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The year 2008 should have been dedicated to completing the unfinished business of the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations between the EU and the African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) states, with a view to sign, notify to the WTO, and start the ratification process of all (interim) agreements. In parallel, agreements on comprehensive EPAs coherent with regional integration processes and agenda should have also been advanced. But once more, this scenario was partly derailed. Only fourteen Caribbean Forum countries signed a comprehensive EPA in October 2008 (after many difficulties with Guyana and without Haiti); the agreement was notified to the WTO the following day, and the ratification process has just begun. Though the spirit of the negotiations has improved since January 2008, key issues have yet to be resolved and much work remains. So, what can we expect for 2009?
Although the timeframe outlined in the interim EPAs for negotiations in African and Pacific regions will extend into 2009, steps are being taken by the ACP group to address outstanding issues at the highest level now. Many are looking to the new European Commissioner for Trade, Catherine Ashton, to provide the renewed political impetus needed to complete negotiations for a fair and equitable EPA. In this double year-end issue of TNI, an interview with the African Union’s Commissioner of Trade and Industry, Elisabeth Tankeu reveals her belief that the process of initialing these interim EPAs has fallen “short of expectation.” Throughout the interview, she outlines her thoughts on the best way forward for the ACP states and Africa in particular. This interview provides insight into the perspective of key actors about how to most effectively advance the negotiations processes to meet not only high expectations in 2009, but more importantly, development objectives in the long-term.
Among other issues to be clarified in 2009, are the expected commitments on Aid for Trade (AfT) and support for implementation of the EPAs. But additionality will be at best limited, if not absent, and expectations have been lowered. The key challenge for ACP countries now is to identify regional, comprehensive approaches for defining and implementing assistance programmes to be funded by the European Commission and EU member states.
As countries move towards implementing the interim EPAs, Aurelie Walker examines how the EPA objective of integrating into the global economy can be achieved. Walker argues that ACP states must expand trade relations with other developing and developed countries, build on their own regional integration initiatives, and continue to use the ACP group to share negotiating experiences.
As regional integration consultations and negotiation processes have intensified, the unique challenges and opportunities of each region have become clearer. In this TNI, Natallie Rochester addresses the challenges and opportunities for the CARIFORUM region following signature of a full EPA in mid-October 2008. Here, she examines how services provisions and market access commitments found in the agreement can help expand opportunities, stimulate investments, grow export capacity, and strengthen competitiveness in the Caribbean.
However, not all regions have achieved the same level of coherence that the Caribbean (mostly) had in advance of signing. The division of the EPA configurations at the end of 2007 promptedinternal reflection on the existing regional integration processes. But the year ahead promises progress. For one, progress continues towards the planned harmonization between ECOWAS and the UEMOA common external tariff, while harmonization of the COMESA and EAC common external tariffs in preparation fora tripartite free trade area between COMESA, EAC, and SADC is expected to begin. In this issue, Francis Mangeni argues for the EPA negotiations to capitalize on the ongoing East African regional integration processes as part of a strategy to promote the achievement of EAC objectives in his piece on investment in the region.
Also included in this TNI is a review of the changes made to the Rules of Origin requirements over the past year in the EPAs, provided by Eckart Naumann. In a separate piece, Martin Doherty offers recommendations for how the EPAs represent opportunities to overcome harmful sanitary and phytosanitary related practices by the EU.
As we head into 2009, the financial and political climate is significantly changed from just a year ago. Now, both rich and poor nations will face enormous challenges from the global recession predicted for 2009. Together, these nations are working to weather the storm, which should have provided the necessary impetus for concluding the Doha Round. If a deal had been struck before the year’s end – now nothing short of an impossibility – increased confidence in the multilateral trade system could have provided policy makers with the right environment to address the outstanding EPA issues and to accelerate the EPA negotiation process in 2009. As TNI goes to press, no such prospect is in sight, however.
As always, your comments on this issue are encouraged. Please send all feedback to Caitlin Zaino at czaino@ictsd.ch.
On behalf of the whole editorial team, enjoy this issue of TNI and best wishes for the festive season!
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