EPAs

Economic Partnership Agreements between the EU and ACP countries (under the Cotonou Agreement)

The future of ACP, Europe relations
ACP–EU relations have been in existence for quite a while but what great gains has it achieved, for at least one of its small islands member in the Pacific, Palau, asks its former Vice President, Sandra Pierantozzi.
Economic Partnership Agreement Negotiations On Track
Southern African Development Community (SADC) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations are ongoing while efforts are at an advanced stage to consolidate and harmonise market access arrangements for the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), reported Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Tjekero Tweya in Parliament last Thursday.
Free trade is not what Africa needs, Mr Cameron
On his trip to South Africa yesterday, David Cameron talked of the need to go beyond debt cancellation and aid "to make African free trade the common purpose of the continent". He lamented there has never once been "a march or a concert to call for … an African free trade area". He pointed to the need for more inter-African trade to facilitate the growth that would mean "businesses growing, new jobs on offer, families on the up, living standards transformed".
"Time out" on the promises of European Union Partnership
In October 2008, when the 15 member countries of CARIFORUM (CF) individually signed a full Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the collective European Union (EU) of 27 countries, much was made of the promise of increased benefits to Caribbean countries. Two and half years later, the promise remains unfulfilled.
Kenya exports to EU face taxation in trade agreement stalemate
Europe has issued a fresh warning of possible revenue losses for Kenya should the East African Community fail to reach a trade deal soon.
The private sector transparency and the EPA
Sometimes it seems as if officials are engaged in a game that involves having those they are most meant to help, guess about their intentions
PM: Caricom too slow in accessing preferential trading pacts
Prime Minister Bruce Golding has criticised the public and private sectors within Caricom for contributing to the region's lagging development status by not taking advantage of existing preferential trading arrangements.
EPAs will bring more costs than benefits
Economic Partnership Agreements are undertakings to create a Free Trade Area (FTA) between the European Commission of the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. Benjamin William Mkapa explores whether it is worthwhile for the EAC.
Suriname tightens restrictions on used car imports
Suriname has taken steps to protect the restrictions on the imports of secondhand cars that are in force because of Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the region and Europe.
Spain fights back against perceived threat from PNG
Spain’s tuna canning industry is feeling under attack by Papua New Guinea’s privileged access to the European Union market. Spain is consequently engaging in a smear campaign against the tariff-free market access of PNG and the Parties to the Nauru Agreement, a fisheries industry consultative meeting was told this week.