-
Reconsidering the African regional integration paradigm
Since independence African governments have embraced regional integration and concluded a large number of regional integration arrangements (RIAs). Yet intra-regional trade remains comparatively low. Although the causes of the failure have been reviewed extensively, little attention has been given to whether the basic paradigm that underlies the African approach to integration is appropriate. The…
-
Editorial
Regional integration has long been seen as a critical way for countries to increase their economic influence and grow their domestic economies. But what are the real benefits - and costs - of lowering barriers to trade among countries in the poorer regions of the world? And how can the donor community better support such…
-
News and Publications
The 5th ACP-EU Regional JPA discusses the ESA-EU EPA Over the summer, the East Africa/Indian Ocean region hosted the 5th Regional Meeting of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly. This meeting was held in the Seychelles on 14 and 15 July. In accordance with the provisions of the recently revised ACP-EU Partnership Agreement, as well as the…
-
Shifting development cooperation strategies to target regional agricultural trade for economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa
In times of high food prices, shortages in natural resources and a stagnant multilateral trade regimes regional approaches to economic development and food security are increasingly determining the agendas of both developing countries and multi- and bilateral development cooperation. Rising food prices in 2008 highlighted the following problems: first, increases in food prices have caused…
-
Supporting ACP producers and exporters in meeting EU standards: The example of the PIP
Over the past 20 years, the international trade in fresh fruit and vegetables has changed considerably, with notably a transformation of the regulatory environment in which actors from this sector operate, most in the EU. A series of food safety incidents undermined consumer confidence and the European Commission (EC) reacted by launching a process of…
-
EU, Caribbean set up bodies to govern EPA but numerous challenges remain
It is unlikely that you have ever heard of Christofer Fjellner from Finland or Peter Sratsny from Slovakia. It is, however, possible that you may know of José Bové, the environmental campaigner who rose to fame in France when in protest he destroyed a McDonald’s fast food restaurant. More likely still, you will recognise the…
-
The implications for bananas of the recent trade agreements between the EU and Andean and Central American countries
In the October 2009 issue of TNI, Giovanni Anania explored the implications of a potential agreement to end the banana dispute at the WTO on the preferential margins that African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries enjoy under their Economic Partnership Agreements with the European Union (EU). Two months later, the EU concluded with Latin American…
-
The impact of EU Regulation 1383/2003 on ACP countries
Recent seizures of generic medicines have drawn attention to border measure that go beyond the minimum standards set by the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), and particularly the implications for accessing medicines in developing countries. Xavier Seuba analyses one such EU regulation, which has been transposed to EU free trade agreements,…
-
Addressing counterfeits without endangering public health
After years of largely secretive negotiations, the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) might be concluded this month, or so hoped the negotiators. This agreement seeks to ensure greater enforcement measures of all intellectual property rights, including, under the pretence of addressing public health and safety concerns, those related to medicines. Yet for Christa Cepuch of…
-
WTO Roundup
Lamy reports ‘new dynamic’ in Doha talks A “new dynamic” has emerged in the Doha Round negotiations, the head of the WTO told trade delegates on 27 July, delivering a rare piece of good news for the beleaguered nine-year-old talks. Earlier this year, he urged WTO officials to adopt a “cocktail approach” to the negotiations — mixing…
-
EPA Update
The EU is considering ways to instill momentum in negotiations before the Africa-EU summit On the 10th of September, Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht is expected to meet European Trade Ministers in Brussels in order to assess, among other things, the situation on EPAs. EPAs could also be on the agenda of a meeting of EU…
-
Events
September 9 CARIFORUM Technical Meeting on 10th EDF EPA Capacity Building, Guyana 9-10 10th EDF Action FICHE on CSME and EPA, Guyana 10 EU Foreign Affairs Council to discuss EPAs, Brussels, Belgium 13-17 EU-West Africa technical and senior officials level negotiations, Brussels, Belgium (TBC) 13-17 EC-Tralac Regional Seminar on EU-SADC EPA negotiations, Cape Town, SA 14-15 High Level…
-
Resources
Joining up Africa Support to Regional Integration, James Mackie, Isabelle Ramdoo, Takesh Lucko, Henrike Hohmeister, Discussion Paper 99, ECDPM, July 2010, www.ecdpm.org Council Decision on the position to be taken by the EU in the Joint CARIFORUM-EU Council on the amendment of Annex IV to the EPA by incorporating the commitments of the Commonwealth of The…