bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

All articles

France To Maintain Official Development Assistance To Ghana
3-Mar-2009
Despite the global financial turmoil, the government of France will continue to provide its official development assistance to Ghana.
Trade unions set terms for EPA talks
3-Mar-2009
The East Africa Trade Union Congress (EATUC) has joined groups that want the deadline for the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) between the East Africa Community and the European Commission extended.
Jagdeo calls for freeze on EPA in light of global crisis
1-Mar-2009 Jamaica Observer
Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo believes there should be a delay in implementing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) trade deal with Europe because of challenges created by the global financial crisis.
EU partnership accord with the Caribbean: green light from MEPs, with conditions
25-Feb-2009 EP
The European Parliament should gives its assent to the economic partnership agreement between the Cariforum states and the EU, provided that undertakings are given by the Commission and Council for a review clause and that extra aid for trade is included
South Centre cautions African countries when approaching Economic Partnership Agreements
19-Feb-2009 South Centre
The value of the preferences African countries will reap from an EPA will essentially become nil in about 5 to 10 years.
EU Trade Commissioner pushes for economic integration with African nations
19-Feb-2009 ICTSD
EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton visited several nations in Southern Africa last week, where she held talks with key governmental leaders. Although the general purpose of the trip was to promote bilateral and regional trade relations, Ashton also hoped to make progress on a potential Economic Partnership Agreement, or EPA, between members of the South African Development Community (SADC) and the European Union.
‘EPA accord with EU’ll stifle Nigeria’s growth’
18-Feb-2009 This Day
Switzerland-based intergovernmental organisation, South Centre, has warned Nigeria and other African nations that the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) being proposed by the European Union (EU) will eliminate the capacity of African nations to industrialise within five to 10 years of signing the agreement.
Jamaica could become regional economic hub under EPA
14-Feb-2009
Jamaica could become the business and industrial hub of the Caribbean and the Americas, thanks to the opportunities presented under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), signed recently between CARIFORUM States and the European Union (EU).
Trading blocs to continue with EPA negotiations
12-Feb-2009
The EU Trade Commissioner, Catherine Ashton, was scheduled to arrive in Botswana on Wednesday for talks with senior SADC officials.
Namibia Revives EPA Discussions
12-Feb-2009
Namibia is taking another bite at discussions on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union in the hope of reaching a favourable standing.
Nigeria’s cocoa processing sector faces collapse
9-Feb-2009 This Day
For failing to assent to the interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) being proposed by the EU to the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, processed agricultural produce being exported from Nigeria to the EU attracts an extra cost of a minimum of 6 per cent of the total value of products being exported. Similar products being exported from countries such as Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and others who have endorsed the temporary EPA do not attract this extra cost, therefore putting Nigerian products at a major cost disadvantage in the export of processed products to the EU.
Trade: South Africa in growing conflict with EU
8-Feb-2009 IPS
Brussels officials have rejected calls from three southern African governments for a reassessment of a new trade accord with the European Union.
Financial regime change? by Robert Wade - A comment
2-Feb-2009 Norman Girvan
In an article titled “Financial Regime Change” published in New Left Review, September-October 2008, Robert Wade has made a number of points which have salience in the context of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement
EU déjà vu in the Caribbean
23-Jan-2009 The New American
Just as the European Union was sold to Europeans as a trade agreement even though it was actually a political union, so it has been sold again, this time to the islands of the Caribbean.
European Parliament softens position on EPA trade deals
22-Jan-2009 IPS
The European Union’s only directly elected body is demanding that a new trade deal between the bloc and Cameroon should not be applied to other countries in central Africa.
SA leading charge to amend EU trade deal
19-Jan-2009 Business Day
South Africa, Namibia and Angola have sent the European Union a letter — on an official South African letterhead and signed by the three countries’ ambassadors — reiterating concern about the interim economic partnership agreement and urging the EU to allow more time before the pact is signed.
European Union, Cameroon sign interim trade deal
15-Jan-2009
The European Union and Cameroon signed a "stepping stone" economic partnership agreement (EPA) trade deal on Thursday pending a broader regional accord with central African states.