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SA-EU Trade Row Puts Customs Union At Risk
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
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
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
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
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.
Deal with Europe will lead to Dominican-Haiti trade pact in 1 year, official says
The Economic Association Agreement between Cariforum and European Union (EPA) countries will lead Dominican Republic and Haiti to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement in one year, said Industry and Commerce minister Melanio Paredes, during the Business Table organized by magazine The Economist.
EU EPAs could inhibit South-South trade integration, Brazil alleges
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
Just a few weeks before the signing, some key governments appear uncomfortable with the final agreement
Premier forum d’investissement des Etats membres de l’Accord d’Agadir
L’objectif général du forum serait d’accroître le flux des investissements européens dans les pays de l’Espace Agadir
The European party agrees amending the Association Agreement
The EU says it will revise the its Association Agreement with Algeria, pointing out competition from China and enhanced ’security’ interests
ANC MP accuses EU of ‘recolonising’ Africa
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.
Differences over negative list hold up India-EU trade pact
India Inc’s eager wait for a comprehensive trade and investment agreement with the European Union could get a little longer as differences have cropped up over the items which would be kept off the pact.
L’accord bilatéral entre l’UE et l’Algérie reste bloqué
M. Mandelson a souligné que l’accord d’association, qui est "une base" de développement des relations bilatérales entre l’Algérie et l’UE, ne fonctionne pas bien actuellement.
Look to Europe, not the US
Negotiations on a free trade agreement between Malaysia and the United States have hit a sticky patch. There are 58 issues still unresolved and no fixed date scheduled for the sixth round of talks.
EU cool to free trade deal with Canada
The European Union, being pressured to support the launch of free trade negotiations at the next Canada-EU annual summit in Montreal this fall, is showing only lukewarm enthusiasm for the idea.
Malawi: Caught between two economic blocs
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.
No to corporate Europe - Yes to global justice!
Statement from Seattle to Brussels Network calling for joint strategies to halt current negotiations seeking to implement “Free” Trade Agreements (FTAs) between Europe and the rest of the world; and consolidating the struggles against European transnational corporations, and deepening the process of constructing alternatives, to reclaim the right to food, education, health and other basic services.
S. Korea, EU spar over ’rules of origin’
Under EU-suggested rules, a product would be considered as coming from a trading partner only when at least 60 percent of the value of the finished item is added in that country. South Korean negotiators want the ratio to be lowered to 40 percent, as a number of manufacturers in the country outsource many components from neighboring countries such as China to cut costs.
Free trade with EU entails endless conditions
It seems that more time is needed before the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council and 27-member European Union sign a long-awaited free trade agreement. Qatar’s deputy premier and minister of energy and industry Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah recently raised the alarm bells, speaking of "endless" EU conditions.
Europe supports Morocco’s EU partnership aspirations
Morocco invited European Union leaders to Rabat on Monday to discuss the transformation of its current Association Agreement into "advanced status" with the EU. The European ministers in attendance underlined their support for the Moroccan initiative.