The new EPAs: comparative analysis of their content and tasks for 2008

Projects

The new EPAs: comparative analysis of their content and tasks for 2008

Region: African, Caribbean and Pacific [ACP] Group
Status: Completed

In Partnership with the European Centre for Development Policy Management

Researchers: Christopher Stevens, Mareike Meyn and Jane Kennan (ODI), Sanoussi Bilal, Corinna Braun-Munzinger,
Franziska Jerosch, Davina Makhan and Francesco Rampa (ECDPM)

Funded by: The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the trade regimes for Africa that on 1 January 2008 replaced the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA), the negotiations that remain to be completed and the challenges facing Africa in implementation, some of which require support from Europe. Part A provides an analysis of the liberalisation that African states have agreed to undertake in relation to imports from the European Union (EU) and vice versa and key features of the main texts of the interim Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). Part B reviews the process that culminated in the initialling of interim EPAs by some ACP states but not by others to learn the lessons, reviews the future options for both current signatories and non-signatories and assesses the aid for trade (AfT) modalities.

Executive Summary (69kb)
Full Report (3,300kb)