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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.
South Korea, EU to start FTA talks in early May, official says
18-Apr-2007 Yonhap
South Korea and the European Union will start discussions in early May on forging a free trade agreement (FTA), Seoul’s senior trade official said Wednesday.
Nigeria: FG urged to spearhead Ecowas negotiations
18-Apr-2007 AllAfrica.com
The Federal Government has been called upon to take the lead in driving the Economic Community of West African States-Economic Partnership Agreement (ECOWAS-EPA) negotiations in order to guide the developing region towards effective regional integration and improved trade practices.
EU has no plans to start up FTA talks with Japan
17-Apr-2007 Japan Times
The European Union isn’t planning to start talks with Japan on a bilateral free-trade agreement, the director general for trade at the European Commission said Monday at a news conference in Tokyo. Japanese business leaders are concerned that if an EU-South Korea FTA takes effect, some Japanese industries would lose European market share to their South Korean rivals.
El Salvador: Spanish firm advocates, then breaks labour laws
17-Apr-2007 IPS
The Spanish tuna-fishing and processing company Grupo Calvo has been accused of serious anti-union practices in El Salvador. The paradox is that Calvo had insisted that this Central American country approve labour laws required by the European Union for the purpose of obtaining tariff exemptions, as a condition for continuing to invest here.
Comesa to discuss EPAs
13-Apr-2007
Heads of government and policy organs of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) will meet in the Kenyan capital Nairobi from May 11-23 to consider the progress made on the Economic Partnership Agreements with the European Union among other things.
Caricom wants ’special provisions’ for sugar, bananas
12-Apr-2007 Jamaica Gleaner
The EU concession announced last week to remove all remaining quota and tariff restrictions on ACP products includes a phase-out period for rice and sugar, but does not mention bananas.
Africa must be careful in its trade pacts with Europeans
11-Apr-2007
The European Union celebrated its 50th birthday on March 25, since the signing of the founding Rome treaty, a pact originally comprising six Western European nations. France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg sealed an economic co-operation that was meant to avoid future wars.
Dominican negotiators head for talks on free trade with Europe
9-Apr-2007
The Coordinating Office for Trade Negotiations is in charge of taking the country into a free trade deal with the European Union before the end of the year.
Trading places: Quebec leads charge for Canada-EU free trade agreement
9-Apr-2007
With a slim victory in the recent provincial election under his belt, Quebec Premier Jean Charest hopes to herd the feds and other provinces towards a free-trade agreement (FTA) with the 27-member European Union.
GSP schemes ’best alternative to EPAs’
8-Apr-2007
The European Union (EU) has been accused of trying to introduce structural adjustment in developing African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) nations by way of economic partnership agreements (EPA).
Country prepares for negotiation of EPAs
6-Apr-2007
The Mozambican government is preparing its position for negotiations with the European Union, scheduled to begin in May, on the controversial Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).
FTA fever hits Korea, as negotiations on multiple trade deals underway
6-Apr-2007
As official talks on a free trade agreement (FTA) between South Korea and the U.S. have been completed, attention is focused on possible trade negotiations between Korea and other nations, such as the European Union and China.
Germany supports Korea-EU free trade pact
6-Apr-2007 Korea Times
"We will most probably see a swifter resolution of the FTA talks, compared with the Korea-US FTA, since there are less sensitivity issues between the two sides," Jurgen Wohler, secretary general of the Korea-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said. He added that it would be satisfactory if the Korea-EU FTA is agreed upon on a similar level to the KORUS FTA.
EU makes tricky offer more tempting
5-Apr-2007 IPS
The European Union has this week sought to increase the likelihood that it will sign controversial free trade agreements with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries by offering to open its markets to virtually all of their agricultural goods.
Nigeria: Between trade agreements and poverty impact
4-Apr-2007 AllAfrica.com
EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson admitted that if the EPA negotiation does not finish this year, there are options available which he termed as expensive and not so good.
Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods - A spearheading new initiative
2-Apr-2007 MMN
Members of J-BIG have joined the wider campaign for abolishing the special trade and economic benefits granted to Israel as part of its trade agreement with the European Union. Indeed a significant number of British MPs appear to support this campaign.
EU wants Dar to decide under which regional bloc it will negotiate EPAs
2-Apr-2007
Tanzania has failed to register any significant progress in negotiating Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union for the past 13 months.