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The acp-eu-trade.org newsletter -- No. 36/February 2010
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In this issue:
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I. Trade Negotiations Insights - Overview
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II. News: Highlights of the month
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III. Selection from the acp-eu-trade.org Library
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IV. Resources from Recent and on Upcoming Events
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Dear readers,
Welcome to February issue of the acp-eu-trade.org newsletter!
Below you will see an overview of the latest issues of Trade Negotiation Insights, a collection of press articles published during the past two months and a selection of recently added documents in the acp-eu-trade.org library. As usual, we also provide some resources on recent and upcoming events relevant to ACP-EU trade relations.
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 this 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: Melissa Dalleau (md@ecdpm.org) and Takesh Luckho (tlu@ecdpm.org)
I. Trade Negotiations Insights Vol.9, No.1
The February issue of Trade Negotiations Insights (TNI), a joint monthly publication by ICTSD and ECDPM, is available online at: www.ictsd.org/tni/index.htm and www.acp-eu-trade.org/tni.
Trade Negotiations Insights, Vol.9, No.1, February 2010
• Environmental provisions in Economic Partnership Agreements: Implications for developing countries (B.Chaytor)
• Editorial & News and publications In brief
• EPA Services Negotiations – An ESA Perspective (N.Boodhoo)
• How would a trade deal on sugar affect exporting and importing countries? (A.Elobeid)
• Updating the Economic Partnership Agreements to match today’s global challenges (D.F. Martí)
• Facing European Community technical barriers to trade: What options for ACP countries? (A.Bassilekin)
• WTO Roundup
• EPA Negotiations Update
• Calendar and resources
Eclairage sur les négociations, Vol.9, No.1, Février 2010
• Les dispositions relatives à l’environnement dans les Accords de partenariat économique:conséquences pour les pays en développement (B. Chaytor)
• Éditorial et Nouvelles et publications En bref
• La négociation des services dans les APE – la perspective de l’AfOA (N.Boodhoo)
• Comment un accord commercial sur le sucre affecterait-il les pays exportateurs et importateurs ? (A.Elobeid)
• Améliorer les APE pour faire face aux défis mondiaux actuels (D. F. Martí)
• Les pays ACP face au dynamisme des Communautés européennes en matière d’Obstacles Techniques au Commerce: quelles options ? (A. Bassilekin)
• Aperçu sur l'OMC
• Point sur les négociations APE
• Calendrier et publications
** All-ACP **
* Second ACP-EU water projects unveiled
Afrique en ligne, 9 February 2010
The Gabonese Ambassador to Belgium, Rene Makongo, who is also the doyen of the diplomatic corps for members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries in Brussels will Tuesday, in collaboration with the general director of EuropeAid, Koos Richelle, preside over a symposium at which the second ACP-EU water projects will be unveiled, PANA learnt from official sources here.
Estimated at 200 million euros under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF), the new Water projects seek to provide water and basic sanitation for the poor, and improve water management in ACP countries.
-> For more information, see the website of the Second Water Facility and the related-call for proposal
* ACP Assembly commends outgoing Secretary-General
ACP Secretariat, Press Release, 26 January 2010
Parliamentarians attending the 19th Session of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Assembly paid tribute to the outgoing Secretary-General, Sir John Kaputin, for his outstanding services to the organization. In his final address to the ACP Assembly, Sir John commended the efforts of the MPs in promoting good governance, and highlighting ACP issues with their European counterparts.
EC DG Trade. 27 January 2010
On 1 January 2010, the EU scrapped its last remaining quotas on imports from sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) – in this case on rice. The move comes as part of new trade and development deals between the EU and groups of ACP countries. environmental and labour standards, or help to cut red tape; and close coordination with EU aid to upgrade roads and ports and reform taxes.
** Caribbean **
* Whatever happened to the EPA?
David Jessop, Starbroek News, 21 February 2010
Remember the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed in Barbados in October 2008? Despite the huge regional controversy that ensued after it was agreed, it is now almost impossible to find anything in the public domain about its present status, despite the fact that some of the deadlines for implementation have already passed.[…] the EPA has hardly progressed. Instead, inter-regional rivalries, personality clashes, the recession, a lack of commitment by some governments, widespread doubts about neo-liberalism fuelled by the global economic crisis, and a stalled regional integration process, have all impeded progress towards implementation.
-> See also from same author, As US, EU priorities shift ...Caribbean must seek trading fortunes elsewhere, David Jessop, Jamaica Gleaner News, 7 February 2010
-> See also: A Critical Reflection on Management of Caricom, Phil Pascal, Jamaican Observer, 21 February 2010
* [Guyana] Rum concessions will hurt region
BBC News, 19 February 2010
Guyana is accusing Europe of undermining rum producers in the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group by giving Latin American rum producers greater preferential access. The Caribbean is also upset that the European Commission refuses extend the life of a 70 million euros project aimed at re-tooling several rum industries to make them competitive in branded rums. Caribbean rum-producing states say they stand to lose 14 million euros if the project is not extended again. But the Europeans say doing so would set a precedent.
* [Jamaica] Jamaica to receive EU banana grant
GoJamaica.com, 2 February 2010
Jamaica is set to get another multi-million dollar grant from the European Union (EU), through the Banana Support Programme. Tomorrow, the EU Banana Support Programme through Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) will officially sign four additional grant projects. This will bring to ten the number of contracts, which have been selected under the programme.
The Banana Support Programme is aimed at helping banana-exporting countries in developing states to pursue other activities because Europe is no longer offering to pay them higher than normal prices for their bananas. The EU wants the local banana industry to understand that increased liberalization of the market is eroding preferential access to European markets. It’s also helping banana farmers to increase the productivity of alternative crops, improve infrastructure, access training and establish new markets.
* [off the track] CARICOM looks at improving participation of Belize and OECS in CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
CARICOM Secretariat Press Release, 4 February 2010
A CARICOM Secretariat consultancy is investigating the circumstances that currently restrict the effective participation of Belize and the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). The ongoing project is to identify and rank factors that currently limit the effective participation of Belize and the OECS in the CSME. The consultancy is funded by the Ninth (9th) European Development Fund (EDF) Caribbean Integration Support Programme (CISP).
à See also on this subject, press reports related to the 29th meeting of CARICOM’s Council for Trade and Economic Development (section Events below)
** West Africa **
* APE, un expert plaide la suspension des négociations (in french only)
ouestaf.com (Ouestafnews), 9 Février 2010
L’ancien directeur général adjoint de l’Organisation mondiale du Commerce (OMC), le Burkinabé Ablassé Ouédraogo, a vivement recommandé la suspension des négociations sur les Accords de partenariat économique (APE) que l’Union européenne propose à plus de 70 pays d’Afrique, des Caraïbes et du Pacifique, communément appelés Etats « ACP ». […]Pour l’ex-responsable de l’OMC, également ancien conseiller aux négociations commerciales du Président de la Commission de la Cedeao, il existe au moins « cinq raisons de suspendre les négociations sur les Accords de partenariat économique».
* [Nigeria] Expert Urges EU to Develop Nations Infrastructure for EPA
Leadership, Abuja, via AllAfrica.com, 18 January 2010
Dr Jonathan Aremu, a consultant to the Common Investment Market of ECOWAS, has urged the European Union (EU) to show commitment in developing Nigeria's infrastructure before the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) is signed. […] Aremu, who was the Chairman of the Investment Section of the EPA Committee in Nigeria, stressed that the country's power sector and road network should be developed. On the current European Development Fund (EDF) being used by the EU for development programmes in the West African sub-region, he said it was not enough to address the magnitude of the problems facing Nigeria. Other critical issues yet to be addressed are sensitive products and market access, which are still being negotiated, according to him
Ini Ekott and Ayodamola Owoseye, 234next.com, 3 February 2010
The European Union-African, Caribbean and Pacific Science and Technology Program (EU-ACP), has donated a ?150 million lifeline for research on yam improvement in six West and Central African countries, the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture(IITA) said Monday.
** ESA **
* [Kenya] EU deal no threat to EAC says Kenya
Capital FM Kenya, 11 February 2010
lThe Ministry of Trade has moved to allay fears that Kenya may break ranks with the East African Community because of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) trade deal with Europe. Below is a full statement from the ministry;[…]. The EPA negotiations are not between the European Community (EC) and Kenya. The negotiations are between the EC and the EAC as two regional blocs. Kenya, therefore like other EAC countries is bound by the EAC Customs Union Protocol to negotiate all trade deals under the EAC. This is primarily because EAC is a Customs Territory, and therefore, for trade agreements to be legally binding, they must be concluded under the EAC framework. It is important to let the public know that Kenya is bound by the Protocol and will not break ranks with EAC Partner States on EPA or any other trade negotiation. It is also important to note that other EAC Partner States which are all Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have never considered the everything but Arms (EBA) initiative as an option to EPA.
-> For an earlier article and background information see, Kenya may break rank with EAC in trade deal with EU, Allan Odhiambo, Business Daily, 8 February
-> See also on this subject, Do not rush EPAs agreement, urges Kimunya, Joseph Bonyo, Daily Nation,1 February and Kenya blames EU changes for stalled EPAs, Sarah Wambui,Capital FM, Kenya, 1 February
-> For the EU perspective, see below
* EU criticises EAC over pact
Damas Kanyabwoya, The Citizen, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. 4 February 2010
The European Union has accused East Africa Community partner states of flouting World Trade Organisation rules by refusing to sign a framework Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU. Speaking in the sidelines of the EU-EAC policy dialogue meeting in Arusha yesterday, the head of delegation of the European Union in Tanzania, Mr Timothy Clarke, urged the EAC to sign EPA accords in order to enjoy legal free access to European markets.
-> See also EU wants timetable for east Africa trade deal, Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala, Reuters, 16 February 2010
*[Zimbabwe] Le Zimbabwe appelé à retarder la mise en oeuvre de l'accord de partenariat avec l'UE (in french only).
acap-df.info. Harare, 20 January 2010
La Confédération des industries zimbabwéennes (Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries ou CZI) a appelé le gouvernement de son pays à renégocier la date de mise en oeuvre de l'Accord de partenariat économique (APE) conclu avec l'Union européenne (UE) pour attendre que l'industrie du pays ait davantage amorcé son redémarrage. Le président de la CZI, Joseph Kanyekanye, a expliqué que l'industrie zimbabwéenne restait fragile et qu'il était peu probable qu'elle ait suffisamment redémarré pour être en mesure de supporter la concurrence des produits européens d'ici 2013, rapporte mercredi l'agence New Ziana. Ce pays a signé en 2008 un APE provisoire aux termes duquel il a accepté d'ouvrir au moins 45% de ses marchés aux produits d' Europe d'ici 2013, et d'augmenter cette part à 80% d'ici 2022. Il serait prudent pour le pays de renégocier cette date de mise en oeuvre, car l'afflux de produits européens représenterait une menace pour l'industrie locale, a estimé M. Kanyekanye.
* [Kenya] Spat over EU sugar exports to keep prices up
Allan Odhiambo, Business Daily, 22 February 2010
Consumers in Kenya and other sugar deficit nations are unlikely to enjoy lower prices of the commodity any time soon following a fresh dispute between the EU and three top producers over volume of shipments to the world market. In the latest feud, Thailand, Australia and Brazil want an immediate withdrawal of an additional export of 500,000 tonnes of out-of-quota sugar by the EU, arguing it was illegal under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.
* [Off the track/Mauritius] European Investment Bank to fund sugar reform in Mauritius enabling the first project worldwide to implement the ACP Port Moresby declaration
European Investment Bank. 2 February 2010.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to provide a EUR 15m loan to Omnicane to construct two sugar refineries in Mauritius as part of the European Union’s wider support of reform in the Mauritius sugar industry. The EIB’s support follows a EUR 13m loan made in August 2009 to FUEL Sugar Milling Company Ltd. Both loans will benefit from an interest subsidy from the 10th European Development Fund (EDF). The Mauritius Sugar Reform Project is the first EIB funded initiative that implements the 2006 Port Moresby Declaration through which ACP-EC Council of Ministers agreed to mobilise EUR 1.5bn to contribute to the high adaptation costs ACP sugar producing countries have faced following gradual sugar price reduction across European markets. The investment is part of a wider adaptation strategy developed for the Mauritian sugar sector by both industry and government to ensure the long-term viability of the sector.
* [Off the track] COMESA signs Agreement with West African States to enhance private Sector development
COMESA News, 17 February 2010
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to enhance private sector development in the two regions and to advance regional economic integration towards attaining the African Economic Community (AEC). […] The MoU will provide an opportunity for Member States to cooperate in various areas of mutual interest, including matters of inter-regional trade development and trade promotion, as a mechanism for enhancing economic development and improving the livelihoods of the regions' citizens. It is expected that the visibility and participation of women in business will be advanced, as this is crucial to creating employment and increasing household incomes, while effectively contributing to economic growth and poverty reduction.
** SADC **
* [Swaziland] Internal interests first, EPA later’
Teetee Zwane, Swazi Observer, 19 January 2010
It is imperative for the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) to move towards aligning its internal activities faster before conclusion of a final Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU), says Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Jabulile Mashwama. Reports say the EU reckons EPA negotiations could be finalised by the end of the year, if there was “real political will” to settle the agreement. The EPA negotiating bloc comprising Swaziland, South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Angola and Mozambique is expected to meet internally in mid-February before resuming official negotiations with the EU.
* [Namibia] Namibia keeps EU guessing on EPA
Toivo Ndjebela, New Era, Windhoek, 23 Febuary 2010
The European Commission’s (EC) delegation in Namibia says it is “not confident” that the country would sign the full Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union, amidst a looming deadline and a possible loss of up to N$3 billion in export revenues. After a brief break, the resumption of the negotiations on signing the full EPA is pencilled in from March 26 to 30 in Brussels, Belgium, and there is no indication that defiant Namibia will put pen on the dotted line before her demands for signing the agreement are met.
* [Bostwana] Botswana’s share plummets
Victor Baatweng, The Botswana Gazette, Gaborone, via Tralac. 27 January 2010
A reduction in imports by Botswana has led to a drop in its annual revenue share from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Though the country has maintained its status as the second largest economy in the region after South Africa, its annual share plummeted to R5.6 billion in 2009. According to Minister of Finance and Development Planning Mr Kenneth Matambo, although the money is not sufficient, it will be used to finance the country’s 2010/11 budget. A ministry official said the actual SACU revenues for recent fiscal years – precisely for 2008/09 collections – were lower than the forecast, thus there is a deficit in the Common Revenue Pool. […] This came following the initialling of an Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU) by Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland in which the EU will offer states in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) EPA group duty- and quota-free market access for all goods.
-> See on the same subject, Quitting Sacu 'would not be wise'
Mzwandile Jacks, Business Report, Cape Town,19 February 2010
-> See also on a related topic, SACU: Transfer cuts a big blow for SA’s neighbouring states, Charlotte Mathews, Business Day, Johannesburg, 19 February 2010
** Central Africa **
* APE : l'Afrique centrale pour une ouverture à 60% de son marché avec l'Union européenne(french only)
Le Quotidien du peuple en ligne, 25 February 2010
Les pays d'Afrique centrale engagés dans des négociations avec l'Union européenne (UE) en vue de la conclusion d'un accord de partenariat économique (APE) régional se déclarent disposés à ouvrir leur marché à 60%, selon le rapport d'une réunion du Conseil des ministres de l'Union économique régionale (UEAC) tenue lundi à Douala au Cameroun en vue de la relance de ces négociations bloquées depuis un an.[…] Roger Tchoungui, le Conseil des ministres de l'UEAC s'est également prononcée pour une période transitoire de démantèlement des tarifs douaniers de « 20 ans dont 5 ans de période préparatoire ».
* [Cameroon] L'application de l'APE avec l'UE achoppe sur des obstacles (Papier d’angle) (french only)
Raphaël Mvogo, French.News.Cn, 16 January 2010
Prévue le 1er janvier, l'entrée en vigueur de l'accord de partenariat économique (APE) dit d'étape ou intérimaire conclu par le Cameroun avec l'Union européenne (UE) achoppe sur l'absence d'un APE régional et d'un protocole sur les critères d'identification de produits d'origine, facteurs soulevés dans une requête du gouvernement camerounais à l'UE. Conclu le 17 décembre 2007, cet accord de libre-échange prévoit un démantèlement tarifaire progressif, c'est-à-dire une chute des barrières douanières concernant les échanges commerciaux entre les deux parties, applicable dès le 1er janvier dernier, pour une période de 15 ans. Une période de deux ans a été prévue pour préparer l'avènement de ce système de commerce.
* [Cameroon] Economic Partnership Agreements - National Support Programme Operational
Godlove Bainkong, Cameroon Tribune, via AllAfrica.com, 10 February 2010
The steering committee charged with the proper follow up of economic partnership agreements between the government and the European Union (EU) have been urged to leave nothing to chance to ensure that the 5.5 million Euros (about FCFA 3.6 billion) Cameroon/EU Support Programme for Economic Partnership Agreements (PASAPE) is effectively implemented. The call was made by the Minister Delegate in the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Yaouba Abdoulaye, on Monday February 8, 2010 while commissioning steering committee members of the national follow-up and coordination for the negotiation of economic partnership agreements ACP/EU into their functions.
-> See also for a previous article on this subject (in french only), Cameroun-UE : retards persistants dans la mise mise en oeuvre de l'accord de partenariat économique, French.News.Cn, Yaoundé, 8 February
** Pacific **
* New preferential rules for PACP fish export to the EU
PACNEWS, 4 February 2010
Fiji and Papua New Guinea (PNG) will become the first two Pacific countries to benefit from a new preferential rule of origin for the export of processed fish and marine products to the European market. They are the only two Pacific states that have initialed an interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA) with the European Union (EU). The new relaxed rules, termed ‘global sourcing’ are exclusive to Pacific countries who are members of the African, Carribean and Pacific (PACP) states. PACPs are currently negotiating a full Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union. […] Speaking to PACNEWS in Suva, EU’s Delegation for the Pacific’s First Counsellor, Robert De Raeve said global sourcing was a ‘flexible mechanism’ to suit the special needs of PACPs who have limited products to trade under EPA.
* OCTA will need consensus of all Forum members before EU reconsiders funding
PACNEWS, 5 February 2010
The European Union (EU) will reconsider funding the office of the regional chief trade negotiator (OCTA) for PACER Plus, if it’s the consensus decision of all Forum Island Countries (FICs). But for now, it’s not included as a sub-project for the Annual Action Plan for 2010 EDF10 funding. First Counsellor at the EU Pacific Delegation office in Fiji, Robert De Raeve says if the project is to be re-considered, it my not be the full 7 million Euros proposed by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
* Breakthrough on Pacific Trade controversy
Jemima Garrett (Interview Chris Noonan), ABC Radio Australia, 22 February 2010
There has been a breakthrough in the long-running saga over the appointment of the region's Chief Trade advisor. New Zealand commercial law expert, Chris Noonan, has signed a contract to take on the role and expects to start work on the 29th March. The breakthrough comes after Solomon Islands, in its role as trade spokesperson for the Pacific Islands, launched an unprecedented criticism of the the handling of the issue by the Forum secretariat.
* Fiji picked for new ACP-EU regional office
Radio New Zealand International, 23 February 2010
Fiji has been chosen as the location for a regional office for a new ACP-EU institution called the Centre for Development of Enterprises.
Fiji’s Radio Legend reports that Fiji was picked over Samoa and Papua New Guinea. This follows a due diligence report taking into account the need for security, political stability, ease of intra-ACP communication and access to facilities. Fiji’s foreign ministry has welcomed the move, saying it strengthen its relationship with the EU.
-> See also: State has chance to better ties, Fiji Times online, 23 February 2010
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III. Selection from the acp-eu-trade.org Library
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* The Costs and Benefits to South Africa of joining the SADC EPA
Prof. Manoj Pant, Centre for International Trade and Development, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Study commissioned by DFID, London. December 2009.
This study has been a limited desk based investigation into the costs and benefits of South Africa (SA) joining the SADC EPA which the EU is finalizing with five South African countries (SADC5). This would of course necessitate South Africa scrapping the TDCA agreement, which currently governs its trade with the European Union countries (EU). At the outset it is necessary to understand that the TDCA and the EPAs currently being negotiated by African countries with the EU are a consequence of the Cotonou agreement being WTO inconsistent.
* The Importance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures to Fisheries Negotiations in EPAs
Martin Doherty,International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development Issue Paper No. 7, February 2010
Sanitary and phytosanitary standards (SPS) have become an increasingly important topic of debate in international trade. These SPS measures are a major cause of market access concern for many developing countries, even beyond tariff barriers in certain sectors such as fisheries. This is due to the complexity in number and nature of food safety requirements that countries have to meet in order to access the European Union (EU) and other global markets and the capacity of developing countries to comply with such requirements.
Indeed, many countries from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) have inadequate human, financial or technical resources to meet the required standards of food safety. The Global Financial Crisis has placed further restrictions on developing countries’ ability to raise funds to upgrade their food safety capabilities. This aspect is seen as particularly relevant in view of the potential negative impact of climate change on fisheries through the introduction and spread of new diseases to fish, and changes in their traditional operating environment. This study seeks to examine those challenges and to contemplate possible policy responses. It argues that the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the European Union and ACP countries represent an opportunity to achieve solutions to several problem areas associated with EU SPS requirements..
* Council Decision on the conclusion of the Interim Partnership Agreement between the European Community, of the one part, and the Pacific States, of the other part (based on Interinstitutional File: 2008/0250 (AVC))
Council of the European Union, Brussels, 9 February 2010
* Overview of EPA and State of Play - Update 2010
DG Trade Overview of EPA, State of Play, European Commission, 5 February 2010
* Overview of EU FTA and Other Trade Negotiations, Update 2010
DG Trade Overview of FTA and Other Trade Negotiations, European Commission, 5 February 2010
* Overview of EU Regional Trade Agreements - Update 2010
DG Trade Overview of Regional Trade Agreements, European Commission, 5 February 2010
* Manoeuvring at the Margins: Constraints Faced by Small States in International Trade Negotiations
Jones, E., Woods N. and Birkbeck, C. Commonwealth Secretariat, London, February 2010
Building on existing scholarship, Manoeuvring at the Margins is the first attempt to thoroughly analyse the views of representatives from small states on the constraints they face in this area. The authors, led by Dr Ngaire Woods and Dr Carolyn Deere Birkbeck of the University of Oxford, highlight three areas where small states can maximise their potential influence: establishing an effective negotiating team by strengthening human resources; harnessing the support of civil society and the private sector; and improving negotiation strategies. The recommendations they provide will be useful in assisting trade policy-makers in small states to achieve greater success in WTO and other trade arenas.
* The Office of Trade Negotiations - The Year in Review
Office of Trade Negotiations (OTN), 18 December 2009
At the end of the first quarter of 2009, the CARICOM Heads of Government took a decision to incorporate the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM) into the CARICOM Secretariat as a Specialized Department. Under the new name of Office of Trade Negotiations (OTN), the restyled CRNM was in operation leading the negotiations with Canada by the close of 2009.The incorporation involved new institutional relationships between the OTN and the wider Community Organs. As a Department of the Secretariat, the OTN reports to the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) which gives it guidance, and defines its negotiating mandate as authorized by the CARICOM Heads of Government.
[…] Apart from these structural changes and in contrast with its predecessor, the OTN now has responsibility for all Community external trade negotiations. The OTN’s work programme has followed that which was established by the CRNM in the beginning of 2009. There has been a number of successes and milestones in this time and highlights of these are outlined [in this document].
* Effectiveness of EDF Support for regional Economic Integration in East Africa and West Africa
European Court of Auditors, Special Report No 18, 2009 (published on the 23 February 2010)
The objective of the Court ’s audit was to assess whether EDF support for regional economic integration in East Africa and West Africa had been effective. The audit examined the Commission’s approach to regional economic integration, its management of the support provided and the results of a sample of individual projects.[…] Overall, EDF support for regional economic integration has so far been only partially effective, being undermined by several factors. The occurrence of multiple Regional Organisations with overlapping mandates and membership, as well as weak capacity, results in a complex institutional framework. Furthermore, there are weaknesses in the Commission’s approach to, and management of, regional economic integration programmes.
* Promoting poles of clean growth to foster the transition to a more Sustainable Economy
UNCTAD, United Nation Publication, 08 February 2010
This Trade and Environment Review is about finding a policy response to one of the defining challenges of our times – climate change. Meeting that challenge – and reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of the global economy by any meaningful amount – will require landslide changes in the approach to economic development. It will mean a thorough rethinking of national, regional and international economic and trade policymaking. The enormity of these tasks, and the complexity of the decisions ahead, is further compounded by the current economic recession, the ongoing global food crisis and the poverty-reduction imperative, all of which are interrelated.
* Trade Logistics in the Global Economy
Jean François Arvis et al., World Bank Publications, 2010
This is the second edition of Connecting to Compete: Trade Logistics in the Global Economy, which was first published in November 2007. The Logistics Performance Index (LPI) and its indicators are a joint venture of the World Bank, logistics providers, and academic partners. The LPI is a comprehensive index created to help countries identify the challenges and opportunities they face in trade logistics performance. The World Bank conducts the LPI survey every two years.
* Trade, growth and poverty: making Aid for Trade work
Susan Prowse, Kate Higgins, Working Paper, ODI, February 2010
The objective of this paper is to outline how Aid for Trade can support developing countries to maximise the inclusive growth and poverty reduction impacts of trade. Following the introduction, Section 2 provides a brief overview of Aid for Trade. Section 3 outlines the linkages between trade, growth and poverty and suggests some of the most critical contextual factors to consider in relation to trade, growth and poverty. Section 4 reflects on this analysis to suggest how Aid for Trade programming can support trade expansion alongside poverty reduction. Section 5 concludes.
* Regional Trade-FDI-Poverty alleviation linkages: some analytical and empirical explorations
Ram Upendra Das, Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik/German Development Institute (Discussion Paper 18/2009), Bonn, 2009.
While most regional cooperation initiatives entail trade liberalisation and investment cooperation agreements, they have largely been bereft of being contextualised in terms of developmental goals like poverty reduction. The importance of understanding these issues is especially pronounced in the poverty-stricken South Asian region. Thus, the paper probes into the complex interlinkages among trade-FDI-poverty reduction in a regional context. It provides fresh analytical insights into the issue by dwelling on some of the channels through which these variables might be interlinked.
* European Parliament resolution on promoting good governance in tax matters
EP Resolution, 10 February 2010
The resolution is organized as follows:
- Background and relevant related-documents
- "An opportunity that must be seized"
- Measures to be taken at the EU level
- Measures to be taken at the international level
- Towards a genuine EU policy of good tax governance
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IV. Resources from Recent and on Upcoming Events
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* OECD Global Forum on Development on Domestic Resource Mobilisation (DRM) for Development: The Taxation Challenge
28 January 2010, Paris, France
-> Annoted agenda
-> Documentation
-> Summary Record
* COMESA Post Copenhagen Climate Change Conference
1-3 February 2010, Lusaka, Zambia
-> See Press release/Short summary of the conference
* EPA Awareness Workshop "Taking Advantage of the CARIFORUM European Union Economic Partnership Agreement - How to do Business in the EU"
2 February 2010, Trinidad
-> Workshop documents
* 10th EAC Partnership Fund Steering Committee meeting
4 February 2010, Arusha, Tanzania
-> See Press Release
* Africa Investment Forum 2010. Commonwealth Business Council
8-10 February 2010, Accra
-> See Meeting Interactive Brochure
* 29th meeting of CARICOM’s Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED)
9 February 2010, Guyana
-> Read CARICOM Press Release (11 February)
-> Read Press Report on this event
-> See Remarks delivered by Amb. L.Applewhaite, Deputy Secretary-General
* ICTSD-KMFRI dialogue on “Fisheries in ACP-EU Negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreements”
9-10 February 2010, Mombasa, Kenya
-> Draft agenda
-> Documentation and Papers
* EU Council ACP Working Party meeting
16 February 2010, Brussels, Belgium
-> European COuncil’s Notice of Meeting and provisional agenda
* Summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government
16 February 2010, Abuja, Nigeria
-> Press Release
* 14th Ordinary Session of the Conference of UEMOA Heads of State and Government
20 February 2010, Bamako, Mali
-> Final Communiqué
* European Parliament – Committee on International Trade
23 February 2010, Brussels, Belgium
-> Draft Agenda
* DFID,AUC, AfDB, WB, UNECA, EC, and the Infrastructure Consortium for Africa meeting on Regional Economic Integration in Africa: “Joining up Africa”
3-4 March 2010, London, UK
-> Draft Agenda
* Special meeting of the ACP-EC Council of Ministers on the 2nd revision of the Cotonou Agreement
8-11 March 2010, Brussels, Belgium
-> See the European Parliament’s report on the 2nd revision of the Cotonou Agreement (17 December 2009)
* Forum EURAFRIC 2010 on water and energy in Africa
9-11 March 2010, Brazzaville, Congo
-> For more information
* Twenty-First Inter-sessional meeting of the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government
11-12 March 2010, Dominica
* World Bank Institute e-learning course on export development and diversification
15 March - 23 April 2010, Washington DC, USA.
-> For more information
* EC DG Trade Conference on EU Trade Policy towards Developing Countries
16 March 2010, Brussels, Belgium
-> To register and for background information
-> Draft Programme and Background Document
* EU-SADC senior officials meeting on EPA
17-19 March 2010, Brussels, Belgium
* EU-West Africa Technical and Senior Officials’ meeting
22-26 March 2010, Brussels, Belgium
* European Commission DG Trade - Civil Society Trade Seminar 2010 on EU Trade Policy Making (Perspectives and Priorities)
24 March 2010, Prague, Czech Republic
-> For more information and to register, click here
-> Draft Programme
* African Development Bank Seminar on “China’s increasing engagement in Africa in the aftermath of the financial crisis”
25-26 March 2010, Tunis, Tunisia
-> For more information
* World Bank Institute-African Institute for Economic Development and Planning Course on Preferential Trade Agreements for Development: Issues and Implications
12-16 April 2010, Senegal
-> For more information
* Conference "The CARIFORUM-EU EPA one year on: regional integration and sustainable development"
22-23 April, Bridgetown, Barbados
* East African Community Investment Conference
26-29 April, Kampala, Uganda
-> Press Statement
* 19th session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
29 March- 1 April, Tenerife, Spain
-> Draft Agenda and Work Programme
-> Questions for Oral Answer to the Commission and the Council
* Oceania Customs Annual Conference to PACP Heads of Customs meeting
3-7 May, (place TBC)
* Technical level workshop in the Pacific on EPA
11-13 May, Nadi, Fiji Islands