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Hope diminishing for new Caribbean-EU trade agreement
30-Sep-2007 Jamaica Gleaner
As September draws to a close, the likelihood diminishes that an economic partnership agreement (EPA) is achievable this year between the European Union and the Caribbean.
New EU envoy for pushing trade pact with India
30-Sep-2007 Indian Muslims
Ahead of the India-European Union (EU) summit on Nov 30, Daniele Smadja, the new envoy of the European Commission, Friday called for pushing negotiations on a broad-based trade and investment agreement between the two sides.
Ghana: Organised labour worried over EPA
29-Sep-2007 GNA
Mr. Kwasi Adu-Amankwah, Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress, said the leadership of organised labour had discussed the main issues of the EPA negotiations and concluded that the current efforts to negotiate a free and fair trade agreement between the world’s single most powerful economic bloc and weaker economies was impossible.
Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner visits Central America and announces aid packages
29-Sep-2007 FOCUS Information Agency
Three weeks before the first round of negotiations on an Association Agreement between the EU and Central America to be held in Costa Rica at the end of October, Ms Ferrero-Waldner wishes to send a strong signal to the region of the importance the EU accords to this agreement.
Stop EU trade talks with ex-colonies - protesters
27-Sep-2007 Reuters
Demonstrators in Brussels and Nairobi demanded on Thursday a halt to trade and investment negotiations between the European Union and former colonies, saying the proposed deal would harm poor countries.
World Bank asks for more time on EPAs
27-Sep-2007 IPS
Senior World Bank staff have asked the European Union to consider extending the end-of-year deadline it has set for a series of free trade agreements with Africa.
India, EU to talk services agreement
26-Sep-2007 Economic Times
“For India, services is the most important aspect of the India-EU bilateral pact,” a commerce department official said.
Africa feels pain of trade talks with Europe
26-Sep-2007 Reuters
Africa is in a catch-22 situation. The Economic Partnership Agreements will ensure continued tariff-free exports to Europe, but may kill domestic production.
Ghana: Poultry sector to be hardest hit by EPAs, stakeholders kick against it
24-Sep-2007 AllAfrica.com
For the last few years, the Ghanaian market has been flooded with cheap imported chicken from the European Union and the United States. These are usually fatty chicken parts that come in packages without labels. Demand for local poultry has collapsed, threatening the livelihoods of over 1,000 poultry farmers in both small and large-scale poultry farming in Ghana. The current situation will be compounded when the EPAs take effect in 2008 with the removal of tariffs across board.
This is the way some agreements should end
24-Sep-2007 IPS
Elaborate funeral rituals were performed in central Brussels over the past week to show how a planned free trade accord between the European Union and the Korean government should, in the view of anti-poverty campaigners, be buried.
Development challenges of competition policy in the Economic Partnership Agreements
24-Sep-2007
A brief critique of the EU’s proposal on Competition Policy in the EPAs.
Draft EU-ECOWAS EPA (April 2007)
22-Sep-2007
Draft EU-SADC EPA (EU proposal, June 2007)
22-Sep-2007
Draft EU-ESA EPA (July 2007)
22-Sep-2007
European and Korean social movements and civil society unite against the ‘Global Europe’ strategy and the South Korea-EU FTA
21-Sep-2007
On the occasion of the 3rd round of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between South Korea and the EU taking place from 17th till 21st September in Brussels, Belgium, members of the Korean Alliance against Korea-EU FTA (KoA) and members from social movements and civil society organisations from Europe have come together to join forces and struggle together against the Global Europe strategy and the Korea-EU FTA.
Joint EU-Korea business statement
21-Sep-2007
From the Korea FTA Industry Alliance and BUSINESSEUROPE
Economic Partnership Agreements - no plan B?
21-Sep-2007 AllAfrica.com
The European Union Trade Commissioner, Peter Mandelson, said the EU would not engage in an alternative strategy concerning African, Caribbean and Pacific trade relations with Europe at the World Trade Organisation, stressing that there is definitely "no Plan B" for EU trade relations with the ACP. New Era spoke to trade analyst, Wallie Roux, wherein he responds in his personal capacity to Mandelson’s assertions.
Concern rises over EU bilaterals with developing countries
20-Sep-2007 IP Watch
Concern is growing in both Europe and developing countries about whether a series of free trade agreements slated for signature later this year will contain overly stringent rules on intellectual property.
Flower industry may wilt if EPA deadline is missed
20-Sep-2007 AllAfrica.com
Kenya faces tariff increases of between two and 24 percent on its exports to the European Union if it fails to conclude an Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU by the end of the year.
EU hardens stance in trade talks with Korea
20-Sep-2007 Chosun Ilbo
Free trade talks between Korea and the EU have hit an unexpected snag after the EU turned from a generous negotiating partner in the first two rounds into a stubborn, picky one in the third round.