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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.
EU-Caribbean FTA (2007)
16-Jan-2008 Norman Girvan
As initialled on 16 Dec 2007 and signed on 15 Oct 2008
Implications of the Cariforum-EC EPA
16-Jan-2008 Norman Girvan
The Cariforum-EC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) is more than just a trade agreement: its scope embraces many subjects that have up to now been solely or mainly within national and regional jurisdiction. As a legally binding international instrument it embodies a far higher degree of supranational governance than that of Caricom. It will, inevitably, condition the scope and content of future agreements made between Caricom and other major trading partners and the region’s stance in WTO negotiations.
EPA - the MAI in disguise?
15-Jan-2008 Trinidad Express
In the late 1990s, Europe attempted to impose investment conditions and policies under the Multilateral Agreement on Investments (MAI) which was shot down by the anti-MAI campaign supported by the developing countries. It appears to have achieved much of the same through the Caribbean Economic Partnership Agreement.
Guyanese President weighs in on EPA agreement
11-Jan-2008 Radio Jamaica
President Bharat Jagdeo of Guyana confessed that the economic partnership agreement signed by the Caribbean with the EU is a bad deal and the region has little to gain from it.
La Société civile mauritanienne déterminée à combattre les APE
9-Jan-2008 Mauritanie Web
La société civile mauritanienne est déterminée à combattre les Accords de partenariat économique (APE) proposés par l’Union européenne à la signature des Etats africains
Marche contre les Ape : Forte mobilisation des jeunes pour un partenariat gagnant-gagnant
8-Jan-2008 Le Soleil
15h50, le signal est donné sur le boulevard de la République. La foule s’étend des environs du bloc des Madeleines à l’école Jeanne d’Arc. Elle est composée en majorité de jeunes qui brandissent des pancartes. “ Non au chantage économique ”, “ Oui au développement, et à la croissance, non à la régression des pays africains ”, Les Ape, un danger pour l’Afrique ”, “ la jeunesse dit non aux Ape ”. D’autres scandent des slogans hostiles aux Ape. “ Nous ne signons pas ”, lancent-ils. Les tee-shirt et foulards disent aussi non à la signature des accords de partenariat économique.
Uganda: Workers get nod for Epas talks
27-Dec-2007 AllAfrica.com
The government is to involve labour unions in all future Economic Partnership Agreement (EPAs) negotiations with the European Union.
ACP ministers express concern over EPA negotiations
20-Dec-2007 AllAfrica.com
The ACP Council of Ministers deplores the enormous pressure that has been brought to bear on the ACP States by the European Commission to initial the interim trade arrangements, contrary to the spirit of the ACP-EU partnership.
Demerits of the EU trade agreements
19-Dec-2007 AllAfrica.com
The EU used a variety of unsavoury negotiating tactics to get its interim agreements with East African countries to the signing stage.
Le président de Sao Tomé rejette les APE
19-Dec-2007 African Manager
"Pour l’instant, je dois dire qu’après analyse au niveau de la sous-région, nous avons trouvé que les conditions n’étaient pas réunies pour la signature des APE", a affirmé le chef de l’Etat saotoméen, appuyant les positions des présidents sénégalais, Abdoulaye Wade, et sud-africain, Thabo Mbeki, qui rejettent les termes proposés par l’UE.
Africa united against EU arrogance
19-Dec-2007 AllAfrica.com
The recent summit between African heads of states and the EU has shown that Europe has failed to move beyond their colonial-era past-times of economic and political bullying.
Comesa censures EAC over trade deal with EU
19-Dec-2007 AllAfrica.com
East Africa’s signing of an interim trade pact with Europe has come under heavy criticism for dividing Africa as well as undermining the continent’s integration efforts. Interview with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) Secretary-General Erastus Mwencha.
No amount of EU money can right the wrongs of proposed EPAs
16-Dec-2007 The Times
Europe’s EPA agenda poses a grave danger to the people and economy of South Africa.
Ghana joins rush to secure EU trade
13-Dec-2007 The Guardian
Ghana signed an interim trade deal with the European Union on Thursday, joining a rush among poor countries to safeguard exports to the world’s biggest trading bloc after preferential terms expire at the end of the year.