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Dialogue of the deaf : an assessment of Europe’s developmental approach to trade negotiations
Document type: report
Download file(s):
116861 (637 KB)
Abstract:
A representative sample of African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) negotiators was asked to judge whether or not European negotiators had lived up to the rhetoric surrounding the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) talks. It was found that: (1) 9 out of 13 felt that EPAs did not support regional integration; (2) 11 felt that they had been put under pressure to negotiate trade-related issues by the European Commission (EC); (3) 11 felt that EPAs would force ACP countries to liberalize their trade; (4) 11 confirmed that aid was being made conditional on the signing of an EPA; (5) 8 felt that the EC did not listen to ACP concerns or proposals; and (6) only 2 felt that EPAs would be instruments for development. Other evidence from academic assessments, formal statements and documents obtained from negotiations seems to support their views. Unless important lessons are learned from EPA talks so far, the likelihood for a good outcome to these negotiations – that is one driven by ACP concerns and development coherence - looks remote.
Authors:
Weller, C.
Category:
Policy
Keywords:
trade
,
economic development
,
globalization
Language:
eng
Organization:
ICCO - Interchurch Organization for Development Cooperation
PAGE:
22
Place:
Utrecht
Publisher:
ICCO
Year:
2008
Region:
Europe
,
Africa
,
Caribbean
,
Oceania
Right:
© 2008 ICCO
Subject:
Economic Development and Trade
Title:
Dialogue of the deaf : an assessment of Europe’s developmental approach to trade negotiations