How the European Union can maintain market access for African, Caribbean and Pacific countries in the absence of Economic Partnership Agreements
The European Commission has threatened 76 of the world’s poorest countries with lower access to the EU market – if they fail to sign new trade deals known as Economic Partnerhip Agreements (EPAs) by the end of 2007, when their current market access preferences expire. But the threats are not justified: in the event that African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) nations are not ready to sign by the end of the year, the European Union could still continue to provide them with a high level of market access, using the GSP-plus scheme, without breaching World Trade Organisation rules. This level of market access would also be compatible with their developmental needs.
‘No EPA and no WTO equals a very serious vacuum’
– Peter Mandelson, European Trade Commissioner
‘We should be under no illusion. This is a very real deadline.’
– David O’Sullivan, Director General of DG Trade, European Commission
‘We will not rush to conclude negotiations due to the deadline and risk ending up with a bad EPA. That would be disastrous’
– Hans Joachim Keil, Pacific Lead Negotiator
‘This is tantamount to blackmail. The EU has committed to ensuring that alternatives to EPAs are discussed, and that no country will be compelled to sign. However, now they are using the looming deadline to force countries into agreements that could be economically devastating.’
– Bibiane Mbaye, ENDA (Environmental Development Action in the Third World)

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