Role in Trade agreements and global reach Eurafrica

african, caribbean , pacific group of states

eurafrica still has influence on europe’s postcolonial role , identity, future of eu-african relations still being framed strategic partnership in relation other world regions e.g. china.

with regard trade agreements ad development aid, yaoundé-convention has been superseded lomé convention (1975) , cotonou agreement 2000 respectively. lomé conventions (lomé i-iv) designed new framework of cooperation between european community (ec) , developing acp countries, in particular former british, dutch, belgian , french colonies. provided acp agricultural , mineral exports enter ec free of duty , preferential access based on quota system products in competition ec agriculture, sugar , beef. ec committed several billion ecu aid , investment in acp countries.

the introduction of internal market 1992 affected acp preferential access eu markets. united states government had world trade organization investigate whether lomé iv convention had violated wto rules. protective measurements small scale banana farmers mirrored former colonial relationships, united kingdom imports caribbean, france overseas departments of guadeloupe , martinique , former colonies, côte d ivoire , cameroon; italy somalia. germany, largest consumer, obtained supplies latin america. finally, eu negotiated directly through wto reach agreement. banana wars insofar important wto decided against cross-subsidies had benefited acp countries many years.

after lomé, cotonou agreement installed. mirrored internal developments. asks reciprocal trade agreements, meaning not eu provides duty-free access markets acp exports, acp countries have provide duty-free access own markets eu exports. cotonou agreement asked stronger political foundation of acp-eu cooperation. technical centre agricultural , rural cooperation acp-eu (cta) operates within framework , strengthen policy , institutional capacity development , information , communication management capacities of acp agricultural , rural development organisations . not acp countries had open markets eu products after 2008.

the group of least developed countries, majority of them in africa, able either continue cooperation under arrangements made in lomé or arms regulation.