Central Africa

(Cameroon)

Central Africa) were the first to begin (along with that for West Africa) in 2003. The focus is on regional economic integration. There are four thematic technical groups that have characterized the negotiations: regional markets, technical SPS standards and measures, services and investment, and other trade related issues. In the EPA negotiations, it has been agreed that the countries of the CEMAC group, with the exception of Sao Tome and Principe and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), will form a customs union with a common external tariff (CET). 5 of the 8 CEMAC negotiating countries are LDCs and thus the impetus for a full EPA agreement has been somewhat lacking as we have seen in other LDC dominated regions. Progress on regional integration has been good, with the establishment of a customs union, CET and common market although actual results have been mixed. Intra-regional trade is rather low and the countries of CEMAC are much more heavily involved with trade with the EU than with each other. The common market is thus far not fully effective and should include the DRC in particular as it is a major player in the region.

In the EPA negotiations, thus far Cameroon is the only CEMAC country to have signed an interim (goods only) EPA with the EU leaving Gabon and Congo to the GSP and the others (all LDCs) subject to the EBA. Negotiations for a full EPA for the CEMAC region continue in 2009. Equatorial Guinea (an LDC) has recently decided to discontinue EPA negotiations and to switch to observer status.

The significant economic diversity between members and relatively small amount of regional integration has made concluding the EPA difficult. For the region as a whole, agricultural exports are less than 20% of total exports but the reality in each country can be quite different. Outstanding issues from the negotiations include the formulation of the list of sensitive products for the EPA, provisions for development financing, market access and the reform of non-tariff barriers and trade defence instruments which present particular problems for trade with many of the CEMAC countries. There has however been progress on trade in services and the Commission has indicated that an interim agreement on this subject could be forthcoming.

Negotiations for a full EPA for the CEMAC region continue in 2009.

11. Mai 2009 15:24