Namibia hopes EU trade deal does not bring losses

THE trade agreement negotiations between developing countries, including Namibia, and the European Union (EU), which must be implemented by January 1 next year, should not be to the disadvantage of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, says Works and Transport Minister Joel Kaapanda.

Kaapanda was speaking in his capacity as acting Foreign Minister at a reception on Wednesday night to celebrate Europe Day. The European Union (EU) turned 57 years old on Wednesday.”We express the hope that the process will be concluded in good time to allow regional integration initiatives to go ahead without interruption and to minimise the economic losses in trade to the SADC region,” Kaapanda stated.”The Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the EU are being negotiated since September 2002,” he added.The EU Ambassador to Namibia, Dr Elisabeth Pape, said the intention with the new EPAs was that no ACP country should be worse off than before.”You all know that these negotiations have not been a smooth ride (so far),” Pape said.”EPAs can pave the way to help make globalisation more socially and economically sustainable, and should be seen as instrumental to help realise Namibia’s Vision 2030,” she said.Presently Namibia enjoys a tariff-free annual export quota of 11 000 tonnes of beef to the EU and a preferential tariff for the 25 000 tonnes of table grapes it exports to the EU every year.This might change drastically if no new agreement is in place in eight months’ time.The European Union (EU) turned 57 years old on Wednesday.”We express the hope that the process will be concluded in good time to allow regional integration initiatives to go ahead without interruption and to minimise the economic losses in trade to the SADC region,” Kaapanda stated.”The Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the EU are being negotiated since September 2002,” he added.The EU Ambassador to Namibia, Dr Elisabeth Pape, said the intention with the new EPAs was that no ACP country should be worse off than before.”You all know that these negotiations have not been a smooth ride (so far),” Pape said.”EPAs can pave the way to help make globalisation more socially and economically sustainable, and should be seen as instrumental to help realise Namibia’s Vision 2030,” she said.Presently Namibia enjoys a tariff-free annual export quota of 11 000 tonnes of beef to the EU and a preferential tariff for the 25 000 tonnes of table grapes it exports to the EU every year.This might change drastically if no new agreement is in place in eight months’ time.