The St Lucia government has said it will not sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Cariforum (Caricom and the Dominican Republic) and the European Union (EU) on the scheduled date of September 2.

The announcement was made on Monday by St Lucian Prime Minister Stephenson King.

King said that his administration’s new position follows a recent statement made by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, as well as the need for Caricom countries to review their position.

“Based on the advice we have been receiving from several quarters we, as members of the Caribbean Community, are now in a better position to say let us slow down a minute and engage in a further review of the real value of the EPA to the region,” King said.