Ablassé Ouédraogo, former Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and former special advisor to the President of ECOWAS for trade negotiations, explains five reasons to supend EPA negotiations.
EPAs have two pillars: trade liberalization and development. In addition to reducing poverty, they also aim to foster the gradual integration of ACP countries into the world economy and to promote regional integration. All of which is noble and good. But after seven years of fruitless discussions, Europe is now attempting to impose the agreements by force rather than dialogue. If the agreements were finalized in their present form, they would deny ACP countries the essential political instruments necessary for their development. The result would be a total contradiction with the initial objectives, compromising regional integration, exacerbating poverty and preventing countries from diversifying production and freeing themselves from dependence on a few basic commodities.
source: CTA Brussels
Read Ouédraogo’s article “5 raisons de suspendre les négociations sur les APE” on Jeune Afrique (FR)
