By: Debra Percival
ACP wants early 2009 talks with EU over EPAs
Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Ministers have called for high level consultations with the EU “at the earliest opportunity in 2009” to address concerns with their European Union (EU) counterparts over European Partnership Agreements (EPAs). Talks on these Free Trade Agreements (EPA) between the EU and ACP regions are ongoing.
CP Ministers acknowledged at their end of December 2008 meeting in Brussels, their commitment to concluding EPAs that will “contribute to growth development and enhance regional integration.”
Fourteen* out of 15 states of the Caribbean regional grouping, CARIFORUM, are the only ones to have to date signed a fully fledged EPA with the EU as a regional grouping, covering not only trade in goods but many other areas such as services. Other “goods only” EPAs have been initialled with the EU either by groups of countries within an ACP region, or with ACP countries on an individual basis.
Some ACP countries have fears about what lies ahead for their respective economies in the long-term if they open their markets to the EU further. EU officials, however, say that under EPAs such openings for EU imports will take place over lengthy periods of up to 25 years for the most sensitive items and also include exemptions for the most sensitive items and produce, such as some farm produce. In the other direction, the EU is giving immediate duty-free, quota-free access to the EU market for ACP nations who have signed or initialled an EPA.
Some countries have specific questions before signing up to fully fledged EPAs. In a recent interview with ‘The Courier’ in Botswana, the country’s Director of International Trade, L Phuti, indicated that whereas Botswana is interested in a comprehensive EPA, it does not want to be swamped with providers of services. For example, it already has three cell phone operators within its small market. Botswana is one of four countries of the South African Customs Union (SACU) to have so far initialled a “goods only” EPA.
ACP leaders initially called for an EPA high-level consultation with the EU at their 6th Summit in October 2008 in Ghana.
*Haiti is still considering whether to sign in the wake of specific economic difficulties.
