Archive

New NGO initiatives launched to tackle development (October 27th)

A group of NGOs from Africa and Europe have called on the European citizens to increase pressure on their government to reject the Economic Partnership Agreements between the EU and developing countries. This was announced at the European Social Forum on October 15th. The ‘stop-EPA campaign’ is supported by around 120 organisations and argues that liberalisation of trade will increase competition between subsidised European goods and local goods, so hurting the less well off.

EU Development co-operation (October 27th)

On October 27th the EU announced that it would spend EUR 12,5 million on humanitarian aid for victims of disease and drought in Africa. This will be divided over four countries, with the largest amount going to Ethiopia. Another EUR 10 million is allocated to victims of the Chechnya conflict.

New EU GSP scheme (October 26th 2004)

On October 20th the European Commission adopted a proposal setting out the details for a new EU General System of Preferences (GSP) to replace the current system that ends on the 31st of December 2005, just before a WTO trade review, which did not came to any surprising conclusions. Most important changes are the reduction of the number of programs and that countries applying for the largest program will have to show they are dedicated to human and labour rights, good governance and protection of the environment.

Review of NEPAD (October 26th 2004)

On the 22nd of October a review of the achievements of the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) was held by its’ members. Many of the African heads of states attended this meeting. The main conclusion was that its key achievement is the creation of a peer review system to monitor the key principles of good governance. Also important is the establishment of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council. Both initiatives have however been damaged by the crisis in Darfur and the way that Zimbabwe is governed.

European Union helps Darfur (October 26th 2004)

The European Union has pledged to give EUR 80 million to the African Peace Facility for its’ observer mission to war-torn Sudan. After a visit to the African Union chairman Alpha Moumar Komare, Javier Solana, EU’s foreign policy chief said he felt the mission needed to be a success given the bad situation in the African country.

New free trade deals (October 26th 2004)

China and the ASEAN countries announced they will sign a trade agreement in November of this year. The agreement would mean a partial elimination of tariffs on commodities in 2005 and a total abolishment in 2010. Another possible new deal might be struck between the MERCOSUR countries, India and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). This was announced by a representative of the South African Department of Trade and Industry. There is less progress on the negotiation of SACU with the US.

The IMF and the World Bank will help of a case-by-case basis poor c

In response to the elimination of quotas on textile production in 2005, the IMF and World Bank said they would consider helping developing countries that experience problems in adjusting to the new liberalised trade regime. This was announced after the last regular contact session between the WTO and the IMF and the World Bank at the 21st of October.

No MERCOSUR-EU trade deal before end of year (October 20th 2004)

Portugal, which acted as organizer of trade talks between the EU and MERCOSUR, announced on October 20th that the talks would be extended until after the start of the New Year. Both sides recognised that there was still too much work to be done to come to a consensus. A ministerial meeting is scheduled for early 2005.

Abolishment of textile quotas will happen after January 1st 2005 (O

Proposals for an extension of the deadline for the abolishment of trade quotas have been rejected by the WTO. As of the 1st of January 2005 trade quota’s for textile imports will no longer be allowed. The predictions are that a large number of developing countries will be damaged by this, with Chinese and Indian textile gaining increasing domination of the market. To avoid this a group of seven developing countries tried to gain time with proposing to extend the deadline. The EU announced this week that it is preparing its’ industry for adjustment. In the US textile producers pressure their government to impose new quotas on selected countries.

New reports show Africa still lacks behind (October 15th)

The United Nations Commission for Africa said in a report prepared for the fourth United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) that although there have been many improvements, the standards of governance in Africa are still not of high quality. However, many countries where formerly nobody trusted their government received better rates than before. The report concluded that there are big disparities between countries and that some perform substantially better than others. Two other recently published reports discuss the economic situation in Africa, one focusing on trade and competitiveness on the African continent and the other on the relation between debt burdens and the Millennium Development Goals.

EU Appeals Sugar ruling at WTO (October 15th)

The European Union does not agree with the recent ruling of the WTO’s dispute settlement body that it has exceeded the amount of sugar exports. The WTO ruled in favour of the countries that brought the case, Brazil, Australia and Thailand, saying that a footnote in the EU’s WTO schedule regarding subsidy of equivalent sugar exports from Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) and India has no legal effect On October 15th the EU announced that it would appeal.

EU Development cooperation (October 15th)

On October 12th the EU has granted EUR 80 million to development projects in Syria for higher education, commerce and civil society. Another EUR 15 million was given to Kenya for improvements in the health sector and EUR 3 million was earmarked for helping the victims of the hurricanes in the Caribbean. The EU also joined hands with Francophonie to support tradepolicy makers in ACP countries.

CITES Conference expands coverage of trade in endangered species (O

On the 2-14 October meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Life and Fauna (CITES) in Bangkok important decisions were made about which species were to be protected from trade. The US and EU received heavy criticism for their role in allowing Namibia to start exporting ivory again.

EU start negotiations with Singapore and Thailand on new partnershi

At the ASEM meeting from October 7-9ththe EU has started negotiations with Thailand and Singapore to increase ties, both in trade and cultural and social issues. These negotiations are in line with the New Partnership for South Asian Countries (NPSAC) launched by the EU. On October 11thTajikistan signed a Partnership and Co-operation Treaty with the EU.

EU and Vietnam conclude bilateral trade deal for WTO accession (Oct

The EU has as the first major trading partner of Vietnam agreed a bilateral deal on Vietnams’ accession to the WTO. The EU is Vietnam’s largest trading partner and the deal is expected to generate increased support for the country’s full inclusion into the multilateral trading system.

Russia approves Kyoto (30 September)

For years Russia has hesitated to ratify the Kyoto protocol on CO2 emissions. Now Russia officially decided to do so. With the ratification of the Kyoto protocol by Russia, the protocol will finally enter into force.

Streamlining of EU Development co-operation (29 September)

The European Commission has streamlined its funding of external assistance. As of 1 October there will only be six different programs where funding is distributed to countries outside the EU. Four of them are new: The Pre Accession Instrument, The European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument, The Development Cooperation and Economic Cooperation Instrument and the Instrument for Stability. Two existing instruments, for Humanitarian Aid and for Macro Financial Assistance will remain the same.

EU-MERCOSUR trade talks advance slowly (29 September)

With adjusted offers from both parties participating in the talks, trade negations between the European Union and the Latin American trade bloc Mercosur progressed slowly. The European Union has made the latest, improved offer to the Mercosur countries to un-lock trade talks that should lead to an agreement at the end of October. It is now waiting for a response from the Latin American trade block compromising Argentina, Brazil, Paraquay and Uruquay.

UNCTAD Annual Investment Report: Expanding global economy fuels FDI

On 23 September UNCTAD published its annual FDI report. This report shows that in 2003 FDI increased after three years of decline. The main reason for this was said to be the expansion of the world economy and an increase in firms’ profitability. Developing countries were the largest recipients of FDI flows. The services sector recorded the largest increase in FDI flows.

EU discusses ending sanctions on Libya (23 September)

On 11 October the EU is to discuss lifting an 18 year old arms ban on Libya. Lifting the sanctions would increase relations between the EU and Libya and opens the door for talks on curbing immigration flowing in to the EU from Libya.