EU, SADC launch trade negotiations

SEVEN Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states and the European Union (EU) last week launched negotiations for Economic and Partnership Agreements (EPA) aimed at promoting trade and the development of the regions.

The seven SADC countries involved in the negotiations are Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho, Swaziland and Tanzania. Most SADC countries are part of what is called the African-Caribbean-Pacific (ACP) group of countries that include most of the poorest countries in the world and are given preferential access to the European market.The negotiations launched in Windhoek are expected to open up trade between both regions and setting up clear rules for trade so that the EPA contributes to the economic integration of the region.According to the EU, tearing down barriers to trade between themselves was the necessary complement to the almost full access to the EU market already enjoyed by these countries.SADC executive secretary Prega Ramsamy, the SADC EPA chief negotiator and also Botswana’s trade minister, Jacob Nkate, the ACP group secretary general, Jean-Robert Goulongana, as well as the European Commissioner for Trade, Danuta Hubner, and Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Poul Nielson attended the negotiations.Speaking at the opening of the EPA talks, Ramsamy said this new trade arrangement should also complement SADC regional integration.”The EPA should add value to our development process, and, in particular, assist us to implement appropriate strategies to deal with the problems of underdevelopment and poverty in a sustainable manner.”Nielson said negotiating at regional level rather than with the whole ACP group was essential.”For the first time ever, support mechanisms have been put into place to assist the ACP countries.Exchanges with Africa represent a limited share of global European trade, but Europe is for most African countries the most important trade partner.”Hubner also said, “In the EPA negotiations, trade is one of the tools to ensure development, which is its main objective.By initiating negotiations on a regional basis our partners have already taken a big step towards deepening and accelerating their own economic integration.If, at the end of those negotiations, the southern African region stands as a stronger region, able to define its common interest and to improve jointly the environment for business and investors, we will all have won.”Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab said SADC was expecting a development-enhancing outcome that would allow economies to integrate themselves into the multilateral trading system.”I also think of challenges such as supply-side constraints, stringent market access conditions, unfair trade competition, tariff peaks and escalations and the possible negative economic impact on our small and vulnerable economies as a result of economic liberalisation, that must be fully addressed.”The launch of the EPA talks will be followed by a first negotiating session during which both sides will discuss a “roadmap” outlining the steps in the negotiations, which will be concluded no later than by the end of 2007.Most SADC countries are part of what is called the African-Caribbean-Pacific (ACP) group of countries that include most of the poorest countries in the world and are given preferential access to the European market.The negotiations launched in Windhoek are expected to open up trade between both regions and setting up clear rules for trade so that the EPA contributes to the economic integration of the region.According to the EU, tearing down barriers to trade between themselves was the necessary complement to the almost full access to the EU market already enjoyed by these countries.SADC executive secretary Prega Ramsamy, the SADC EPA chief negotiator and also Botswana’s trade minister, Jacob Nkate, the ACP group secretary general, Jean-Robert Goulongana, as well as the European Commissioner for Trade, Danuta Hubner, and Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Poul Nielson attended the negotiations.Speaking at the opening of the EPA talks, Ramsamy said this new trade arrangement should also complement SADC regional integration.”The EPA should add value to our development process, and, in particular, assist us to implement appropriate strategies to deal with the problems of underdevelopment and poverty in a sustainable manner.”Nielson said negotiating at regional level rather than with the whole ACP group was essential.”For the first time ever, support mechanisms have been put into place to assist the ACP countries.Exchanges with Africa represent a limited share of global European trade, but Europe is for most African countries the most important trade partner.”Hubner also said, “In the EPA negotiations, trade is one of the tools to ensure development, which is its main objective.By initiating negotiations on a regional basis our partners have already taken a big step towards deepening and accelerating their own economic integration.If, at the end of those negotiations, the southern African region stands as a stronger region, able to define its common interest and to improve jointly the environment for business and investors, we will all have won.”Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab said SADC was expecting a development-enhancing outcome that would allow economies to integrate themselves into the multilateral trading system.”I also think of challenges such as supply-side constraints, stringent market access conditions, unfair trade competition, tariff peaks and escalations and the possible negative economic impact on our small and vulnerable economies as a result of economic liberalisation, that must be fully addressed.”The launch of the EPA talks will be followed by a first negotiating session during which both sides will discuss a “roadmap” outlining the steps in the negotiations, which will be concluded no later than by the end of 2007.