EU

European Union

Ghana: Trade coalition condemns ongoing EPA negotiations
Barely two weeks after the European Union proposed to remove all remaining quota and tariff limitations on access to the EU market for all African, Caribbean and Pacific regions as part of the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations (EPAs), a group calling itself the Ghana Trade and Livelihoods Coalition has raised concerns about the ongoing negotiations that are scheduled to be concluded by December 31, 2007.
EU to start negotiations for Association Agreement with the Andean Community
The EU and the Andean Community announced yesterday in Santo Domingo their intention to start negotiations for an Association Agreement in the margins of the next EU-Andean Community Joint Committee that will be held in La Paz at the end of May 2007.
Deliberations continuing with EU, Canada, Turkey on free trade, QIZs - Jordan
Several agreements are in the pipeline to accelerate Jordan's free trade drive and maximise the advantages of Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZs), Industry and Trade Minister Salem Khazaaleh said on Saturday.
Taiwan: EU official says any FTA will be 'some time'
The EU's de facto ambassador to Taiwan told the European Chamber of Commerce in Taipei that it would be some time before the EU was able to evaluate the feasibility of a FTA with Taiwan. The prerequisites would be whether European companies see any need for or benefits from such a deal and whether the Taiwanese government is interested in signing a pact.
Development and intellectual property under the EPA negotiations
This South Centre policy brief examines the approach under the ongoing EPA negotiations with respect to innovation, biodiversity and traditional knowledge, public health, Least Developed Countries and on enforcement of intellectual property rights. It concludes that considering the level of economic development in ACP countries, the negotiations should not include IP rights as part of the partnership agreement.
The European approach to intellectual property in European Partnership Agreements with the ACP countries
A CIEL discussion paper on the European Union's attempts to impose TRIPS-plus standards on 76 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries
Namibia: 'Forget EU offer' - expert
Market researcher at Meatco, Wallie Roux, yesterday criticized the European Union's haste to have the Southern African Development Community-Economic Partnership Agreement (SADC-EPA) signed by the end of the year. "This is the biggest successful public relations stunt pulled by the EU," he observed.
EPA threatens N6.2b non-oil exports revenue, local industries - MAN
Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has warned that harmonisation of tariffs under the proposed ECOWAS-EU Economic Partnership Agreement will lead to loss of over 478 million dollars (about N6.2 billion) in revenue from non-oil exports annually, and closure of some industries in the country.
Much to lose, little to gain: Assessing EPAs from the perspective of Malawi
This Tearfund report critiques the process of EU-ACP EPA negotiations and looks at the potential impacts of an EPA on Malawi.
EU to announce 840-million-euro aid program for Central America
The European Union is about to announce an 840 million euro (1.141 billion US dollar) aid program for Central America, the European Commission said Tuesday.