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EPAs

Experts attack EU trade deal deadline
8-Jun-2014 The Observer
At a high level conference on the EAC-EU EPA negotiations in Entebbe recently, experts in trade and regional integration argued that the EAC should not be bound by the pressure of the EU deadline.
African countries feel cornered in EU trade negotiations
6-Jun-2014 EurActiv
The EU is pointing a gun at the Global South’s chest and do not listen to their concerns, reports EurActiv Germany.
Civil society and faith-based organisations asked to unite and kick against signing of Economic Partnership Agreement
24-May-2014 Ghana Broadcasting Corporation
A member of the Socialist Forum of Ghana and Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt, has asked civil society groups, Trades Unions and faith based organisations to strongly kick against the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement, EPA.
Nigerian lawmakers consider EU’s economic partnership proposal
22-May-2014 Channels Television
Nigeria’s House of Representatives has invited the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment to brief it on details of the EU’s proposed Economic Partnership Agreement and present the worst case scenario should Nigeria refuse to sign it.
Zambia: State to determine EPA stance
12-May-2014 Zambia Daily Mail
Zambia, as chair of the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) states negotiating with the EU, has commissioned an impact study of the EPA in ESA countries to be ready in July. Then, each ESA state will decide whether to sign or not.
African leaders join Nigeria to reject European economic agreement
30-Apr-2014 This Day
African Ministers of Trade meeting at the African Union in Addis have aligned with Nigeria’s position on the trade liberalisation deal with the European Union under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), saying it will have a long-term negative impact on the continent’s efforts towards industrialisation and job creation.
Ghana’s EPAs dilemma: to sign or not to sign?
23-Apr-2014 Press TV
President John Mahama is facing fierce resistance from academics, trades unionists and manufacturers associations who warn that Ghana could be opening itself up to a neo-colonial invasion from European products.
EPA debate causes stir
23-Apr-2014 Graphic Business
Members of the Association of Ghana Industries are divided over whether government should join other West African states to sign onto the Economic Partnership Agreement.
Revise EPA before signing – Trade minister
21-Apr-2014 Graphic Online
Ghanian stakeholders at a public forum on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) have called for urgent steps to revise aspects of the agreement before it is signed.
EU rep. in Ghana heckled over EPA
19-Apr-2014 MyJoyOnline
The European Union Representative in Ghana, Claude Maerten has been heckled by participants at an ongoing forum on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in Accra.
Kenya to conclude economic partnership pact with EU
17-Apr-2014 Bernama
Three remaining contentious issues will be dealt with by next month, according to the Kenyan government, which will be good news for horticulture farmers who have been worried that their market access will be compromised if Kenya loses its privileges in the EU market.
‘Signing EPA or not will come with a cost’
14-Apr-2014 MyJoyOnline
Minister of Trade and Industry Haruna Iddrisu has indicated that Ghana has no choice but to sign the controversial Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union.
Why Nigeria scuttled the EU-ECOWAS trade deal
3-Apr-2014 This Day
The federal government has stated that it declined endorsing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union because acting otherwise would have been inimical to the advancement of the varied growth policies currently being implemented by the government.
West Africa: Ecowas postpones signing EU trade deal
2-Apr-2014 The Point
"We believe it needs further scrutiny," announced President Yahya Jammeh, referring to the issue of signing an Economic Partnership Agreement negotiated by ECOWAS with the European Union.
Southern African nations push for European trade-deal extension
1-Apr-2014 Bloomberg
Southern African trade ministers will lobby for an extension of a trade agreement with Europe before it expires in October, a senior Botswana official said.
Ghana: Don’t sign Economic Partnership Agreement - Coalition urges gov’t
28-Mar-2014 Ghana Web
A coalition of civil society organisations, farmer-based groups, religious organisations and labour unions have asked President John Mahama to show commitment to encouraging the productive capacity of Ghanaians by not signing the Economic Partnership Agreement.
Civil society groups intensify opposition to EPAs
24-Mar-2014 MyJoyOnline
Economic Justice Network, a body comprising the Christian Council, Trade Union Congress and other civil society groups will next week petition President John Mahama to not sign the Economic Partnership Agreement.
Uganda: EU sets EPA deadline signing for October
3-Mar-2014 New Vision
“The EAC states wont access European markets if we don’t sign EPA by October 1 but how prepared are we when some clauses are still not agreed upon?” Jane Nalunga, SEATINI Uganda country director, asks.
Senegal: Regional ministers endorse compromises for EPA negotiations
25-Feb-2014 African Manager
West Africa’s ministers of finance and trade have adopted the compromise proposals for concluding the decade-long negotiations of the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union for a free trade area of the two regions.
Is EAC at gunpoint over EU trade agreement?
10-Feb-2014 The New Times
There’s a strong feeling among experts in East Africa that by insisting on the inclusion of the "most favoured nation", the EU is holding the region at gunpoint to accept a clause that would legally tie their hands regarding who to trade with besides Europe.