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EPAs

Trade-EU: Deals with Africa a ’PR disaster’
27-Feb-2008 IPS
Trade talks between the European Union and African countries have been a public relations "disaster" for the Brussels bureaucracy, a high-ranking official confessed Feb. 26.
EU Warns Continent Over Sluggish Pace of New Trade Deal Talks
26-Feb-2008
The European Union has raised concerns about the speed at which African countries are moving towards negotiating for a comprehensive trade deal with Europe, which is expected to fast-track economic integration in the region ahead of the December deadline.
’EPAs Are Not About Partnership’
26-Feb-2008
The economic partnership agreements (EPAs) currently being negotiated between Europe and its former colonies in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions are not about equal partnerships but about enabling "big giant Europe to gain better access to African markets".
African Liberal Parties Want Benefits From Partnerships
26-Feb-2008
African Liberal parties, meeting in a General Assembly, that closed in Maputo on Saturday, have demanded that partnership agreements with the European Union should bring real advantages to Africa.
SA-EU Trade Row Puts Customs Union At Risk
26-Feb-2008
The future of the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) hangs in the balance, even as engagement takes place at the highest political level to save the world’s oldest customs union from collapsing.
Guyana and the wider world - Design and architecture of the EPA: The importance of self-critique
24-Feb-2008
Central to many of the contentious planks that remain (especially 4-9) is the observation of Timothy Kondo (Alternatives to Neo-liberalism in Southern Africa) that the draft EPA, which formed the basis of negotiations for his region was prepared by the EU, (Third World Economics, October 1-15, 2007). This observation was reiterated more generally by Marc Maes: "The texts that the Commission has tabled have reflected the Commission’s approach to global trade. They do not reflect the interests and needs of ACP countries." (ibid, p12)
Barbados government to review EPA
24-Feb-2008
Barbados’ Prime Minister has expressed reservations about the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) which CARICOM will sign with Europe in April, and he says he’s given instructions for his government to review the deal.
Regional Leaders Differing On EPA
23-Feb-2008
Schisms have begun to show in the united front CARIFORUM leaders showed after signing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Europe before the December 31 deadline last year.
Regional banana exporters uneasy as Latin America pressures EU
23-Feb-2008
The Caribbean Banana Exporters’ Association (CBEA) is expressing grave concern that the European Union (EU) might bow to pressure from Latin American banana producing countries and reduce its 176 euros per tonne tariff for bananas from that region.
EU EPAs could inhibit South-South trade integration, Brazil alleges
22-Feb-2008 Bridges
Brazil has alleged that a clause in the EU’s recent trade agreements with several former colonies could discourage these countries, among the world’s poorest, from pursuing deeper trade integration with other developing nations.
Caribbean: Fissures appear over EU trade deal
21-Feb-2008 IPS
Just a few weeks before the signing, some key governments appear uncomfortable with the final agreement
Ivory Coast says EPA deal will lead way for region
14-Feb-2008 Reuters
Ivory Coast will sign a definitive Economic Partnership Agreement with Europe in June, which it believes will open the door for other West African countries. it is also advising regional powerhouse Nigeria on how to seal an EPA.
Africa: Mass protests against EU-enforced neo-liberalism
11-Feb-2008 Socialist Youth
A part of the mass movement against the EU EPAs is drawing the conclusion that they have to find other partners in the fight against neo-liberalism. The coalition we need is an international one, of the working people and poor, that struggles against capitalism.
ANC MP accuses EU of ‘recolonising’ Africa
7-Feb-2008 Business Day
The biannual meeting of European and South African parliamentarians to discuss South Africa-EU relations got off to a rocky start yesterday when a top African National Congress MP accused the Europeans of recolonising Africa through EPAs.
EPA divides AU
2-Feb-2008 AfricaNews
The controversial Economic Partnership Agreements has divided the African Union as the Heads of State and Government attending the AU Summit are yet to take a decision on the issues.
Malawi: Caught between two economic blocs
31-Jan-2008 IPS
Malawi finally has to face up to the dilemma of choosing between being a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) or to stick with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) if it is to continue receiving funding from the European Union.
FIDH writes an open letter to African Union Heads of State and Government 10th African Union Summit
28-Jan-2008 Modern Ghana
the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) emphasizes that there are particular dangers associated with the negotiation of trade and investment agreements in a regional or bilateral context, which may not exist, or may not exist to the same extent, in the multilateral framework of the WTO.
EU clamps down on Nigerian cocoa
25-Jan-2008 Modern Ghana
Following the decision of Nigeria not to endorse the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union, cocoa processing firms in that country have been facing stiff export hurdles, resulting in multi-million dollar losses since the beginning of January.
Ecowas EPA - the facts and the falacies
22-Jan-2008 AllAfrica.com
From Ken Ukaoha, National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS)
EPA means economic enslavement
18-Jan-2008 Pambazuka News
Many free trade agreements have been signed and enacted into law by capitalist governments at the back of the working people. This is because the working people in Africa and other third world countries do not have political platform of their own.