bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

EPAs

EU must scale back Africa trade plans: minister
30-Sep-2010 Reuters
The European Union must scale back plans to protect its industries if it wants to seal a long-deadlocked trade deal with southern African states, South Africa’s trade minister said Tuesday.
Sanitary, phytosanitary and technical barriers to trade in EPAs
28-Sep-2010 CTA
This paper from ICTSD sets out a common vision on issues that could constitute sanitary, phytosanitary and technical barriers in EPAs and investigates how abusive use of these provisions could be an obstacle to market access.
Farmers reject Government deal with EU
27-Sep-2010 The Standard
Farmers in the North Rift have opposed a planned trade agreement between the Government and the European Union (EU) that they said risked robbing them of their livelihoods.
East Africa EPA delay frustrates EU
20-Sep-2010 New Vision
The European Union is frustrated at the slow pace of the conclusion of an Economic Partnership Agreement with the East African Community member states according to Harvey Rouse, head of the political and trade section at the EU Mission to Uganda.
Namibia asks EU to ‘step back’
17-Sep-2010 The Namibian
Namibia has called on the European Union to “take a step backwards from the current excessive demands in the economic partnership agreement (EPA) negotiations to allow Africa the policy space which it requires to advance its development”.
EPA not so momentous after all, study says
14-Sep-2010 IPS
Almost two years after the controversial and sweeping trade pact known as an Economic Partnership Agreement was signed between the European Union and the Caribbean Forum countries, a new study says the impact of the EPA has proved to be, as its proponents claimed, relatively mild.
ECOWAS lawmakers caution on EU trade pact
7-Sep-2010 234Next.com
West African lawmakers have cautioned against any decision to open up the region’s market “too wide and hastily” to the European Union as part of the concession for reaching a trade agreement between the two regions.
Bahamas ’did not yield in areas of unease’ over EPA
28-Aug-2010
The Bahamas "did not yield in areas that would cause the population some unease" in its Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) services offer, a government minister telling Tribune Business that the ’watering down’ of this nation’s initial position that European Union (EU) firms joint venture with Bahamian companies in numerous sectors had done "no harm".
EPA the biggest threat to African integration, Keet
20-Aug-2010 Informante
Speaking at a Civil Society gathering code named ‘The Southern African People’s Solidarity Network’ a trade and justice activist in the region, Dot Keet, said EPA has the potential to derail efforts to unite both SADC and Africa’s goals of integration.
MINICOM sensitizes on Economic Partnership Agreements
18-Aug-2010
The Ministry of Trade and industry has started a sensitization campaign on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) in all sectors of economy.
Association says EPA negotiations promote economic integration in West Africa
18-Aug-2010
National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) on Monday said the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations had created some reliefs that could promote regional economic integration in the ECOWAS sub-region.
New push to conclude fraught SADC-EC trade deal by year-end
12-Aug-2010
A recent Southern African Development Community (SADC)-European Commission (EC) meeting on the future of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) governing trade between the two regions has been described constructive by a top South African trade negotiator.
More time needed for EPA talks - Motlhale
11-Aug-2010
Ahead of the August round of negotiations between the SADC EPA group and the EU, the Acting President of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Parliamentary Assembly says the region should be afforded more time to reach a final decision on a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU.
EU backs off on EPA
29-Jul-2010 IPS
European Union Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht has appeased leading European civil society organisations about the negotiations for a Southern African economic partnership agreement, promising "not to put undue pressure" on countries.
EU must boldly address the issues!
3-Jul-2010
As you may be well aware, Namibia has yet to sign the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU). It is gratifying to see the EU, in the face of Namibian insistence, eventually shifting and being prepared to further listen to Namibia, negotiating and thrashing out Namibia’s reservations about the contents of the IEPA.
Botswana in fragile balancing act at EPA talks
20-Jun-2010
Botswana has emerged as the dealmaker in the contentious Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations aimed at finding middle ground between the European Union on one side and South Africa, Namibia and Angola on the other.
EAC, EPA pacts for November 2010
16-Jun-2010
Signing of the East African Community (EAC) Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) agreements that were expected to be signed in June have been postponed to November this year after the negotiations are concluded.
Activists warn over EPAs deal
9-Jun-2010
Over 15 fair trade lobby organisations have warned the East African Community leaders against signing the Framework Economic Partnerships Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union.
East Africa, EU trade talks suffer fresh setback
9-Jun-2010 Business Daily
East Africa’s long running negotiations with Europe over the signing of a new trading agreement appeared headed for the rocks after the parties returned to Dar es Salaam with the old arguments that have stalled the talks for nearly two years.
CSOs insist govt should re-think EPAs
8-Jun-2010
As the East African Community Ministers converge in the Tanzanian capital of Dar-es-Salaam with a possibility of signing the long awaited Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), Civil Society Organisations are still thinking otherwise.