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Overview of Presentation

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Overview of Presentation

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  1. International Policy Council Seminar February 29, 2004 Sandton Convention Center, Johannesburg “Achieving Agricultural Development through Agricultural Trade” REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS –PROMISE AND OPPORTUNITYShem SimuyembaTrade Policy SpecialistRegional Agricultural Trade Expansion Support Program (RATES) - A COMESA Project

  2. Overview of Presentation • Context of Regional Trade Agreements • The Case of COMESA • COMESA FTA Highlights • Preparations for Customs Union • Implications on Multilateral Trading Arrangements • Benefits and Costs • RATES – A Case Study • Way Forward

  3. Context of Regional Trade Agreements • Globalization • Preferential Trade Arrangements • Regional Integration • Regional Trade Arrangements

  4. The Case of COMESA • Free Trade Area • Customs Union • Implications for Multilateral Trading Arrangements • Multi-layer, Parallel Negotiations • Implications for Agricultural Trade

  5. COMESA FTA - Highlights • Early 2004 - 11 Countries • Duty Free and Quota Free • Growth in Intra-COMESA Trade for 2001-2003 at 48% (COMESA-FTA) and 22% (All COMESA) • FTA - 80% of GDP and 50% of Population

  6. Preparations for Customs Union • Assess Impact and Provide Policy Options to Member States • Put in Place International Instruments for Operation of Customs Union • Negotiate a Common External Tariff (CET) • Define a Timetable for Launch of Customs Union

  7. Implications on Multilateral Trade Arrangements • COMESA is a Regional Trading Agreement (RTA) under WTO • 15 COMESA Countries are full members of WTO • Trade Negotiations with EU under ACP-EU Cotonou Agreement - EPAs • Africa Growth and Opportunity Act • Impact of other Trading Arrangements

  8. Benefits and Costs • Short-term Implications • Structural Relocations • Impact on Industries and Revenues • Long-term Implications • Larger, Integrated Market Space • Optimal Resource Allocation • Specialization Based on Comparative and Competitive Advantage • Sustainable Economic Growth

  9. RATES – A Case Study • Single Market Space • Harmonization of Policies, Regulations and Procedures • e.g. Maize without Borders • Market Access • Improved Market Access • e.g. Trade Africa/RATIN • Market Sustainability • Competitive Advantage • Value Addition through Regional Value Chain

  10. Way Forward • Informed Policy Making • Policy analysis and policy options • Partnerships and Participation • Public and Private • Common Negotiating Position • Regional Approaches • Removing “Borders” to Agricultural Trade • Sustainable Dialogue and Information Exchange

  11. Contact InformationRegional Agricultural Trade Expansion Support (RATES) Program Policy Office COMESA Secretariat P.O. Box 30051, Lusaka, Zambia Tel: 260-1-229725 Fax: 260-1-225107 E-mail: ssimuyemba@comesa.intUseful Websites: Trade Africa/RATIN - www.tradeafrica.biz RATES - www.ratescenter.orgCOMESA www.comesa.int

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