On 22 February 2018 ACT Alliance convened Seminar on the Implications of Brexit in the agro-food sector for ACP countries and for the forthcoming ACP-EU Post-Cotonou negotiations. A series of twelve 2 page summary notes were produced for the seminar covering both substantive issues arising within the Brexit process and the current state of play in the Brexit process. Note 7 explores the potential trade displacement effects of Brexit, whereby current mutual EU27/UK trade in agro-food products is displaced to ACP markets. This issue is explored with specific reference to the poultry meat sector, in the light of the earlier African experience of trade displacement in the poultry meat sector arising from the imposition of a ban by Russia on agro-food imports from the EU. Read more “The Trade Displacement Effects of Brexit: Lessons from the Poultry Sector”
Category: Brexit
Post-Brexit Policy Uncertainty: The Case of Preference Erosion in the Banana Sector
On 22 February 2018 ACT Alliance convened Seminar on the Implications of Brexit in the agro-food sector for ACP countries and for the forthcoming ACP-EU Post-Cotonou negotiations. A series of twelve 2 page summary notes were produced for the seminar covering both substantive issues arising within the Brexit process and the current state of play in the Brexit process. Note 5 explores the impact of Brexit on the erosion of the value of ACP trade preferences through an exploration of the specific case of ACP banana exports, in the context of the likely evolution of the UK’s independent trade policy once the UK is freed from the disciplines of EU customs union and single market rules and regulations. Read more “Post-Brexit Policy Uncertainty: The Case of Preference Erosion in the Banana Sector”
State of Play in EU EPA Implementation Update January 2018
On 22 February 2018 ACT Alliance convened Seminar on the Implications of Brexit in the agro-food sector for ACP countries and for the forthcoming ACP-EU Post-Cotonou negotiations. A series of twelve 2 page summary notes were produced for the seminar covering both substantive issues arising within the Brexit process and the current state of play in the Brexit process. Note 4 provides a summary overview of the state of play in regard to the negotiation and implementation of ACP-EU economic partnership agreements based on the EC’s posted summaries and additional information. Read more “State of Play in EU EPA Implementation Update January 2018”
Summary of the Main Areas of Impact of Brexit on ACP Agro-food Sectors
On 22 February 2018 ACT Alliance convened Seminar on the Implications of Brexit in the agro-food sector for ACP countries and for the forthcoming ACP-EU Post-Cotonou negotiations. A series of twelve 2 page summary notes were produced for the seminar covering both substantive issues arising within the Brexit process and the current state of play in the Brexit process. Note 1 provided a summary of the main areas of impact of Brexit on ACP agro-food sectors. Read more “Summary of the Main Areas of Impact of Brexit on ACP Agro-food Sectors”
ACP Members Vulnerability to the Loss of Preferential Access to the UK Market
On 22 February 2018 ACT Alliance convened Seminar on the Implications of Brexit in the agro-food sector for ACP countries and for the forthcoming ACP-EU Post-Cotonou negotiations. A series of twelve 2 page summary notes were produced for the seminar covering both substantive issues arising within the Brexit process and the current state of play in the Brexit process. Note 2 provided an exploration of the vulnerability of ACP Members to a loss of preferential access to the UK market. Read more “ACP Members Vulnerability to the Loss of Preferential Access to the UK Market”
Brexit and Non-Tariff Trade Issues: The Pros and Cons
On 22 February 2018 ACT Alliance convened Seminar on the Implications of Brexit in the agro-food sector for ACP countries and for the forthcoming ACP-EU Post-Cotonou negotiations. A series of twelve 2 page summary notes were produced for the seminar covering both substantive issues arising within the Brexit process and the current state of play in the Brexit process. Note 3 provided an exploration of the vulnerability of ACP Members to the process of transitioning the UK out of the EU in terms of the application of non-tariff measure sin the agro-food sector. Read more “Brexit and Non-Tariff Trade Issues: The Pros and Cons”
Planned Northern Sugar Project in Yorkshire to ‘Die a Death’
Summary
The virtual cancellation of the Northern Sugar Project in Yorkshire, alongside processing difficulties at British Sugar, means the initially projected large scale expansion of UK beet based sugar production post-Brexit is now unlikely to occur. This could provide relief to the financial difficulties of Tate & Lyle Sugar, but only if it is accompanied by a firm commitment by the UK government to the abolition of the CXL duty once the UK is freed from EU rules and regulations. ASR is likely to intensify pressure for a firm UK government commitment in this regard. However this will carry different implications for different ACP sugar suppliers, depending on how the situation develops. However it should be noted Caribbean and Pacific suppliers will remain the most vulnerable to future policy developments. Read more “Planned Northern Sugar Project in Yorkshire to ‘Die a Death’”
Logistical Challenges of Brexit of Major Concern to UK Food Trade
Summary
Concerns are growing over the lack of progress on the practical steps required to maintain a smooth flow of mutual EU27/UK trade if no transitional agreement is set in place. These include:
- the need to address the physical constraints on the development of import control infrastructure in Dover harbour;
- the inadequate computerised trade data management systems;
- the absence of clear recruitment and training programmes in government agencies concerned with cross border trade inspection services;
- the absence of alternative licensing and permit arrangements for freight operators involved in UK/EU27 trading operations.
In this context a two year transition period is seen as essential. While a two year transition would defer the worst consequences of a ‘hard’ Brexit, these constraints will still need to be addressed. If they are not effectively addressed these systemic shortcomings could potentially have knock-on effects on the smooth functioning of the direct ACP-UK export trade. Read more “Logistical Challenges of Brexit of Major Concern to UK Food Trade”
UNCTAD Analysis Highlights High Rate of Utilisation of Tariff Preferences Under EU Trade Agreements
Summary
The UNCTAD report highlights how the EU is ‘one of the most active negotiators of FTAs at the global level’. These EU trade agreements grant ‘EU companies more favourable trade conditions – including through reduced tariffs’, with these preferences providing a competitive advantage to EU exporters compared to companies in countries not benefitting from such FTA arrangements. While the report reviews the utilisation of tariff preferences under EU trade agreements with non-ACP countries it does provide insights into the commercial value of EU reciprocal preferential trade agreements. It also provides important background to the debate on future implementation of the concluded EU-ACP economic partnership agreements. Read more “UNCTAD Analysis Highlights High Rate of Utilisation of Tariff Preferences Under EU Trade Agreements”
Announcement of ACT Alliance.eu seminar on Implications of Brexit for ACP countries and Post-Cotonou negotiation
The ACT Alliance which supports the epamonitoring.net website is proposing to hold a 1 day seminar on 22nd February 2018 dealing with the implications of Brexit for ACP countries (morning) and the implications of the Brexit process for the Post-Cotonou negotiations (afternoon). The presentations made on the substantive issues faced will be based on articles posted on the epamonitoring.net and additional research undertaken by GDC-Partners for its Brexit and the ACP agro-food sector subscription only service.
For those of you who may wish to attend, please find below the draft programme.
There is only limited space available in the seminar room (30-40 people), so if you are interested in attending kindly email the seminar organiser Karin Ulmer (Karin.Ulmer@actalliance.eu) so we can keep track of the level of participation. Read more “Announcement of ACT Alliance.eu seminar on Implications of Brexit for ACP countries and Post-Cotonou negotiation”