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EPA Review Annex Documents - DFID

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usiness and political levels represents is the best example of the wide ranging support<br />

of the results of the negotiations.<br />

b. The Cost of a NO-<strong>EPA</strong> Scenario<br />

Although the DR was aware of the potential benefits of achieving an <strong>EPA</strong> agreement, it<br />

also understood the costs of a non-agreement.<br />

On one side there was a lack of sensitivities towards market opening due to the changes<br />

that took place after the negotiation of the DR-CAFTA. On the other side there was the<br />

pressure to reach an agreement so as to impact the exporting sector of the country.<br />

Although prior the starting the negotiations only about 10% of Dominican exports were<br />

directed to the EU, it represented significant levels for specific subsectors. For some<br />

sectors, such as the banana and rum producers, the EU market was the primary market<br />

of exports.<br />

During 2005, DR exports to EU totalled 472 million Euros, basically all received<br />

preferential treatment (0 rated duty) under Cotonou. However, 42% these exports<br />

enjoyed preferential access due to Cotonou, and were not covered under the GSP<br />

scheme. Because of this there was an important contingency for DR exporters,<br />

particularly to banana, cigars, rum, textiles, footwear, cocoa and vegetables producers, if<br />

an agreement was not reached before 31 December 2007, when the WTO waiver<br />

concluded. This contingency affected 198 million Euros of exports. This was also a big<br />

incentive in achieving a desirable agreement by the end of 2007.<br />

As the below table shows, the percentage of CARIFORUM not covered by GSP varied<br />

significantly from country to country, which presented different levels of local pressures<br />

to close a deal before the end of 2007. At the end of the negotiations solidarity among<br />

CARICOM members played an important part in reaching a comprehensive agreement.<br />

The progress made during these two years regarding other areas of the agreement<br />

(services, investment, trade related issues and legal and institutional framework),<br />

alongside the political will from key CARICOM members pushed the region to achieve a<br />

full <strong>EPA</strong>.<br />

http://www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2008/11/2/253751/Conep-resalta-los-beneficios-del-APA-asectores-de-negocios<br />

174

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