Ethiopia and EPA Negotiation 2008 - FES Ethiopia

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1.1 The main areas of difference between the Interim Agreements of ESA and EAC 60 Article Number ESA Text EAC Text Comment General EPA Objectives Article 2 a Specific objectives of this Agreement Article 3.1 b) Article 3.2 Principles Article 4 c Article 4 d, e, f, TRADE REGIME FOR GOODS Objectives Article 5 b) Contains references to the CPA and the MDGs No such text or references The deadline for negotiations is 31-12-08 Calls for asymmetry in the liberalisation of trade. d - spells out special and differential treatment for LDCs e - allows variable geometry in the region f - the inclusiveness of development cooperation for all ESA states the promotion of trade between the Parties and the acceleration of export led growth to enable the integration of ESA countries into the global economy; No such references To facilitate continuation of trade by the EAC Partner States under terms no less favourable than those under the Cotonou Agreement; The deadline for negotiations is 31-07-09 States emphatically that asymmetry will be in favour of the EAC. These issues are not reflected in the EAC text. Not included in the EAC text. The EAC text focuses mainly on the establishment of a strengthened and strategic trade and development partnership consistent with the objective of sustainable development This is a basic ideal of negotiating the EPA and should be included in the ESA text. The negotiations for the full EPA will be given more time in EAC. We should try to understand why. This should be clearly stated in the ESA text too. The ESA text is better suited to Ethiopia's needs. The ESA text more reflects the needs of Ethiopia. 60 This section is largely based on the work done by James Watson on the main difference between ESA and EAC text. 54 | P a g e
Scope of Application Article 6 Classification of goods Article 7 Standstill Article 14 Circulation of goods Article 14 EAC Duties and taxes on exports Article 15 More favourable treatment resulting from economic integration agreements Article 16 Prohibition of quantitative restrictions Article 17 National treatment on Lays out the obligations of the parties under the trade in goods section. Goods will be classified under the COMESA classification (Article 8 ESA text) ESA simply agree not to increase their tariffs on EC goods. Not in ESA text ESA are required to list products that are to be exempt from this article in an Annex. ESA are only allowed to have regional integration agreements with African countries that are exempt from extension to the EC. There are no caveats listed in the ESA text. ESA include exemptions from Not included in EAC The EAC states will use the HS system. EAC agree to do so, but have built in a caveat for antidumping and safeguards. (article 13 EAC) EAC allow customs duties to be collected only once on EC goods imported into the EAC. EAC have broad caveats for exemption: to foster development of domestic industries and to maintain currency stability. EAC have a similar exemption but also they do not have to give equally favourable terms to the EC when they sign trade agreements with the ACP countries. The EAC text includes a paragraph 2, this stipulates that the prohibitions on quantitive restrictions shall not extend to export restrictions in place to address food shortages. The EAC text does not contain any such The inclusion is necessary in ESA given that not all countries have initialled or even made market access offers. The problem is that the Interim Agreement seems to be giving legal standing to the COMESA classification. This has not been agreed to by the Ethiopian government. The caveats should be built into the ESA text too - they add value. This should be kept out for the purposes of Ethiopia. The EAC exemptions should be included in the ESA text. This gives more leeway and is not so prescriptive. The exemption for ACP countries in the EAC text should be extended to the ESA text, otherwise the ESA text is more restrictive. The EAC text could be considered worthwhile and therefore could be brought to the ESA text. The ESA text is more suited to the needs of Ethiopia. 55 | P a g e
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2008 Ethiopia and EPA Negotiation R
Page 3 and 4: References ........................
Page 5 and 6: Unilateral preference programs not
Page 7 and 8: Cotonou Agreement. The Cotonou Agre
Page 9 and 10: egional trade arrangements envisage
Page 11 and 12: 4. Content of the Interim EPAs As o
Page 13 and 14: country inputs in such key areas as
Page 15 and 16: African LDCs signed the Interim EPA
Page 17 and 18: the policy space of developing coun
Page 19 and 20: have the audacity to claim otherwis
Page 21 and 22: sale for export between the parties
Page 23 and 24: goods involved in the fraud and imp
Page 25 and 26: instruments remain to be negotiated
Page 27 and 28: 6.1 Initialling/ acceding to Develo
Page 29 and 30: The EBA regime provides duty free a
Page 31 and 32: etween the EU and Ethiopia as these
Page 33 and 34: cost. It should also be noted that
Page 35 and 36: different documentation requirement
Page 37 and 38: negotiation on the Full EPA with EC
Page 39 and 40: The final outcome of the EAC-EC EPA
Page 41 and 42: and eastern African countries. Harm
Page 43 and 44: 7. Conclusion: Key Issues Ahead The
Page 45 and 46: importance of technical cooperation
Page 47 and 48: the framework rules on procurement
Page 49 and 50: addressed since most of the CARIFOR
Page 51 and 52: References 1. Agritrade, EPA Negoti
Page 53: 19. Roberta Piermartini, The Role o
Page 57 and 58: Relations between this Agreement an
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Ethiopia and EPA Negotiation 2008 - FES Ethiopia

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