed the Lome convention, which governed European Union (EU) and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries for over three decades.