EPAs
The terms of Angola’s accession to the EU-SADC EPA are aimed to be finalised by 2021. Both sides confirmed their intention to start exploratory discussions on an EU-Angola investment agreement.
The long-delayed successor to the Cotonou Agreement between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) community appears to be approaching the finish line with a ‘99%’ chance of success this year, according to both sides.
The second negotiating round for the deepening of the interim Economic Partnership Agreement was held virtually, from 6-8 July 2020.
Kenya has initiated talks with the European Union and the United Kingdom on a post-Brexit trade agreement as the country moves to safeguard its horticultural produce market.
Kenya’s negotiations with the United States while the African Union is in ongoing negotiations on a future agreement between African countries makes this a transitional moment in Africa’s trading relationship with the West.
Mobility and migration is proving a difficult issue between the EU, African and Caribbean countries. Development cooperation is yet to be treated in these negotiations.
Negotiators from the Commission and the African, Caribbean and Pacific community confirmed that talks on a trade and political cooperation deal to replace the twenty-year-old Cotonou Agreement were close to completion.
The Ministry of Trade should ensure that eventual agreements promote Uganda’s aspiration for industrialisation and provide the policy space for government to be able to use a range of trade policy instruments.
The destructive effects of these free trade agreements signed with the EU are already clearly visible in the majority of countries of the South.
The EU has decided to include the Solomon Islands in its trade agreement with the Pacific states, which will allow tuna caught there to be exported to EU markets without duties.
The new mandate is much more far-reaching than the 2002 version as it incorporates everything that the EU has been pushing in its FTAs since CETA including ISDS, digital trade, far reaching IPR.
Namibia is committed to implementing the European Union’s Economic Partnership Agreement, and to launch the plan this year, National Assembly speaker revealed.
The SACUM-UK EPA effectively retains the terms of trade present in the existing SADC-EU EPA.
The EU concluded the first round of negotiations to deepen the existing Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with five Eastern and Southern Africa partners.
Seychelles is for the first time hosting negotiations between the European Union and the Eastern Southern African States that are focusing on the implementation of an interim economic partnership.
The objectives of the agreement are to improve Seychelles’ capacity to manage and implement the current EPA.
African political and business leaders complained that trade deals are skewed in favour of Europe, preventing them from building up domestic processing industries.
In this interview, we discuss the PACER+ trade deal, the post Cotonou talks with the EU and the influence of China’s Belt and Road Initiative in the Pacific region.
