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EPAs

Africa feels pain of trade talks with Europe
26-Sep-2007 Reuters
Africa is in a catch-22 situation. The Economic Partnership Agreements will ensure continued tariff-free exports to Europe, but may kill domestic production.
Ghana: Poultry sector to be hardest hit by EPAs, stakeholders kick against it
24-Sep-2007 AllAfrica.com
For the last few years, the Ghanaian market has been flooded with cheap imported chicken from the European Union and the United States. These are usually fatty chicken parts that come in packages without labels. Demand for local poultry has collapsed, threatening the livelihoods of over 1,000 poultry farmers in both small and large-scale poultry farming in Ghana. The current situation will be compounded when the EPAs take effect in 2008 with the removal of tariffs across board.
Development challenges of competition policy in the Economic Partnership Agreements
24-Sep-2007
A brief critique of the EU’s proposal on Competition Policy in the EPAs.
Draft EU-ECOWAS EPA (April 2007)
22-Sep-2007
Draft EU-SADC EPA (EU proposal, June 2007)
22-Sep-2007
Draft EU-ESA EPA (July 2007)
22-Sep-2007
Economic Partnership Agreements - no plan B?
21-Sep-2007 AllAfrica.com
The European Union Trade Commissioner, Peter Mandelson, said the EU would not engage in an alternative strategy concerning African, Caribbean and Pacific trade relations with Europe at the World Trade Organisation, stressing that there is definitely "no Plan B" for EU trade relations with the ACP. New Era spoke to trade analyst, Wallie Roux, wherein he responds in his personal capacity to Mandelson’s assertions.
Concern rises over EU bilaterals with developing countries
20-Sep-2007 IP Watch
Concern is growing in both Europe and developing countries about whether a series of free trade agreements slated for signature later this year will contain overly stringent rules on intellectual property.
Flower industry may wilt if EPA deadline is missed
20-Sep-2007 AllAfrica.com
Kenya faces tariff increases of between two and 24 percent on its exports to the European Union if it fails to conclude an Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU by the end of the year.
Ghana will lose 1.8 trillion cedis annually from import duties
19-Sep-2007 Ghana News
The Ghanian government will lose 1.8 trillion cedis annually from import duties as result of withdrawal of tariffs after joining the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) of European Union next year.
Some Gambian farmers oppose EPAs
18-Sep-2007 AllAfrica.com
Some commercial farmers in The Gambia have raised objection to the Economic Partnership Agreements presently being negotiated between the European Union and the African Caribbean and Pacific countries.
Ile Maurice: Le sucre bute sur de nouveaux obstacles en Europe
18-Sep-2007 AllAfrica.com
L’Europe pourrait accorder des quotas régionaux pour l’exportation de sucre. Ce qui placerait le Maurice et d’autres pays d’Afrique, des Caraïbes et du Pacifique en situation de concurrence face aux gros producteurs dont le Cuba et le Brésil.
Roux still in limbo
15-Sep-2007 Namibia Economist
The fate of the Meatco researcher, who got suspended for expressing a sceptical opinion on the EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations in May, is yet to be decided.
Time to revive active structures for EPA debate...as civil society and EU disagree on sticking points
13-Sep-2007 Statesman
Amidst controversy, trade liberalisation is fast gaining prominence in Sub-Saharan Africa as the December deadline for the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement draws near. This is attributed partly to the wave of globalisation, regional and bilateral agreements and mainly, pressure from the World Trade Organisation and the European Union.
Africa: As preferences and commodity trade fails Africa
13-Sep-2007 AllAfrica.com
The Delegation of the European Commission in Ghana has voiced out that its relationship with Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa based on preferences and commodity trade has largely failed to deliver development and it was time to take the bold step to try something new, the Economic Partnership Agreements.
Gambia: Social Forum demands extension of EPAs negotiation
13-Sep-2007 AllAfrica.com
The Gambia Social Forum demanded the extension of the deadline of negotiations of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union, on the one hand, and the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, on the other.
Africa: EPAs clashing with Everything-But-Arms trade scheme?
12-Sep-2007 IPS
The proposed economic partnership agreements (EPAs), which are due to come into force beginning next year, may undermine the benefits of another European Union trade initiative, called Everything-But-Arms, for the sugar industry.
Legal and development implications of inclusion of services in the EPAs
11-Sep-2007 Voices from the South Centre
South Centre has issued a policy brief "Why inclusion of services in the EPAs is problematic" which analyses legal and development implications for Eastern and Southern African countries in negotiating trade in services under the EPAs.
Draft EU-Pacific EPA (Aug 2007)
3-Sep-2007
Pacific ACP countries express deep concern at EU trade deal proposal
31-Aug-2007 The Pacific Islands Forum and its Secretariat
Pacific trade officials and legal experts have expressed their disappointment and deep concern at the draft text proposed by the European Commission for an Economic Partnership Agreement covering trade in goods, trade in services, fisheries, investment and development cooperation.