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ECOWAS

Economic Community Of West African States

Gambia to sign free trade deal with EU
19-Aug-2017 The Point
The Gambia government and European Union have restarted the process of signing a free trade deal, dubbed Economic Partnership Agreement – EU’s flagship trade agreement.
Nigeria says Ecowas studying ramifications of Morocco membership
25-Jul-2017 Bloomberg
Several Nigerian lobby groups, including an organization of retired ambassadors, are putting pressure on the Nigerian government to reject the application because of the decades-old dispute over Western Sahara and Morocco’s geographical distance.
Nigeria: Trade negotiation office to advise govt on how to resolve EPA challenge
10-Jun-2017 All Africa
"We have looked at the agreement and we believe that the agreements are situated in the 19th century and we are now in the 21st century," Nigerian govt claims
Nigeria’s trade dilemma
29-May-2017 All Africa
To survive and grow its economy, Nigeria’s best option might be to protect its infant industries and grow them to a point where it can comfortably play on the grand waters of international trade. Until then, the EPA might be a right step in the wrong direction.
MAN cautions Fed Govt on EPA
2-May-2017 The Nation
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has again cautioned the Federal Government to be wary of the Economic Community of West African States – European Union Economic Partnership Agreement.
The huge dumping of extra-EU exports of dairy products and to the EPAs of West Africa, SADC, CEMAC and EAC in 2016
25-Apr-2017 SOL
The EU has been pressuring the ACP countries (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) to sign and implement EPAs that would be destructive for these countries.
«L’Afrique doit compter d’abord sur son propre marché intérieur»
25-Apr-2017 Sud Quotidien
Une zone de libre échange ne peut être une politique qui favorise l’industrialisation de l’Afrique. Et, le vrai problème de l’Afrique, c’est le manque d’industrialisation, selon El Hadji Alioune Diouf, expert en commerce international.
MEPs in Ghana and Ivory Coast to monitor EPA implementation
19-Apr-2017 EurActiv
MEPs from the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee are in West Africa this week, to monitor the implementation of Economic Partnership Agreements.
“The most remarkable rejection of free trade you’ve never heard of”
1-Apr-2017 The Mint
Africans are insisting on actual economic development which is leaving European trade negotiators exasperated. Rick Rowden explains why their stand is historic and right.
The subsidies to the EU exports of cereal products to West Africa in 2015 and 2016
24-Mar-2017 SOL
The EU-West Africa’s Economic Partnership Agreement has planned to reduce to 0 the import duty on non-rice cereal imports from the European Union at the beginning of the liberalization period.
Interview with Guy Marius Sagna
11-Feb-2017 bilaterals.org
The Coordinator of the National Coalition "No to EPAs" in Senegal discusses two free trade projects in Africa: Economic Partnership Agreements and the Continental Free Trade Area.
West Africa’s losses of customs duties with and without the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU
3-Feb-2017 SOL
Comparison of the loss of West African customs revenues.
Nigeria’s losses of import duties if the regional EPA is implemented: 2020-50
10-Jan-2017 SOL
After the Brexit it is useful to update the value of imports and losses of import duties of Nigeria from the EU28 minus the United Kingdom in case of the implementation of the regional EPA.
West Africa’s losses of customs revenues with the WA EPA or interim EPAs
31-Dec-2016 SOL
The conclusion is clear-cut: Ghana and Ivory Coast should have no interest whatsoever to implement the interim EPAs already ratified but should pressure the EU to request a new WTO waiver or to grant them the status of GSP +.
Ghana’s absurd ratification of the interim EPA
31-Dec-2016 SOL
The Ghanaian Parliament did not realize that it was shooting itself in the foot, following the Government which preferred to give in to the powerful pressures of international agribusinesses rather than to hear the warnings of the whole range of Ghanaian civil society.
The impact of Brexit, the regional EPA and interim EPAs of Ivory Coast and Ghana on Senegal and West Africa
31-Dec-2016 SOL
The Economic Partnership Agreement of West Africa was initialled in Ouagadougou on June 30, 2014 by the Chief negotiators but to date Nigeria, the Gambia and Mauritania have not formally signed it.
The EU fraudulent behaviour to extort the signing of the EPAs
11-Dec-2016 SOL
The States of West Africa and East Africa have been pressured to sign the Economic Partnership Agreements on the basis of false indications, not to say lies, of the European Commission.
The ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme undermined by the Interim EPAs of Ivory Coast and Ghana
3-Dec-2016 SOL
The Interim EPAs of Ivory Coast and Ghana will disrupt in a number of ways the functioning of intra-regional trade in the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme
Malmström welcomes parliamentary vote on Ghana agreement
2-Dec-2016 European Commission
The European Parliament voted, with a 375-220 majority, to give its consent to the interim Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Ghana.
EU’s EPA strategy detrimental to Africa – ECOWAS farmers
7-Nov-2016 Vanguard
The Economic Community of West Africa States ECOWAS,’ farmers have called on African leaders to resist the pressure being put on them by the European Union to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement.