ACP Dialogue on Non Tariff Barriers within Economic Partnership Agreements, EPAs

Followed by a consultation on pending issues of negotiations in Central Africa

26th – 27th June 2009 • Co-organised with International Organisation of the Francophonie (IOF) and the Citizens’ Association for the Defence of Collective Interests (ACDIC)

Details
Documentation

Discuss this eventShare your views with other visitors, and read what they have to say

The global aim of the Dialogue is to have a common vision on issues that could constitute as non tariff barriers in EPAs and subsequently - with abusive use - could present an obstacle to market access. The Dialogue also promotes sharing of experiences between negotiators from different ACP regions with the ambition of favouring the drawing up of negotiating positions. Specifically, the Dialogue aims at:

Identifying non tariff barriers in EPAs which could reduce market access offer to the EU market
Clarifying the interactions of applicable rules to non tariff barriers in EPAs and the WTO system.
Comparing the extent and contents of non tariff barriers provided in various EPAs of ACP countries
Understanding the motivations and requirements of the EC in terms of non tariff barriers in order to provide appropriate solutions
Determining the regime of trade restrictions to imports and exports
Determining sanitary and phytosanitary measures and realizing a balance which assures the health of consumers and the freedom of trade
Drawing up common technical and administrative rules that would not be obstacles on market access to parties signing EPAs
Establishing trade defence measures (countervailing, anti-dumping and safeguard measures) that are not instruments of a disguised protectionism
Establishing clear and operational rules of origins which make access to European market effective while reducing the risk of preferential diversion
Evaluating Central Africa’s market access offer and adapt them to WTO limitations and to the region’s specific interests
Determining a framework for Central Africa in terms of Intellectual Property which takes into account its defensive and offensive interests
Determining a framework and technical negotiation positions for Central Africa in the domain of services
Evaluating legal and systemic questions which could have an impact on Central Africa’s EPAs.

This will be a two-day Dialogue and will be very open and informal. The Dialogue will bring together 35 – 40 key actors from all ACP regions with diverse interests and perspectives.