Zambia: Economic Partnership Agreements - for the Rich Or Poor?

The signing ceremony of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union (EU) and the East and Southern Africa Bloc (ESA) to which Zambia belongs, raised some eyebrows, but also drew attention to something deeper when Zambia and other members refused to sign.

If the statements from the Minister of Commerce Trade and Industry, Felix Mutati and COMESA secretary general Sindiso Ngwenya are anything to go by, the most telling signal is that the EU does not want an EPA that would genuinely cover development concerns raised by members of ESA.

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