Economic Partnership Agreements - Update
To date (15 March 2009), there has been significant progress following the initialing of the EPA agreements by 36 ACP countries. The following countries continue to benefit from duty free quota free access for ACP exports into EU markets.
- Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
- East African Community: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi
- East and Southern Africa: Zimbabwe, Seychelles, Mauritius, Comoros, Zambia and Madagascar
- Southern African Development Community: Botswana, Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho and Namibia
- Pacific: Papua New Guinea, Fiji
- West Africa: Ivory Coast and Ghana
- Central Africa: Cameroon
The first regional EPA (CARIFORUM EPA) was signed on 15th October 2008 between the European Community and its member states and 14 Caribbean states with Haiti indicating they would also sign soon.
The UK government has now begun the process towards the ratification of the CARIFORUM EPA through Parliament.
The Ivory Coast signed their interim bilateral EPA on 26th November 2008 and Cameroon signed on the 15th January 2009. Others are due to be signed over the next 3-4 months.
Negotiations are ongoing towards the comprehensive regional EPAs in Africa and the Pacific. These may emerge towards the second half of 2009.
For more information on EPAs please use the links on the right