EPA Negotiations: Where do we stand? - East and Southern 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)

Trade regime from 1 January 2008

Two interim agreements have been initialled in the Eastern and Southern African region, an EAC-EU framework agreement (with a common market access offer) and an ESA-EU framework agreement (comprising separate national tariff offers and exclusion lists but a common text on other areas).

Those countries in the region that have not initialled an interim agreement (or have done so without submitting a market access schedule, as in the case of Zambia ) are exporting under the EBA initiative since 1 January 2008 , for which they are eligible due to their LDC status. These are Djibouti, Eritrea , Ethiopia , Malawi , Sudan and Zambia .

ESA-EU framework agreement

Text of the agreement:
--> ESA-EU framework agreement

Summary of the agreement:
"The European Commission initialled an interim trade agreement with the Seychelles and Zimbabwe of the ESA region in Brussels on 28 November 2007 , with Mauritius on 4 December 2007 and with Comoros and Madagascar on 11 December 2007 . The deal includes a WTO-compatible market access schedule, provisions on development cooperation, fisheries and other issues. Negotiators confirmed that the agreement is open to other parties in the region, who are expected to join in the near future. The agreement is a framework towards the completion of a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement by the end of December 2008.

Goods Covered
The agreement allows for 100% liberalisation by value by the EU as of 1 January 2008 , with transition periods for rice and sugar. The Seychelles will liberalise 97,5% of its imports from the EU by 2022: 62% of their imports will be liberalised after five years, 77% by 2017 and the remaining 20,5% by 2022. Zimbabwe will liberalise 80% of their imports from the EU by 2022: 45% by 2012 with the remaining 35% of their imports being liberalised progressively until 2022.
Mauritius , on its part, will liberalise 95.6% of its imports from the EU: 24.5 % in 2008, 53.6% by 2017, and the remaining 42% will be liberalised in 2022. Coverage for Comoros and Madagascar is over 80% of their imports from the EU. In the case of Comoros , 21,5% of their imports will be liberalised after five years, and the remaining 59,1% will be progressively liberalised by 2022. In the case of Madagascar , 37% of their imports from the EU will be liberalised after five years, the remaining 43,7% will be progressively liberalised y 2022.

Goods Excluded
Several products from different sectors have been excluded from liberalisation, mainly due to the need to protect sensitive products or infant industries in the countries. In the case of Seychelles , these include meat, fisheries, beverages, tobacco, leather articles, glass and ceramics and vehicles. In the case of Zimbabwe , excluded products include products of animal origin, cereals, beverages paper, plastics and rubber, textiles and clothing, footwear, glass and ceramics, consumer electronics and vehicles. Mauritius excluded from liberalisation live animals and meat, edible products of animal origin, fats, edible preparations and beverages, chemicals, plastics and rubber articles of leather and fur skins, iron & steel and consumer electronic. In the case of Comoros , the excluded goods are mainly of animal origin, fish, beverages, chemicals and vehicles. For Madagascar , the excluded products comprise meat, fish, products of animal origin, vegetables, cereals, beverages, plastics and rubber, articles of leather and fur-skins, paper and metals among others.

Other features
The Parties will cooperate to facilitate the implementation of the Agreement and support regional integration and development strategies. They agreed that cooperation will be based on the ESA Development Cooperation Strategy and a jointly agreed Development Matrix. They will cooperate to mobilise resources additional to the financial framework of the EU, from EU Member States and other donors, in particular expanding Aid for Trade commitments, relating specifically to EPA support requirements and adjustment costs.
The agreement contains an extensive fisheries chapter, mainly aiming at reinforcing cooperation on sustainable use of resources."
(Summary provided by the European Commission, 19 December 2007 )

EAC-EU framework agreement

Text of the agreement:
--> EAC-EU framework agreement

Summary of the agreement:
"On November 23 in Uganda the European Commission and the East African Community initialled an interim EPA agreement. This agreement will apply to the EU and to Kenya , Uganda , Tanzania , Rwanda and Burundi . Negotiators agreed that the first phase of negotiations for an EPA had been successfully completed and that they would continue negotiations towards a full EPA in 2008 and a rendezvous clause is included in the agreement to this effect.

Goods Covered
The agreement allows for 100% liberalisation by value by the EU as of 1 January 2008 (with transition periods for rice and sugar) and 82% liberalisation by value by the East African Community (64% in two years, 80% in 15 years, the remainder in 25 years). It covers 100% of EU tariff lines and 74% of EAC tariff lines.

Goods Excluded
Exclusions include: agricultural products, wines and spirits, chemicals, plastics, wood based paper, textiles and clothing, footwear, glassware. The main criterion of these exclusions is the desire to protect infant industry.

Other features
The agreement contains an extensive fisheries chapter, mainly aiming at reinforcing cooperation on sustainable use of resources."
(Summary provided by the European Commission, 19 December 2007 )

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