“Love is blind”? A two-stage agreement risks being an ‘EPA tight’ rather than an ‘EPA light’
Forthcoming in Trade Negotiations Insights, Vol. 6, No.7, ECDPM/ICTSD, Francesco Rampa - November 2007
As the EPA crunch-time looms, the European Commission appears to have pulled back from its threat to end trade privileges given to African, Caribbean and Pacific countries unless they sign a comprehensive agreement on time. The EU is now prepared to sign an interim deal on goods only. Remaining controversial issues – such as trade in services or measures to strengthen competitiveness – could then be negotiated in a second stage in 2008. But will this stage ever come?