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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.
Olive oil imports set to rise post India-EU FTA
14-Jan-2008 FE
The proposed India-EU free trade agreement may open doors for easy import of olive oil from Europe. Major olive oil exporting countries like Spain, Italy, and Greece are insisting upon India to reduce its duty, remove non-tariff barriers and other local taxes and levies and marketing restrictions like maximum retail price system that guarantee a 35% margin to the retailer.
India, EU to make trade pact offers in February
13-Jan-2008 Business Standard
Even as experts doubt the possibility of a “deep free trade agreement” between India and the European Union (EU), both sides are likely to exchange offers on goods and services by the end of the next month.
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.
India to push for easier norms for exports to EU
8-Jan-2008 Economic Times
India will push for the removal of stringent quality norms for export to the European Union in the bilateral trade and investment agreement that is being worked out now. Restrictions on supplying ayurvedic medicines to the EU countries, extremely low maximum residue limit on products such as spices and registration problems faced by poultry and egg suppliers are high on India’s agenda.
Tunisians uncertain about EU free trade agreement
8-Jan-2008 Maghrebia
Tunisia opened up a promising new market by entering the Free Trade Zone Agreement with the European Union, but some business and political leaders caution that without protection and modernisation measures, the economic gulf between Tunisia and the EU could get worse, not better.
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.
Mercosur, EU to restart free-trade talks in May, Estado reports
20-Dec-2007 Bloomberg
The Mercosur trade bloc, made up of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, plans to restart talks with the European Union on a free-trade agreement in May, Estado de S. Paulo reported
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.
EU wants to reopen free trade negotiations with Mercosur
18-Dec-2007 Xinhua
The European Union is ready to resume free trade talks with the South American Common Market (Mercosur). The two blocs began negotiations in November 1999 with the aim of concluding an agreement by 2005, but progress has been slow due to disagreements over import restrictions on agricultural goods.
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.
China outwits the EU in Africa
13-Dec-2007 Asia Times
During the past several years, an increasing number of differences have arisen in the strategic partnership forged between China and the European Union. Among the many critical issues clouding the mutual agenda are differing policy approaches towards Africa.
S. Africa says "serious issues" remain in EU talks
13-Dec-2007 Reuters
South Africa said on Wednesday that "serious issues" needed to be addressed in African nations’ trade talks with the European Union, but it did not rule out the possibility of reaching a comprehensive deal.
EU wants India to speed up FTA
12-Dec-2007 The Hindu
Expressing doubt over WTO talks making headway in the near future, Austria on Tuesday asked India to speed up free trade agreement with the European Union to enlarge markets for European and Indian business.