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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The EU, Africa and Economic Partnership Agreements: Unintended Consequences of Policy Leverage
Author:Stevens, ChristopherISNI
Year:2006
Periodical:Journal of Modern African Studies
Volume:44
Issue:3
Period:September
Pages:441-458
Language:English
Geographic term:Subsaharan Africa
Subjects:European Union
trade negotiations
economic integration
Economics and Trade
international relations
Inter-African Relations
External link:https://www.jstor.org/stable/3876303
Abstract:Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is negotiating a new trade regime with the European Union (EU), under the threat of increased barriers against its exports if agreement is not reached before 2008. This article examines the potential impact on regional integration of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) being negotiated. Both sides pay lip service to greater regional integration, which is a stated objective of EPAs. But the article provides research evidence suggesting that EPAs will weaken regionalism, and in so doing adds to the literature on what happens when external powers attempt to use leverage to press trade policy change. Based on an analysis of SSA's trade with the EU, the article shows that countries may be encouraged to reinforce rather than eliminate barriers to the free circulation of goods between them, because of the choices they make in the details of their trade regimes with Europe. It also establishes a methodology that can be applied to new data as the negotiations progress. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]
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