ISDS Case Map
Zambia
Government says the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) regional grouping is dedicated to negotiating with the European Union (EU)’s Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) that meet the expectations of member countries.
The Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) has said the government should halt further negotiations over the Economic Partnership (EPAs) with Europe.
“EPAs are a divide-and-rule tactic being advanced by Europe for selfish interests and Malawi will not sign until all concerns are addressed and I know all these manoeuvres since I was among the pioneers of regional integration,” says President Wa Mutharika.
The signing ceremony of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the East and Southern Africa Bloc to which Zambia belongs, raised some eyebrows, but also drew attention to something deeper when Zambia and other members refused to sign.
Commerce minister Felix Mutati on Saturday refused to sign the interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union, saying Zambia will sign at a later date.
Zambia will soon sign with the European Union (EU) an interim free trade agreement. Zambia is the first country from the Southern Africa region to do so, while waiting to conclude a full Economic Partnership Agreement (APE) with all countries of Southern Africa.
The European Commission has struck a trade deal with Zambia that will give the southern African country full access to European Union markets, the EU executive said on Wednesday.
Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister, Felix Mutati, has reiterated Eastern and Southern African (ESA) countries' commitment to conclude a comprehensive, inclusive and development friendly Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU).
With six months remaining for African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) says it has intensified discussions with the European Commission (EC) on the rules of origin.
President Mwanawasa alongside other Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) heads of State endorsed Zambia's commitment to the launch of the COMESA Customs Union (CU) by December 8 next year during the recently-held COMESA summit in Nairobi, Kenya.
