ISDS Case Map
EPAs
Economic Partnership Agreements between the EU and ACP countries (under the Cotonou Agreement)
Free trade agreements represent a powerful source of pressure to privatise seeds and people’s knowledge connected to seeds.
The Conference gathered 35 participants, comprising leaders from African trade union centres, the ITUC-Africa, ETUC, and ITUC, and experts from civil society and academia.
A standoff between Burundi and the European Union over political sanctions is set to further delay the signing and ratification of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the East African Community.
En marge du 5ème sommet Union européenne Union africaine qui se tiendra du 29 au 30 novembre 2017 à Abidjan, les organisations de la société civile, les mouvements sociaux et syndicaux de 16 pays africains et de 7 pays européens se sont donnés rendez-vous.
Almost all ACP countries fear the possible negative impact of the EPAs on their economies and therefore stall its implementation.
The ESA-4 EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement) was signed by four countries – Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Zimbabwe – in August 2009 and is provisionally applied since 14 May 2012.
The fifth trade committee under the EU-Pacific states interim EPA brought together Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and the European Union. Solomon Islands and the Samoa were invited to participate as observers.
"Trade for the People" briefly covers how the new FTAs, such as the TPP, the RCEP and the EPAs in Africa continue to threaten people's rights.
So-called SPS – Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary – issues identified as the main culprit. "Sometimes ostensible SPS issues were in fact disguised trade protectionism," said South Africa Trade Minister.
First-vice speaker of Burundi Senate said Burundi will not have the courage to ratify the Economic Partnership Agreement in the context of economic sanctions imposed against it.
