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EPAs and the WTO Dr San Bilal

Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs): Maximising Benefits for the ACP tralac Annual Trade Law Conference Stellenbosch, 11-12 November 2004. EPAs and the WTO Dr San Bilal. EPAs and the WTO: 4 dimensions. Content Sequencing and dynamics Trade Capacity Building

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EPAs and the WTO Dr San Bilal

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  1. Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs): Maximising Benefits for the ACP tralac Annual Trade Law Conference Stellenbosch, 11-12 November 2004 EPAs and the WTO Dr San Bilal

  2. EPAs and the WTO: 4 dimensions • Content • Sequencing and dynamics • Trade Capacity Building • WTO (legal) compatibility of EPAs

  3. 1. Content • parallel coverage • WTO-plus e.g. GATS-plus, Singapore issues • strategy e.g. agriculture: export subisidies; CAP reform; SPS; etc.

  4. 2. Timing and synergies • inter-linked outcomes • e.g. GATS-plus • Singapore issues • rules on regional agreements • sugar / cotton / etc. • failure of Cancun ; July Package • end of negotiations • creation of alliances e.g. small islands ; LDCs ; ACP Group ; AU

  5. 3. Capacities • synergies development dimension / assistance to address EPA, beneficial for WTO • competing agenda – • diversion of scarce resources

  6. 4. WTO - compatibility • reciprocity • FTAs / RTAs: • Enabling clause: DCs • GATT Article XXIV & GATS Art.V • EPAs = FTAs (– plus) • non-reciprocity: • GSP (DCs) – EBA (LDCs)

  7. 4. WTO - compatibility • GATT Article XXIV • elimination of import duties and • other measures of equivalent effects • (other restrictive regulations of commerce – ORRC)

  8. 4. WTO - compatibility • GATT Article XXIV • on substantially all trade (SAT) - ??? • - no exclusion of major sectors • 1) tariff lines (Australian formula); or • 2) total value of trade among partners: • EC: average of 90% affected by: - level of protection - balance of trade • special case: end-rate ≠ 0 (e.g. TDCA)

  9. 4. WTO - compatibility • GATT Article XXIV • transition period: • 10 years • exceptional cases: 12 years • in practice: up to 15 – 18 years... • customs territories • ACP regions = (i) FTAs, (ii) CUs • (a) Enabling clause • (b) GATT Art. XXIV

  10. 4. WTO - compatibility • DDA: Review of RI rules • merits of action? • legal clarity • legal certainty • development dimension • avoid abuse (tightening?) • Some options: • grandfathering clause • explicit asymmetry/SDT: • principle or codified flexibility

  11. 4. WTO - compatibility • Other preferential arrangements • Commodity Protocols • bananas ... sugar (DSM) • New GSP • discrimantation among DCs according to: - objective and transparent criteria - development considerations • EBA for LDCs

  12. For more information on ACP-EU (trade) relations and RI, please refer to:www.acp-eu-trade.org www.ecdpm.org ECDPM O.L. Vrouweplein, 21 NL – 6211 HE Maastricht The Netherlands San Bilal sb@ecdpm.org Tel. +31-43-350 29 23 Fax +31-43-350 29 02

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