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ECOWAS

Economic Community Of West African States


EJN condemns EPA
The Economic Justice Network of Ghana unequivocally condemns the decision of the West African leaders to approve the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union.
ECOWAS leaders approve Economic Partnership Agreement with EU
The Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government have approved the Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU.
West Africa and Europe trade: Who will benefit more?
ECOWAS leaders agreed in principle to the trade agreement but put it off until concerns raised by the regional heavyweight, Nigeria, were addressed before a final decision can be taken. Analysis from TWN Africa’s Sylvester Bagooro.
Nigerian lawmakers consider EU’s economic partnership proposal
Nigeria’s House of Representatives has invited the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment to brief it on details of the EU’s proposed Economic Partnership Agreement and present the worst case scenario should Nigeria refuse to sign it.
Revise EPA before signing – Trade minister
Ghanian stakeholders at a public forum on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) have called for urgent steps to revise aspects of the agreement before it is signed.
Why Nigeria scuttled the EU-ECOWAS trade deal
The federal government has stated that it declined endorsing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union because acting otherwise would have been inimical to the advancement of the varied growth policies currently being implemented by the government.
West Africa: Ecowas postpones signing EU trade deal
"We believe it needs further scrutiny," announced President Yahya Jammeh, referring to the issue of signing an Economic Partnership Agreement negotiated by ECOWAS with the European Union.
Ghana: Don’t sign Economic Partnership Agreement - Coalition urges gov’t
A coalition of civil society organisations, farmer-based groups, religious organisations and labour unions have asked President John Mahama to show commitment to encouraging the productive capacity of Ghanaians by not signing the Economic Partnership Agreement.
US back ECOWAS’ efforts to attain borderless trade status
Countries in the West African sub-region were yesterday reassured of the support of the United States in their quest to establishing a borderless trade environment in the ECOWAS region.
Senegal: Regional ministers endorse compromises for EPA negotiations
West Africa’s ministers of finance and trade have adopted the compromise proposals for concluding the decade-long negotiations of the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union for a free trade area of the two regions.
EJN cautions ECOWAS over EPA
After over 10 years of objecting to demands by the European Union in the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations, ECOWAS, last week, suddenly reversed its position and made serious and incomprehensible concessions to the EU.
EU seals free trade deal with West Africa
Negotiators from West Africa and the EU have put pen to paper on a €42 billion-a-year free trade deal after 10 years of haggling, but ongoing talks with East African states remain mired in fine print.
ECOWAS, EU to resume negotiations on economic partnership agreement
The EU wants the West African region to open up 80 per cent of its market
EU could agree trade deal with West African bloc within months
The European Union could finalise a trade agreement with West Africa’s 15-nation Economic Community of West African States within the next three months, EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said on Thursday.
West African bloc approves single customs regime from 2015
Leaders of the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) agreed on Friday to implement a single customs tariff regime from 2015 in an effort to accelerate economic integration and kick-start stalled negotiations with the European Union on an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)
TIFA will help ease trade in West Africa
If concluded, the TIFA will create opportunities for US companies interested in doing business in West Africa, and will assist in addressing impediments to U.S. trade and investment in the region.
West African states, US may work on new trade agreement
The United States is exploring a trade and investment framework agreement (TIFA) with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), acting United States Trade Representative (USTR) Demetrios Marantis announced March 29.
West Africa warned not to approach trade negotiations with EU blindly
A senior official of Ghana’s Ministry of Trade and Industry has warned West Africa sub-region against entering into trade agreement with the European Union blindly.
MAN wants Economic Partnership Agreement put on hold
The much disparaged European Union’s Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) got a fresh beating Tuesday in Lagos, as the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) told a gathering of Industry stakeholders, including EU’s Ambassador to Nigeria, David Macrae, that the EPA Road Map should be put on hold and that the entire negotiation process be subjected to a complete review.
Europe intensifies EPA lobby in West Africa
The European Union has rebuffed claims that the proposed Economic Partnership Agreement with the West African region and Nigeria within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is out to undermine the region’s nascent manufacturing sector.