Participants explored concrete strategies and policy measures aimed at alleviating costs. These included reviewing the experiences of North African countries and South Africa in negotiating and implementing their free trade agreement with the European Union (EU). Best practices that stand out from these experiences were also analysed for the benefit of sub-Saharan countries.

The experts warned that even though EPAs are meant to take effect by the end of 2007, Africa remains unprepared for dealing with the possible consequences. These include the potential loss of revenue from the abolition of import taxes on goods imported from the EU. The experts called for more work at both the political and technical levels to prepare the continent for EPAs, which will replace the current Cotonou agreements that govern trading relations between African and EU countries.

Source : nepad news - October 06, 2006