CARIFTA

CARIFTA is an acronym used for two closely linked Caribbean institutions: the Caribbean Free Trade Association, a regional trade bloc aimed at promoting free trade and economic integration among member states, and the CARIFTA Games, a long-running annual athletics competition for youth and junior athletes organized under the CARIFTA banner. The two uses share a historical link through the regional integration efforts that began in the 1960s.

The Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) was established in the 1960s by several English-speaking Caribbean states to reduce tariffs and promote trade across member countries. It expanded through the decade as new members joined and sought greater economic cooperation. In the early 1970s, CARIFTA's trade mandate gave way to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) framework, formed by the Treaty of Chaguaramas in 1973 and entering into force in 1974, which took over as the chief instrument for regional integration.

The CARIFTA Games are a youth and junior athletics meet first held by CARIFTA in 1969 and hosted by countries across the Caribbean. The event serves as a launching pad for Caribbean track and field talent and has produced many world-class athletes who went on to Olympic and World Championship success. The games feature multiple events for different age categories and typically rotate host nations.

See also CARICOM.