EPAs : The EU view

In your editorial, you challenge the European Union (EU) to address concerns by some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that subsidised European products would lead to the loss of regional markets by African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries negotiating the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the EU under the EPAs.  The reality is that the EU has recently made substantial reforms in the Common Agricultural Policy in which we have removed trade distorting subsidies.

You quote us correctly that the full market access offered to the ACP by the EU is not tied to the requirement of equivalent openness from the ACP countries. The market access to be given by ACP countries will be phased in over many years and these countries will also retain the right to protect sensitive products where the removal of import duties could threaten local producers.