BBCCaribbean.com | EU flexes trade muscles

EU flexes trade muscles


EU Trade Commissioner Mandelson wants the talks concluded on schedule
Caribbean trade experts are assessing the latest warning from the European Union about ongoing negotiations the EU wants to see result in a new trade deal by the end of the year.
EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson has informed the group of African Caribbean and Pacific developing countries known as the ACP, that they either sign proposed economic partnership agreements by year end or risk losing some market preferences in Europe.

In a blunt speech Mr Mandelson warned that these states would miss out on export concessions if they don't act quickly.

The EU warning

"The European Union should be ready to go as far as it can within our mandate in both agricultural market access and subsidy reduction," Mr Mandelson said in reference to ACP concerns about these matters.

But he said that what was being asked of all the negotiators is reasonable and attainable:

"This deadline is not a bluff or some negotiating tactic invented in Brussels. It is an external reality created in the WTO (World Trade Organisation) in Geneva. We have given a binding multilateral commitment to our partners in the WTO that was set and agreed seven years ago".

The EU trade commissioner said all concerned (both EU and ACP) had to stand by that agreement and that deadline, or end up being in open breach of their commitments to other World Trade Organisation members.

Ramphal wants region to stand firm

But the EU move to pressurise Caribbean and other ACP states to conclude the economic partnership agreements by year end has been criticised by Sir Shridath Ramphal, a former chief negotiator for the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

"The problem with these EPAs from the beginning has been that they have sought to separate the ACP from each other, " he told BBC Caribbean.

He described the end of year deadline as an unacceptable timeline, and called for a much more flexible approach by the European Union.

Sir Shridath said the Caribbean should not succumb to EU intimidation.

"The EU wants to conclude the EPAs on its terms, and what it is saying is that the Caribbean must accept those terms or face a worse situation. The real answer lies in the EU itself being more accommodating to the very real needs of Caribbean countries, particularly small island states," the former trade negotiator said.