bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

EPAs

Scholar advises ACP countries
3-May-2007
African, Caribbean and Pacific countries need to press for increased protocol tonnage to safeguard itself, a scholar advised.
Trade bloc ’must reap benefits of EU funds’
3-May-2007
A split among Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries that were also members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries would be detrimental to the region when the European Development Fund decided by year end to roll out development funds for the SADC region, said Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini- Zuma yesterday.
12th COMESA Summit preparations on course
2-May-2007
Trade Minister Mukhisa Kituyi has said preparations for the 12th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit are on course.
Countries determined to protect sugar benefits
1-May-2007
The African, Carribean, Pacific countries are determined to safeguard the benefits the Sugar Protocol provided and would explore avenues to uphold its position, says ACP Sugar Ministerial chairman Dr Arvin Boolell.
Ghana, Burkina Faso must implement protocols
1-May-2007
The Ghana Trade and Livelihoods Coalition (GTLC) has appealed to the governments of Ghana and Burkina Faso to facilitate an unconditional implementation of the protocol on the free movement of persons, goods and services within the West African sub-region.
EPA scoreboard: EU 1, SADC-EPA 0
1-May-2007
On 4 April, 2007 the European Union announced through a press release that it would offer full market access to the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries under the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations. Before a hype of euphoria sets in, be reminded that the devil resides in the details.
Cotonou’s demise - Namibia to lose millions
30-Apr-2007
The end of the World Trade Organisation waiver for Cotonou trade preferences at the end of this year will cost Namibia hundreds of millions, considering that the country’s agricultural and fish exports are built on the preferences.
Growing sense that Caribbean-EC negotiations may be in trouble
29-Apr-2007
A few days ago an influential political friend of the region asked about the current state of the negotiations between the Caribbean and the Europe for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
EU says West Africa trade talks may stretch to 2008
29-Apr-2007
The European Commission is pressing West African governments to negotiate a deal on trade before a WTO waiver on current trade perks expires on December 31, but acknowledged on Thursday a short extension may be needed.
EU concessions to African farmers suspect
29-Apr-2007
The recent trade concessions by the European Union to African, Caribbean and Pacific countries mean little in real terms, says an international non-governmental organisation.
Regional churches reject Economic Partnership Agreements
27-Apr-2007
Churches from Southern and Eastern Africa have called for a review of the proposed Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the European Union and the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.
Trade experts opt for liberal trade regime...reject EPA’s and opts for GSP
27-Apr-2007
Advocacy groups in the country have recommended to the country’s negotiating team in the new trade agreement with the European Union to opt for a more liberal trade pact known as the Generalised System of Preferences plus-scheme.
EPAs Should Be Subjected to Electoral Test
27-Apr-2007
"Here is a free trade agreement between rich and poor countries in which the former is trying to impose a reciprocal system of trade on the latter, with major consequences for poor people."
EPA may "destroy" Malawi’s manufacturing potential
27-Apr-2007 IPS
Economic circles in eastern and southern Africa are abuzz with discussions about the advantages and disadvantages of the economic partnership agreement (EPA) which governments of these countries are negotiating with the European Union (EU).
A matter of political will: How the European Union can maintain market access for African, Caribbean and Pacific countries in the absence of Economic Partnership Agreements
27-Apr-2007
The European Commission has threatened 76 of the world’s poorest countries with lower access to the EU market if they fail to sign new trade deals known as Economic Partnerhip Agreements (EPAs) by the end of 2007. But the threats are not justified.
Questions States must ask about EPAs
25-Apr-2007 AllAfrica.com
There have been myriad commentaries on the ongoing negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreements between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. The first thing in these debates is the jargon and how much a regular member of our communities would not understand. It’s about time that those who know anything about trade and economic agreements explained this agreement to the rest in simple ’Wanjiku’ language.
Moroka off for EPA talks
24-Apr-2007
Botswana’s Ministry of Trade and Industry has announced that the Minister, Neo Moroka, leaves for South Africa today for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) trade talks.
Chamber president urges government to sign accord between Caribbean countries and EU
23-Apr-2007
Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce President Christopher Lowe is calling on the Government to seriously consider signing on to the CARIFORUM-EPA -EU trade agreement, claiming that failure to do so could result in the loss of jobs for two major industries on Grand Bahama.
Ghana: Trade coalition condemns ongoing EPA negotiations
23-Apr-2007 AllAfrica.com
Barely two weeks after the European Union proposed to remove all remaining quota and tariff limitations on access to the EU market for all African, Caribbean and Pacific regions as part of the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations (EPAs), a group calling itself the Ghana Trade and Livelihoods Coalition has raised concerns about the ongoing negotiations that are scheduled to be concluded by December 31, 2007.
Development and intellectual property under the EPA negotiations
21-Apr-2007 South Centre
This South Centre policy brief examines the approach under the ongoing EPA negotiations with respect to innovation, biodiversity and traditional knowledge, public health, Least Developed Countries and on enforcement of intellectual property rights. It concludes that considering the level of economic development in ACP countries, the negotiations should not include IP rights as part of the partnership agreement.