African experts analyse potential adjustment strategies to EPAs

Addis Ababa, 2 October - African trade experts met in Cairo last month to review ways of mitigating the costs of signing economic partnership agreements (EPAs) with European countries.

The meeting, held from 18-19 September, was jointly organized by UNECA, UNDP, the NEPAD secretariat and the Egyptian government. Participants explored concrete strategies and policy measures aimed at alleviating costs. These included reviewing the experiences of North African countries and South Africa in negotiating and implementing their free trade agreement with the EU. Best practices that stand out from these experiences were also analyzed for the benefit of sub-Saharan countries.

The experts warned that even though EPAs are meant to take effect by the end of 2007, Africa remains unprepared for dealing with the possible consequences. These include the potential loss of revenue from the abolition of import taxes on goods imported from the EU.

The experts called for more work at both the political and technical levels to prepare the continent for EPAs.

:: Meeting Conclusions [ Français ]