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EPAs

The trade escape
28-Sep-2005 ActionAid
The free trade Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) proposed by the European Union would have a devastating effect on African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries if they go ahead as planned.
Agreement with EU could hurt Kenya
28-Sep-2005 The Standard
Kenya’s chances of fighting poverty and growing its economy will be harmed if it signs a new economic agreement with the European Union in 2008, a human rights group said.
EU urged to halt regional agreements
28-Sep-2005 IPS
As European Union trade chief Peter Mandelson prepares to kick off a new phase of trade negotiations in the Caribbean this week, trade groups are asking the bloc to shelve regional agreements in order to avoid a "development disaster".
Planned protest in St Lucia against EU negotiators
26-Sep-2005 Caribbean Net News
A mass demonstration — “Operation Get Up, Stand Up”, in support of the region’s vital banana industry — has been planned for St Lucia to coincide with an important meeting of top European Union negotiators.
Resist external forces, trade bodies urged
22-Sep-2005 AllAfrica.com
Regional trade integration bodies must stand together and prevent outside forces like the European Union (EU) from promoting divisions to suit their varied agendas, especially when dealing with African member states, a Government minister has urged.
Mandelson in ’illegal’ trade move
2-Sep-2005
In advice for a new report by the development charity ActionAid a lawyer in Matrix Chambers today warns that European Union trade commissioner Peter Mandelson is violating a legal duty to Africa by undermining alternatives to his trade plans which, critics fear, threaten the jobs of millions of poor people.
NLC, others want economic partnership date shifted
25-Jul-2005 This Day
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the civil society have called for a shift in the commencement date of Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), from January 2008 to a more appropriate and realistic date. They said this became necessary in view of the apparent unpreparedness of Economic Community of the West African State (ECOWAS), little or lack of public awareness on EPA process and the little involvement of non-state actors.
AU’s Ministerial Declaration on EPA negotiations
30-Jun-2005 AU
EPAs should serve as instruments for development and poverty reduction. They must also support the deepening of intra-African trade.
Mandelson warns on lobbyists’ zeal
24-May-2005 The Guardian
Campaigners on behalf of the developing world risk harming poor countries if they align themselves with forces opposed to change, Europe’s trade commissioner Peter Mandelson said last night.
Economic Partnership Agreements and the "East Asian Community" - The Meaning of the Japan-Philippines EPA
17-Apr-2005 RIETI
Except for the areas of trade in goods and work permits for Filipino nurses, what will be achieved through the Japan-Philippines EPA is nothing more than maintaining the status quo.
Trade, development, cooperation - what future for Africa?
18-Mar-2005
Bi- and multilateral trade relations between external actors and individual African states or regional blocs are becoming ever more decisive. The trade policies of both the USA and the EU are anything but helpful.
COMESA demands changes to current intellectual property system
3-Mar-2005 Xinhua
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) said it wants changes to the current intellectual property right system to protect the interests of developing countries. It will accordingly conduct an audit and formulate a negotiating position for COMESA member countries in their negotiations with the European Union for the Economic Partnership Agreements due to start in December 2005.
Trade traps
19-Feb-2005
ActionAid’s new report on EPAs
European Union censured over EPA negotiations
24-Jan-2005 The Standard
Trade agreements between the European Union and Africa Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries could undermine the integration project in East Africa, a civil society lobby group has said.
Europe: support for change carries agendas
22-Jan-2005 Trinidad & Tobago Express
As 2005 proceeds, some Caribbean nations may find themselves faced with an unusually specific strategic choice: Europe may suggest the need to consider the relative weight they intend to give to the development of sectors such as tourism in preference to the role presently afforded to traditional agriculture.
EU-ACP Partnership Agreement: Can The Gambia benefit?
7-Jan-2005 Daily Observer
Opening up The Gambia’s and ACP markets to the EU is likely to result in transfers of tariff revenues from ACP countries to the EU and this will worsens their terms of trade and result in a welfare loss.
EPAs - Endless Poverty in Africa
6-Jan-2005 EPA Watch
Press release of the launch of the STOP EPA campaign at the Africa Social Forum in Lusaka, Zambia, on 14 December 2004
The Wrong Ointment
5-Nov-2004 CAFOD
CAFOD is asking the UK government to hold the EU to drop all ‘offensive interests’ in the EPA negotiations in Africa and provide African countries ‘alternative’ non-reciprocal trade relationships that are not free trade areas
e-postcard: ’Stop EPAs’
21-Oct-2004
Sign the e-postcard that will be send to UK Trade Minister Patricia Hewitt...
ESF: Public urged to act on trade agreements
20-Oct-2004 IPS
African and European civil society groups are urging European citizens to put pressure on their governments to halt regional trade agreements between the European Union and developing countries.