PostLomé WTOCompatible Trading Arrangements

Six months on: What shift is there in the EU approach to EPA negotiations?

“…In our report 'Trade and Development at the WTO: issues for Cancún' 22 we urged the UK Government and the EU to consider seriously developing country requests for progress on Mode 4. 23 Our report on Migration and Development 24 also points out that while this is a politically sensitive issue, enhanced migration, particularly temporary, unskilled migration, would benefit many developing countries. 20.…”

“…The rules do not preclude asymmetrical reciprocity, that is, allowing developing countries more time to liberalise and include less of their trade in the RTA than the developed country members. 23. As the Commission has acknowledged, the need for a flexible approach to reciprocity in the design of EPAs will be critical to their ability to complement ACP countries' national poverty reduction plans.…”

“…they could provide a better basis for achieving a compromise between ACP and non-ACP developing countries in the WTO. "23…”

EU Development Policy in a Changing World

“…The second is the historical legacy of special trade regimes with former colonies. Both have been affected and built upon by the third source: a pragmatic attempt to respond to pressures put on the EU in a way that 'manages' market opening to maintain greater restrictions on countries deemed to be most competitive than on others (see Stevens, 1999Stevens, , 2000Stevens, , 2005Stevens and Kennan, 2001). The WTO is central to this third source of pressure.…”

Trade Preference Erosion

“…. Stevens and Kennan (2000) consider the concentration of benefits under the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (signed in June 2000) preferences for African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP). The authors focus on products where utilisation of preferences evidently conferred an effective competitive advantage on the ACP-beneficiary exporters.…”