Malawi mulls over EPAs future
Malawi Government says it will review whether to continue talks with the European Union (EU) on the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), a year after returning to the negotiating table.
Negotiations on EPAs—a trade agreement between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries aimed at promoting trade between the two groupings, through trade development, sustainable growth and poverty reduction—has been dragging for the past years with no clear direction in sight.
However, the new Minister of Industry and Trade Joseph Mwanamvekha said government will hold consultations on the matter but said ongoing talks will continue and will immediately seek guidance on the matter.
“We will come up with a position on a technical level, but we will have to seek views of the leadership and others. Meanwhile, we will continue with discussions and we can reveal that there are scheduled discussions in Swaziland later in the month and we will attend,” he said.
Director of trade Christina Zakeyo, in an interview, said the talks remain on schedule, adding the country is optimistic of clinching the deal before its deadline.
She, however, admitted that big tasks still remain with several steps to be taken in the country and at regional levels.
“On a regional level [Comesa], we needed to come up with a development matrix which indicates what challenges we will face on implementing EPAs with a discussions focusing on issues relating to challenges in energy, production capacity, communications and ICT.
“We have developed the matrix and other countries in the Comesa configuration have also made submissions,” said Zakeyo.
She explained that the Swaziland regional meet will discuss the region’s responses to challenges on the liberalisation period, sensitive products and cost benefit analysis of the deal, among others.
In 2012, outgoing EU Ambassador Alexander Baum urged Malawi to return to the table.
“EPAs tackle cooperation on trade-related issues and provide an opportunity to address complex issues affecting trade. EPAs boost regional markets and rules and provide for a broader approach to trade barriers,” he said.
Over the past years, Malawi has been reluctant to sign EPAs as they have a provision which allows for removal of all barriers for the entry of goods from EU markets.
Proponents of EPAs say it is set out to help ACP countries integrate into the world economy and share in the opportunities offered by globalisation by enhancing trade beyond free market access through less strict rules of origin.
