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’EU, ACP have agreed on EPAs’
The European Union Commissioner for Trade Peter Mandelson has said African, Caribbean and Pacific are committed to a consensus on Economic Partnership Agreements before the end of the year.
On tariffs, do what the EU did and not what it says
It has been argued that Kenya and other African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries should sign Economic Partnership Agreements to safeguard revenue and jobs and promote growth and development.
Private sector body formed on EU-SADC negotiations
An independent private sector body calling itself the Business Trade Forum EU Southern Africa (BTFES) has been inaugurated with the aim of establishing dialogue between business communities and the political leaders in the EU and SADC.
Southern Africa: Free trade area between SACU and EU
Namibia’s Minister of Trade and Industry has been instructed by Cabinet to table a trade agreement between southern Africa and the European Union in the National Assembly for ratification.
Economic partnership agreements: European Parliament calls for less onerous conditions for ACP countries
Given the delay in the talks and the lack of readiness on the part of the ACP countries, MEPs in the Trade Committee called in a report on Wednesday for the Commission to make the conditions for the agreements less onerous.
Humayun leaves for UK today
Pursuing the case of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union and enhancement of bilateral trade and economic relations would be the agenda of the two days visit of Pakistan federal minister for Commerce Humayun Akhtar Khan to the UK starting Friday.
EU: APEB wants boycott of banana imports in FTA talks with Latin America
The association of European banana producers APEB has announced that it will request the EU to leave any discussion of the banana import tariff out of the negotiations on economic collaboration or free trade agreements with the Andean countries in South America and with the countries in Central America.
EU wants new deal with ACP partners
The European Union said it wants to complete new trade agreements with 78 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries by the end of the year despite opposition from developing countries.
Commission takes Finland to EU court over investment deals
The Finnish government said in a statement Wednesday that the European commission had brought legal action against Finland.
Extend deadline on partnership pact
Civil society groups and other stakeholders in West Africa’s development process have unanimously called on the European Union to extend the deadline for reaching a deal on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).
EPA will provide more dynamic export market for Caribbean, say trade experts
Jamaican trade experts are confident that when the ongoing Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations between the European Union (EU) and the Caribbean Forum of ACP States (CARIFORUM) are completed by the end of the year, it will facilitate a more dynamic export market for Jamaica and the rest of the region.
Govt committed to trade integration, says Kituyi
Kenya has entered into several regional and global trading arrangements aimed at alleviating poverty in the country, Trade and Industry minister Dr Mukhisa Kituyi has said.
ESA rejects European bid to bring Comesa into trade talks
The future of talks between 16 Eastern and Southern African (ESA) countries and the European Union hangs in the balance after the ESA countries accused the EU of smuggling a document into the agenda at their recent meeting in the Burundi capital, Bujumbura.
Women call for fair trade deals
Women groups in Africa have called for protection against unfair trade agreements, saying they are a threat to their livelihoods, peace and development.
Ecowas looks for good partnership
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has made it clear that it is looking for partnership and development-centred agreements with the European Union and not one that will stifle and ruin their economies.
EU, ASEAN seek to improve ties at talks
Diplomats from the EU and Southeast Asia were expected to issue a statement pledging closer cooperation in security, trade and environmental issues, as they met for talks in Germany.
Meeting fails to close gap on regional deals
The political row between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) continues.
India-EU deal hits political rocks
A planned free trade deal between the EU and India has run into serious difficulties over whether or not it should include clauses relating to human rights and weapons of mass destruction. But anti-poverty campaigners have also argued that an agreement is undesirable as it could potentially reduce India’s control over its own economy.
Prince at Asean-EU talks
When foreign ministers from the European Union and Southeast Asia gather in the German city of Nuremberg Wednesday, regional security will top the agenda.
EU-ASEAN meeting to chart out road map for deepening ties
This week’s meeting between foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is expected to focus on drafting a road map for deepening political and economic relations, including negotiations on a major comprehensive free trade agreement.