EPA Negotiations: Where do we stand? - Central Africa - State of Play - Recent developments - Additional resources	Click here for a complete summary of the state of play in all regions (in pdf format)

Current state of play

After initialling of the interim agreement by Cameroon only, negotiations with the EC towards a comprehensive EPA are being held at regional level.

The last negotiation round took place in July 2008.
On trade in goods, reportedly a joint text exists based on draft texts proposed by both sides, with outstanding issues including the MFN clause, export taxes, specific import taxes to finance the regional organisations, accompanying measures and safeguard clauses.
The market access offer tabled by Central Africa in July includes liberalisation of 71% of imports over 20 years with a 5 year preparatory period. The EC demands liberalisation of 80% over 15 years.
On trade in services, Central Africa has reportedly tabled a provisional market access offer. (It still needs to integrate lists from Equatorial Guinea or Sao Tomé and Principe and member states need to validate the offer). Central Africa submitted a request on services to the EC in May; the EC has asked the region to prioritise among the demands made.
The text of the development chapter was not discussed in detail in July due to lack of time. An RPTF held on 17 July reportedly made progress on the establishment of the regional EPA fund (FORAPE). The BDEAC will be charged with managing the FORAPE and is currently undergoing a process of reform.

The next technical negotiation round is scheduled for 29 September - 7 October 2008 .

Trade regime from 1 January 2008

No regional agreement with the EC has been concluded by the end of 2007.

In order to safeguard market access for the non-LDC Cameroon after 31 December 2007 , Cameroon and the EC have initialled an interim agreement on 17 December.
Negotiations with Gabon are going on, but no interim agreement has been initialled yet. Such an agreement may be concluded in 2008.
The third non-LDC in the region, Republic of the Congo , has according to European Commissioner Mandelson shown little interest in the negotiations.

The LDCs Central African Republic, Chad , Democratic Republic of the Congo , Equatorial Guinea and São Tomé and Principe export under the EBA initiative since 1 January 2008 .

Summary of the Cameroon-EU interim agreement

"Market Access Schedule
The coverage of goods liberalised by Cameroon under this Agreement amounts to 80% of EC imports in value over 15 years; over 10 years it amounts to 50% of EC imports in value. All sectors are covered. The Agreement is available for signature by other members of the Central African negotiating configuration.

Agreement (goods)
The Agreement covers all major provisions of a trade in goods agreements such as provisions on custom duties, export taxes, a standstill clause, a non discrimination clause, trade defence instruments (anti-dumping and countervailing measures, multilateral and bilateral safeguards), special provisions on administrative cooperation in custom matters, a chapter on custom and trade facilitation, a chapter on technical barriers to trade and sanitary and phytosanitary measures as well as exception clauses.
The respective offers of the parties are set out in annexes attached to the agreement. The agreement also contains an annex on mutual administrative assistance in custom matters.
The Agreement provides that each party will apply its rules of origin in force on 01/01/08 and, in parallel, Chief Negotiators have written agreement to negotiate rules of origin to be annexed to the Agreement by 31/03/2008 at the latest.

Agreement (other components)
This Agreement focuses on safeguarding the market access of Cameroon to the EC on 01/01/2008 and avoids trade disruption which could have an important negative economic impact for this country. It hence focuses on trade in goods aspects.
The Agreement is accompanied by a chief negotiators' declaration and contains a preamble reaffirming the objective of concluding a global EPA with all Central African countries and regional organisations. Commitment to regional integration is also reasserted. Specific chapters in the Agreement identify the areas on which negotiations will continue in order to conclude a global EPA with the whole region (services, investment, competition, intellectual property, public procurement, sustainable development, protection of personal data).
The Agreement contains a Title on Development Cooperation covering priority areas of development cooperation for accompanying the implementation of this Agreement. The main areas identified are reinforcement and upgrading of productive sectors, cooperation in respect to fiscal adjustment, and the implementation of trade rules contained in the Agreement. The parties agree to cooperate in these areas notably in the context of the Cotonou Agreement.
Finally, the agreement contains a detailed dispute settlement mechanism, as well as general, final and institutional provisions." (Summary provided by the European Commission)

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