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EU aims to rope in African states resisting EPAs
27-Feb-2008 IPS
The European Union is determined to get those African countries on board which have so far kicked against the economic partnership agreements. A two-part article from Aileen Kwa.
Call to action against Europe’s aggressive economic agenda in Africa
27-Feb-2008
Declaration of civil society organisations at the meeting of the Africa Trade Network, Cape Town, South Africa, 22 February 2008
Trade-EU: Deals with Africa a ’PR disaster’
27-Feb-2008 IPS
Trade talks between the European Union and African countries have been a public relations "disaster" for the Brussels bureaucracy, a high-ranking official confessed Feb. 26.
French heavyweights pressing for EU trade deal with Canada
27-Feb-2008 CanWest
A former French prime minister and now a confidant of President Nicolas Sarkozy have endorsed the push for a Canada-Europe free trade agreement.
Central America, EU face off on penal court
27-Feb-2008 Prensa Latina
Central America and the European Union may have difficulties reaching an association agreement due to European requirement for ratification of the Statutes of Rome of the International Penal Court.
EU Warns Continent Over Sluggish Pace of New Trade Deal Talks
26-Feb-2008
The European Union has raised concerns about the speed at which African countries are moving towards negotiating for a comprehensive trade deal with Europe, which is expected to fast-track economic integration in the region ahead of the December deadline.
’EPAs Are Not About Partnership’
26-Feb-2008
The economic partnership agreements (EPAs) currently being negotiated between Europe and its former colonies in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions are not about equal partnerships but about enabling "big giant Europe to gain better access to African markets".
African Liberal Parties Want Benefits From Partnerships
26-Feb-2008
African Liberal parties, meeting in a General Assembly, that closed in Maputo on Saturday, have demanded that partnership agreements with the European Union should bring real advantages to Africa.
SA-EU Trade Row Puts Customs Union At Risk
26-Feb-2008
The future of the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) hangs in the balance, even as engagement takes place at the highest political level to save the world’s oldest customs union from collapsing.
Guyana and the wider world - Design and architecture of the EPA: The importance of self-critique
24-Feb-2008
Central to many of the contentious planks that remain (especially 4-9) is the observation of Timothy Kondo (Alternatives to Neo-liberalism in Southern Africa) that the draft EPA, which formed the basis of negotiations for his region was prepared by the EU, (Third World Economics, October 1-15, 2007). This observation was reiterated more generally by Marc Maes: "The texts that the Commission has tabled have reflected the Commission’s approach to global trade. They do not reflect the interests and needs of ACP countries." (ibid, p12)
Barbados government to review EPA
24-Feb-2008
Barbados’ Prime Minister has expressed reservations about the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) which CARICOM will sign with Europe in April, and he says he’s given instructions for his government to review the deal.
Regional Leaders Differing On EPA
23-Feb-2008
Schisms have begun to show in the united front CARIFORUM leaders showed after signing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Europe before the December 31 deadline last year.
Regional banana exporters uneasy as Latin America pressures EU
23-Feb-2008
The Caribbean Banana Exporters’ Association (CBEA) is expressing grave concern that the European Union (EU) might bow to pressure from Latin American banana producing countries and reduce its 176 euros per tonne tariff for bananas from that region.
Deal with Europe will lead to Dominican-Haiti trade pact in 1 year, official says
23-Feb-2008
The Economic Association Agreement between Cariforum and European Union (EPA) countries will lead Dominican Republic and Haiti to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement in one year, said Industry and Commerce minister Melanio Paredes, during the Business Table organized by magazine The Economist.
EU EPAs could inhibit South-South trade integration, Brazil alleges
22-Feb-2008 Bridges
Brazil has alleged that a clause in the EU’s recent trade agreements with several former colonies could discourage these countries, among the world’s poorest, from pursuing deeper trade integration with other developing nations.
Caribbean: Fissures appear over EU trade deal
21-Feb-2008 IPS
Just a few weeks before the signing, some key governments appear uncomfortable with the final agreement
Premier forum d’investissement des Etats membres de l’Accord d’Agadir
18-Feb-2008 Business News
L’objectif général du forum serait d’accroître le flux des investissements européens dans les pays de l’Espace Agadir
The European party agrees amending the Association Agreement
9-Feb-2008 El Khabar
The EU says it will revise the its Association Agreement with Algeria, pointing out competition from China and enhanced ’security’ interests
ANC MP accuses EU of ‘recolonising’ Africa
7-Feb-2008 Business Day
The biannual meeting of European and South African parliamentarians to discuss South Africa-EU relations got off to a rocky start yesterday when a top African National Congress MP accused the Europeans of recolonising Africa through EPAs.
Differences over negative list hold up India-EU trade pact
7-Feb-2008 Economic Times
India Inc’s eager wait for a comprehensive trade and investment agreement with the European Union could get a little longer as differences have cropped up over the items which would be kept off the pact.