Europe's unfair trade deals28 February 2008
Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are trade deals being negotiated between the EU and some of the poorest countries in the world.
The new trade deals between the EU and 76 countries in the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific region (ACP) will last for decades.
EPAs will open up ACP markets to EU goods, services and investment, and could:
- Damage livelihoods, jobs and the environment in ACP countries.
- Undermine sustainable development and progress towards the Millennium Development Goals
To make poverty history, we have to make EPAs history.
Hon Dr Mukhisa Kituyi, Kenyan trade minister
Tremendous pressure to sign
A deadline of 31 December 2007 was set for EPAs to be signed.
West African nations asked for the deadline to be postponed to allow more time to deliver pro-development deals which are better for ACP countries.
But EU pressure meant around half of the countries signed interim agreements by the end of 2007.
ACP countries are now facing pressure to go even further, and give away even more to the EU.
It is unclear at this stage when final agreements will be signed.
© TJM
