Women call for fair trade deals
Daily Monitor, Kampala
Women call for fair trade deals
By Joseph Olanyo, Kampala
15 March 2007
Women groups in Africa have called for protection against unfair trade agreements, saying they are a threat to their livelihoods, peace and development.
Women groups from 12 African countries last week took a stand against the plan to sign Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).
EPAs are new trade agreements being negotiated by the European Union (EU) to regulate trade between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of developing countries.
On February 7, 2004, Uganda with 15 other countries of Eastern and Southern Africa began negotiating for EPAs with the EU.
The negotiations are now in second and critical phase, dealing with substantive issues, and are to be concluded by December 31, 2007 with the signing of the EPAs.
However stakeholders, trade analysts and Civil Society Organisations contend that Uganda is not yet ready.
