Summary
While South African citrus exports to the EU increased in 2016, EU farmer’s organisations continue to push for stricter SPS controls on citrus imports, despite an earlier international consensus that for citrus black spot (CBS) infections, trade in fruit does not represent a route for disease transmission. EU citrus importers meanwhile argue SPS controls should not be excessive and should be commensurate with the risk. Read more “Ongoing debate on citrus SPS controls highlights need for science based dialogues”
Category: Regions
How can West African agro food sectors benefit from rising yet changing domestic food demand?
Summary
Food demand in West Africa is both growing rapidly and changing, with a growing emphasis on convenient, safe, quality food products. This potentially creates opportunities for the structural transformation of local agro-food sectors. However major obstacles are faced which inhibit the efficient functioning of local supply chains and this is creating growing reliance on imports. These obstacles, many of which lie outside the agricultural sector need to be urgently addressed. Read more “How can West African agro food sectors benefit from rising yet changing domestic food demand?”
EU Task Force calls for more action to strength the position of farmers in supply chains
Summary
The EU continues to seek ways of improving the functioning of agricultural supply chains, so the agricultural base in the EU is not undermined by unequal power relationships within supply chains. In November 2017 an especially convened Agricultural Markets Task Force called for: new EU rules and enforcement mechanisms to address unfair trading practices; mandatory price reporting to improve market transparency and increased support to EU farmers to improve their position within individual supply chains.
Given the role which powerful multinationals play in global trade and the unequal power relationships this gives rise to across ACP-EU agricultural supply chains, there is a strong case for extending EU policy initiatives to strengthen the position of agricultural producers within individual supply chains to ACP-EU agro-food sector trade relations. Read more “EU Task Force calls for more action to strength the position of farmers in supply chains”
The challenges of Brexit: The illustrative case of Namibia
Summary
While Namibia has a very low overall dependence on the UK market in its trade with the EU it has an exceptionally high dependence on the UK market for exports of bovine meat fresh and chilled (0201) and a high dependence for exports of table grapes (08061010). If existing duty free-quota free (DFQF) access to the UK market were lost for these products, then the commercial viability of exports of bovine meat fresh and chilled (0201) would be undermined and the profitability of exports of table grapes (08061010) would be reduced. Any loss of existing duty free-quota free access to the UK market could well require an adjustment to current marketing arrangements for beef exports which are based in the UK. Read more “The challenges of Brexit: The illustrative case of Namibia”
Lapsing of EU trade agreements will carry costs for both UK importers and exporters
Summary
Brexit could potentially impact on a large volume of UK trade, with trade in agricultural products likely to be most severely affected. This will include products where some ACP exporters have significant export interests. However UK exporters will also be adversely affected. Analysis of the effects of Brexit related trade disruptions could potentially assist the ACP in identifying useful allies in lobbying the UK government for pro-active initiative to minimize trade disruption. Read more “Lapsing of EU trade agreements will carry costs for both UK importers and exporters”
The challenges of Brexit: The illustrative case of Belize
Summary
Belize has one of the highest levels of dependence on the UK market in its trade with the EU of any ACP country (73%). Belize’s agricultural exports would all face significant MFN duties if current duty free-quota free (DFQF) access were lost and no alternative equivalent regime were set in place. What is more, Belize’s agricultural exports to the UK are highly vulnerable to preference erosion, given currently expressed UK trade and agricultural policy orientations for a post- Brexit Britain. Only in the citrus sector could Brexit bring benefits, but only if unnecessary SPS controls were abandoned and current full cost recovery initiatives for SPS inspections are reviewed. Read more “The challenges of Brexit: The illustrative case of Belize”
The EU West Africa EPA: Putting Current Developments in Context
Summary
The EC’s presentations on the state of the EPA process in West Africa over-simplifies a complex reality, with to date no progress having been made in implementing EPA commitment agreed as early as the end of 2007. However how the EC seeks to interpret and apply the newly ratified bilateral IEPAs will be an important test case for the EC’s future approach to EPA implementation. Any attempt by the EC to ride rough-shod over West Africa’s own regional integration efforts, through encouraging violations of the regionally agreed common external tariff could carry serious implications for the nascent regional integration processes both in West Africa and at the continental level. An over-vigorous interpretation and application of Ghanaian and Ivorian EPA commitments on the elimination of non-tariff barriers to EU exports could carry important ramifications for EPA signatories across the ACP Read more “The EU West Africa EPA: Putting Current Developments in Context”
After Brexit: How to secure ACP interests
Summary
The ACP Secretary General has taken up suggestions for a 2 stage approach to future ACP-UK trade relations, with the transitional unilateral extension of current market access conditions being seen as essential in avoiding ‘a disruptive cliff edge’ in ACP exports to the UK. The inaugural meeting of Commonwealth Trade Ministers offers an opportunity to secure UK commitments in this regard.
ACP trade concerns around Brexit will need to be addressed independently of the state of UK-EU27 negotiations. However there are both UK and EU27 dimensions to the trade effects of Brexit on ACP food and agriculture sectors which will need to be addressed. This includes joint ACP-EU28 initiatives to avert any WTO challenge to necessary transitional market access arrangements.
The creation of a joint ACP-DIT working group could offer a vehicle for ensuring ACP interests are not lost sight of in the face of the multitude of pressing trade priorities facing the UK authorities. Read more “After Brexit: How to secure ACP interests”
Will South Africa’s introduction of poultry safeguard duties by challenged by the EC?
Summary
In December 2016 South Africa introduced a 13.9% safeguard duty on poultry imports form the EU. Both South African poultry producers and food sector trade unions have been critical of the low level of safeguard duties applied, in the face of a growing levels of job losses. In the face of the failure of past efforts to curb imports of EU poultry meat the South African government is looking at a range of other measures which could be introduced to support the local poultry industry. Press reports suggest the EC may challenge the new safeguard duties on technical grounds, since EC officials believe EU exports are not the cause of the current crisis in the South African poultry industry. How the EC responds to these safeguard duties will be an important test case of how flexible and responsible the EC is likely to be in the implementation of EPA provisions in the months and years ahead. Read more “Will South Africa’s introduction of poultry safeguard duties by challenged by the EC?”
No respite for rising EU exports of low quality poultry parts likely
Summary
EU demand for poultry meat continues to grow, with the strong preference for breast meat generating increased exports of poultry parts, as the EU’s managed trade regime ensure an expansion of domestic production above demand growth. Sub-Saharan African markets are seen as important destinations for expanded EU exports. New EU13 members are playing a growing role in EU poultry meat production and an increasingly important role in exports to ACP countries.
The rate of expansion of EU poultry meat exports to ACP countries will be critically determined by how EPA commitments are the elimination of non-tariff barriers to EU exports and associated safeguard measures are interpreted and applied in practice. The SADC-EU EPA will provide an important test case in this regard. Read more “No respite for rising EU exports of low quality poultry parts likely”