TRADE-ZIMBABWE: A Balancing Act Between China and the EU

The Zimbabwean government’s isolation from the international economic arena has forced it to turn right while indicating left.

TRADE: South Africa Won&#39t &#39&#39Roll Over&#39&#39 on Singapore Issues

The European Union (EU) needs to downscale its ambition to include the so-called ‘‘new generation’’ or Singapore issues in the economic partnership agreement (EPA) with southern African countries before the end of the year, says South Africa’s deputy minister of trade and industry, Dr Rob Davies.

TRADE: Caribbean May Sue to Reinstate EU Sugar Deal

Late last month, the European Union decided that it was no longer willing to wait on the 79-nation African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of former colonies to jointly declare the demise of a special export regime for cane sugar in place since the mid-1970s.

TRADE: EU Deals With Africa Could Violate Rights

Opening up trade between the European Union and Africa risks violating basic human rights, according to campaigners.

ECONOMY: Caribbean Grapples With Loss of EU Sugar Deal

Since the World Trade Organisation began asserting itself in the 1990s, there has been talk that former European colonies like those in the Caribbean would be devastated by new global trade rules that would wipe away gains from preferential trade agreements dating back to the colonial era.

TRADE-EU: World Bank Asks For More Time on EPAs

Senior World Bank staff have asked the European Union to consider extending the end-of-year deadline it has set for a series of free trade agreements with Africa.

TRADE-EAST AFRICA: &#39&#39A Foreigner Cannot Develop Us&#39&#39

While east Africans still hold reservations about the benefits of the economic partnership agreement (EPA) currently being negotiated with the European Union (EU), both government and civil society representatives seem to be accepting that it is the best option available.

TRADE-EAST AFRICA: How to Safeguard Food Security in EPAs

Government leaders and exporters in east Africa are adamant that certain products be excluded from the economic partnership agreements (EPAs) to prevent detrimental effects on the livelihoods of the majority of people in the region.

TRADE-AFRICA: Power Struggle Continues with Unbalanced EPA Talks

African nations have been reduced to "begging" in negotiations on their future economic ties with the European Union (EU) in what has turned into exercise "assaulting democracy," according to trade unionists and policy analysts from both north and south.

TRADE-KENYA: Flower Industry May Wilt If EPA Deadline Is Missed

Failure to conclude an economic partnership agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU) by the end-of-year deadline will have serious implications for Kenyan exporters, including those in the booming horticultural industry.

TRADE: &#39EU Stands Between Poor and Poor&#39

Caribbean governments have alleged that the European Union is trying to prevent them from signing trade deals with other poor countries on their own terms.

AFRICA: EPAs Clashing With Everything-But-Arms Trade Scheme?

The proposed economic partnership agreements (EPAs), which are due to come into force beginning next year, may undermine the benefits of another European Union trade initiative, called Everything-But-Arms, for the sugar industry.

TRADE-UGANDA: Coffee Producers Are the Biggest Losers

Coffee producers in Uganda suffer from an unfair trade relationship with Europe, even though their beans produce some of the best quality coffee in the world, says the Ugandan coffee industry's governing body.

TRADE: African Countries Stand Up to EU

Concern over getting too little in return for what they are being asked to give up has led some African nations to say "no" to some proposals for new trade relations with Europe next year.

TRADE-MALAWI: Government Joins Chorus of Concern about EPA

Manufacturers, exporters and even government officials in Malawi are jittery about January 1, 2008. On that day the economic partnership agreements (EPAs), currently being negotiated between the European Union (EU) and six groupings of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, will come into force.

DEVELOPMENT: Small Island States Stand Up To EU

Governments in the Pacific region have reacted furiously to a threat by the European Union that it will reduce the amount of development aid they receive if they delay on signing a free trade deal with the 27-nation bloc.

ENERGY-OIL: Middle East and OPEC May Lose Power Base

The importance of Middle Eastern oil is set to diminish in coming decades as oil is discovered in other parts of the world and also due to a levelling off in consumption levels, say analysts.

ENERGY-FRANCE: NGOs Press For Alternatives to Nuclear Power

A coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in France are pushing their own proposals for a sustainable future in a debate on alternatives to nuclear-run power which is at the moment dominated by the nuclear industry.

SLOVAKIA-ENERGY: Campaign Against Mochovce Plant Heats Up

Austrian environmental and citizens groups are stepping up their bid to prevent the Mochovce nuclear plant in Slovakia from becoming operational.

TANZANIA-ENERGY: PLANS TO ARREST POWER CRISIS ANNOUNCED

TANZANIA HAS APPROVED SHORT- AND LONG-TERM MEASURES TO ARREST A POWER CRISIS WHICH HAS BADLY AFFECTED THE COUNTRY'S MANUFACTURING SECTOR.

TANZANIA-ENERGY: ZAMBIA TO THE RESCUE AS BLACKOUTS LOOM

TANZANIA, ABOUT TO CLOSE ITS MAIN HYDRO-ELECTRIC GENERATING DAM, IS HOLDING TALKS WITH ZAMBIA TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPORTING POWER TO EASE SHORTAGES.