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The acp-eu-trade.org newsletter -- No. 10/May 2007 
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In this issue:
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Focus on…:
Un Guide Syndical face aux Accords de Partenariat Economique (APE) dans les pays ACP
By Gabrielle Clotuche
(Click here to read this contribution in English)
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EPA Negotiations Update
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News: Highlights of the Month
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Selection from www.acp-eu-trade.org Library
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Resources from Recent Events

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Dear readers,

Welcome to this new issue of the acp-eu-trade.org Newsletter!

ACP-EU stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the various services provided via this website with the aim to exchange relevant information, build up trade negotiating capacity and facilitate networking activities. We therefore invite our readers to take an active role in www.acp-eu-trade.org by:

- Registering on-line as a trade and development expert to help mobilise the best expertise in ACP-EU trade and development matters and give interested parties easier access to information on relevant internationally recognized experts or consultants;
- Submitting relevant background and policy documents, news and links that will enrich the ACP-EU trade debate;
- Subscribing to our monthly newsletter as well as other partners' to be kept informed of latest developments in the ACP-EU trade realm;
- Sharing your views on the current ACP-EU Trade debate and providing feedback on the relevance and future focus areas of www.acp-eu-trade.org
We appreciate any feedback on this newsletter and look forward to your reactions. You may send your comments to acpeutrade@ecdpm.org .

Enjoy your reading!

Editor: Davina Makhan ( dm@ecdpm.org )

 

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Focus On...
Un Guide Syndical Face aux Accords de Partenariat Economique (APE) dans les pays ACP

A Trade Union Guide to the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) (Click here to read this contribution in English)
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Gabrielle Clotuche
Expert Senior auprès de la Confédération Européenne des Syndicats (CES)
(European Trade Union Confederation – ETUC)
Maison syndicale internationale (ITUH)
Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 5
B-1210 Bruxelles
Belgique
Tél : +32 (0)2 224 04 11
Fax : +32 (0)2 224 04 54
Website : http://www.etuc.org
E-mail : etuc@etuc.org

La Confédération Européenne des Syndicats (CES), avec le soutien de la Confédération Syndicale Internationale (CSI), a présenté un Guide syndical dans le cadre d’un projet ayant pour but « le renforcement des capacités des organisations syndicales des pays d'Afrique, des Caraïbes et du Pacifique (ACP) face aux Accords de Partenariat Economique (APE) ». Ce projet a été mené en coopération avec la Confédération Syndicale des Travailleurs du Togo (CSTT), au nom de l’ensemble des organisations syndicales des pays ACP. Le guide, avec le dossier qui le complète, constitue une ressource pour l’action des organisations syndicales.

Pourquoi un tel guide, pourquoi aujourd’hui ?

L’Accord de Cotonou se fixe un triple objectif qu’il convient de rappeler :

Pour ce faire, il annonce trois outils : le dialogue politique, le commerce et le développement. Mais l’Accord de Cotonou c’est aussi une avancée majeure pour la société civile car il reconnaît le rôle des acteurs non étatiques dans le processus du développement.

Les organisations syndicales sont explicitement nommées par l’Accord de Cotonou (article 6).
L’Accord prévoit leur participation à la formulation des programmes et projets, leur consultation et participation au dialogue politique de même que l’appui nécessaire au renforcement de leur capacité.

Aujourd’hui, le constat est amer.

Les organisations syndicales des pays ACP, après 6 ans d’application de l’Accord de Cotonou, doivent constater que du discours à la réalité il y a un grand écart et que le combat à mener est dur.

Souvent aucune participation syndicale n’existe ; si elle l’est, leurs revendications sont ignorées. Deux pays font exception : la Barbade et le Ghana.

Face à cette situation, au moment où les négociations des Accords de partenariat économique prévues par l’Accord de Cotonou prennent forme, le mouvement syndical européen et international s’est porté aux côtés des organisations des pays ACP. Avec eux, ils ont proposé et obtenu des fonds du 8e FED pour « renforcer les capacités des organisations des pays ACP face aux APE ».
C’est le résultat de ce projet mené conjointement avec l’aide de huit experts ACP proches du mouvement syndical, sous l’égide du professeur F. Lapeyre (UCL) et de deux de ses assistants qui est présenté dans cette publication « Guide syndical face aux Accords de Partenariat Economique dans les pays ACP ».

La publication est double, présentant d’abord le guide proprement dit et dans une deuxième partie, un dossier syndical qui le complète.

Le guide présente :

Le dossier se compose de neuf fiches présentant les différents enjeux pour les organisations syndicales du nouveau cadre institutionnel mis en place par l’Accord de Cotonou et les APE et met l’accent sur les risques et les opportunités qui y sont associés.

Deux séminaires ont été réunis au cours de l’élaboration du projet.

Le premier a rassemblé les experts ACP et le professeur Lapeyre. Son objectif : confronter les rapports nationaux établis par les experts et synthétiser les constats, les attentes syndicales et leurs propositions.

Le second, en fin de projet, a réuni outre les experts, une quarantaine de responsables syndicaux des pays ACP autour de l’ébauche du guide de manière à ce que celui-ci reflète correctement le point de vue syndical.

Il ressort ainsi dans ce guide que l’objectif prioritaire pour les populations des pays ACP est de doter chaque APE d’une dimension sociale effective.

Celle-ci doit se concrétiser par la garantie des droits sociaux, la promotion de l’emploi décent et de la protection sociale et le respect de l’égalité des genres.

La reconnaissance de cette approche par les Commissaires Mandelson et Michel se trouve inscrite dans un courrier que la CES et la CSI ont échangé avec eux dès le début du projet.

Cette reconnaissance devra toutefois se traduire par un accord-cadre général négocié avec les institutions européennes et ACP, la mise en œuvre de cette dimension sociale intervenant ensuite par une négociation, sous l’égide des pouvoirs publics européens et ACP, entre les opérateurs économiques, au niveau régional.

Aujourd’hui, des « task forces » négocient dans les régions. Elles doivent consulter la société civile. De son côté, la société civile doit s’organiser, se structurer au niveau régional.

L’UE doit aider financièrement cette démarche de la société civile (l’Accord de Cotonou le prévoit).

Un instrument est à privilégier dans ce cadre ; il est bien connu des organisations syndicales européennes : c'est le dialogue social.

Des structures doivent se mettre en place dans les régions ACP : un comité de dialogue social par région de négociation avec un mandat clair d’encadrement des APE.

Le Guide proposé est un outil offert aux organisations syndicales ACP pour les aider à mieux se défendre dans ce cadre.

Les réformes structurelles significatives des conditions de travail et de vie des populations ACP qui seront inévitablement engendrées par les APE exigent des organisations syndicales une action forte. Leur rôle est primordial.

Les Accords de partenariat économique doivent obéir à des critères obligatoires visant la promotion de l’emploi décent, le renforcement des droits sociaux et économiques et le respect des droits des travailleurs.

C’est ainsi que les pays ACP pourront éradiquer la pauvreté et réussir leur intégration dans le développement.

En savoir plus:

* Site du CES/ETUC: http://www.etuc.org
*Guide and Trade Union Dossier for Boosting the Capabilities of ACP Trade Unions in the Economic Partnership Agreements
* Guide et dossier syndical pour le renforcement des capacités des organisations syndicales

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EPA Negotiations Update

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By Melissa Julian
This section elaborates on the EPA Update provided in the latest issue of the two-monthly “Trade Negotiations Insights From Doha to Cotonou”. To read it in full, visit our E-Newsletter section on www.acp-eu-trade.org, and select Trade Negotiations Insights - Longer version of the EPA Negotiations Update, or click here

March – April 2007

Summary
*ACP-EU Joint Ministerial Trade Committee Meeting
*First Ever Informal ACP-EU Development Ministers Meeting
*Central Africa (CEMAC)
*West Africa (ECOWAS)
*Southern Africa Development Community (SADC)
*Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA)
*Caribbean (CARIFORUM)
*Pacific

ACP-EU Joint Ministerial Trade Committee Meeting

The ACP-EU Joint Ministerial Trade Committee (JMTC) met on 1 March to assess progress and prospects in regional EPA negotiations.  Joint EPA reviews were not agreed for all regions in time for consideration at the meeting (these are to be completed and endorsed at the Joint May Council of Ministers), but conclusions from ACP reviews, indicating the areas where work remains in order to conclude EPAs that can serve as effective development tools, were the basis of ACP positions taken at the JMTC. (See last issue of TNI long version for detiails on the conclusions of ACP reviews)

ACP officials who attended preparatory meetings for the JMTC report that ACP Ministers reaffirmed that EPAs must support development and include provisions to build the competitiveness and capacity of ACP countries to implement and benefit from EPAs.  They noted EU development finance commitments and agreement to include development chapters in EPAs, but called for modalities to be put in place for rapid disbursement of support and for EPAs to include legally binding provisions on EU financing for development.  Ministers also called for provisions for the continuation of development cooperation with the EU beyond the 2020 expiry of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement to be inserted into the EPAs.

ACP discussions also revealed that [click here to read more]

First Ever Informal ACP-EU Development Ministers Meeting

At their initiative, the German EU Presidency hosted the first ever informal EU Development Council meeting with ACP Development Ministers representing all the EPA negotiating regions.  Present also at the 2 ½ hour dialogue were the EC Trade and Development Commissioners. The focus of discussions was the progress and prospects for EPA negotiations. It provided a rare opportunity for the ACP to collectively present their assessment of negotiations to EU Member States who are normally briefed on negotiations by the EC whom they have mandated to conduct the EPA negotiations and who are therefore also the ACP’s principal interlocutor.
The meeting was part of a process.  Many EU Member States, in reaction to concerns expressed by ACP governments and NGOs about potential negative impacts of EPAs, started monitoring the EPA negotiations process much more closely in early 2005 and increased pressure on the EC to ensure the development objectives of EPAs can be realised.  Specifically, they have called for the establishment of an effective monitoring mechanism from the start of the implementation of EPAs and outlined the types of EU support which should be provided to assist the ACP to effectively negotiate and implement EPAs which will deliver development objectives.  They also explicitly recognised that the ACP’s political choices on what to include in the EPA must be respected.  Several EU Member States re-stated these points at the informal Council meeting.
[click here to read more]


Central Africa (CEMAC)

A series of EPA meetings culminating in a meeting of Central African Trade Ministers and National Authorising Officers with the EC Commissioners for Development and Trade on 6 February effectively re-launched regional EPA negotiations.  These had been blocked since July 2006 due to differences between the two parties on approaches to dealing with the definition, content and modalities for facilitating the levelling up of Central African production capacities, increasing competitiveness of economies and enterprises to benefit from EPAs and on support for implementation of EPAs.
The joint communique of the Ministerial meeting states that the two sides decided to move to next phase of negotiations of drafting legal EPA texts and negotiating market access offers while in parallel assuring work advances on reinforcing capacity of negotiating structures and on identifying and putting in place EPA accompanying measures and effective instruments and mechanisms for strengthening and levelling up productive capacities.  They will also continue work on the EPA framework where divergence of views continues on CEMAC’s call to include the reinforcement of capacities that will translate in the improvement of basic infrastructure and levelling up of economies in the EPA text.
[click here to read more]

West Africa (ECOWAS)

A meeting of West African Ministers with EC Trade and Development Commissioners on 5 February to assess progress in EPA negotiations and provide guidance for the next steps carried on into the night to agree key points on the basic structure and content of the EPA and, given the tight deadlines, discuss West African concerns over the possibility of letting EPA negotiations run beyond the year end deadline.  The EC maintained that any delay was not a viable, nor good option for the region (see arguments set out above in JMTC section).  Officials attending the meeting indicated that while the EC agreed that there are practical and political challenges, they maintained that with the right political will these can be overcome and negotiations concluded on time. 

The two parties finally agreed a joint declaration which is basically the same as that agreed with CEMAC the following day in that it reaffirms their willingness to conclude EPA negotiations by year’s end, but with the addition that as a prior condition to this, the two sides would in parallel :
- draft the text of the agreement;
- formulate the market access schedules for the two sides; and
- define jointly the EPA accompanying programs and their funding by the EC.

In the all-ACP meetings with the EU in March, Nigeria’s interventions questioned the realism in expectations that negotiations will be concluded this year with so much work left to do to prepare and negotiate EPAs.  The country may not be prepared to sign an EPA this year. The EC is concerned by the impact Nigeria’s position may have on the ECOWAS EPA.
[click here to read more]

Southern Africa Development Community (SADC)

The first formal meeting between the SADC-EPA group, including South Africa, and EC senior negotiators held on 7-8 March effectively re-started the EPA negotiations.  The meetings were followed by an information session with non-state actors as well as by the announcement of the formal launch of the Business Trade Forum EU-Southern Africa (BTFES).  Negotiations had been suspended since March 2006 as SADC awaited the EU reply to its EPA proposals.  The EC presented this reply to the meeting.  In it, the EU considers that the incorporation of South Africa into the SADC EPA negotiation creates a more consistent framework for the economic integration of the region. However, this is subject to certain conditions regarding Mozambique, Angola and Tanzania, the scope of the future agreement and the definition of tariff offers.
The EC rejects SADC’s request to grant a non-reciprocal duty free quota free access to the EU market to Mozambique, Angola and Tanzania in a contractual form on the grounds that it is not WTO compatible (though observers note that it is possible for the EU to bind EBA preferences for all LDCs in the WTO). The EU wishes, however, to keep these countries on board in the EPA negotiation and is willing to explore all possible options compatible with WTO rules and taking into consideration the legitimate concerns of these countries. 

Contrary to the SADC proposal, […]
[click here to read more]

Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA)

A series of technical negotiations culminating in a meeting of ESA Ministers with the EU Commissioners for Trade and Development held at the end of February put EPA negotiations back on track with a view to meet the end of year deadline to conclude negotiations.  As with other regions, it is recognised that this is a major challenge, but still possible as the political will to do so exists.  Both sides agreed that the negotiations were behind schedule as compared to the joint roadmap.
Officials who attended indicate that in the negotiations, ESA emphasised the need to comprehensively address development in the EPAs, including the provision of additional resources and appropriate funding mechanisms.  The EC stressed that EPA related accompanying measures and additional funding from EU Member States and other donors, including a specific regionally owned fund, into which resources will be channelled and for speedy access, in order, to effectively finance these measures via budget support will be linked to a comprehensive EPA which includes trade in goods, services, and trade related issues.  Sources said the EC stressed that there can be no funding to help with economic reforms and implementation unless commitments are made to reform and implement EPAs and strategies and fundable programmes defined.  But ESA reiterated the need for additional resources necessary to build capacity to take advantage of market facilities if the regional integration agenda are to effectively address EPA-related adjustment costs.
In this respect […] [click here to read more]

Caribbean (CARIFORUM)

In February, Caribbean Member States held a series of meetings including a Heads of Government meeting on 12-14 February designed to renew political will on strategic trade issues, including the completion of the CARICOM Single Market Economy (CSME), relations with the Dominican Republic and the WTO and EPA negotiations.  The meeting of Heads ensured a common understanding of the important linkages between the region’s integration process and a holistic approach to concluding an ambitious EPA which covers market access in goods and services and commitments on trade related and development cooperation as a means to serve the development needs of the region.  This understanding is key to ensure a strong negotiating position to secure an EPA which delivers these development objectives and as it will be the Member States who finally sign the EPA and so must have true ownership of it.
The Heads of Government Conference adopted a paper entitled “Towards a Single Economy and a Single Development Vision” as the framework for the further elaboration of a comprehensive development plan to be adopted in July.
CARICOM Heads of Government agreed that every effort should be made to complete EPA negotiations by the year end deadline as long as the region’s interests were fully addressed.  The Conference reaffirmed that inclusion of appropriate development components in the EPA was critical to a successful conclusion of the negotiations with the EU.  Caribbean officials make clear that as part of this holistic approach where it is making commitments in market access and trade related issues, that they will insist that EPAs also include a legally binding non-execution clause which will be triggered if promised EU development cooperation support isn’t delivered and which would lead to suspension of CARIFORUM concessions in other areas.
A Caribbean-EU Joint Regional Preparatory Task Force (RPTF) meeting with EPA negotiators was held on 12-13 February which […]
[click here to read more]

Pacific

A letter from the Pacific EPA Spokesperson to the EC Trade Commissioner was leaked to the international press in January (in reply to an earlier leaked letter from the EC to the Pacific) stating that there had been little progress in EPA negotiations on substantive issues and that the outlook for progress this year was bleak unless the EC showed a genuine willingness to understand the Pacific’s unique position and to negotiate to insert that in the EPA.  The letter set out the Pacific’s EPA proposals on market access, rules of origin, fisheries, services, including Mode IV, investment and development support.  With regard to the latter, the Pacific Spokesperson stressed the need for better and more financial and related effective instruments to address business needs and for capacity building and adjustment support to be provided.  This must be a legally binding part of the EPA and delivered in an effective and timely fashion, he said, otherwise PACPs might be bound to full obligation under EPA without the necessary resources or ability to do so.  Attached to the letter were the formal negotiating documents for draft EPA texts and on rules of origin and Mode IV. EC officials indicate that the EC understands the concerns but does not see the situation so pessimistic and do not fully agree with some of the issues as presented in the letter.  Their position will be expressed in a formal reply to the letter.   
[click here to read more]

 

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News: Highlights of the Month
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From our news section:

* 30-03-2007: Statement on the SADC Council of Ministers Meeting of 22 March
On cooperation with the European Union and in particular, on regional economic integration. They noted that the European Commission will make available to SADC, €135 million under a joint regional indicative programme to support regional economic integration. They noted that the European Union support for hard infrastructure will be through national indicative programmes as well as the EU-Africa Partnership for Infrastructure which is presently under development.

* 24-04-2007: The Commission has agreed to grant long transitional periods running up to 25 years
The Commission has agreed to grant long transitional periods running up to 25 years, a source at DG Development has confirmed, adding that liberalisation might only enter into force three years after 2008. According to a report by EIS (Europe Information Service)
However, it has been reported that long delays will be proposed in only “very exceptional cases for very sensitive products” for developing countries to open their markets as part of deals being negotiated with the EU.

* 24-04-2007: Rules of Origin also mentioned in letter from Mandelson to ACP Ministers with market access offer
In the letter from Mandelson to ACP Ministers with EC market access offer, he also says, “we have already circulated an example of the type of convention we could use for the Rules of Origin that would apply to products exported to the EU under EPAs.  This can allow us to begin the consultation process on this issue.  It is based around the “Value Added” system that we believe meets our twin criteria of simple and development friendly rules.  We remain open to consider other suggestions you may have in our discussions and I am sure, given our shared objective to promote development, that we can reach a mutually acceptable and administratively feasible solution.”

* 24-04-2007: EC proposes to improve access to foreign markets for EU business
New approach for decentralised partnership on the ground in third countries where local expertise makes trade barriers easier to identify and tackle. The Commission proposes a stronger partnership to improve access to foreign markets for EU business.
The European Commission has adopted the Communication Global Europe: A Stronger Partnership to deliver Market Access for European exporters. The centre-piece of this new approach is a new decentralised partnership between the Commission, Member States and business on the ground in third countries where local expertise makes trade barriers easier to identify and tackle.

From ACP and EU news providers:

* EU offers full market access to Africa, Caribbean and Pacific regions in EPAs negotiations
Rapid, Press Release, IP/07/476, Brussels, April 4, 2007
The EU has today 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. The offer covers all products, including agricultural goods like beef, dairy, cereals and all fruit and vegetables. It will apply immediately following the signing of an agreement - with a phase-in period for rice and sugar. The only exception will be South Africa where a number of globally competitive products will continue to pay import duties.
EN
FR
         
* Beware of hidden strings on EU's offer on trade
April 4, 2007 by Christian Aid
Developing countries should be wary of the European Union's latest offer of duty and quota-free access to its markets for developing countries, announced in Brussels today, says Christian Aid.
[click here to read more]

* EU Trade Offer To ACP States Gets Cautious Welcome
April 4, 2007.
Leading aid agency OXFAM on Wednesday gave a cautious welcome to European Union proposals to eliminate tariffs and quotas on imports from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states but warned that poor nations must not be pressed to open up markets too rapidly.
[click here to read more]

* Cutting the tariffs?!
Civitas blog, April 10, 2007
[…] we should be guarded in our optimism...
For one, it is not just tariffs that harm developing countries when it comes to trading with the European Union. The Common Agricultural Policy offers subsidies in the form of Single Farm Payments, which effectively enable farmers to sell their produce at lower prices than would otherwise be possible – thereby artificially allowing them to compete with developing countries. What is more, the EU frequently intervenes in the agricultural market, either by creating food mountains in the EU or subsidising export of the product below cost price – i.e. dumping it in developing countries. Nothing in cutting tariffs addresses this issue.
The EU has other tricks up its sleeves too in the guise of health and safety ‘standards’, which act as yet more hidden barriers. For example […] [click here to read more….]

* Reservations on EU/ACP proposals
NationNews.com, Barbados, April 10, 2007
[…]Not surprisingly, however, with the initial welcome responses, like "good move in the right direction" and "a friendly gesture", to have come from ACP ministers, diplomats and leading technocrats, there are already growing echoes of reservations.
For a start, they said, contrary to foreign media reports, the EU's initiative remains "a proposal, a step in the right direction" but yet to be translated into "firm decision". Secondly, from the Caribbean's perspective, there are still serious concerns over the phased period for removal of trade barriers to vital regional agricultural exports like sugar and rice. Both are major sources of employment and foreign exchange earnings and most valuable to economies like Guyana, Jamaica and Suriname.
Thirdly, there is the puzzling absence of any reference by the EU on the future of bananas […], [click here to read more]

* Take advantage of EU offer - private sector urged
Swazi Observer, April 11, 2007
THE Federation of Swaziland Employers and Chamber of Commerce (FSE & CC) has called on its members to take advantage of the open markets by the European Union (EU).
[…] CEO Zodwa Mabuza said this was a good development for the exporting sector, especially the sugar industry. She said there were goods currently being exported to the EU markets duty free and this means other products would be welcome too. She, however, pointed out this would mean stiff competition for the local exporters who have to meet the EU standards for their goods. Mabuza stated that the current arrangement does not require reciprocating the preferential access to the EU. She said the sugar sector was bound to benefit more from the arrangement as this means more access to them and the price reduction would not have great impact on them. “As there are no quota restrictions for the industries already trading with the EU, for instance sugar and beef. However, we will need to reciprocate, which means opening up to the EU to trade their goods too. We also have to make an offer to the EU, probably through SADC, to open up market access to their goods,” she said.
[click here to read more]


* Foreign Affairs welcomes EU access on EPA
Fiji Times Online, April 14, 2007
[…] Ministry advisor Isikeli Mataitoga said the offer was a positive step on the part of the EU. "The benefits to Fiji will depend on the ability of our private sector to produce goods of export interest to the EU," he said. "On the face of the current offer, it is possible to export any goods to the EU market tariff-free and without any quantity restrictions.
"So on the face of it, it's a good start."
[click here to read more]

* 'Revise agriculture provisions'
NationNews.com, Barbados, April 13, 2007
Published on: 4/13/07.
THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR is in no position to benefit from the European market without drastically revised provisions for local agriculture products.
That was the warning from the President of the Barbados Agriculture Society (BAS), James Paul, at a Press conference Tuesday at headquarters on the on-going agricultural negotiations between the European Union (EU) and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group countries.
According to Paul, it would only work for the region if respective Governments support the agricultural sectors by ensuring that the products identified for exclusion, not be included in any process of "tariff liberalisation".
[click here to read more]


* EAC to negotiate EPAs jointly...
in tralac news, Odiko B., East African Business Council, www.eabc-online.com, April 18, 2007
It is now official – the EAC is to negotiate the Economic Partnerships Agreements (EPAs) as one bloc, the just ended High Level Task force meeting on EPAs has recommended. This according to the Permanent Secretaries recommendation to the EAC Sectoral Council, is the preferred option for the EAC Partner States. The announcement therefore means that Tanzania needs to withdraw from the SADC –EPA negotiation while Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi withdraw from the ESA-EPA configuration. [click here to read more]
See EABC's News Flash

*Globalisation Institute: Economic Partnership Agreements are not the answer - but they're not sinister either
Friday, 13 Apr 2007, in politics.co.uk
Speaking about the European Union's approach to trade negotiations, Alex Singleton, President of the Globalisation Institute said:
"Some campaigners argue that trade rules should not involve a level playing field but give special favours to the poorest countries. We see this thinking put into practice with the European Union's managed trade with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. Since 1975, when the Lome Convention was signed, ACP countries have had preferential access to the EU. The arrangements were updated in 2000 with the Cotonou Agreement. Because the current setup is illegal under World Trade Organization rules, a net set of Economic Partnership Agreements is being negotiated by EU Trade Commission Peter Mandelson with the ACP countries.
"Many non-governmental organisations are critical of these Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) - as opposed to their predecessors - because they will involve ACP countries giving reciprocal access to EU countries. Some attacks on EPAs border on the hysterical, fearing mass destruction of ACP economies. The truth is that when poor countries open up, some producers are made worse off, but the population as a whole becomes much better off.
[click here to read more]

* Europe’s free trade offer is a mixed bag for SA
Mathabo le Roux, Business Day, South Africa, April 16, 2007
SA will not fully benefit from the generosity, with indications from the European Union (EU) that it would retain import duties on a number of products from SA. Even so, SA will obtain greater market access to European markets than it now enjoys. But goods are only part of the agenda and the EU offer has detracted somewhat from other, more contentious, issues.
One thorny issue is the EU’s determination to push through a deal that will see developing countries make firm commitments to liberalise so-called new-generation issues, which include financial services, government procurement, telecommunications and transport.
[click here to read more]

* France raps EU executive over ex-colony trade deals
Reuters, Luxembourg, April 17, 2007
France, the European Union's agricultural powerhouse, accused the EU executive on Monday of disturbing the balance of Europe's sugar and banana markets by proposing free-trade deals with its former colonies.
In a note read out to EU farm ministers, France said the European Commission's offer to open EU markets to all products from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, with no duties or quotas, would also undermine recent policy reform.
"The implementation of this proposal is likely to upset the balance established in the context of the reform of the banana and sugar CMOs (market policies)," the note said.
Regarding bananas, the proposal -- formally, the Economic Partnership Agreements, or EPAs -- could "weaken our negotiating positions in the WTO and in the proceedings currently being brought by Ecuador and Colombia", it said.
Both countries have challenged the EU's single import tariff of 176 euros per tonne for bananas, in force from January 2006, at the World Trade Organisation, saying it is too high and discriminates against Latin American exporters and producers.
France drew support for its comments from a string of other EU countries, notably from Spain on bananas and Poland on sugar.
In reply, EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel […]
[click here to read more]

* SADC Tariff Deal With EU Now 'Unlikely This Year'
Mathabo Le Roux, Business Day, Johannesburg, April 17, 2007
[…]A long journey lies ahead for the Southern African Develop-ment Community (SADC) countries. Despite the deadline, SADC members and the EU have yet to have a proper, formal negotiating session, says Paul Kalenga, trade policy adviser with the Regional Trade Facilitation Programme and SADC secretariat. This body appears to be at odds about what and how much it wishes to give. Observers have even hinted that they may not united at the negotiating table.
The likelihood of a deal before the end of the year appears remote, says Kalenga.
[click here to read more]

* Global Day of Action on EPAs was held on 19 April
Global Day of Action on EPAs was held on 19 April
Campaigners from almost 40 EU and ACP countries targeted the German embassy in their own country, as well as their own governments. They are calling on them to stop unfair trade deals between the EU and the ACP.
www.epa2007.org
See the events section below for more information

*EU to set up trade-barrier watchdogs 
Euractiv, April 19, 2007
The European Commission is planning tougher action to prise open new markets for its companies in China, India and Russia, saying countries that fail to remove trade barriers will face further legal battles.
see also the Communication by the EC: Global Europe: A stronger partnership to deliver market access for European exporters
EN    
FR  

*Oxfam Challenges the EU to Extend Market Access to Pacific in the Absence of an EPA trade deal
Oxfam Press Release, Scoop, New Zealand, April 26, 2007
The European Commission has threatened some of the world's poorest countries, including nations in the Pacific, with lower access to the EU market if they fail to sign new free trade deals known as Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) by the end of 2007, when their current market access preferences expire.
Yet according to a new report launched today by Oxfam International and Third World Network Africa (A Matter of Political Will: , there are more options available to African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries short of signing the EPA than the European Commission has suggested. In the event that ACP nations are not ready to sign by the end of the year, the European Union could still provide them with a high level of market access, using the so-called Generalised System of Preferences (GSP)-plus scheme, without breaching World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.
[click here to read more]

* Ministry proposes 'fair trade' banana production
John Myers Jr., Farmers Weekly Coordinator, April 26, 2007
Recognising that Jamaica will not be able to compete effectively with low-cost Latin American banana producers, the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands is moving to position the island as a 'fair trade' banana producer.
[click here to read more]

* EPAs Like 'Irrigation for Economic Growth'
Pilirani Semu-Banda, Blantyre, InterPress Service, Johannesburg, April 26, 2007
African and European negotiators in the economic partnership agreement (EPA) talks for eastern and southern Africa have refuted criticism from local and international civil society organisations about the possible negative effects of the proposed deal.
The government of Malawi hosted technical discussions this week (on April 24) for the 16 countries involved in the Eastern and Southern Africa EPA grouping. These discussions happened amid protests emanating from five nongovernmental organisations about the detrimental effects of the EPAs. They argue that the EPAs may destroy Malawi's potential to diversify its economy and build a manufacturing sector. The revenues from tariff duties will also be lost.
[click here to read more]

*EU says West Africa trade talks may stretch to 2008
By Alistair Thomson, Reuters, Dakar, April 27, 2007
The European Commission is pressing West African governments to negotiate a deal on trade before a WTO waiver on current trade perks expires on December 31, but acknowledged on Thursday a short extension may be needed.
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) outlawed the EU's preferential trade terms for nearly 80 of its African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) former colonies in 2001, but granted a waiver until the end of 2007.
Brussels is negotiating with six regional blocs including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to sign Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) phasing in freer trade over a number of years.
"If we find ourselves (not having signed) by December 31, we will be in a very, very difficult position with the WTO," Gilles Hervio, head of the European Commission delegation in Senegal, told a news conference in the capital Dakar.
"If we make progress, if things have moved forward ... I think we will be in a very strong position with the WTO to say we need a little more time, and to negotiate a postponement -- but only a few months," Hervio said.
[click here to read more]

*Growing sense that Caribbean-EC negotiations may be in trouble
by David Jessop, The View from Europe, in Stabroek News, Guyana, April 29, 2007
A few days ago an influential political friend of the region asked about the current state of the negotiations between the Caribbean and the Europe for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
Providing an answer was a challenge. It seemed to require a score or more snapshots of a process that was becoming ever less predictable as fear about the negative impact of a bad or rushed deal has become apparent.
[click here to read more…]

* Economic Partnership Agreements : Tackling the Myths
Peter Mandelson, in L’Express Dimanche, Mauritius, April 29, 2007
This is a time of global economic change – and African, Caribbean and Pacific countries are at a unique point in their development. Recent growth rates in Africa are encouraging, and they suggest huge potential if we can give free rein to the genius of African entrepreneurs, attract new investment and build strong regional markets that can compete globally. The Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) that the EU is currently negotiating with the ACP regions are designed to help do all three. To take a trading relationship that is currently based on dependency and turn it into one based on economic diversification.
Yet the Economic Partnership Agree-ments are often criticised, and frequently misunderstood. As we enter the crucial nine final months of the negotiation it is worth tackling some of the myths that surround EPAs.
[click here to read more]

* EU must not threaten Pacific islands
By Eileen Kolma, The National, May 04, 2007
IN an recent article headlined “Economic Partnership Agreements: tackling the myths”, the European Union’s trade commissioner, Peter Mandelson, sought to justify the EU’s position on agreements being negotiated with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries.
However, there has been increasing concern, both in Europe and the ACP, that the proposed Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) may harm, rather than promote, development. This concern was amply demonstrated on April 19 when groups in more than 20 countries, from Fiji to Germany, staged protests, made presentations to EU delegations, and undertook media stunts to raise awareness of the high stakes involved in these negotiations. These issues are vital for PNG’s future.
[click here to read more]

* Cotonou's Demise - Namibia to Lose Millions
Wezi Tjaronda, New Era, Windhoek, April 30, 2007
The end of the World Trade Organisation waiver for Cotonou trade preferences at the end of this year will cost Namibia hundreds of millions, considering that the country's agricultural and fish exports are built on the preferences. While trying to find a way to access the EU market for Namibian products, a study was done to examine the economic and social impact of the end of the current EU preferences for Namibia, which found that Namibia stands to lose around N$675 million per year. This amount is equivalent to more than four times the money Namibia receives annually under the 9th European Development Fund.
"N$675 million per year is the minimum cost for the Cotonou preferences which assumes stable export quantities and revenues," said Mareike Meyn of the Overseas Development Institute, who presented the findings of the study at a Public Dialogue Meeting last week.
[click here to read more]

* Ghanaian MPs Adopt GSP-Plus as Alternative to EPAs
Jonathan Adabre, Public Agenda, Accra, Ghana, April 30, 2007
Members of the parliamentary committee on Trade and Industry have adopted the Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+), a trading arrangement that gives preferential treatment to exports of developing countries to markets in Europe.
The new GSP+ is expected to be an alternative to the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which is currently being negotiated between the European Union and countries in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) bloc. The adoption followed a convincing presentation by Mr. Tetteh Homeku, Coordinator of Programmes of the Third World Network (TWN) on the pros and cons of the GSP-plus vis-à-vis the EPAs, which the EU has put on the table as its alternative to the current Cotonou Trade Pact set to expire by December 31, 2007.
[click here to read more] 

*Quota-tariff-free access to be granted to bananas in EU
John Myers Jr., Farmers Weekly Coordinator, May 3, 2007
Banana is among the list of goods and services entering the European Union (EU) from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, including Jamaica that all existing tariffs and quota limitations will be removed.
Since the announcement of a proposal in April by the EU to grant easier preferential access to goods and services from the group of developing countries as part of a new Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), there has been some uncertainty in CARIFORUM as to whether bananas were included among the list of goods and services.
[click here to read more]

* The View from Europe: New EC offer opens split over bananas
By David Jessop, May 6, 2007
Last month the European Commission (EC) offered to eliminate all remaining tariffs and quotas on all ACP products other than sugar and rice whenever Economic Partner-ship Agreements (EPAs) come into force. Although the announcement made clear that this included 'bananas, beef and other meat, dairy products, wheat and all other cereals, as well as all fruits and vegetables' there has continued to be some uncertainty in parts of the region as to whether the proposal did cover bananas. The reason it seems, revolves around the absence of any explanatory document relating the proposal to the complex legal situation that surrounds the EC's managed market in bananas and which, since 1993, has been the subject of successive challenges at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
But if confirmation were needed that full liberalisation for ACP bananas is indeed what the EC is proposing, one only has to look at the shocked commentary by France about the implications for its own producers.
In a strongly worded statement to EU Agriculture Ministers, the French Government made clear that the implementation of the Commission's proposal is 'likely to upset the balance established in the context of the reform of the banana (market)' and could 'weaken (Europe's) negotiating positions in the WTO and in the proceedings currently being brought by Ecuador and Colombia'.
[click here to read more]

* Trade bloc ‘must reap benefits of EU funds’  
John Kaninda, Business Day, South Africa, May 3, 2007
A SPLIT among Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries that were also members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries would be detrimental to the region when the European Development Fund decided by year end to roll out development funds for the SADC region, said Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini- Zuma yesterday.
She was speaking at the close of talks with ACP secretary- general Sir John Rumet Kaputin in Pretoria.
The talks focused on trade and the negotiation of economic partnership agreements with the European Union (EU), development issues and co-operation between SA and the ACP group.
Dlamini-Zuma said SADC members were divided on the best way to negotiate economic partnership agreements with the EU, with some members using their dual membership of the SADC and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa to negotiate as the eastern and southern Africa grouping.
[click here to read more]

* Scholar advises ACP countries
Fiji Times, May 04, 2007
AFRICAN, Caribbean and Pacific countries need to press for increased protocol tonnage to safeguard itself, a scholar advised. Stephen Thornhill, of the University of York in England, spoke on Sugar Protocol Study and the benefits of securing a protocol. He said it required giving the EU Commission assurances that imports would not flood EU market via temporary ceiling on Everything But Arms (EBA) and graduated increase in protocol. EBA is trade between the EU and less developed countries where they can export everything quota and tax-free but not arms. Mr Thornhill said less developed countries would benefit the most from increased protocol tonnage to show pro-development changes.
He said one of the benefits included the specific quantities and transferability of sugar export for each country. It also included exemption from the safeguard mechanism and indefinite period of duration.
Mr Thornhill said the protocol had a legal strength and duty-free access to the EU market.
He said one of the benefits was the EU guaranteed prices above world levels.
He told delegates the objective of his study was to recommend how best to safeguard the benefits.
[click here to read more]

* ACP meeting in Fiji responds to EU’s reform proposals
Radio New Zealand International, May 04, 2007
Sugar producing countries have rejected the European Union’s plan to cut preferential prices for their exports to Europe. Sugar exporting members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific or ACP countries -- mostly former colonies of EU nations -- met in Fiji this week to draw up a response to the EU’s reform proposals. To comply with World Trade Organisation rules, the EU wants to reform the sugar protocol and slash preferred prices, currently about three times world market levels, paid to ACP countries by 36 per cent over the next three years.
The chairman of the ACP meeting, the Mauritian Sugar Minister Arvin Boolell, says the group has to make sure that under no circumstances should the sanctity of the sugar protocol be put at risk. He says the EU has legal, political and historical obligations that they have to honour and have to comply with.
[click here to read more]
See the events section below for more information on this meeting

See also acp-eu-trade.org's News section, updated every week!


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Selection from www.acp-eu-trade.org's Library
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* A matter of political will - How the EU can maintain market access for ACP countries in the absence of EPAs
Oxfam International and Third World Network Africa, 25 April 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, when their current market access preferences expire. But the threats are not justified: in the event that African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) nations are not ready to sign by the end of the year, the European Union could still continue to provide them with a high level of market access, using the GSP-plus scheme, without breaching World Trade Organisation rules. This level of market access would also be compatible with their developmental needs.
EN 
FR 

* The European Approach to Intellectual Property in European Partnership Agreements with the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of Countries
Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Discussion Paper, April 2007
This brief aims to outline the statements and the positions that the EU has taken in its negotiations with the ACP and describes the approach of the EU to IP in the proposed EPAs. It concludes that the EU attaches central importance to IP in the EPA negotiations and suggests some reasons why.

* Making EPAs Development Friendly
Centre for the Analysis of Regional Integration at Sussex University (CARIS), Briefing Paper No. 2, April 2007
Negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are proving difficult and contentious despite consensus on certain fundamentals such as the potential benefits for developing countries from greater integration into the world economy and the need for increased development assistance. The EPAs are viewed by some as the European Commission (EC) mostly forcing the ACP countries to unfairly open up their markets to EU firms, while the EC states that it wants to make the EPAs “development friendly”. We argue that much of the contention is driven by the EC’s insistence on separating out the issue of market access (trade liberalisation) from the issue of development assistance, and that successful market access requires more than just reductions in formal barriers to trade. For many ACP countries difficulties in accessing EU markets arise from a range of non-tariff impediments to trade, both in the exporting country and in the EU, and resolving these impediments will require development assistance. We suggest the way forward is for the EPAs to include development priorities based on reducing these impediments to trade, and for which trade related development assistance will be provided.

* Development and Intellectual Property under the EPA Negotiations
South Centre Policy Brief 6, March 2007
This Policy Brief examines the approach under ongoing EPA negotiations with respect to innovation, biodiversity and traditional knowledge, public health, Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and on enforcement of intellectual property rights. It uses the currently available draft EPA texts with ESA countries and the EU nonpaper on intellectual property rights introduced for negotiation with the Cariforum countries. The South Centre and CIEL IP Quarterly, Fourth Quarter 2006, already provide a broad background to the negotiations and pertinent elements of the current draft negotiation texts. This Policy Brief is therefore intended to focus on some of the TRIPS-plus implications of EPAs and evaluate their possible contribution, if any, to the technological development of ACP countries as well as the protection of genetic resources and traditional knowledge and public health, especially access to medicines.
Find more recent publications from the South Centre on EPA at www.southcentre.org

* Joint Evaluation of Co-ordination of Trade Capacity Building in Partner Countries
Joint evaluation studies under the 3Cs Initiative of the Group of Heads of EU Evaluation Services for External / Development Cooperation (EU HES). Final Report, February 2006. Prepared by Aide à la Décision Économique (ADE) at the request of the European Commission.
The objective of this evaluation is to assess the extent to which the European Commission and the Member States have dedicated efforts to promoting coordination and complementarity of their TCB initiatives, and how effective these efforts have been. The evaluation focuses on ACP countries and on the period from 2001 to the present (Doha agenda).
 

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Resources from Recent Events
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* Event: ILEAP: Aid for Trade - Towards Regional Implementation
Date: 28-29 March 2007
On 28-29 March, ILEAP convened a regional workshop on “Aid for Trade - Towards Regional Implementation” in Nairobi, Kenya. Officials from 17 countries in East, Central, West and Southern Africa attended. They were joined by representatives from regional economic communities, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, and research institutions. The meeting was the first of its kind for African regional integration groupings, and aimed to explore modalities for speedy implementation, particularly to the benefit of Africa, of the recommendations from the WTO Aid for Trade Task Force. An emphasis was put on the creation and functioning of national and regional Aid for Trade Committees.
Resources:
-> meeting’s page with the agenda, background documents, participants lists, and final report

*Event: EPAs global day of action - Stop Unfair Trade Deals Between Europe and ACP!
Date: April 19, 2007
Resources:

-> A contribution by Sharon Shemesh, EPAs Campaign Coordinator at Oxfam International
On April 19, thousands of campaigners, farmers and activists from around 30 countries across Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific took part in a Global Day of Action, targeting German embassies and European Commission offices to call for a stop to unfair trade deals between Europe and the developing world. Media stunts, public awareness events, marches and demonstrations were held outside German embassies. German ambassadors world-wide were approached by campaigners, received letters and petitions, and discussed concerns over EPAs negotiations. In Germany, a big action took place outside the Chancellor hall, calling on Angela Merkel to use the EU presidency to change the course of current negotiations. On April 19, European and ACP activists stood united in a call to a just and fair trade agreements between their regions. To see photos and reports of the day, please visit epa2007.org.

This global day of action was initiated by the EPAs-2007 campaigning platform, a European NGOs coalition formed late last year. The coalition focused its campaign in the first half of 2007 on Germany, the current holder of the EU presidency. In a joint letter to Chancellor Angela Merkel, signed by more than 180 organizations, the campaigning organizations called to the EU to offer alternatives to EPAs, take the time pressure off negotiations, maintain non-reciprocity and the right to protect, promote self-determined regional integration processes, exclude WTO plus provisions and ensure transparency and civil society participation in the negotiations. The letter was followed-up by a pan-European email action and was echoed world-wide on April 19. The platform is now preparing a follow-up letter to Chancellor Merkel and will focus campaigning in the second half of 2007 on the Portuguese presidency. Pan-European activities are also planned for the next “Stop EPAs” day on September 27.

For more information please contact:
Sharon Shemesh
EPAs Campaign Coordinator at Oxfam International
Rue Philippe Le Bon 15, 1000 Brussels
Tel: +32-2-502.98.03
Fax: +32-2-502.05.56
Email: sharon.shemesh@oxfaminternational.org

-> APE : les organisations de la société civile se mobilisent. Une journée mondiale d'action organisée le 19 avril.

-> Joint Statement on Economic Partnership Agreements on the EPA International Day of Action, April 19, 2007
By: The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection Consumer Unit Trust – Africa Resource Centre Civil Society Trade Network of Zambia
As the negotiations of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the European Union and the African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) countries draw to a close at the end of 2007, the need to ensure that there is convergence rather than divergences is indeed obvious. All stakeholders, especially poor countries, are definitely concerned about the process and content of the negotiations. The International Day of Action on EPAs on Thursday April 19, 2007, called by Civil Society Organisations provides a good opportunity for all parties to reflect on their bargain in the EPAs.

-> Africa-Europe Faith and Justice Network – 19th April: Global Day of Action
A group of people from different organizations working on EPAs, among them some from the AEFJN secretariat,  demonstrated in front of the German Permanent Representation at the EU in Brussels, with banners and slogans.

-> TT, B’dos in EU protest
NewsDay, Trinidad and Tobago Friday, April 20 2007,
The Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGOs (FITUN) yesterday joined worldwide protest against the negotiations of an economic partnership agreement between the European Union (EU) and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries by demonstrating in front of the EU offices in Port-of-Spain.

-> Civil groups pressure EU
Fiji Times Online, April 23, 2007
Civil societies have join thousands of workers, farmers and campaigners from across Europe, Africa and the Caribbean in coordinated action outside European Commission Delegations to call for a stop to unfair trade deals between Europe and the developing world. The Pacific Network on Globalisation said civil society groups had called on the European Commission to ensure the Economic Partnership Agreements, which will be completed this year, does not go ahead in its current form.

* Event: A Workshop on EPA Development Benchmarks and Monitoring
Date: April 23-24, 2007, Nairobi
Organised by CUTS, ECDPM and FES in cooperation with APRODEV.
Resources:
The multi-sectoral workshop envisioned a cross-sectoral fertilization of ideas to enable Kenya and the ESA region to propose indicators used in monitoring the EPA process. A development benchmarks approach to assess the conduct and outcome of EPAs could provide an important tool for the development-focused monitoring of the EPA implementation and thus link the two processes.  ECDPM and DIE (German Development Institute) have launched a joint activity that aims to elaborate options for monitoring the implementation and impacts of EPAs
-> see www.ecdpm.org/trade/epamonitoring
-> See Aprodev’s Newsletter for a report of some of the important contributions from the meeting

*Event: Meeting on Fisheries reveals complexity of ACP-EU Fisheries relations
Date: April 25, 2007
Resources:
On Tuesday, April 17th, the EU Coherence Programme together with MEP Dorette Corbey (PSE) hosted an expert meeting on the subject of ACP Fisheries exports and access to the EU market. Since our most recent case study on this subject exposes a number of manifest incoherencies in this area, a broad range of experts were invited to share their views on the matter during the meeting. The case study focuses on a number of incoherencies resulting from stringent application of the Rules of Origin and the SPS measures which serve as barriers to trade.
-> See Announcement of the meeting with draft case study on market access fisheries, preliminary programme of the expert meeting and short bios of the speakers
-> Most recent case study on Fisheries

*Event: ACP Ministerial Meeting on Sugar
Date: April 30 – May 04, 2007
Resources:
-> Statement at the official opening ceremony by Dr the Honourable Arvin Boolell, Minister of Agro Industry and Fisheries of Mauritius and ACP Ministerial Spokesman on Sugar

-> Sugar Protocol benefits to be protected – ACP Sugar producers
A study of the Sugar Protocol as provided in the Cotonou Agreement has recommended that African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) sugar producers press for increased tonnage of sugar exports to European markets.
-> The Fiji Communiqué on Sugar   EN FR
-> A time to speak in one voice against WTO trade distortions
May 03, 2007 - Dinner address by Mahendra Chaudhry, Minister of Finance, Sugar Industry and National Planning to the 10th ACP Ministerial Conference

* Upcoming event: 32nd Session of the ACP-EC Council of Ministers
Date: May 24-25, 2007, in Brussels

* Upcoming Event: Can Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) promote Value Chains? Learning from Good Experience in Trade Policy?
International Conference on Value-Chains for Broad-Based Development
Date: 30-31 May, 2007, Berlin, Germany
Resources:
Questions the panel will address include:
How far can EPAs go in promoting regional value addition?
Can trade agreements more generally be harnessed to promote value chains?
Will simpler rules of origin assist value addition?
What other measures are at hand to complement the EPAs and support the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of countries to become more active players in global value chains?
-> See dedicated webpage

 

Check our website for more events and resources!  http://www.acp-eu-trade.org

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