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Monday, August 17, 2026
News and Views from the Global South
Trade and poverty: Facts beyond theory
TRADE-GHANA: Mary Robinson Concerned About EU Approach to EPAs
This weekend an award will be presented to the best farmer in Ghana in recognition of the pivotal contribution that agriculture makes to the economy of this West African country.TRADE-AFRICA: ''Focus Should Be on Domestic Needs, Not Exports''
African states should address the needs of local markets and of their regions before looking at what can be exported globally, and not the other way round as is currently the case.TRADE-EAST AFRICA: EPA Signed to ''Protect'' Small Farmers
The East African Community signed a framework agreement as part of the economic partnership agreement (EPA) talks with the European Union (EU) to ensure continued access to EU markets for African small farmers, says Juma Mwapachu, secretary general of the East African regional body.TRADE: Blood Diamonds No Longer Congo-Brazzaville’s Best Friend
The announcement that the Republic of the Congo, or Congo-Brazzaville, has been readmitted to the Kimberley Process, which aims to stem the flow of conflict diamonds, marks a breakthrough.TRADE-AFRICA: EPAs Under Fire From European Parliamentarians
No fanfare was made in Brussels in the past week over European Union officials' breakthrough in the trade talks on economic partnership agreements (EPAs) with almost 80 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.TRADE-MALAWI: Coffee Industry Gets Brewing Again
Malawi’s coffee producers have come up with innovative plans to kick start the country’s sluggish coffee industry, including the marketing of specialty blends which are uniquely Malawian.TRADE: Mandelson Attacks South Africa and Nigeria Over EPAs
Africa’s largest nations are trying to block the signing of the economic partnership agreements (EPAs) with the European Union (EU), Peter Mandelson, EU trade commissioner, claimed today.TRADE-EAST AFRICA: Officials Confused About Pros and Cons of EPA
The news that the ministers of the East African Community (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi) are on the verge of signing an economic partnership agreement with the European Union (EU) has been received with mixed reactions by government officials from these very same countries.TRADE-AFRICA: Regional Integration Good For Growth – Paulson
The momentum towards regional integration in East Africa received encouragement from the U.S. this week, with U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson saying that it should boost economic growth in the five-member East Africa bloc.TRADE-AFRICA: ”EU Inflexible Towards Most Vulnerable Countries”
There has been no shortage of speculation in Brussels recently about breakthroughs being imminent in the trade talks taking place between the European Union (EU) and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.TRADE: EU Set to Milk East Africa With Subsidised Goods?
‘‘Dairy farmers in Kenya are doing well now,’’ says Peter Wanyeki, as he flashes a big smile. ‘‘Before, when we went home to the village, you could never take enough money with you. Everybody was poor. But now the situation is different. The dairy farmers are rich because they are getting a very good price for their milk.’’TRADE-GHANA: ''EU Will Be the Main Beneficiary of the EPAs''
If Ghana’s government used civil society protests as guideline as to which way to go in the negotiations with the European Union (EU) on the economic partnership agreement (EPA), the talks would have been terminated.TRADE-EAST AFRICA: Chaos On Eve of EPA Deadline
On the eve of the deadline of the finalisation of the economic partnership agreement (EPA) negotiations, chaos reigns.TRADE-KENYA: Court Bid to Stop EPA ''Human Rights Violations''
An unexpected challenge has been directed at the economic partnership agreement (EPA) being negotiated between the European Union and the east and southern African group. Two lobby groups have filed a law suit in Kenya to halt the signing of the EPA.TRADE-AFRICA: The EPAs – About Development or Exploitation?
Europe’s paternal trading relationship with African states threatens to end in an almighty family fall-out if they fail to sign the economic partnership agreements (EPAs) by the end-of-year deadline.TRADE-AFRICA: Russia Opens Market to Poorest Countries
Africans looking to do business in Russia's burgeoning market can now export goods under new preferential trade agreements.ENERGY: Project May Boost Biofuels in East Africa
A new project to develop an integrated sugarcane facility in Kenya could be a boost for biofuels production in east Africa.TRADE: Governments (Still) Pondering How to Make Drugs Accessible
The struggle to make medicines affordable to the world’s poor, especially in Africa, is raging on at the highest levels. Last week the European Commission took a landmark decision on generic drugs and next week a high-level intergovernmental meeting will look at ways to prevent patents from blocking access to drugs.TRADE-EUROPE: EPAs Will Destroy African Economies – German NGOs
The economic partnership agreements (EPAs), proposed by the European Union (EU) to African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, constitute a "neo-colonial instrument" which will destroy the economic and social basis in African states, according to some German non-governmental organisations.SOUTHERN AFRICA: Issue of Services Is Delaying EPA Talks
Including the so-called new generation or Singapore issues in the economic partnership agreements (EPAs) will make the conclusion of the deals unlikely by the December 31 deadline.TRADE-WEST AFRICA: ''No Postponement of EPA Deadline'' – EU
The European Union has rejected calls by West African states to postpone the end-of-year deadline for concluding a free trade agreement.« Previous Page — Next Page »
Trade has historically been a geopolitical tool, creating significant economic imbalances in developing countries. However, many countries in East Asia and Latin America have been able to alleviate poverty due to increasing trade. Tackling poverty has proven to be much harder in low income countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America, and their dismal trade performance is one important reason for that. They remain at the margins of world trade and indeed of the world economy. These articles are aimed at informing readers about the complexities of trade and its varying effects on development, with a special focus on the consequences of the global economic crisis, the potential of fair trade and the gender implications of trade policies.
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