The Echoes from AEFJN No. 30 - July August 2016 are now available online. 
TRADE WORKING GROUP NEWS December 2013
- Anti-dumping measures on chicken imports from the European Union
The Government of South Africa has initiated an investigation into the alleged dumping of frozen bone-in chicken portions imported from Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The dumping is provoking loses to the poultry industry in Africa. The way to correct these loses is undertaking anti-dumping measures on the imported products and increase the tariffs to those products. However, South Africa has free trade agreements with the European Union (EU), Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) according to which products originating in or imported from the EU and SADC enter the SACU market free of any customs duty.
2. The EU Tade Commissioner exert pressure again
Trade Commissioner of the European Union traveled last weeks to South Africa (a member of the Southern African Development Community, SADC), Cameroon (Central Africa) and Ivory Coast (West Africa) to discuss ways to strengthen the EU’s trade and investment relations with these regions, in particular through Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and trade facilitation. After visiting some other countries last summer, the Trade commissioner tried to bring the EPAs with the SADC EPA Group and West Africa closer to conclusion. Although the EU insists in the great opportunity for African countries to enter their products in the European market the reality is just the opposite: the EU will invade with its products the African market provoking a negative impact on the African Industry.
3. The 9th WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali and the Least Developed Countries
The Ninth World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference was held in Bali from 3 to 6 December 2013. The main issues that were on the agenda included trade facilitation measures to streamline customs procedures and minimize delays at borders and various issues related to agriculture, including export subsidies, tariff rate quotas and food security. The majority of the Agreement is aimed at creating transparency in measures applicable to imports, exports and transit traffic through various publication and notification requirements. Rather than simplify customs procedures, the text introduces processes which stand to give foreign corporations undue influence in the customs of African countries and diminish the role of domestic customs operators.
- Launch of the Alternative Trade Campaign
On November 27th the ATM, an alliance of 50 organizations developing an alternative vision of European trade policy, has launch in Brussels the document “TRADE: Time for a New Vision.” AEFJN is member of the ATM coalition and proposes a trade policy that increases economic, social and environmental well-being globally and creates justice between countries, social classes and ethnicities. The document is part of the campaign for the next European Parliament Elections and has the objective of changing European trade policy so that it works for people instead of serving the interests of major export-oriented corporations.