Suchergebnisse

This thesis consists of three essays. They are all related and investigate trade (at aggregate and value-added level) relations between African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP), and the European Union (EU) with a focus on the post-Brexit scenario. The first goal of the analysis is to understand how all preference arrangements (Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), Free Trade Agreement (FTAs), and Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSPs)) have affected the ACP-EU trade (at aggregate level) relationships. This ex-post assessment will be used to make predictions about the post-Brexit scenario. Then the thesis investigates in depth the notion of trade in value-added, this thesis analyzes the trade in value-added (TiVA) providing an overview of the participation of these regions in international network production. Finally, this thesis investigates further how non-tariff measures (NTMs) affect ACP's agriculture and food sectors' participation in backward and forward Global Value Chains (GVC).

This study describes the development of food production and consumption in ACP regions after the last two decades and prospects for the years to come

With the Cotonou Agreement due to expire in 2020, formal negotiations towards a new partnership agreement between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states began in September 2018. Based on the acceptance of the EU's negotiating mandate, the new arrangement will be primarily organised via three specific regional protocols with each of the ACP regions. Meanwhile, the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) launched in 2007, has seen the African Union (AU) gain increased prominence as an institutional partner of the EU. Given its ambitious pan-African agenda, it adopted an alternative 'African' vision for future EU-ACP relations, to the mandate agreed by the ACP states and expressed a willingness to become directly involved in the negotiations. This article contributes an important new case-study to the existing literature on 'African agency' in international politics by considering the scope for Africa to exert agency within the post-Cotonou negotiations, given the negotiation of a specific regional compact with Africa. It adopts a structurally embedded view of agency, based on Cox's understanding of historical structures, as a fit between institutions, ideas and material relations. The central argument is that, in comparison to the negotiation of the Cotonou Agreement two decades ago, there is greater scope for African agency. However, both the ideational and material aspects of Africa's relationship with the EU, condition the limits to how effective such agency might be. Moreover, tensions at the institutional level between the ACP and AU further undermine the potential for effective African agency.

With the Cotonou Agreement due to expire in 2020, formal negotiations towards a new partnership agreement between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states began in September 2018. Based on the acceptance of the EU's negotiating mandate, the new arrangement will be primarily organised via three specific regional protocols with each of the ACP regions. Meanwhile, the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) launched in 2007, has seen the African Union (AU) gain increased prominence as an institutional partner of the EU. Given its ambitious pan-African agenda, it adopted an alternative 'African' vision for future EU-ACP relations, to the mandate agreed by the ACP states and expressed a willingness to become directly involved in the negotiations. This article contributes an important new case-study to the existing literature on 'African agency' in international politics by considering the scope for Africa to exert agency within the post-Cotonou negotiations, given the negotiation of a specific regional compact with Africa. It adopts a structurally embedded view of agency, based on Cox's understanding of historical structures, as a fit between institutions, ideas and material relations. The central argument is that, in comparison to the negotiation of the Cotonou Agreement two decades ago, there is greater scope for African agency. However, both the ideational and material aspects of Africa's relationship with the EU, condition the limits to how effective such agency might be. Moreover, tensions at the institutional level between the ACP and AU further undermine the potential for effective African agency.

The ACP–EU Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) is pleased to release the 2010 Compendium, the second in a series launched in 2009. It offers a collection of critical reviews of issues related to agricultural and fisheries trade for the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries published on the Agritrade (http://agritrade.cta.int) website between 2009 and 2010. The food -price crisis of 2008–09, and the overall economic and financial crisis associated with high price volatility on the world markets, have contributed to undermining the position of a large number of ACP countries, which still depend heavily on trade in agricultural products. The deadlock in World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations and the rise of free -trade agreements between the European Union (EU) and other developing countries (particularly Latin America), combined with price reductions on the European market via Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform, have greatly contributed to eroding the benefits of preferential access to European markets previously enjoyed by ACP countries. The latest example is the Agreement on Bananas, concluded between the EU and the Andean countries in December 2009. At the same time, ACP–EU negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), which aim to establish reciprocal market access conditions, continue to play a prominent role in the ACP-EU agenda. However, despite recent progress in the technical negotiations, a number of contentious issues remain unresolved at the time of publication, such as the clauses on most-favoured nation treatment, special safeguard clauses, infant industry protection provisions, rules of origin, etc. All these technical issues require a deep analysis of their implications for the ACP countries, to help them in their negotiations and tackle the underlying adjustments required of their economies. The Executive Briefs are updated annually and are available on the Agritrade website. This compilation aims to enhance the dissemination of information that is available to ACP stakeholders. The three main topics covered include the following issues : • agricultural trade issues – WTO negotiations, EPA negotiations, EU market access, CAP reform, food safety/SPS ; • fisheries trade issues – WTO negotiations, ACP–EU Fisheries Partnership Agreements, market access, EU common fisheries policy (CFP) reform ; • trade policy issues for commodities including bananas, sugar, coffee, cotton, cereals, oilseeds, beef, and fruit and vegetables. We trust the 2010 Compendium will enjoy even greater success than the 2009 publication and will continue to serve the needs of ACP stakeholders. I join the Agritrade editorial team in thanking you for your dedication, wishing you happy reading, and would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm CTA's commitment to supporting the agricultural development agenda of ACP countries by supporting the sharing of information and experiences, facilitating ACP–EU dialogue and building capacity on issues related to agricultural and fisheries trade. Michael Hailu Director, CTA ; The second in a series launched in 2009, this 2010 Compendium offers a collection of critical reviews of issues related to agricultural and fisheries trade for the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries published on the Agritrade website between 2009 and 2010.