Over 1 million pilgrims benefit from golf cart service at Grand Mosque during Ramadan    Visitors welcomed with Eid initiative at Thee Ain Heritage Village in Al-Baha    Tebuk emir reviews rain response in Tayma    Saudi Arabia considers rent cap as part of major real estate reforms    Messi's bodyguard banned from touchline at Inter Miami games    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Le Pen vows to appeal political ban, calls verdict a 'denial of democracy'    Death toll from Myanmar earthquake rises to 2,719 as rescue efforts continue    Russia, Ukraine trade blame over new energy strikes    Putin orders Russia's largest military call-up in over a decade    Albania hosts MWL chief for Eid sermon at largest mosque in the Balkans    Haramain High-Speed Railway transports over 1.2 million passengers during Ramadan    Saudi Transport Authority says passengers can ride for free if taxi meters are off    Ministry of Education forms 425 community partnerships with SR653 million impact    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Saudi creatives shine at Jeddah's Fawanees Nights with art, fashion, and storytelling    T1 CEO confirms Gumayusi's return for LCK Spring after lineup shakeup    100 Thieves claim Marvel Rivals Invitational NA crown as 2025 scene heats up    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Saudi Arabia hold Japan to goalless draw in Saitama to stay in World Cup hunt    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



EU and ACP states vow to clinch free trade deals by end-year
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 25 - 05 - 2007


The European Union and 78 African, Caribbean and
Pacific (ACP) states vowed Friday to clinch free-trade deals by end-
2007, defying critics who say the agreements will not help fight
poverty, according to dpa.
German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul,
representing the current German EU presidency, told reporters the so-
called "economic partnership agreements" would boost ACP exports to
Europe and encourage regional integration in Africa.
"It is our common concern to ensure these agreements promote
development," Wieczorek-Zeul told reporters after talks with ACP
ministers.
Lesotho's Foreign Minister and ACP chairman Mohlabi K. Tsekoa
admitted that negotiations on the trade pacts were complex and
difficult.
But he insisted that agreement would be reached as scheduled by
the end of 2007, allowing the new accords to be implemented as of
January 1, 2008.
ACP countries facing the challenges of development and poverty
alleviation needed "reliable partners," said Tsekoa.
The new trade agreements would give ACP states better access to EU
markets, said Tseoka, adding: "We have no doubt we will be enhancing
the development of our people."
The EU has promised to remove all quotas and tariffs on ACP farm
and industrial goods as part of the new trade pacts.
While ACP states will also slash their trade barriers, they will
be given more time to open up their markets to European products.
Wieczorek-Zeul said ACP states would have up to 25 years to make
the transition to free trade for some sensitive products.
The trade deals also allow ACP governments to protect sensitive
products where the removal of import duties could threaten local
producers.
The EU proposal covers agricultural products like beef, dairy,
cereals and all fruit and vegetables which are currently subject to
EU market restrictions. There will be a phase-in period for free
trade in rice and sugar.
Under current EU arrangements, only 40 least developed ACP states
have tariff-free and quota-free access to the EU. The new deal
extends the favourable regime to all ACP states. South Africa,
however, has its own free trade pact with the EU.
The new agreements will replace the current Cotonou Agreement
which does not demand market-opening reciprocity from poor nations.
However, the World Trade Organization has ruled that the Cotonou
arrangement must be revamped by the end of the year to meet
international trade standards.
Aid agencies have, however, warned against a too-hasty opening up
of ACP markets to European products, saying this will hurt their
farmers and fledgling industries.
Negotiations on the economic partnership agreements are currently
under way between the EU and six regional ACP groupings.


Clic here to read the story from its source.