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The acp-eu-trade.org newsletter -- No. 8/February 2007
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In this issue:
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Three questions to…:
Antoine Sileté Agbadome, Conseiller regional en négociations commerciales à la Communauté Économique des États de l’Afrique de l’Ouest
(This interview was conducted in French)
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Focus on…:
Le Réseau des organisations paysannes et de producteurs de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (ROPPA)
(This contribution is offered in French)
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Keeping Track...:
Sensitive products in the EPA negotiations
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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 the eighth 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;
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- 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!
Editors: Davina Makhan ( dm@ecdpm.org ) and Eoghan Duffy ( ed@ecdpm.org )
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Three Questions to…
Antoine Sileté Agbadome, Conseiller régional en négociations commerciales à la Communauté Économique des États des l’Afrique de l’Ouest (CEDEAO)
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Antoine Sileté Agbadome est le Conseiller Régional en Négociations commerciales à la
Commission de la Communauté Économique des États de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (CEDEAO).
1. Quel est l’état d’avancement de l’examen formel des négociations des APE en Afrique de l’Ouest ?
La CEDEAO a pris l’initiative de préparer un document dans le cadre de l’examen formel des négociations des APE (Ndlr: Ce document est public et disponible dans la section Ressources de acp-eu-trade.org). Nous avons procédé, au niveau de la région, à une consultation très large, associant tous les acteurs impliqués et concernés par les négociations des APE. Lors de la réunion ministérielle du 6 octobre 2006, à Niamey, il a été décidé que la revue devait avoir lieu au niveau des États. Les contributions individuelles de nos États membres se sont rajoutées à celle réalisée au niveau de la CEDEAO. Une fois fédérée, l’étude a été soumise pour validation à nos États membres lors d’une réunion tenue en novembre et sur la base de laquelle nous avons préparé le document soumis à la partie européenne.
Nous nous sommes accordés avec nos partenaires européens sur certaines parties de notre document, notamment sur la nécessité de mettre en place trois groupes de négociations chargés respectivement de la rédaction du texte de l’accord, de l’élaboration et du financement de programmes de renforcement des capacités des secteurs de production et de l’élaboration du schéma de libéralisation entre les parties.
Nos principaux points d’achoppement au niveau de la revue portent sur deux aspects. Il s’agit, d’une part, de la question du report de l’échéance de fin d’année pour la conclusion des négociations, tel que préconisé par les Ministres ouest-africains, fin novembre 2006. Lors d’un sommet qui s’est tenu à Ouagadougou à la mi-janvier, les Chefs d’États et de gouvernements de l’Afrique de l’Ouest ont appelé les négociateurs à la flexibilité en vue de conclure un APE viable et répondant aux intérêts des peuples d’Afrique de l’Ouest. Suite à la réunion conjointe qui s’est tenue début février, entre les Présidents de la CEDEAO et de l’UEMOA et les Commissaires européens au Commerce et au Développement, nous avons finalement décidé de ne pas retenir le report de trois ans initialement demandé, mais de nous concentrer sur la nécessité de réaliser préalablement certaines tâches avant la conclusion d’un accord. Ces tâches qui constituent des conditions préalables à la conclusion d’un APE sont :
- l’élaboration des programmes d’amélioration de la compétitivité et leur financement par la CE ;
- la discussion sur les schémas de libéralisation des deux régions ;
- l’élaboration du texte de l’accord.
Pour réaliser ces tâches préalables, il y a des activités diverses à faire que la région propose d’énumérer dans le rapport de la revue.
C’est là que réside le deuxième point de divergence. En effet, la Commission ne souhaite pas mentionner dans le rapport de revue des négociations les diverses tâches et mesures devant selon nous être exécutées afin de parvenir à un APE qui réponde aux intérêts de la région. A mon avis, cela s’explique par le fait qu’il existerait alors une source formelle pouvant justifier la nécessité d’accorder plus de temps pour mener à bien les négociations, une éventualité que la Commission a expressément rejeté. Mais il est clair qu’il faudra alors résoudre le problème de temps que cela prend aux parties pour finaliser les dossiers. Les propositions de texte sur le cadre de référence et les secteurs de production soumises par la région en mars 2006 n’ont été finalisées qu’en janvier de cette année !
Sur la base des échanges récents sur le rapport de l’évaluation, la région a rédigé une nouvelle version de la section couvrant ces deux aspects. Nous l’avons fait parvenir à la partie européenne et attendons une réponse à ce sujet. Les discussions se poursuivent et le rapport conjoint devrait être adopté dans les jours à venir par échange de courriers, pour soumission au Comité Ministériel conjoint.
2. Quelles sont, à l’heure actuelle, les principales conclusions de la revue ?
L’examen formel des négociations des APE au niveau de l’Afrique de l’Ouest a porté sur le fonctionnement des structures de négociation, les thématiques discutés et les résultats atteints. Les points saillants ressortant de l’exercice concernent dans une large mesure la question du développement. Pour la région de l’Afrique de l’Ouest, il s’agit en effet de parvenir à un accord qui soit un outil pour le développement et non un accord commercial classique. Ainsi, dans toutes les thématiques de l’accord les aspects partenariat pour le développement et renforcement des capacités doivent être mis en relief.
Dans cette optique, divers éléments doivent être pris en considération, à commencer par l’amélioration de la compétitivité de la région et de l’offre exportable, notamment par une mise à niveau et aux normes des entreprises et un renforcement des capacités des institutions qui concourent au développement économique.
D’après la feuille de route adoptée conjointement en août 2004, un programme d’amélioration de la compétitivité aurait dû être mis en place et financé par l’UE au cours de la première phase de négociations. Cela n’est toutefois pas réalisé. Il s’agit clairement d’une lacune des négociations telles que menées jusqu’ici.
La différence d’appréciation de la dimension développement entre l’Union européenne (UE) et la région Afrique de l’Ouest est notable. Pour l’UE, le libre-échange, l’ouverture du marché et la possibilité ainsi donnée à tout opérateur de venir s’établir dans la région sont en effet le moteur du développement. Pour la région de l’Afrique de l’Ouest, cette vision est toutefois trop restreinte. De nombreuses mesures doivent être prises préalablement, au niveau notamment des infrastructures. De plus, les pays de la région sont déjà largement ouverts sur le commerce, pour la plupart depuis le début des années 80. Mais ils n’en ont pas pour autant recueilli les fruits à ce jour.
La région n’est pas opposée à discuter de la libéralisation des échanges et à mettre en place des réformes pour améliorer la gouvernance économique, mais estime qu’il est nécessaire d’aller au-delà de la libéralisation puisqu’elle ne peut apporter à elle seule le développement. Les actions nécessaires à accomplir concernent le financement et l’amélioration des mécanismes du marché pour le commerce des marchandises, la mise en place d’un tarif extérieur commun (TEC), la législation intérieure, etc. En réalité, la tranche de protection que nous devrons éventuellement supprimer dans le cadre d’un APE se situe seulement entre 0 et 20%. Nous considérons qu’il ne s’agit pas là de droits trop élevés empêchant un opérateur de concurrencer librement les opérateurs intérieurs. L’effort ne doit pas se situer au niveau de la suppression de ces droits d’entrée mais se concentrer sur la mise à niveau de ces opérateurs intérieurs.
De même, au niveau des services, la plupart du secteur a déjà été libéralisé de manière autonome, soit dans le cadre des programmes des institutions de Bretton Woods, ou dans celui des négociations de l’Accord Général sur le Commerce des Services (AGCS) au niveau de l’OMC. Ce dont nous avons besoin est une évaluation de la situation dans le secteur et de la capacité de nos entreprises à agir sur le marché européen.
En ce qui concerne la durée de la période de transition, nous sommes d’avis qu’elle doit être la plus longue possible, c'est-à-dire, supérieure à 20 ans et accompagnée d’une période moratoire de 5 à 7 ans, au terme de laquelle la région pourra initier le premier désarmement tarifaire. Au cours de cette période moratoire, le programme d’amélioration de la compétitivité et des performances économiques devra être mis en place.
Nous estimons que, de son côté, l’UE devra ouvrir son marché à 100%. En effet, l’ouverture actuelle du marché européen se situe entre 95% et 97%. Si un APE n’est pas conclu, les ACP auraient donc un accès théorique au marché européen de cette envergure. Dans l’hypothèse inverse et de la réciprocité des échanges entre les ACP et l’UE, cette dernière ne devra ouvrir son marché que sur la proportion résiduelle. Or, face à notre requête d’ouverture à 100%, l’UE pose la prise en compte de ses produits sensibles. Les pays ouest-africains, et plus particulièrement les pays les moins avancés (PMA) d’entre eux, pourraient alors se retrouver dans une situation moins favorable en termes d’accès aux marchés que sous l’initiative Tout sauf les armes (TSA) dont ils bénéficient déjà. Ceci représenterait un recul par rapport à Cotonou alors que, au moment du lancement des négociations des APE, la CE et l’ensemble des groupes ACP se sont engagés à préserver les acquis de Cotonou, de l’initiative TSA et, à travers l’APE à offrir plus de facilités aux ACP. Si l’APE devait aboutir à une situation moins favorable que Cotonou, ce serait alors un marché de dupes !
Dans le cadre de la revue, nous sommes parvenus à un consensus par lequel nous demandons une ouverture du marché européen le plus large possible. Mais au vu de la difficulté à offrir autant que le régime en vigueur actuellement, cela risque de poser un problème pour la région ouest-africaine, et pour les autres régions ACP également. Nous attendons les propositions de la CE pour savoir exactement jusqu’où ira l’ambition de l’Union Européenne dans l’utilisation de la flexibilité de l’article 24 du GATT en ce qui concerne l’ouverture de son marché au profit de l’Afrique de l’Ouest.
3. Dans cette optique, quelle serait la voie à suivre pour les négociations des APE en Afrique de l’Ouest, et dans les autres régions ACP ?
Comme mentionné précédemment, nous avons identifié trois conditions préalables à la conclusion d’un APE, sur lesquels travaillerons les groupes de négociation que nous établirons prochainement : l’élaboration et le financement des programmes de d’amélioration et de renforcement de la compétitivité, l’élaboration d’un schéma de libéralisation prenant en considération les intérêts de la région, et l’élaboration du texte de l’accord.
Partant de la différence de niveau de développement entre les deux parties aux négociations des APE et avec pour principe l’asymétrie de l’ouverture et une période de transition la plus longue possible, la région prépare actuellement le schéma de libéralisation qu’elle soumettra en juillet à la prochaine réunion des négociateurs en chef.
Concernant l’élaboration du texte de l’accord, un certain nombre de travaux doivent d’abord être réalisés au niveau de la région, et dont nous avons d’ailleurs soumis la liste à la partie européenne dans le cadre de la revue. A nos yeux, la question de développement doit figurer en bonne place dans le texte, ainsi que les questions connexes au commerce. La région a entame des travaux visant l’harmonisation des politiques dans certains domaines et la définition de ses produits sensibles. La finalisation du texte de l’accord dépendra donc de la manière dont la région parviendra à élaborer ces documents. Une évaluation est prévue en juin dans ce sens.
Lors de la dernière réunion conjointe, la Commission nous avait demandé d’augmenter le nombre de réunions techniques d’ici à juillet. Cela nous sera toutefois impossible étant donné que la capacité limitée des deux Secrétariats (CEDEAO et UEMOA) ne le permet pas. Au même moment, nous devrons en effet travailler et mener des consultations avec nos États membres sur chacun des trois groupes identifiés conjointement.
Une question récurrente et qui reste à l’ordre du jour dans le contexte de l’évaluation à mi-parcours est celle de l’additionnalité des ressources. Pour l’UE, les ressources des 9ème et 10ème Fonds Européen de Développement (FED) devraient être orientés vers les APE. Le FED présente toutefois des lacunes lorsque l’on prend en compte les spécificités des APE. Premièrement, ces ressources sont traditionnellement affectées aux projets et aux programmes portant sur les infrastructures de base et sociales. La région estime que cet aspect du partenariat ACP-UE doit continuer à exister sous cette forme, même sous un APE. Bien que les ressources du 10ème FED aient été augmentées, elles ne devraient pas servir à un APE mais être allouées à la poursuite des projets d’éducation, de santé, etc.
Il est par ailleurs notoire que les procédures du FED sont extrêmement lourdes. Pour les APE, il faut un mécanisme de financement plus souple et dont la capacité de mobilisation des ressources est plus élevée. La Commission a annoncé à la région la mobilisation d’un milliard d’euros qui sera doublé à partir de 2010 par les Etats membres de l’UE dans le cadre de l’aide au commerce et considère que ceci est une additionalité au FED. La région, tout en saluant cet effort, estime d’une part que l’aide au commerce n’est pas destiné aux seuls ACP et d’autre part les montants annoncés ne seront mobilisés qu’à partir de 2010, donc plusieurs années après la date du 31 décembre 2007. Cette solution comporte en elle-même des limites par rapport aux ressources additionnelles réclamées par toutes les régions ACP.
Sur la question des procédures, la région ouest-africaine a d’ailleurs proposé la mise en place d’un Fonds Spécial Régional pour l’APE. L’UE a finalement reconnu l’utilité de la mise en place d’un tel fonds. La réflexion sur cet instrument a été initiée au niveau de la région et nous devrions disposer d’une première ébauche de ses modalités d’ici à juillet.
Une question subsiste toutefois quant au pourvoi de ce fonds. Pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest, l’UE doit participer le plus largement possible à la construction de ce fonds, de même que les États ouest-africains. L’UE souhaite également que la région recherche des fonds auprès de bailleurs de fonds tiers. Quel serait l’intérêt pour des parties tierces à financer un accord bilatéral entre l’UE et la région d’Afrique de l’Ouest ? La région Afrique de l’Ouest estime que l’UE et les Etats membres de la CEDEAO ne sont pas habilités à prendre des engagements à la place des autres partenaires que sont la Banque mondiale, le FMI, la BAD, etc.
Il est également important de souligner que la région ne réclame pas la prise en charge totale des programmes de développement de la région par le partenaire européen. Mais l’APE est un accord bilatéral et l’UE doit accompagner la prise en charge des programmes, des réformes, et autres programmes de renforcement des capacités au niveau des entreprises, des structures de production et des capacités humaines.
Le grand défi que doivent relever aujourd’hui les négociateurs de l’AFrique de l’Ouest et de la CE est d’arriver à transcrire effectivement dans l’accord les dispositions conférant à l’APE les qualités d’un réel outil de développement.
Antoine Sileté Agbadome
Conseiller Régional en Négociations Commerciales
Commission de la CEDEAO
60 Yakubu Gowon Crescent,
Asokoro District, P.M.B. 401,
Abuja, Nigeria
Tel: (234) 9 314 76 38
Email: agbadome@yahoo.fr
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Focus On...
Le Réseau des organisations paysannes et de producteurs de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (ROPPA)
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par Mohamadou Magha
Coordonnateur de la Cellule technique d’appui au ROPPA
Ouagadougou – Burkina Faso
Tél : 226. 50 36 26 13
Courriel : mohamadou.magha@roppa-ao.org
Le Réseau des organisations paysannes et de producteurs de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (ROPPA) a été fondé en 2000 et regroupe les organisations paysannes de 10 pays d’Afrique de l’Ouest (Bénin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambie, Guinée, Guinée-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Sénégal, Togo). Il développe de plus en plus de relation avec des organisations du Nigeria, du Ghana, du Liberia, etc. pour être plus représentatif de l’ensemble du monde paysan ouest-africain.
Le ROPPA défend une agriculture paysanne performante et durable au service des exploitations familiales et des producteurs agricoles. Il joue un rôle d’information et de formation de ses membres et des autres acteurs du développement rural. Il accompagne la structuration des producteurs agricoles pour favoriser leur participation dans la définition et la mise en oeuvre des politiques et programmes de développement agricole et rural. Le ROPPA assure la représentation régionale et internationale de ses membres.
Le ROPPA s’est fait connaître lors de l’adoption de la politique agricole de l’UEMOA. Il a ensuite joué un rôle très actif dans la définition de la Politique agricole de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (ECOWAP) impulsée par la CEDEAO. Depuis il se bat pour l’instauration d’un tarif extérieur commun aux frontières de l’Afrique de l’Ouest qui assure une réelle protection du secteur agricole pour lui donner ses chances. Dans une contribution à la revue à mi parcours des APE, le ROPPA conteste la précipitation avec laquelle sont conduites les négociations de l’APE et souligne l’impréparation de la région. Il s’oppose à une libéralisation précipitée du commerce avec l’Union européenne, contraire à l’intégration régionale.
Liens utiles:
Le site du roppa : http://www.roppa.info
Les publications du ROPPA : http://www.roppa.info/spip.php?rubrique5&lang=fr
Le document « Les enjeux et les marges de manœuvre de la CEDEAO face aux négociations agricoles » (J. Gallezot)
Les publications du ROPPA relatives à la revue à mi-parcours des APE
http://www.bureau-issala.com/Fichiers/ResumeAO.htm
http://www.inter-reseaux.org/article.php3?id_article=1427
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Keeping track on…
Sensitive Products in the EPA Negotiations
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For all ACP regions, the EPA negotiations are now moving to discuss the substantive issues concerning market access in goods, notably in terms of product coverage, and the scope and pace of liberalisation. The matter of sensitive products, and in particular the identification of such products, will be an important issue for both the ACP and the EU in this area of the EPA negotiations. Products listed as sensitive will not be subject to a full degree of liberalization in terms of tariff reductions and the length of any transition periods.
Various approaches can be adopted to determine sensitive products. For instance, sensitivity can be measured in terms of the impact on the economy or the possible disturbance to macro-economic fundamentals after liberalization. It can also be determined on the basis of infant industry considerations, effects on revenue, income and employment. ACP countries may also wish to designate sensitive products in line with the criteria for ‘Special Products’ for developing countries in the WTO context, i.e. food security, livelihood security and rural development needs.
Proper definition of sensitive products, particularly in the agricultural sector, is crucial for each ACP region if the EPAs are not to have detrimental effects on the ACP economies. However, the definition of sensitive products presents a considerable challenge for the ACP group in the EPA negotiations. Despite their divergent economic structures and varying defensive interests in terms of market access, all ACP countries that are party to an EPA will have to first agree on a common regional list of sensitive products for the EPA. The consensus they reach will be subject to further negotiation with the EU, which will have its own preferences in the extent and detail of any list of sensitive products in the EPAs.
Below, you will find a selection of latest developments and sources of information to keep track on the issue of Sensitive Products
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Latest Developments:
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With the issue of market access still to be initiated in most of the regional EPA negotiations, the major developments on sensitive products are still to come. As part of the preparations for negotiating on sensitive products, a seminar was recently held on this issue in West Africa - an exercise which could prove useful for other ACP regions in the coming months.
* 02-02-07: Séminaire régional sur le traitement des produits sensibles dans la libéralisation du commerce: enjeux, approaches and méthodologiques
[Regional Seminar on the Treatment of Sensitive Products in Trade Liberalisation: issues at stake, approaches and methodologies. (Many of the supporting documents are available in English)]
Hubrural, 2 February 2007
La région Afrique de l’Ouest est engagée activement, sous l’égide de la CEDEAO et de l’UEMOA, dans la préparation d’un nouvel accord commercial avec l’Union européenne. Sous réserve des résultats de l’examen à mi-parcours des négociations qui s’engagent actuellement, ce nouvel accord, l’APE, devrait entrer en vigueur au 1er janvier 2008. A l’issue des négociations portant sur la préparation de la région à l’ouverture commerciale et à la création progressive d’une zone de libre-échange avec l’Union européenne, l’année 2007 devrait être consacrée aux négociations sur la libéralisation des échanges proprement dite. C’est toujours dans cette lignée que l’AFD, le CTA et Le HUB RURAL organise ce séminaire sur le traitement des produits sensibles dans la libéralisation du commerce.
[En savoir plus]
[Agenda commenté et accès aux pages d’informations sur les séquences du séminaire]
[Documents de base sur les produits spéciaux]
* 04-02-07: Une organisation paysanne ouest-africaine remet en cause le calendrier sur les produits sensibles
JeuneAfrique.com, 4 February 2007
Le Réseau des organisations paysannes et des producteurs agricoles de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (ROPPA) a déclaré son opposition, dimanche à Ouagadougou, aux conclusions de la concertation régionale sur le traitement des produits sensibles dans la libéralisation du commerce. Le président du ROPPA, Mamadou Sissoko, a estimé que la date butoir du 30 juin 2007 pour la soumission des résultats des travaux d'élaboration des produits sensibles au comité ministériel de la CEDEAO et de l'UEMOA, ne pourra pas être respectée par son organisation. M. Cissoko a fondé ses inquiétudes sur le fait qu'il faut 3 à 4 mois pour disséminer les conclusions de ce séminaire régional auprès de la base. M. Cissoko a également fait remarquer qu'il faut également des ateliers de mise à niveau au sein des organisations paysannes sur les secteurs de production, notamment les secteurs et produits sensibles. La troisième réserve du président du ROPPA porte sur la nécessité de la publication de l'étude d'évaluation du Tarif extérieur commun (TEC) menée par la CEDEAO.
[En savoir plus]
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Official Sources:
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The definition of sensitive products for the EPA negotiations will take place under the aegis of the following organizations in the ACP regions:
* Central Africa-EU EPA:
La Communaute Economique et Monetaire de l'Afrique Centrale (CEMAC): www.cemac.cf
* East and Southern Africa-EU EPA:
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA): www.comesa.int
* Southern Africa-EU EPA:
Southern African Development Community (SADC): www.sadc.int
* West Africa- EU EPA:
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS): www.ecowas.int
in cooperation with l’Union Economique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA): www.uemoa.int
* CARIFORUM-EU EPA:
The CARIFORUM countries with the coordination of Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM): www.crnm.org
* Pacific-EU EPA:
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat: www.forumsec.org
* See also: World Trade Organisation: www.wto.org
See Definition of Special Products as agreed by WTO members in paragraph 41 the WTO July Framework Agreement of 2004:
“Developing country Members will have the flexibility to designate an appropriate number of products as Special Products, based on criteria of food security, livelihood security and rural development needs. These products will be eligible for more flexible treatment. The criteria and treatment of these products will be further specified during the negotiation phase and will recognize the fundamental importance of Special Products to developing countries.”
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Internet resources:
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*International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD)
The International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) was established in Geneva in September 1996 to contribute to a better understanding of development and environment concerns in the context of international trade.
www.ictsd.org
*Agtradepolicy.org
Agtradepolicy.org is an internet portal, conceived by the ITCSD, which is concerned with agriculture and sustainable development in the international trade system.
http://www.agtradepolicy.org/index.htm
* Réseau des Organisations Paysannes et de Producteurs Agricoles de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (ROPPA)
(also available in English)
Le ROPPA a formellement été fondé en juillet 2000 lors d'une rencontre à Cotonou qui a rassemblé une centaine de responsables paysans mandatés par leurs organisations. Il regroupe des organisations ou "cadres de concertation" de 10 pays d'Afrique de l'Ouest (Bénin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambie, Guinée, Guinée-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Sénégal, Togo). Cet ensemble n'est pas fermé et l'ambition, à moyen terme, est d'accueillir des organisations paysannes de l'ensemble des pays de la CEDEAO, qui représente l'Afrique de l'Ouest réelle.
http://www.roppa.info
* The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP)
The IATP is a research and education organization which aims to create environmentally and economically sustainable communities and regions through sound agriculture and trade policy. The Institute assists public interest organizations in effectively influencing both domestic and international policymaking.
http://www.iatp.org/
* Agritrade – News and analysis of events affecting ACP agricultural trade
Agritrade - CTA's web portal on international agricultural trade issues in the context of ACP -EU relations. Agritrade aims to serve and to be utilised by ACP stakeholders including officials in the trade and agriculture Ministries as well as interested parties in the independent sector.
http://agritrade.cta.int/
*Eldis Trade Policy Resource Guide
*Inter-réseaux – Développement Rural
L’ambition de l’Inter-réseaux est d’enrichir et de renouveler la réflexion sur la coopération Nord-Sud dans le domaine du développement rural. Pour ce faire, il s’est fixé comme objectif de créer des conditions d’échanges et de débats entre acteurs d’horizons divers engagés dans ce domaine.
http://www.inter-reseaux.org/
*Trade Observatory
A global source of trade policy information from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/
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Other sources:
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* Upcoming event: Meeting on “Special and Sensitive Products” for African WTO Trade Negotiators
Date: April 2007, in Cotonou, Bénin
Organised by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
*How to Address the Specificities of Non-Agricultural Industrial and Handicraft Products in Identifying Sensitive Products
ECOWAS, January 2007.
*Sensitive Products: Selection and Implications for Agricultural Trade Negotiations
Jean Sebastien, David Laborde and Will Martin, June 2005.
* Identifying "Special Products" - Developing country flexibility in the Doha Round
by J.R. Deep Ford, Suffyan Koroma, Yukitsugu Yanoma and Hansdeep Khaira, in Commodity Market Review 2005-2006, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Rome, 2005.
Developing countries recognize the potential benefits of more liberalized agricultural trade and are committed to this objective in the context of the WTO. However, many of them still seek increased flexibility in applying the agreed rules on some products in the name of advancing their longer run economic and social development. WTO members accepted the importance of different treatment for some products and agreed that based on three criteria of food security, livelihood security and rural development needs Developing Country Members will have the flexibility to designate an appropriate number of products as "Special Products". The paper seeks to advance the understanding of "Special Products" and more specifically develop and demonstrate an approach and methodology for identifying "Special Products". The paper examines indicators that can be used to measure each of the three criteria and then assesses the importance or contribution of agricultural commodities in terms of selected indicators.
[click here to read more]
* Special products and the Special Safeguard Mechanism: Strategic options for Developing Countries
ITCSD - Draft Paper - November 2005. This paper was presented at a conference on SP and SSM organised by ITCSD in November 2005. Further documents area available at
This document aims to contribute to ongoing negotiations by providiing some empirically based and scientific elaboration of the SP-SSM concepts from a sustainable development perspective. To achieve this, it connects local realities - such as food insecurity, the composition of traditional diet, rural employment structures, or market conditions, to list just a few - with disciplines under negotiation in the market access pillar of the WTO agricultural talks...
[click here to read more]
*Trade Liberalisation and Sensitive Product Markets in the Caribbean
Report to the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery by David Greenaway, Chris Milner and Shelton Nicholls, January 2002
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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
January – February 2007
Summary
* All-ACP level discussions
* Africa Union (AU) Level Discussions
* West Africa (ECOWAS)
* Central Africa (CEMAC)
* Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA)
* Southern Africa Development Community (SADC)
* Caribbean (CARIFORUM)
* Pacific
2007 is a critical year for EPA negotiations. On 31 December, the WTO waiver for the ACP-EU Cotonou Partnership Agreement’s (CPA) trade preferences expires. Preliminary indications from reviews of negotiations on the EPAs to replace the waiver indicate that there has been much progress in, for example, agreeing frameworks and scope and in efforts to increase and improve aid support and its linkages to trade liberalisation commitments. But much work remains to be done, including in building capacity for the negotiation and implementation of EPAs and the actual negotiation of tariff liberalisation and EPA texts. While the ACP and EC remain committed to concluding negotiations this year, more time may be necessary to conclude EPAs that will deliver development objectives.
To progress in EPA negotiations, agreement is necessary in areas where there is now fundamental divergence of views. A key issue relates to the transition period and product coverage for reciprocal market access. EC indications are …
[click here to read more]
All-ACP Level Discussions
A group of ACP EPA Chief Negotiators and Ministers met with the German Minister of Development Co-operation (now EU President) and UK Ministers in October to seek their support for ACP positions in the EPA negotiations. The EU Member States stressed the importance of the timely implementation of the comprehensive review of the EPA negotiations and it was agreed to hold a full meeting between ACP Ministers and their EU counterparts in the margins of the meeting of EU Ministers for Development Cooperation in March to further discuss these issues ahead of the Joint ACP-EU Council on the EPA Reviews to be held in June.
ACP Heads of Government meeting in December adopted a declaration which reiterated that EPAs should allow development policy space and be properly sequenced and progressive. They called for ACP needs to be accompanied by adequate and effective supportive measures that address supply-side constraints, improve competitiveness, and strengthen the capacity to trade to enable ACP States to benefit from EPAs. They also called on the EC to identify alternative trade arrangements equivalent to existing situation for non-LDC ACP States not in a position to enter into an EPA.
Africa Union (AU) Level Discussions
AU Trade Ministers meeting on 16 January adopted a declaration expressing concern that at this advanced stage of the EPA negotiations, Africa’s priorities to ensure that EPAs take into account African countries’ concerns such as the cost of adjustment and building of the supply capacities, market access, including flexibilities related to product coverage and transitional periods as well as financing of trade-related infrastructure to ensure regional integration, have not been positively and adequately addressed by the EC. They call on the EC to show flexibility and to positively and adequately respond to key concerns of Africa and for the EC and EU Member States to provide additional resources in accordance with commitments, paying attention to the development and financing needs of Africa in building competitiveness and addressing supply side and infrastructure constraints. The reiterated the call for an EPA Adjustment Facility to cover social development, economic reforms, private sector development and institutional development. Ministers also urged all EPA parties to ensure that there is no disruption of trade if the period of EPA negotiations is extended.
West Africa (ECOWAS)
A meeting of ECOWAS and EC negotiators and the enlarged Regional Preparatory Task Force (RPTF) (EU and other development partners) held from 13-16 November discussed the region’s concerns on the impact of EPAs on their production sectors and development aid to accompany EPAs. Participants agreed on almost all of the text of the report of Group 5 on production sectors and the report on the EPA reference framework. Negotiators also had a discussion on the first structure of the EPA text. To increase effectiveness of support, it was decided to establish a partnership for supporting ECOWAS in the definition of a programme for increasing the competitiveness of industries. It will be accompanied by a regional and national action plans.
The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) will develop this in the framework of the initiative for the strengthening of African production capacity. The EU, EC and other partners will also contribute. A conference of donors will be held to reinforce coordination and additionality of support for EPA implementation. The meeting could discuss the establishment of a regional EPA fund and other mechanisms to coordinate support for EPA implementation.
[click here to read more]
Central Africa (CEMAC)
CEMAC-EU EPA negotiations have been blocked since July due to differences on approaches to dealing with the definition, content and modalities for facilitating the levelling up of production and increasing competitivity of economies and enterprises to benefit from EPAs and on support for implementation of EPAs.
CEMAC EPA Ministers and National Authorising Officers met on 22 November and adopted a declaration calling for dialogue with the EU on appropriate measures to take account of CEMAC development priorities with a view to concluding EPAs. Ministers called on the EU to recognise the necessity of engaging in negotiations on the reinforcement of capacities that will translate in the improvement of the basic infrastructure and levelling up of economies. They also called for the creation of a specific facility to support EPAs and the effective implementation of RPTF recommendations into project and programmes of support.
Ministers and NAOs then met with senior DG Trade and Development officials and EU Member States’ representatives on 24 November to discuss these issues and provide orientations for the continuation of EPA negotiations. CEMAC Ministers were disappointed that the DG Development Director General’s presentation only …
[click here to read more]
East and Southern Africa (ESA)
No joint EPA negotiating sessions have been held since the September launch of text based negotiations as ESA awaited the detailed EC reply to proposals in its draft EPA text put forward at that meeting. The EC indicated then that the text was a good basis for negotiations and included many useful provisions, for example on customs and trade facilitation. They, however, disagreed with several ESA proposals in the text in relation to the content and scope of development and market access provisions (see previous EPA Update).
The EC transmitted to ESA a more detailed reply to its proposals at the end of January. Sources indicate that the EC agrees to include a horizontal development chapter stating strategic objectives for the support to implementation of the EPA and provisions in specific chapters that take into account ESA cooperation needs. The EC, however, rejects …
[click here to read more]
Southern Africa Development Community (SADC)
The SADC-EC Regional Preparatory Task Force (RPTF) met on 14 November. Participants noted that inputs needed from EPA negotiations to be able to specify support for the establishment and implementation of the SADC Customs Union and EPAs in programming the 10th EDF’s SADC’s Regional Indicative Programme (RIP) are delayed as SADC awaits the EC’s response to its EPA proposals. There is concern that this delay could affect implementation of projects as funds will not be rolled over from the previous EDFs. Participants agreed to hold a high, possibly Ministerial, level RPTF meeting in February which would involve National/Regional Authorising Officers and principal negotiators from both sides to see if the programming process can be accelerated.
On 28 November, the EC put forward to EU Member States for their approval proposals to modify its SADC EPA negotiating mandate. The proposals …
[click here to read more]
Caribbean (CARIFORUM)
CARIFORUM and EC Principal and Ministerial EPA Negotiators met at the end of November. They noted the significant progress made in negotiations in agreeing the general structure and scope for the EPA and towards establishing a consolidated text as the basis for the final phase of the negotiations in areas such as customs and trade facilitation, technical barriers to trade (TBT) and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures. Divergence of views continues, however, on some fundamental issues. The EC maintains that CARIFORUM collective EPA commitments must be taken where possible while CARIFORUM’s position is that it currently has no legal status to assume region-wide EPA commitments so its individual Member States must make EPA commitments.
Further negotiations are also required on tariff liberalisation - both the approach and actual exchange of requests and offers on tariff lines. The EC proposes to harmonise most CARIFORUM tariffs and treat significant tariff lines on a case by case basis in liberalisation schedules which would be based on applied tariffs and regionally applied. CARIFORUM proposes …
[click here to read more]
Pacific
A letter, leaked to the international press in October, from Senior EU EPA Negotiators to the Pacific Chief EPA Negotiator revealed major divergence of views in the EPA negotiations. The letter says the Pacific’s proposed draft legal EPA text, which calls for a general EPA agreement which includes sections on services and investment for all-Pacific signing and an annex on goods to be signed by interested Pacific Member States, could form the basis for an overall EPA structure for the region, but that it would have to undergo substantial amendment before it can become a mutually agreeable EPA. Specifically, the EC indicated it would not be possible to negotiate a separate fisheries agreement outside the EPA as suggested by the Pacific, but that fisheries should be fit into the natural resources management section of the EPA. The EC also rejected the Pacific’s proposals to include development cooperation finance in EPAs since…
[click here to read more]
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News: Highlights of the Month
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* EU-Africa e-alert. No. 5 . January 2007
Contents
I – Focus: the AU Summit: what future for the African Union?
II - EU-AU relations: launch of the public consultation for a joint EU-Africa Strategy
III – The African Union: Africa in a broader context and the RECs
IV – EU external aid: EDF 10, new instruments of EC external aid and EU development policy
V – Peace and Security
VI – Governance
VII – EPA negotiations
VIII – Migration and development
IX – An actor in EU-AU relations
Click here to access directly the EU-Africa e-alert www.ecdpm.org/eu-africa-alert
Please do not hesitate to send interesting links and articles which can contribute to enriching this e-alert, in particular by African partners. We would like to thank everyone who has contributed so far.
Contact: europafrica.e-alert@ecdpm.org . Please also send an email to this address if you want to unsubscribe from this e-alert.
See also:
EN: The public consultation towards a joint EU-Africa Strategy is launched at: www.europafrica.org Help make this new strategy a living document that will enhance the partnership between Europe and Africa!
FR: La consultation publique vers une Stratégie UE-Afrique conjointe est lancée sur : www.europafrique.org Participez pour que cette nouvelle stratégie soit un document vivant qui renforce le partenariat entre l’Europe et l’Afrique !
and
The first issue of the Europafrica bulletin, which will give you an up-date on the public consultation for a joint EU-Africa Strategy. It includes news that has been posted on the web site, as well as a summary and quotes from your comments and contributions.
EN http://europafrica.org/2007/02/10/europafrica-bulletin/
FR http://europafrique.org/2007/02/10/bulletin-europafrique/
From our news section:
* 26-02-2007: SADC EPA, MAT situation still quite confused
On SADC EPA, the situation is still quite confused regarding MAT but it seems that they will manage to reach an agreement with SACU countries. Probably different (less ambitious) from what the EC envisages for other configurations but they can always re-brand it as TDCA+ and not EPA so that they cannot be accused of giving a special treatment to SACU with respect to the other ACPs.
*26-02-2007: ACP frustration at EC rejection of study methodologies
ACP observers note that while the EU side recognize the need for much technical work in 2007 in order to complete negotiations the ACP have expressed frustration at the fact that the EC seems to reject methodologies used by various ACP for their technical EPA preparations (in particular in relation to adjustment costs).
* 26-02-2007: 10th EDF NIPs appear to have no EPA allocations
Sources indicate that the 10th EDF National Indicative Programmes do not seem to include any EPA related support. This certainly has implications for the EPA financing debate
*12-02-2007: EU Trade and Development Experts meeting on EPAs and Aid for Trade
EU Trade and Development Experts meeting on EPAs and Aid for Trade was held last week. Discussions focussed on progress in the negotiations and how to spend the extra 0.7 bn euro on aid for trade
* 19-02-2007: WTO unlikely to launch dispute against ACP trade preferences if EPA imminent
Some observers of the EPA negotiations believe that even if the Cotonou waiver were to lapse before there is an agreement, other WTO Members would be unlikely to bother launching a formal dispute against trade preferences granted to such small economies, if they were reasonably sure that a long-term deal would be reached within a year or two. An exception to this would be the Caribbean countries, whose duty-free access to the EU banana market has already been the subject of challenges from Central American banana producers. Unsurprisingly, the Caribbean is the ACP region that has made the most progress towards finalising an EPA.
In Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest, 7 February 2007
*19-02-2007: EC working on recommendation to open Pacific Fisheries negotiations
The EC is working on a recommendation to the Council to authorise it to open negotiations on a Convention/Agreement on a Regional Fisheries Management Organisation for non-tuna species in the Pacific SEC (2007) 198/1 of 09/02/2007
*19-02-2007: World Parliamentary Forum declaration on EPAs
WORLD PARLIAMENTARY FORUM, Nairobi, 24 January 2007
At the World Social Forum in Nairobi there was also a World Parliamentary Forum.
After some discussion between StopEpa MPs and MPs who rather want to improve EPAs, the following compromise was adopted, saying that "Economic Partnership Agreements as they have been proposed by the European Commission are unacceptable"
RESOLUTION
The World Parliamentarian Forum, meeting in Nairobi, the days 21 and 24, adopted the following resolutions:
I) Economic Partnership Agreements
It's only with the consolidation of regional blocs of the Southern countries, under the leadership of the Southern countries, that the condition will be met to establish agreements based on complementarity, cooperation, solidarity and respect of sovereignty.
Economic Partnership Agreements as they have been proposed by the European Commission are unacceptable.
All economic agreements-including EPA's-, must take into account in the calendar and the method of negotiation, the asymmetrical relations, - that disfavour in particular the African countries-, and must involve the social movement, the civil society and the elected national parliamentarians.
See also: the Memorandum to the European Commission (EC) at WSF 2007, Nairobi, from: 30 000 citizens at the World Social Forum, Nairobi on January 24th 2007.
* 12-02-2007: ECDPM to elaborate options for monitoring EPAs
ECDPM and the German Development Institution (DIE) have launched a joint activity that aims to elaborate options for monitoring the implementation and impacts of EPAs with key stakeholders from Europe and ACP countries.
* 02-02-2007: The EC is working on implementation of the 10th European Development Fund
From ACP and EU news providers:
* SA, EU hope to finalise partnership action plan during German presidency
Engineering News, 27 February 2007
The finalisation of a joint action-plan for the establishment of a so-called 'Strategic Partnership' between South Africa and the European Union (EU) - proposed by the EU last year - would be prioritised during Germany's Presidency of the EU, which runs from January to the end of June. The action plan would seek to translate the proposed strategic partnership into a number of concrete operational elements, ranging from economic and trade cooperation, through to environmental protection and security and defence.
[click here to read more]
* Developing countries' problems stem from structural weaknesses not EU CAP
Andreas Schneider, Europe’s World, 26 February 2007
The EU's Common Agricultural Policy is widely reviled for damaging the livelihoods of the world's poorest farmers. But Andreas Schneider of the Centre for European Policy Studies in Brussels argues that the developing countries' problems stem from structural weaknesses and internal policy shortcomings, and that these should be the targets of reform
[click here to read more]
* Pétition des ONG contre les Accords de Partenariat Economique
7sur7, Belgique, 22 février 2007
Une délégation d'ONG a remis, jeudi matin, une pétition contre les Accords de Partenariat Economique (APE), comprenant plus de 50.000 signatures, aux représentants du cabinet du ministre de la Coopération au développement, Armand De Decker, et du secrétaire d'Etat aux Affaires européennes, Didier Donfut.
[en savoir plus]
* A Framework for the SADC EPA Negotiations at last
JB Cronje, tralac, 20 February 2007
The EU Council of Ministers, meeting on 12 February 2007, decided to include South Africa in the SADC EPA negotiations. This is a major breakthrough and provides a new legal and institutional basis for WTO compatible trade with the EU (the region’s biggest trading partner) and promoting regional integration. However, several new challenges now arise, leading to the following questions:
"How will the EPA negotiations and the TDCA review be aligned? The latter is a bilateral agreement between South Africa and the EU; while the EPA negotiations have to replace the Cotonou trade preferences for ACP countries. South Africa does not share in these preferences.
[click here to read more]
* Extending Cotonou preferences
Paul Kruger, tralac, 20 February 2007
Trade preferences under the existing Cotonou Agreement allow ACP countries access to the EU market at zero or reduced tariffs without requiring reciprocity. These preferences are however dependent on the granting of a waiver by WTO members.
Until the introduction of the Enabling Clause in 1979, the GATT did not allow for special treatment of developing countries. The Enabling Clause provides the legal basis for non-reciprocal tariff preferences by sanctioning departure from the MFN obligation. The Enabling clause allows developed countries to discriminate in favour of developing countries but does not allow for discrimination between groups of developing countries. Specific preferences such as those granted to ACP countries are thus not covered by the Enabling Clause. No WTO member raised any objection against the preferential treatment the ACP countries were receiving from the EU, and no one was entirely certain if these measures were compatible with WTO rules.
[click here to read more]
*July deadline for Carib/Europe economic negotiations
David Jessop, Jamaica Gleaner, 18 February 2007
Setting deadlines makes sense. It is good practice. It sharpens the mind, providing a target against which delivery can be measured. It encourages creative solutions.
Over the last 10 days, first trade ministers and then Caribbean heads of government have had the opportunity to debate first in Jamaica and then in St. Vincent how best to address some of the inter-regional problems that face the Caribbean in its negotiations with Europe for an economic partnership agreement (EPA).
Towards the end of 2006, it had become apparent that a number of fundamental issues central to reaching agreement with Europe remained unresolved, including the geometry of the region (the nations to be included in an EPA); the nature of the tariff reduction commitments that would have to be made; the position of sugar and bananas in an EPA, and, the negotiating deadline.
[click here to read more]
*Antigua warns about rushing towards trade liberalization
caribbean360.com, Kingstown, St Vincent, 14 February 2007
Following on from recommendations at a meeting of trade ministers in Jamaica two weeks ago, CARICOM has given Trade Ambassador Dr Richard Bernal the greenlight to pursue a new strategy aimed at finding a resolution with the European Union (EU) on the composition of an Economic Partnership Agreement. At the same time Antigua warned fellow countries to be wary to rushing to achieve trade liberalisation just for the sake of meeting a deadline.
[click here to read more]
*The EU welcomes South Africa in the SADC EPA negotiation
DG Trade, Brussels, 14 February 2007
The EU Council of Ministers, meeting in Brussels on 12 February, accepted to include South Africa in the SADC EPA negotiation. This is the EU response to a proposal tabled by SADC in March 2006. 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.
[click here to read more]
*West, Central African countries to try for EPAs with EU by end-2007
Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest, Vol. 11, Number 5, 14 February 2007
West and Central African countries have agreed to try to conclude their Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations with the EU in time for a December 2007 deadline. They appear to have dropped requests to extend talks beyond this date in exchange for more binding promises of aid from Brussels.
[click here to read more]
A number of articles related to the request of an extension of the deadline made by West Africa and the latest development on this issue can be found in our Resources from recent events section below.
*Africa: Continent asks for more time in EU trade talks
Benson Kathuri, The East African Standard, Nairobi, 13 February 2007
African countries have asked the European Union (EU) to extend the on-going Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) talks by another one year. Speaking in Nairobi, trade ministers and experts from the continent said the region could not conclude the EPAs negotiations before December.
[click here to read more]
*Free trade area for SADC by next year
Guardian Correspondent, The Guardian, 13 February 2007
With just over 12 months remaining before the SADC region can create its Free Trade Area, Member States remain confident that they can move a gear up to iron out outstanding impediments for the region to achieve set targets.
Since 2000, SADC countries have been implementing a programme towards creating a Free Trade Area by 2008, a Customs Union by 2010, a Common Market by 2015 and a Monetary Union by 2018.
However, the last heads of state Summit, in the Lesotho capital of Maseru in August, raised concern about the pace at which SADC`s economic integration programme was being implemented.
[click here to read more]
* Berlin proposes Africa micro-credit fund
Hugh Williamson, 13 February 2007
Germany is to press other Group of Eight industrial nations to create a micro-credit fund for African entrepreneurs as part of efforts to promote investment in the continent, according to Germany’s development minister. Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul said the fund, which could be managed by the World Bank, would be a “positive signal” to the poorest people in African countries, who “often miss out on the effects of investment”.
[click here to read more]
*International Trade Forum: Aid for Trade
The Quarterly Magazine of the International Trade Centre, 8 February 2007
In development circles, trade is becoming accepted as a way to address poverty.
There is growing attention paid to Aid for Trade, at a time when development
assistance is being rethought within the international community, and when new
models are being tested. New stories on the Trade Forum site ( www.tradeforum.org ) provide a flavour of emerging trends, with contributions from Pascal Lamy, WTO Director-General; Ambassador Mia Horn af Rantzien, Chair of the WTO Task Force on Aid for Trade; and views from ITC directors on making aid for trade more effective. We welcome your comments.
[click here to read more] (also available in French)
* Africa: Continent Must Tough It Out in Dealing With EC
(an NGO analysis of the EC’s response to the SADC EPA proposal)
Brendan Vickers, Business Day, Johannesburg, 5 February 2007
As the new year unfolds, trade negotiators from the developing world confront a daunting trade landscape. There is cautious optimism that the Doha Round will be revived, which will certainly tax their resources. At the same time, regional and bilateral impulses remain strong. By the end of December, the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of nations must conclude reciprocal economic partnership agreements (EPAs) with the European Commission (EC). If we are to believe Brussels, then EPAs are all about development, poverty reduction and greater integration of the ACP into regional and world markets. In past meetings, some EC officials have even proclaimed fancifully that Europe has no offensive interests! As beguiling as such politics may appear, we should not lose sight of the fact that EPAs in their current form are about hard-nosed economic interests.
The questions then are: what offensive and defensive positions should the ACP adopt? What policy flexibilities should we demand? And how best can EPAs be shaped into real instruments of development, as the EC is wont to insist?
[click here to read more]
* Bush Administration tables farm bill proposals ; Trading partners dissatisfied
Bridges Weekly Digest, Vol. 11, Number 4, 7 February 2007
Several of the US' top trading partners have expressed dissatisfaction with the Bush administration's proposed reforms for future agricultural subsidy spending, unveiled on 31 January. They had hoped for a clearer signal from Washington that it wanted to move towards reducing trade-distorting farm subsidies, a key issue in the Doha Round trade talks. Although the administration has said that the plan would reduce farm payments by some USD 17.5 billion over the next five years, most of the savings are simply the result of higher commodity prices.
[click here to read more]
See also:
*Le gouvernement Bush propose une réduction des subventions agricoles. Il s'agit surtout de réduire les sommes versées aux riches agriculteurs.
Kathryn McConnell, USINFO, 1er février 2007
Le gouvernement Bush propose de réduire ses programmes de subventions agricoles au cours des cinq prochaines années en les liant aux revenus des agriculteurs.
Ce nouveau projet de loi que le gouvernement a soumis au Congrès rendrait les agriculteurs américains plus compétitifs sur les marchés agricoles mondiaux tout en réduisant les dépenses, a déclaré le ministre de l'agriculture, M. Mike Johanns, lors d'une conférence de presse tenue le 31 janvier.
[en savoir plus]
* Ministers breathe fresh life into Doha trade negotiations
Alan Beattie, Financial Times, 29 January 2007
The Doha round of trade talks juddered back to life over the weekend, with leading countries expressing enthusiasm for clinching a deal but giving few details about how it would work. Meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, about 30 ministers instructed their officials to step up talks to reach a framework deal, especially on the divisive subject of agriculture, in the next few months. The progress marked a rare concrete achievement in a forum otherwise largely dominated by stimulating but inconclusive debate on climate change.
[click here to read more]
* EC Response to Oxfam criticisms on Pacific EPA negotiations
Roberto Ridolfi, Head of Delegation of the European Commission for the Pacific, Suva, Fiji
In Islands Business
I refer to an article entitled “EPA with Europe in doubt” published in the January edition of Islands Business. Through its extensive quoting of an Oxfam report on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) in general, the article presents a highly distorted picture of EU (European Union) trade and development policy vis-à-vis the Pacific ACP States which I would appreciate having the opportunity to correct through your columns.
Oxfam’s position on EPAs is well-known to be negative by definition, whether for the Pacific or for any other region. It is strongly opposed to the gradual market opening of ACPs, and even more so to the introduction of trade-related rules.
But its weakness is that it persistently fails to propose valid alternatives to address the progressive marginalisation of either Africa or other parts of the ACP world, including the Pacific.
[click here to read more]
* Expert wants trade negotiations extended
Ibrahim Kasita, The New Vision, 25 January 2007
Trade agreements negotiations between Eastern and Southern African countries (ESA) and the European Union should be extended by three years, a consultant has said.
The extension could help states tackle critical issues like loss of revenues, trade in agriculture, industrial goods and services, unfair competition and trade diversions, Premium Consultant’s Evarist Mugisa, urged.
[click here to read more]
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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*La dérogation ACP-CE à l’épreuve de l’OMC : Quid de l’après 31 Décembre 2007 ?
Achille Bassilekin, Conseiller à la Délégation du Groupe des Etats ACP à Genève (Les vues exprimées ici sont celles de l’auteur et n’engagent pas le Secrétariat des Etats ACP)
Le présent aide mémoire vise à présenter des éléments ayant jalonné la vie de la dérogation ACP-CE depuis son adoption à Doha par la 4è Conférence Ministérielle de l’OMC pour explorer si l’environnement du Conseil du commerce des marchandises est propice à l’introduction d’une nouvelle demande de dérogation qui prolongerait le régime commercial de Lomé-Cotonou au-delà du 31 Décembre 2007 .Si cela est envisageable, quels sont les écueils que devraient surmonter les deux partenaires aussi bien du point de vue procédural que légal pour négocier son acceptation d’ici au 31 décembre 2007 ? Une nouvelle dérogation ACP-CE représente t-elle la meilleure voie de sortie pour les partenaires à l’Accord de Cotonou pour faire face au défi de l’intégration harmonieuse des pays ACP dans le système commercial multilatéral ?
*ILEAP has published a new series of publications on Aid for Trade at: http://www.ileap-jeicp.org
Aid for Trade: A new issue in the WTO
ILEAP-JEICP - Negotiation Advisory Brief No. 16 - 19 January 2007
Scale and type of funds for Aid for Trade
ILEAP-JEICP - Negotiation Advisory Brief No 15 - 18 January 2007
Financing International Public Goods: A framework to address Aid for Trade
ILEAP-JEICP - Negotiation Advisory Brief No 14 – 18 January 2007
Regional Aid for Trade
ILEAP-JEICP - Negotiation Advisory Brief no 12 – 01 January 2007
* Breaking the Spirit of Cotonou. A Critique of the EC’s Approach to the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations with ACP countries.
Oxfam - January 2007 – This document was sent to members of the 133 Committee and ACP Working Party of the European Council of Ministers.
In the EPA negotiations, there are numerous examples of the EC breaching the spirit of Cotonou’s partnership principle. It is failing to present pro-development negotiating proposals and is rejecting such proposals from ACP governments. The linchpin of Cotonou is the notion of ‘partnership’, and importantly, that ‘the ACP States shall determine the development strategies for their economies and societies in all sovereignty and with due regard for the essential elements.’ (Article 2, Cotonou). Despite this, the EC has been generally dismissive in its response to ACP proposals.
* Much to lose, little to gain. Assessing EPAs from the perspective of Malawi
Mari Griffith – Tearfund, January 2007
This report looks at EPAs from the perspective of Malawi. Malawi’s stakes in EPAs are high: as the single largest market for Malawi’s exports and a key source of imports, the EU is an important trading partner. For the EU, however, trade with Malawi accounts for a mere 0.01 per cent of its world trade. This report shows that an EPA threatens to, inter alia: Reinforce Malawi’s position as an exporter of low-value, unprocessed commodities, undermining the Malawian government’s development strategy to ‘add value’ to agricultural goods and to develop a manufacturing sector; Undermine regional integration between Malawi and its neighbours; Lead to a significant loss of fiscal revenue and induce other major adjustment costs.
* Les accords de partenariat économique: des accompagnements nécessaires
Document de travail - AFD, Département de la Recherche - Janvier 2007
Après avoir décrit l’évolution des relations Union européenne- ACP, cette étude offre un panorama des échanges entre l’Union européenne et les pays ACP. Les impacts des APE sont ensuite relatés, justifiant ainsi les politiques d’ajustement proposées en dernière partie.
* Main issues in EU-Africa EPA negotiation
European Research Office - 19 January 2007
There are three main clusters of issues of contention in Africa-EU EPA negotiations at this stage in the negotiations, revolving around trade in goods, the approach to trade in services and trade related areas and the so-called development dimension.
More briefing notes published recently by the European Research Office on ACP-EU relations at: http://ero.at10.be
* Letter from the spokesperson from the Pacific EPA negotiating team to Commissioner Mandelson
Samoan Associate Minister for Commerce, Industry and Labour, Hans Joachim Keil - 21 December 2006
“Dear Commissioner, I write to you with reference to a letter dated 20 October which was addressed to Hon Tavola from Messrs Manservisi and Falkenberg... Let me say at the outset that there seems to have been little progress on the negotiations to date, implying, of course, that the outlook for progress until the end of next year is somewhat bleak. I propose to offer my own views below in support of that assessment…”
* Agriculture and Development in the EPA negotiations
Swedish Board of Agriculture (International Affairs Division) - December 2006
The study aims to shed light on various issues related to the EPA regions' and the EU's export and import interests in the agro-food sector. The main purpose is to offer a comprehensive overview - and create some basic understanding - of the actors' positions in the ongoing EPA negotiations on agriculture. In this context, both the EPA-EU trade, as well as the EPA intra-regional trade, are studied in order to identify leading products and countries, as well as sensitive sectors, with regard to exports and imports. The overall ambition is that the study may be useful as a relevant background and reference material for the EPA negotiations in the agro-food area.
*Aid for Trade and the Post-Washington Confusion
Paper written for NORAD / the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Oslo, 8 December 2006
The paper examines some core issues related to aid for trade (AfT); starting with a brief review showing the rapid expansion of such aid in recent years. There is a well-documented need for aid related to trade institution building and the implementation of WTO agreements, and AfT may be scaled up for this purpose. Beyond this, there is uncertainty about the level of ambition for AfT, and the paper attempts to assess the scale of the problems that AfT is supposed to remedy.
* Accords de partenariat économique et dynamique des flux régionaux: une application aux pays de la CEDEAO
Rapport thématique - Présentation de l'Étude réalisée par l'IRAM - Septembre 2006
Cette étude a été confiée par l'AFD (Agence Française de Développement) à l'IRAM (Institut de recherches et d'applications des méthodes de développement) pour apporter un éclairage particulier sur l'impact, en termes de développement, de la mise en place des accords de partenariat économique (APE) en Afrique de l'Ouest. Elle a pour objectif spécifique de montrer à quelles conditions les APE et le processus d'ouverture qui en découle pour les pays de la CEDEAO (Communauté économique des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest) constituent un facteur de dynamisation des échanges et d'intégration régionale et, partant, de développement.
* Report of the 31st meeting of the ACP-EC Council of Ministers
1-2 June 2006 (Document only made available on 12 February 2006)
Item 3 on the Agenda: EPAs - State of play, evaluation and way forward:
The ACP side underlined the importance that ACP States attach to the negotiations of EPAs and expressed the will to hasten the pace of the negotiations in order to meet the deadline of 31 December 2007. They emphasised the need to preserve the development dimension of EPAs by paying special attention to the adjustment costs which will originate from their implementation. The ACP side recalled the challenges posed by overlapping membership between the EPAs negotiating configurations and some regional integration groupings, and cautioned about the introduction of the trade-related issues (competition, government procurement, investment) in EPAs.
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Resources from Recent Events
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* Event: Joint EU-Africa strategy consultation
Date: 1 February – 31 March
Resources:
-> You're invited to join the public consultation on a joint EU-Africa Strategy at:
EN: http://www.europafrica.org
FR: http://www.europafrique.org
-> Find out more about the consultation at:
EN
FR
* Event: European Parliament discussion on EPAs and Aid for Trade
Date: 27 February
Resources:
Published Draft Agenda
* Event: UNECA meeting in Nairobi to discuss EPA review paper
Date: 12-13 February
A report on the status of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) negotiations in Africa has concluded that little progress had been made by African countries despite their many efforts. The report was based on a study jointly conducted by the African Trade Policy Centre of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Union (AU) and the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Secretariat.
The review report was discussed at a meeting, in Nairobi on 12-13 February 2007 co-convened for senior officials and EPAs negotiation experts from across Africa, by Kenya's Ministry of Trade and Industry, the AU Commission, ACP Secretariat and ECA. Delegates from 31 African countries, as well as African Ambassadors and experts based in Geneva and Brussels, representatives of international organisations, the private sector and civil society organisations participated in the deliberations.
Resources:
->Report on the meeting and list of participants
*Event: EU-Pacific EPA Joint Technical Working Group
Date: 26, 29, 30 January
Resource:
->Summary of the EU-Pacific Economic Partnership Agreement
February saw EPA negotiators for the West and Central African regions discuss the timing and conditions of a deadline for concluding the EPA negotiations. In both regions, official positions on the EPA deadline evolved significantly over the month. Developments on this issue are chronologically traced in the official sources and news reports listed below.
*Event: Négociations de l'APE Afrique Centrale-UE: Communiqué Final du Comité Ministériel Commercial Conjoint élargi
Date : 6 February 2007
Resources:
-> Communiqué Final du Comité Ministériel Commercial Conjoint de l’APE Afrique Centrale / UE élargi
-> 22 février: Afrique centrale : Les negociations entre l’UE et l’Afrique centrale dans l’impasse
-> 6 February: Commission Press Release: EU and West Africa and Central Africa agree 2007 push for EPAs
* Event: Negotiation of an EPA between West Africa and the EC – Meeting of Chief Negotiators – Conclusion
Date: 5 February 2007
Resources:
-> Official conclusions of meeting of Chief Negotiators of the West Africa-EC EPA
EN
FR
-> 15 février: La CEDEAO demande trois ans pour la signature des APE
-> 6 February: NGOs call on ECOWAS to stand firm on EPA negotiations extension request
-> 6 February: West Africa accepts year-end EU trade deal deadline
-> 6 February: Commission Press Release: EU and West Africa and Central Africa agree 2007 push for EPAs
-> 4 février: Le ROPPA rejette le calendrier des négociations sur les APE
-> 2 February: Deadlock of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) in Ouagadougou
-> 24 janvier: Accord de partenariat UE-CEDEAO: La grogne des paysans entendue
* Current Event: ACP and ACP-EU Ministerial Trade Committees
Dates:
27 February: Meeting of ACP Ministers to deal with EPA negotiations. Brussels
28 February & 2 March: Meeting of ACP Ministerial Trade Committee
1 March: Joint ACP-EU Ministerial Trade Committee
* Upcoming Event: First formal meeting on EPAs between SADC with South Africa and the EU
Date: First week of March
* Upcoming Event: Informal meeting of EU Ministers for Development Cooperation to be held in Bonn
Date: 12-13 March
A meeting with ACP EPA Chief negotiators will be held on the margins of this meeting
Any resources from this event that are made public will be made available in our next newsletter.
* Upcoming event: Meeting on “Special and Sensitive Products” for African WTO Trade Negotiators
Organised by the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) : http://www.uneca.org/atpc
Date: April 2007, in Cotonou, Bénin
* Event: ECDPM and DIE elaborating options on a monitoring system for EPAs
Date: Ongoing
Informal discussions are increasing in ACP and EU circles on how to include a mechanism in EPAs to monitor the implementation of the agreement’s provisions and that it is effectively delivering on its stated development objectives. The key will be in jointly agreeing on the necessary steps from EPAs to development and finding a way to ensure that the results of monitoring can effectively influence subsequent policies. Many are watching how the current EPA Review will be acted upon as an indication of what’s needed for a future monitoring mechanism. Now is the time to influence the decision making on this issue.
The ECDPM and the German Development Institute (DIE) will jointly elaborate options to monitor the implementation and impacts of EPAs. The project will adopt a highly participatory approach, encouraging various ACP and EU stakeholders (negotiators, officials, policy makers, experts, and civil society and private sector actors) to provide input into this project. In a pilot phase, national participatory workshops with potential users of the monitoring system in Southern and Eastern Africa will also be organised. The objectives are to identify the key policies and sectors to be monitored and to help in developing appropriate mechanisms to assess the implementation and impact of EPA provisions.
Resources:
-> To share your views on possible monitoring systems for EPAs or to receive more information on this joint DIE-ECDPM project, please visit: www.ecdpm.org/trade/epamonitoring
-> SA TDCA Review Clause as example for EPA monitoring mechanism
In relation to a possible future EPA monitoring mechanism, some EPA observers suggest examining the review clause in the EU-South-Africa Trade, Development and Co-operation Agreement (TDCA). In the main agreement, you can find the review clause on page 294. The 18th article refers to evaluation ('no later than five years after'), but not to monitoring:
'No later than five years after the entry into force of this Agreement…” However, in other articles it is mentioned that they will be 'periodically reviewed', which suggests that it would happen more often than every five years.
Check our website for more events and resources! http://www.acp-eu-trade.org
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Copyright: ECDPM 2007