EU-Africa EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement)
Trade agreements between the EU and African regions establishing reciprocal tariff preferences.
EPA — EU-Africa Economic Partnership Agreement
EPAs are trade agreements between the European Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, aiming to replace the non-reciprocal preferences of the Cotonou Agreement with reciprocal free trade areas compatible with WTO rules.
EPA in force in Africa
Several EPAs are in application: EU-Côte d'Ivoire interim EPA, EU-Ghana interim EPA, EU-Cameroon interim EPA, EU-SADC EPA (Southern African Development Community) and EU-EAC EPA (East African Community).
Content
The EPAs provide for asymmetric liberalization: the EU opens its market to 100% of African products duty-free, while African countries gradually liberalize 75 to 80% of their imports from the EU over 15 to 25 years.
Rules of origin
Each EPA has specific rules of origin. The proof of origin is generally a EUR.1 certificate or a declaration of origin on invoice.
Issues
EPAs are the subject of debate: they offer preferential access to the European market but imply a reciprocal opening which can put certain African industrial sectors in difficulty.