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Businesses in Costa Rica opine on trade agreement with European Union
27-Apr-2007 Tico Times
Costa Rican business leaders are being given a chance to opine on an association agreement between Central American and the European Union before these two regions begin negotiating the agreement in Brussels, Belgium, in June.
EPA may "destroy" Malawi’s manufacturing potential
27-Apr-2007 IPS
Economic circles in eastern and southern Africa are abuzz with discussions about the advantages and disadvantages of the economic partnership agreement (EPA) which governments of these countries are negotiating with the European Union (EU).
A matter of political will: How the European Union can maintain market access for African, Caribbean and Pacific countries in the absence of Economic Partnership Agreements
27-Apr-2007
The European Commission has threatened 76 of the world’s poorest countries with lower access to the EU market if they fail to sign new trade deals known as Economic Partnerhip Agreements (EPAs) by the end of 2007. But the threats are not justified.
South Africa: EU agreement has "not been beneficial"
26-Apr-2007 IPS
A senior member of parliament of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), Ben Turok, says the existing trade agreement between South Africa and the European Union (EU) has not benefited his country.
Questions States must ask about EPAs
25-Apr-2007 AllAfrica.com
There have been myriad commentaries on the ongoing negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreements between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. The first thing in these debates is the jargon and how much a regular member of our communities would not understand. It’s about time that those who know anything about trade and economic agreements explained this agreement to the rest in simple ’Wanjiku’ language.
EU: Conclusions on the recommendations to open negotiations with countries of ASEAN, India and South Korea
25-Apr-2007
The EU Council, and the Representatives of the Member States meeting within the Council, officially gave the Commission "the green light" to start FTA negotiations with India, Korea and ASEAN.
Moroka off for EPA talks
24-Apr-2007
Botswana’s Ministry of Trade and Industry has announced that the Minister, Neo Moroka, leaves for South Africa today for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) trade talks.
Economic impact of a potential free trade agreement (FTA) between the European Union and South Korea
24-Apr-2007
A study prepared for the European Union
Chamber president urges government to sign accord between Caribbean countries and EU
23-Apr-2007
Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce President Christopher Lowe is calling on the Government to seriously consider signing on to the CARIFORUM-EPA -EU trade agreement, claiming that failure to do so could result in the loss of jobs for two major industries on Grand Bahama.
EU sees big export rise if Asia trade pacts agreed
23-Apr-2007
European Union exports would rise by 40 billion euros ($54.3 billion) a year if the bloc reaches planned new free trade agreements (FTAs) with countries in Asia, the European Commission said.
Ghana: Trade coalition condemns ongoing EPA negotiations
23-Apr-2007 AllAfrica.com
Barely two weeks after the European Union proposed to remove all remaining quota and tariff limitations on access to the EU market for all African, Caribbean and Pacific regions as part of the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations (EPAs), a group calling itself the Ghana Trade and Livelihoods Coalition has raised concerns about the ongoing negotiations that are scheduled to be concluded by December 31, 2007.
EU to start negotiations for Association Agreement with the Andean Community
23-Apr-2007 EUROPA
The EU and the Andean Community announced yesterday in Santo Domingo their intention to start negotiations for an Association Agreement in the margins of the next EU-Andean Community Joint Committee that will be held in La Paz at the end of May 2007.
Deliberations continuing with EU, Canada, Turkey on free trade, QIZs - Jordan
22-Apr-2007 MENAFN
Several agreements are in the pipeline to accelerate Jordan’s free trade drive and maximise the advantages of Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZs), Industry and Trade Minister Salem Khazaaleh said on Saturday.
Taiwan: EU official says any FTA will be ’some time’
21-Apr-2007 Taipei Times
The EU’s de facto ambassador to Taiwan told the European Chamber of Commerce in Taipei that it would be some time before the EU was able to evaluate the feasibility of a FTA with Taiwan. The prerequisites would be whether European companies see any need for or benefits from such a deal and whether the Taiwanese government is interested in signing a pact.
Development and intellectual property under the EPA negotiations
21-Apr-2007 South Centre
This South Centre policy brief examines the approach under the ongoing EPA negotiations with respect to innovation, biodiversity and traditional knowledge, public health, Least Developed Countries and on enforcement of intellectual property rights. It concludes that considering the level of economic development in ACP countries, the negotiations should not include IP rights as part of the partnership agreement.
The European approach to intellectual property in European Partnership Agreements with the ACP countries
20-Apr-2007 CIEL
A CIEL discussion paper on the European Union’s attempts to impose TRIPS-plus standards on 76 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries
Namibia: ’Forget EU offer’ - expert
20-Apr-2007 AllAfrica.com
Market researcher at Meatco, Wallie Roux, yesterday criticized the European Union’s haste to have the Southern African Development Community-Economic Partnership Agreement (SADC-EPA) signed by the end of the year. "This is the biggest successful public relations stunt pulled by the EU," he observed.
EPA threatens N6.2b non-oil exports revenue, local industries - MAN
20-Apr-2007 AllAfrica.com
Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has warned that harmonisation of tariffs under the proposed ECOWAS-EU Economic Partnership Agreement will lead to loss of over 478 million dollars (about N6.2 billion) in revenue from non-oil exports annually, and closure of some industries in the country.
Much to lose, little to gain: Assessing EPAs from the perspective of Malawi
18-Apr-2007 Tearfund
This Tearfund report critiques the process of EU-ACP EPA negotiations and looks at the potential impacts of an EPA on Malawi.
EU to announce 840-million-euro aid program for Central America
18-Apr-2007 People’s Daily
The European Union is about to announce an 840 million euro (1.141 billion US dollar) aid program for Central America, the European Commission said Tuesday.