EU’s First EPA with an African Region

14 May 2012, Brussels

 

On 14 May taken affect the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) concluded between EU and four Eastern and Southern African states Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles and Zimbabwe.

 

The interim EPA provides duty and quota free access to the EU market for exports from above mention African countries. The last ones will gradually open their markets to European exports, with exceptions for certain products the countries consider sensitive. The trade and development agreement covers provisions on rules of origin, development cooperation, fisheries, trade defence instruments and dispute settlement.

 

More here.

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Canada and Japan Free Trade Negotiations

The governments of Canada and Japan agreed to formally start talks aimed at forging a free trade agreement between the two countries. If established, the free trade agreements (FTA) would be Japan’s first with a country from the Group of Eight major economies.  An FTA between these two highly-developed trading partners seek to boost economic, energy and security relations.

 

The negotiation are seeking to develop and achieve long-range goals as:

–       Increased Trade and Investment

–       Opening Markets to Goods and Services

–       Regulation on Non-Tariff Barriers

–       Promoting Innovation

–       Promoting Transparency

–       Entrepreneurship and Increasing Flows of People

 

Canada currently pursuing treaties with the European Union, South Korea and India, Ottawa would also begin free trade talks with Thailand. Japan’s current priorities for economic integration are focused on the Pacific Rim and ASEAN areas. In 2011, Japan signed concluded an FTA with Mexico (September 23) and signed Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) with the Republic of India (June 30) and Peru (May 31). At this moment, Japan is involved in advanced negations of an EPA with Australia.