1 EPAs and Agriculture Dougie Brew, DG Trade, European Commission EPA Seminar for the EU outermost regions and OCTs Brussels, th June 2005 n EU - ACP Agriculture Trade n Objectives of EPAs and Agriculture n Market Access and Regional integration n Related Areas (SPS, Rules of Origin etc)

2 5 products or 9 countries (Diamonds, Wood, Fish, Cocoa, Oil)D 60% of ACP Exports to the EU are From (i) Half the agricultural goods it exports (ii) A lot of manufactured goods The ACP Imports EU – ACP Agriculture Trade Test

3 EU – ACP Agriculture Trade

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6 Objectives of EPAs for Agriculture n Same as those that apply to all Trade n Improved Competitiveness n Broad Trade and Reduced Dependency Reduce non A griculture barriers Tackle Agriculture Issues (SPS) Larger domestic / regional markets Improved investment Greater opportunity in 3 rd countries

7 ACP Preferential Market Access into the EU n Good for ACP (97% open already) and the EU will maintain or improve this n Safeguard key areas but products and schedules to be agreed n Include joint review of commodity protocols

8 n n Increased Incomes and Secured Livelihoods - BUT THE WORLD CHANGED AND THEY - n n Increased marginalisation and vulnerability n n Restricted diversification and innovation n n Were unable to guarantee incomes Effect of Unilateral Preferences

9 Possible Changing Market Access Effects n For ORs n Increase in ACP imports n Impacts on regime specifique agricole n For OCTs n Increased competition with ACP n ACP stop using OCT route for rice and sugar n EPAs by 2008 but Changes in EU Market Access in Particular Later

10 EU Access to ACP n Be gradual, asymmetric and WTO compliant n Cover products and schedules to be agreed n Be Regionally Specific

11 Regional Integration of Markets n n A step towards the world by a South-South-North approach n n Create larger investment markets and reduce internal costs n n Support existing efforts

12 Small Print Big Impacts n Rules of Origin, Sanitary, Phytosanitary and TBT measures n Addressing Market Demands in a Product Approach n Capacity Building and Trade Facilitation