ISDS Case Map
EPAs
Economic Partnership Agreements between the EU and ACP countries (under the Cotonou Agreement)
Many are aware that the European equation of fair trade with free trade is nonsense, writes George Monbiot
The Cariforum Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) was initialled last December under extreme pressure of time and the threat of imposition of punitive tariffs on Caribbean exports in European Union (EU) markets. In the past nine months this 1,000 plus- page agreement has been examined closely, and found wanting in several respects. Every effort needs to be made to fix the problematic features before the agreement is legally cast in stone.
Senior representatives of the government, the opposition political parties, the trade union movement, the private sector, religious bodies and other non-governmental organizations unanimously called on regional leaders not to sign it in its present form.
As matters stand, Trinidad, Jamaica, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Belize, The Bahamas and St Vincent have said that they want to sign; St Lucia says it will not; Guyana is holding a public consultation; Grenada wants more time; and there is silence from almost all other Cariforum states. Meanwhile, some opposition parties have publicly disassociated themselves, most notably, in Jamaica and Antigua.
Dominica says it will sign a trade agreement with the European Union despite opposition from other Caribbean leaders.
The EPAs are not fundamentally concerned about African development but are designed to further the geo-economic aims of the ‘Global Europe' strategy being pushed from Brussels in the interest of European corporations and capital. Declaration from Africa Trade Network.
A marathon debate on the contentious Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Bill ended in disarray in Jamaica Tuesday night after Members of the Opposition walked out of Parliament. The walkout was the first of its kind in almost 30 years but it failed to prevent the passage of the Bill which was done before the end of the sitting.
Today's signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between CARICOM countries and Europe is officially off.
The Antigua Labour Party is calling on the government not to sign the EPA.
The economic partnership agreements (EPAs) are being given a bad name for nothing, according to Ghanaian parliamentarian JB Danquah.
