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25/01/2006
African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries face a complete shift in
their trade relations with the European Union (EU). Under the
Lomé Conventions these countries enjoyed unilateral trade
preferences into the EU market for almost three decades. The Fourth
Lomé Convention was replaced by the Cotonou Agreement in 2000,
which extends these unilateral trade preferences up to the end of 2007.
Thereafter, negotiated World Trade Organisation (WTO) compatible
reciprocal trade agreements, called Economic Partnership Agreements
(EPAs) will replace the current non-reciprocal preferential trade
regime. These EPAs have to be concluded by no later than the beginning
of 2008. EPA negotiations started in September 2002.
This tralac EPA project aims to address specific challenges that the two configurations will face during their negotiations with the EU, and in implementation of EPAs. Specifically, the project will include analysis of key issues where there are negotiating opportunities, training of negotiators, government officials, and other stakeholders in the private sector and civil society organisations, public-private dialogue and awareness building as well as dissemination of analytical output to support the negotiating process.
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Working Papers