How to assess the West Africa EPA?

1. EU-West Africa EPA17 September 2014The International Trade Union House, Bv du Roi Albert II, 5, 1210 Brussels How to assess the West Africa EPA? Dr San BILAL sb@ecdpm.org

2. Achievements • Successful conclusion… • …at regional level… • …before 1 October 2014 • regional unity & integrity preserved • based on ECOWAS CET • no trade disruption = DEVELOPMENT ???

3. Some key features of the EPA • Focus on market access for goods • DFQF access to EU (100% liberalisation) • West Africa liberalises: 75% of tariff lines over 20 years • Policy space: trade defense instruments • Community levied maintained (until new financing mechanism) • No EU agricultural export subsidies • MNF not automatic • No explicit non-execution clause (Cotonou ref) • Development chapter: PAPED (no additionality)

4. ECOWAS tariff phase down

5. Main products excluded • Preparation of vegetables, fruits and nuts • Other edible preparation such as tea, coffee, sauces, seasonings etc. • Beverages (alcoholic – mainly beers and spirits) and non-alcoholic (table water etc.) • Tobacco • Cement • Pharmaceutical products; • Paint, varnish and mastic • Perfumery, cosmetic and toilet preparation; • Soaps and washing preparation; waxes • Glues; pyrotechnic products; • Articles of plastic; Rubber articles; leather products; wood and wood articles; paper, paperboard and articles of paper pulp; printed books and newspapers • Cotton (thread); other vegetable textile fibres, yarn and fabrics; • Man made fibres; some woven fabrics; some knitted and crocheted fabric; • Articles of apparel and clothing accessories; • Glassware; some articles of iron and steel; copper and nickel • Tools and cutlery of base metals; some machinery and mechanical appliances; some electric machinery; • Some furniture and mattress support (wood and metal); lighting and fittings • Meat and meat products; Preparation of meat; fresh, chilled and frozen fish and fish products; preparation of fish products • Milk and dairy products • Vegetable products such as edible vegetables, fruits, nuts, some cereals (rice), products of milling industry (different types of flour); • Animal and vegetable fats and oils and prepared edible fats • Sugar and sugar confectionary; • Cocoa and cocoa preparations; • Preparation of cereals, flour, starch and milk

6. Policy space? • Existing export taxes are maintained; possibility to introduce new taxes for infant industries, revenue needs and environmental protection on a limited number of products and after consultations with the EU side • Safeguard measures applicable for 4 years, renewable once • Specific safeguard clause for infant industries, for up to 8 years and can be renewed

7. Assessing social impact = Identify sensitive import-competing sectors • Employment per sector/products: nb, gender, youth, work conditions, etc. • SMEs, informal, competition (monopoly?) • Analysis per country/province? • Loss of fiscal revenues? • Support policies and measures? => Likely effects: concentrated in some sectors/products in some countries/provinces on some categories of workers/population

8. Thank you www.ecdpm.org Reference: Ramdoo, Isabelle (2014), ECOWAS and SADC EPAs: A comparative analysis, ECDPM Discussion Paper 165 www.ecdpm.org/dp165 Dr San Bilal Head of Economic Transformation and Trade Editor of GREAT Insights sb@ecdpm.org Twitter @SanBilal1