 Interim EPAs have prevented a loss in market access, but by themselves are unlikely to provide a platform for improved export performance. In compliance with WTO rules, the interim EPAs provide the African signatories immediate tariff-free, quota-free access to EU markets for goods (with transition periods for rice and sugar until 2010 and 2015, respectively) combined with less restrictive rules-of-origin (RoO) provisions for clothing than prevailed under the Cotonou Agreement. EPA-signatories are required to reciprocate by gradually providing tariff-free access to their own markets for 80-85% of EU exports in no more than fifteen years. The combination of interim EPAs (for 18 African countries) and the EU’s EBA and GSP programs (for other countries) will ensure Africa maintains preferential access to the EU market and avoid significant disruption of current Africa-EU trade. However, they do not improve market access for LDCs (with a notable exception more liberal RoO for clothing) nor do they help to address supply side constraints. Consequently, in the absence of further measures, there is little reason to expect that export performance will improve. More>>
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