1501-1502 Working Group news on Trade – January - February 2015

WEST AFRICAN FARMERS AGAINST EU ECONOMICS; INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

In ECOWAS the farmers are urging the individual countries to discontinue everything about the EPAs. They are fearful of the consequences of the trade agreement on the economy of the Region. The leader of the Malian farmers organization “THE NATIONAL COORDINATION OF PEASANT ORGANIZATION “ Ibrahim Coulibaly said that the ECOWAS heads of state betrayed their people in signing the agreement in its current form. The farmers underline that EPAs was imposed on the Region. According to the farmers, free trade is better between equals and ECOWAS has no goods to trade with EU on that ground. The farmers are also asking a very important question:  If EU values free trade, why did it refuse it with the USA? Read more

EU TRADE AGREEMENTS THREATEN TO CRUSH KENYA’S BLOOMING TRADE

The EPAs is a new way of putting Africa in Economic slavery.  A German member of the European Parliament seem to be saying this when he expressed his dissatisfaction with the way the EU brokered trade with East Africa last year in the trade agreement. He said that “Developing countries have a gun pointed to their chest – either they sign or their access to the European market is restricted’’.  Kenya and Namibia were the victims of this type EU hegemony. Meanwhile, Liz May, the head of Policy at Traidcraft  is lamenting over the inconsistencies between the European commission’s development  and trade policies. Read more.

ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT: STIL A DIVISIVE ISSUE

Just like the other Regions of Africa, countries of Central Africa are groaning under the EU trade pact. The Region and the EU have been negotiating for the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPAs) but the knotty issues inherent in the agreement are yet to be resolved. Nevertheless, Cameroun has signed and ratified an interim agreement with the hope that the EPAs would lead her to more opportunities and trade with EU. At the same time the same Cameroun is fearful of the threat of EPAs to the loss in customs revenue, the risk of weakening the integration process and increased competition with EU products. But how Cameroun would want to eat her cake and have it back is best known to her. Read more.