Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs)

Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are trade deals being negotiated between the EU and 75 developing countries.

They are Europe's first attempt to carve out free trade areas with mostly former colonies in the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific region (ACP).

If these agreements are signed, they will increase poverty and cause lasting damage to the environment.

EPAs threaten to:

• Force competition between emerging ACP industries and powerful European companies.
• Expose poor farmers to heavily subsidised European agricultural products.

This will lead to:

• Small businesses being destroyed.
• Millions of poor farmers driven of their land.
• Regulations designed to protect the environment being weakened.

Many people in developing countries rely on natural resources for everyday needs.

By increasing exports of timber, fisheries, minerals, oil and gas, EPAs could spell disaster for these communities and the environment.

To find out more about EPAs, read our briefing Corporate Conquest.

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