EU-Africa trade negotiations deadline looming
Africa could lose billions of dollars in trade and development opportunities, because negotiations with Europe are running two years behind.
The economic partnership agreement (EPA) negotiations are supposed to be concluded by the end of this year, and there can be no extension to protect existing terms of trade.
Half of the 47 African countries negotiating the EPAs say they cannot finish by December.
The hitch is their insistence on including development assistance, while the European Union’s (EU) view is the agreements are about development through trade.
EPAs being negotiated with Caribbean and Pacific countries have not been delayed.
“The way we see this development dimension is not the same as the EU sees it,” says Southern African Development Community (SADC) chief negotiator Banny Molosiwa.
She, and an adviser to the 15-member East and Southern African group Moses Tekere, believe they will have to continue talking into 2008.
“We are committed to negotiate a viable EPA that takes our interests into account. We are not in a race to finish at all costs,” Tekere said.
Molosiwa said SADC has undertaken to complete a deal on trade, but needs more time on the development issues.
“We could negotiate them in the future, not between now and December 31, but the EU says this is not what it has in mind,” she said.
The EU offered concessions in March in an effort to meet the deadline, but the African countries fear their economies will be overwhelmed by globalisation.
EU chief negotiator Karl Falkenberg told SADC in Gaborone that while the ultimate aim was a free trade area between the EU and Africa, immediate reciprocity was not expected.
“There need be no fear of EU goods invading Africa. We will negotiate according to the needs of the member states,” he said.
Falkenberg said failure would be detrimental to everyone.
Development aid to the African, Caribbean, Pacific states was governed by the Lome Conventions. The last expired in 2000, but under a waiver by the World Trade Organisation its provisions apply until the end of 2007, to allow time to negotiate the EPAs proposed to succeed it.
The EU believes there is little chance to extend the waiver, and none to secure an extension on the same terms as now exist.
Sapa, 11/05/2007, citizen.co.za
The economic partnership agreement (EPA) negotiations are supposed to be concluded by the end of this year, and there can be no extension to protect existing terms of trade.
Half of the 47 African countries negotiating the EPAs say they cannot finish by December.
The hitch is their insistence on including development assistance, while the European Union’s (EU) view is the agreements are about development through trade.
EPAs being negotiated with Caribbean and Pacific countries have not been delayed.
“The way we see this development dimension is not the same as the EU sees it,” says Southern African Development Community (SADC) chief negotiator Banny Molosiwa.
She, and an adviser to the 15-member East and Southern African group Moses Tekere, believe they will have to continue talking into 2008.
“We are committed to negotiate a viable EPA that takes our interests into account. We are not in a race to finish at all costs,” Tekere said.
Molosiwa said SADC has undertaken to complete a deal on trade, but needs more time on the development issues.
“We could negotiate them in the future, not between now and December 31, but the EU says this is not what it has in mind,” she said.
The EU offered concessions in March in an effort to meet the deadline, but the African countries fear their economies will be overwhelmed by globalisation.
EU chief negotiator Karl Falkenberg told SADC in Gaborone that while the ultimate aim was a free trade area between the EU and Africa, immediate reciprocity was not expected.
“There need be no fear of EU goods invading Africa. We will negotiate according to the needs of the member states,” he said.
Falkenberg said failure would be detrimental to everyone.
Development aid to the African, Caribbean, Pacific states was governed by the Lome Conventions. The last expired in 2000, but under a waiver by the World Trade Organisation its provisions apply until the end of 2007, to allow time to negotiate the EPAs proposed to succeed it.
The EU believes there is little chance to extend the waiver, and none to secure an extension on the same terms as now exist.
Sapa, 11/05/2007, citizen.co.za