ActionAidAlongside the ongoing World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations, rich countries are still pressing ahead with other back door trade deals called Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). This deal is currently being negotiated between the European Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and could have a disastrous impact on the economies of these developing countries.
Why are we worried? EPAs are skewed in favour of rich countries and threaten to leave 750 million poor people worse off than ever.We are concerned that unless EPAs are radically reformed, the impact in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries will be: job losses, government revenue losses and cuts in public services as developing countries are forced to open up their markets to the EU before they are ready; corporate domination as African, Caribbean and Pacific governments’ ability to regulate big business is restricted; weakened democracy as governments will be prevented from choosing their own development strategies.
What is behind the EU's policies in Africa? Is it economic and about profiteering via the imposition of neoliberalism? Is it a hangover from empire and the increased threat of China stealing their influence?
