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TRADE: EU ''Rushing'' EPAs Lest African States Change Their Minds
By Hilaire Avril
PARIS - Brussels is tempted to skip the translation of the interim economic partnership agreements (EPAs) into the 23 official European languages because of concerns that some African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries may change their minds about signing the final agreements.
MORE >>
 

TRADE: EU Still Targeting Poorest States for Inclusion in EPAs
By Teresa Robins
SEVILLE, Spain - The European Commission is still targeting those least developed countries that have resisted economic partnership agreements (EPAs) by opting for the Everything But Arms trade preference scheme.
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CARIBBEAN: Guyana Holds Out on Trade Deal with Europe
By Peter Ischyrion
ST JOHN'S, Antigua - Caribbean leaders appear to be no closer to a consensus position on the controversial Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) that was initialed last December following negotiations between the European Union and the Caribbean Forum countries.
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TRADE: French Report Condemns EPAs as Anti-Development
By David Cronin
BRUSSELS - The approach taken by the European Union (EU) in trade talks with Africa has been strongly criticised in an official report commissioned by France, the new holder of the EU’s rotating presidency.
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CARIBBEAN: Regional Unity Losing Steam, Critics Say
By Peter Ischyrion
ST JOHN'S, Antigua - Caribbean Community (Caricom) leaders are gearing up for their annual summit in Antigua early next month amid worrying signs that after 35 years, the regional integration movement has not progressed beyond a "community of sovereign states".
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TRADE-AFRICA: Some Interim EPAs May Not Be Concluded
By Hilaire Avril
PARIS - Some of the 35 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states that have initialled interim economic partnership agreements (EPAs) may still withdraw from the process – apart from the 44 states that have so far refused to sign EPAs with the European Union, according to researchers studying the fraught trade negotiating process.
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Q&A: South Africa To Reconsider Its Trade Agreement With EU?
Interview with Dot Keet, South African trade policy expert*
GENEVA - As a result of the free trade agreements with the European Union, called economic partnership agreements, regional integration in Southern Africa is in tatters (see accompanying article -- link below). The question arises: what kind of integration would engender broad-based development?
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TRADE-AFRICA: EPA Threatens to Tear Apart Oldest Customs Union
By Aileen Kwa*
GENEVA - The fate of the world’s oldest customs union, the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), is hanging in the balance as a result of the economic partnership agreements that most SACU countries have signed with the European Union (EU).
MORE >>
 

TRADE-MALAWI: Aid Will Not Be Conditional Upon Signing of EPAs
By Pilirani Semu-Banda
LILONGWE - The European Commission (EC) has assured Malawi that the country will continue receiving cooperation aid even if it does not sign an economic partnership agreement (EPA) with the European Union.
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Q&A: Can Save the MDGs Yet
Interview with Glenys Kinnock, Member of the European Parliament
BRUSSELS - White banners were draped across public buildings in much of Europe during 2005 as an unlikely coalition of celebrities, church groups and trade unionists took part in the Make Poverty History campaign. The Group of Eight (G8) top industrialised countries and the European Union responded by promising to double their aid to Africa by 2010 at a summit in Gleneagles, Scotland.
MORE >>
 

TRADE: Doha Talks Sweating Over Tropical Products
By Gustavo Capdevila
GENEVA - The hot potato these days in the Doha Round of World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations is tropical products, a burning issue for the world’s poorest countries.
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TRADE-AFRICA: Conflicting Views Over EPAs in French Government
By Hilaire Avril
PARIS - As it prepares to assume the presidency of the European Union in July one of the main issues on France’s agenda will be the economic partnership agreements (EPAs). But with less than three months to go, France’s official position concerning EPAs is still surprisingly unclear.
MORE >>
 

DEVELOPMENT: Views Clash at UNCTAD Over What’s Best for Africa
By Francis Kokutse
ACCRA - ‘‘Africa is not a basket case. The continent is just suffering from the effects of events that it has no hand in and cannot control.’’
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News in RSS The Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the European Union and the former colonies of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific region (ACP) are supposed to be in place soon. According to Brussels, they are an opportunity for these countries to shun isolation and expand access to international markets. But the ACP countries are anxious about being strangled by EPA rules.

From Aid to Trade with Africa: Fact or Fiction?
Money Matters - Economy, Trade & Finance
News in RSS
BOLIVIA: Businesses Take On the Green Challenge
PORTUGAL: Easing Food Safety Standards for Traditional Products
KENYA: Gathering Storm of Expectations in Nairobi Slum
AFRICA: Proving Ground For International Criminal Court?
HEALTH: Global Agenda Increasingly Disease-Driven
ZAMBIA: Mwanawasa Leaves Mixed Legacy
NICARAGUA: US Fourth Fleet Treads Fine Line
DEVELOPMENT: South Africa Beats Deadline on Water, Sanitation
SOUTH ASIA: Musharraf's Exit Leaves India Confused
AFGHANISTAN: Taliban Fill Power Void in Kabul?
More >>
News in RSS
EU-AFRICA-CARIBBEAN-PACIFIC TRADE: UNEQUAL PARTNERS, UNFAIR RULES
    by Luisa Morgantini


AFRICAN COUNTRIES SHOULD MOVE SLOWLY IN SERVICES TRADE TALKS WITH EU
    by Joy Kategekwa


EUROPE SELF-SERVING IN TRADE TALKS WITH AFRICA
    by Demba Moussa Dembele
Oxfam analysis of EU and EPAs
ACP Treaties
Transnational Institute
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