MP Briefing - UK Trade with Africa: An opportunity to reset for development goals

Summary

• The UK recently launched its new “ Approach to Africa” with a clear request from African counties to support economic diversification and value addition through improved trade;

• The UK’s Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with African countries and the Developing Country Trading Scheme, are due for review this year;

• This context provides the UK with an opportunity to reset trade relations with African countries to align with commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);

• The UK must support African priorities, including addressing concerns about the negative impacts of EPAs for regional integration and economic development.

Key questions to the UK Government

• Given that UK EPAs have been in force for 5 years, what steps has the department taken to assess the impact of those deals on 1) the economic development of those countries, in particular their ability to export and 2) the ability of African partner countries to pursue regional integration plans including the African Continental Free Trade Area?

• What plans does the department have to pursue further negotiations on the issues included in the sunset clauses of EPAs?

• What conversations have there been with partner countries about their readiness to negotiate on issues included in the sunset clauses of EPAs, including investment, competition, services, intellectual property and government procurement?

• What plans does the department have to include 1) parliament and 2) civil society in its assessment of the impact EPA implementation to date and the possibility of negotiating issues listed in the sunset clauses of those agreements?