Ad-Hoc Expert Group Meeting on Economic Partnership Agreements and How African Countries Can Adjust
Meeting conclusions. African trade experts met in Cairo in September 2006 to review ways of mitigating the costs of ACP countries signing EPAs with European countries. The experts warned that even though EPAs are meant to take effect by the end of 2007, Africa remains unprepared for dealing with the possible consequences. These include the potential loss of revenue from the abolition of import taxes on goods imported from the EU. The experts called for more work at both the political and technical levels to prepare the continent for EPAs.
Groupe Ad-Hoc d’Experts sur les Accords de Partenariat Economiques et les possibilités d’ajustement en Afrique
Conclusions de la réunion du 18-19 septembre 2006 à Caire. Les accords de partenariat économiques (APE) dès leur entrée en vigueur prévue pour 2008 nécessiteront chez les pays Africains une série de réajustements. Il faudra bien s'adapter au nouvel environnement qui sera crée par les nouvelles règles régissant les rapports commerciaux entre les pays d'Afrique, des Caraïbes et du Pacifique (ACP) et leurs partenaires de l'Union européenne. Les nouvelles règles sur l'accès au marché, le démantèlement tarifaire et les règles d'origine contenues dans les APE auront un coût pour les pays africains. Par ailleurs l'accent a été mis sur l'anticipation comme moyen de réduire le choc découlant de la perte des revenus douaniers. En outre, l'intégration régionale, la réforme de l'administration douanière, des règles de concurrence, du code d'investissement et du fonctionnement des tribunaux de commerce sont autant de mesures qui pourraient permettre aux pays africains de s'adapter au contrecoup de l'entrée en vigueur des APE.
Botswana Human Development Report 2005
Harnessing Science and Technology for Human Development, published for UNDP. The Report focuses on the role of science and technology in the development process. The theme is inspired both by recognition of what humanity has achieved – in agriculture, manufacturing, communication, medicine etc - with the aid of science and technology and the development possibilities technology offers to Developing Nations. The central thesis of the report is that human development and progress in science and technology are mutually reinforcing. The technological solutions to many of Botswana's development challenges are not always obvious. BHDR 2005 explores Botswana's experience of utilizing technology for human development as well as possibilities for leveraging technology to further advance HD in Botswana. The report will also address basic issues of human security – food, health, HIV/AIDS, shelter, education, information, productivity, competitiveness and inequality – in the context of contemporary development imperatives.
Effects of the "Everything but Arms"-Initiative on the Sugar Industries of the Least Developed Countries
Report by the UNCTAD Secretariat, April 2005. Abstract:"This paper analyses the impact of the EU's ‘Everything But Arms’ (EBA) initiative on the sugar industries of fourteen Least Developed Countries (LDCs) since it came into effect in 2001. It attempts to: (1) evaluate the extent to which LDCs benefit from the scheme; (2) explain why some countries have benefited or may benefit more than others; and (3) make policy suggestions concerning the characteristics of competitive LDC sugar industries."
The Ad-hoc Expert Group Meeting and Workshop on EPAs and WTO Issues for southern African Countries
April 2005. Based on the WTO decision on the "Doha Work Programme" of August 2004, which provides frameworks for defining "modalities" for negotiations on agriculture, non-agricultural market access, trade facilitation and trade in services, this final report - jointly undertaken by UNECA, UNDP, UNCTAD, ADB and SADC - provides the results of two high-level brainstorming meetings (Accra 2003; Tunis 2004) and detailed studies and recommendations to assist African negotiators and officials to better tackle the current round of negotiations.
Striving for Good Governance in Africa. Synopsis of the 2005 African Governance Report, prepared for the African Development Forum IV
On the basis of local and national surveys, including the views of a wide cross-section of society, this report shows that governance overall is making steady progress in Africa regarding human rights, rule of law, the media and participation of civil society. Still there are considerable differences between the countries. Therefore a programme is needed to effectively develop and use Africa's governance capacity. The focus should be on the ten priority areas highlighted in this report.
L'Afrique sur la voie de la bonne gouvernance. Synthèse du Rapport sur la gouvernance en Afrique de 2005, établie à l'occasion du quatrième Forum pour le développement de l'Afrique.
Sur la base des ênquetes locales et nationales et incorporant les idées de groupes sociaux très divers, ce rapport montre que la gouvernance en général s'améliore en Afrique s'agissant des droits de l'homme, de l'état de droit, de la media et de la participation de la société civile. Cependant, le rapport rélève également des variations considérables d'un pays à l'autre. C'est pourqoi il faut mettre en oeuvre un programme pour développer et exploiter éffectivement les capacités de gouvernance de l'Afrique. Les efforts devraient axer sur les 10 domaines critiques identifiés dans ce rapport.
Réformes et place du secteur privé dans les ports africains
Rapport du secrétariat de la CNUCED, 31 mars 2003. Cette étude, fondée sur les résultats d’une analyse de 50 ports africains réalisée par la CNUCED en 2001, porte sur les changements d’ordre institutionnel survenus dans le secteur portuaire en Afrique.
African ports: Reform and the role of the privat sector
Report by the secretariat of UNCTAD, 31 March 2003. This study, based on the results of an UNCTAD survey in 2001 of 50 African ports, reviews the institutional changes occurring in the port sector in Africa. It gives information about the various types of reforms undertaken and the impact of partnerships with the private sector on port performance.
Trade negotiation issues in the Cotonou Agreement. Agriculture and the EPAs
published by UNCTAD, February 2003. Abstract: "The ACP Group of States faces major challenges in securing its development gains in negotiations with the European Union for Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) under the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA). The publication provides analysis of negotiation issues of interest to the ACP States, with a special focus on agriculture. The issues covered include market access opportunities under the CPA, the inter-linkage with multilateral negotiations on agriculture under the WTO Doha Work Programme, experiences of different sub-regional ACP groupings, priority negotiation issues for EPA negotiations, and capacity-building needs of ACP States in trade negotiations."
II. WTO / OMC - IMF / FMI
Services trade liberalization at the regional level: does southern and eastern Africa stand to gain from EPA negotiations?
by Marion Jansen, Economic Research and Statistics Division, WTO discussion paper, May 2006. Abstract: "This paper discusses the opportunities and challenges for Southern and Eastern African ACP countries of services negotiations in the context of European Partnership Agreements. The paper provides an overview of existing flows in services from and to Southern and Eastern Africa, an overview that suffers from the paucity of relevant data. Given the significant differences among services sectors, the paper provides a separate discussion for several of them, including financial services, tourism and business services. The latest developments in each sector are described and the issues that are at stake in trade negotiations. In this context the competitive position of Southern and Eastern African countries is compared with the position of the European Union and other global players. The paper attempts to identify possible export opportunities for Southern and Eastern African ACP countries and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of giving preferential access to EU suppliers in those services sectors where African countries are likely to import. Particular attention is paid to the role of mode 4 in the discussed services sectors."
WTO Doha Development Agenda - Mid-point Agreement
Geneva, 31 July 2004. The decision adopted by the General Council paves the way for a new multilateral trading system and sets the parameters in the following five key areas: agriculture, industrial products, development issues, trade facilitation, and services.
OMC Doha Agenda du Développement - Accord à mi-chemin
Genève, le 31 juillet 2004. La décision par le Conseil général fraye le chemin pour un noveau système de commerce multilateral et fixe les paramètres du futur dispositif dans cinq domaines-clés: l'agriculture, les produits industriels, les questions de développement, la facilitation des échanges et les services.
African Countries submit proposals for Cancun Ministerial Conference
official WTO document WT/GC/W/510 dated 14 August 2003, contains two papers submitted by eleven African countries (Benin, Botswana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe)
A global alliance against forced labour
Global Report under the Follow-up to the ILO Declaration
on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work 2005. The report is divided into three parts: (1) Understanding and measuring forced labour today, (2) A dynamic global picture covering key global trends and developments, and (3) Global action to combat forced labour, with special attention given to ILO action.
Une alliance mondiale contre le travail forcé
Rapport global
en vertu du suivi de la Déclaration de l’OIT
relative aux principes et droits fondamentaux au travail 2005. Le rapport est divisé en trois parties: (1) Comprendre et mesurer le travail forcé dans le monde d’aujourd’hui, (2) Une image globale et dynamique comprennant les grands mouvements et faits nouveaux à l’échelle mondiale, et (3) Combattre le travail forcé au niveau mondial, avec l'attention éspeciale aux actions de l'OIT.
A fair globalization: The role of the ILO
Geneva, 2004. This report of the Director-General on the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization selects six broad policy themes for more detailed reflection: national policies to address globalization, decent work in global production systems, global policy coherence for growth, investment and employment, constructing a socio-economic floor, the global economy and the cross-border movement of people, and strengthening the international labour standards system. Special attention is paid to the role of the ILO.
Une mondialisation juste: Le rôle de l'OIT
Genève, 2004. Dans son rapport le Directeur général sur la Commission mondiale sur la dimension sociale de la mondialisation procède à un examen plus approfondi de six grands thèmes: les politiques nationales à adopter face à la mondialisation, le travail décent dans les systèmes de production mondiaux, la cohèrence des politiques mondiales en matière de croissance, d'investissement et d'emploi, l'instauration d'un socle socio-économique, l'économie mondiale et les mouvements transfrontières de personnes, et enfin le renforcement du système des normes internationales du travail. Particulièrement, le rapport fait attention au rôle de l'OIT.
IV. Other Institutions / Autres Institutions
Action Plan for the Implementation of the EU-Africa Strategic Partnership
This is the recent draft of the first action plan (2008-2009) for the implementation of the EU-Africa Strategic Partnership. It enumerates the priority actions that have been agreed on for this period and explains in detail what the objectives, the expected outcomes and the nevessairy activities are to accomplish these tasks.
The Africa-EU Strategic Partnership
This is the recent draft of the Joint Strategic Partnership between the EU and Africa. It enumerates the main objectives of this partnership: (1) To reinforce and elevate the EU-Africa political partnership to adress issues of common concern. (2) To promote peace and security, sustainable development, human rights, regional and continental integration in Africa and to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals are met 2015. (3) To reform multilateral instituions to adress global challenges. (4) To promote a people-centred partnership with the empowerment of non-state actors to play an active role in development, democratisation and conflict prevention.
The draft also defines some new approaches and strategies, how to meet these objectives.
Brief on Economic Partnership Agreements
Jointly prepared by the Commission of the African Union, and the Economic Commission for Africa. The brief contains background information on the EPAs; discusses key issues such as regional integration, coordination of the negotiation groups and alternatives to EPAs; and sets out recommendations for the way forward (October 2006).
Final Report of African continental meeting on EPAs
from 22-24 Sept. 2005 in Mombasa, Kenya, organised by UNECA in cooperation with UNDP, the Kenyan Ministry of Trade and Industry, the AU and UNCTAD. The report delivers an impact analysis of EPAs on African economies, describes progress and challenges of EPA negotiations between the EU and CEMAC, ECOWAS, ESA and SADC, looks at regional integration and the coherence between EPAs and WTO negotiations. Key recommendations are 1. to give pre-eminence to the development dimensions of EPAs; 2. to enhance intra-African trade; 3. to argue for less restrictive rules of origin; 4. to coordinate sub-regional negotiations.
Rapport final du réunion continentale africaine sur les APE
du 22-24 septembre à Mombasa, Kenya, organisée par CEA en coopération avec le PNUD, le Ministère du Commerce et de l'Industrie du Kenya, l' UA et la CNUCED. Le rapport présente une analyse d'impact des APE aux économies africaine, décrit le progrès et les défis des négociations sur les APE entre l'UE et CEMAC, UEMOA, ESA et SADC, examine l'intégration régionale et la cohérence entre les APE et les négociations à l'OMC. Recommandations principales sont 1. donner prééminence aux dimensions de développement des APE; 2. promouvoir le commerce intra-africain; 3. disputer pour règles d'origine moins réstrictifs et 4. coordiner des négociations sub-régionales.
The Cairo Declaration and Road Map on the Doha Work Programme
by the AU Conference of Ministers of Trade, 3rd ordinary Session, Cairo, 5-9 June 2005. The declaration covers agriculture, non-agricultural market access, services, development issues, commodities, trade facilitation, rules, LDCs, technical cooperation, debt and finance, and accession of African countries to the WTO.
Economic and Welfare Impacts of the EU-Africa Economic Partnership Agreements
by Stephen Karingi, Rémi Lang, Nassim Oulmane, Romain Perez, Mustapha Sadni Jallab and Hakim Ben Hammouda, March 2005. This ATPC-study examines the economic and social impacts of the trade liberalization aspects of the proposed Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the European Union (EU) and African countries.
The World Sugar Trade - Trade Union Briefing Note and Recommendations
July 2004. The joint document by ICFTU, WCL, ETUC, IUF, and EFFAT first highlights the main elements of the EU Sugar Reform Proposal of 14 July 2004, which contain significant price reductions, abolition of the intervention price, a reduction in production quotas and quota transferability. Afterwards, the implications for sugar-producing ACP countries are reflected from an NGO's and trade union's point of view and are considered mainly negative. Recommendations are therefore given on what the EU should do to help the ACP countries adapt to the new market circumstances.
A fair globalization: Creating opportunities for all
February 2004. Based on the alarmingly high 2003 global unemployment rate, the report of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization concludes that these figures are largely the result of deep-seated and persistent imbalances in the current workings of the global economy. The report makes out a "democratic deficit" at the heart of the system as key rules of trade and finance are largely shaped by powerful countries and players. The failure of policies, it argues, is due to the fact that market-opening measures and financial and economic considerations have consistently predominated over social ones.
The vision put forward by the Commission is to bring into being a system of global governance that is genuinely supportive of and conducive to national development strategies("there can be no successful globalization without a successful localization"), where powerful actors are held accountable, and where efforts to achieve coherence between economic and social objectives would place the needs and aspirations of ordinary people at the centre of rules and policies.
