Horse Trading on EU-African Economic Partnership Agreements
نویسنده
چکیده
EUAfrica Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are on the brink. In July 2014 the Head of States of ECOWAS endorsed the negotiated compromise EPA after prolonged negotiations. However, last-minute objections of the heavy-weight Nigeria which wants to protect its infant industries as well as promising trade relations with new global players still could prevent the deal. Whether the ECOWAS EPA in its current form would really create a win-win situation for both partners as asserted by the EU is open to question. Scholarly evaluation of the EPAs reveal double-talk and significant barriers to a sustainable development of African economies. The growing preparedness of African states to challenge EU mercantile interest has been effectively backed by agitation of civil society organisations.
منابع مشابه
Assessing Preferential Trading Agreements using the Sussex Framework
Introduction: Over the past fifteen years, there has been a dramatic rise in the number and range of regional or preferential trade agreements (PTAs). 1 There is evidence to suggest that market driven regional trading blocs are emerging in the European neighbourhood, the Americas and East Asia. The US is actively pursuing FTA in the Americas and East and South-East Asia. The European Union (EU)...
متن کاملInternationalisation of Economic Policy Research Paper 2003 / 30 A Grim REPA ?
For a quarter of a century African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries have benefited from unreciprocated preferential access to the European Union (EU) market under a succession of Lomé Arrangements. Sunset provisions now apply to these concessions and after 2007 unreciprocated preferences will end. The EU is proposing that a network of Regional Economic Partnership Agreements (REPAs) repla...
متن کاملEU Economic Partnership Agreements in Sub-Saharan Africa. Avenues of Compromise for a Constructive Outcome by September 2014
For more than ten years the European Union has been negotiating economic partnership agreements (EPAs) with regional groupings in Africa. These free trade agreements are dedicated first and foremost to the goal of sustainable development. While African governments are wary of the consequences of market opening and sceptical of restrictions of their policy space, they are also interested in gain...
متن کاملThe Institutional Challenge of the ACP/EU Economic Partnership Agreements
The Economic Partnership Agreements between the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and the European Union should serve as an opportunity to accelerate ACP global and regional trade integration and as an important tool for development and the eradication of poverty. There are, however, a number of preconditions. This article argues that institutional quality plays a key role in successful ...
متن کاملEconomic Impact of Regional Trade Agreements and Economic Co-operation: Econometric Evidence
The paper focuses on regional trade agreements and economic co-operation and develops a new appropriate approach to study their impact on growth and trade. The approach is based on an endogenous trade-growth theory and novelly specified in an economic integration (expenditure) framework which is the conceptual foundation of regional trade agreements. Importantly, it also appropriately takes int...
متن کامل