John Odyek
5 May 2008
Kampala — CIVIL society organisations and the parliamentarians last week clashed with the trade ministry officials over the signing of an interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPAs) with the European Union.
In a meeting with the parliamentary committee on tourism, the trade ministry officials told the civil society representatives that they could not stop negotiations with the EU because some of them had expressed reservations over the agreement.
"We have a right to put forward our views. It is arrogance on the part of the ministry not to listen to us," Jane Nalunga, the SEATINI executive director, responded.
John Oprong, from the National Organisation of Trade Unions, backed Nalunga, saying the ministry officials were negligent about the future consequences of the agreements.
MPs queried how the ministry signed the agreements last November without consulting widely. They asked the Government to renegotiate the agreements.
"Because of liberalisation, for example the European meat exports to African Carribean and Pacific (ACP) countries are expected to shoot up by 100%, while those from ACP countries to Europe will decline by 30%. We will have to eat meat from supermarkets," said Okot Ogong.
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