The Agricultural Trade Relationship between European Union and ACP Countries

• Main Authors: Hsin-Yi Lin, 林欣儀
• Other Authors: Jenny Tzeng
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/30593839708576416885

碩士 === 淡江大學 === 歐洲研究所碩士班 === 99 === For Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP countries), the key point of national development and poverty eradication is agricultural development and the growth of agricultural trade. Most of ACP countries exports are concentrated on European Union (EU)’s agricultural market. Therefor, it is important to get Duty-Free & Quota-Free and trade related assistance from EU. EU and ACP countries signed Cotonou agreement in 2000. Cotonou agreement re-builds a new trade relationship and emphasizes reciprocal principle to foster ACP countries’ regional integration and gradual integration into the world economy. In order to create a new reciprocal trade regime, they commence Economic Patnership Agreements (EPAs) negotiation in 2002. EU commits to open residual market which is still protected under Lomé Convention and is concentrated on agricultural sector. On the other wise, ACP countries must engage in trade liberalization. However, EPAs negotiation doesn’t go successfully on schedule. ACP countries have different positions in EPAs negotiation which is result of the different levels of national development, acceptance for market openness and dependence on EU market. It is critical to open ACP market that will hurt ACP’s national development interest. Consequently, more than a half of ACP countries rejected to sign EPAs. At present, EU and ACP regions continue negotiating for the important issues of agriculture and development. Africa is the main agricultural region in ACP countries, this study therefore focuses on African ACP countries. In order to analyse the agricultural trade and development cooperation relationship between EU and ACP countries, it should study from three levels of African continent, region and country. The study shows that the effect of EPAs is limited because EPAs are lack of substantial commitment for trade related assistance and may hurt the process of ACP regional integration.