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Loughborough MP meets Minister to Discuss Economic Partnership Agreements Progress
Posted on 14/05/2008
P. Klein
Andy Reed MP yesterday met with the Minister for Trade Gareth Thomas MP to discuss progress on Economic Partnership Agreements between the European Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries. The meeting was to get an update on the situation since January when previous trade agreements expired and these new EPA’s were meant to have taken over. Full agreements were not reached with all countries before January and interim agreements were signed with final negotiations continuing.
At the meeting Andy encouraged the Minister to continue to press the European Commission in its negotiations to be fair in the access arrangements for goods from these countries. A lot of criticism has been put on the Commission for the way it’s handled the negotiations and at yesterdays meeting it encouraged Gareth to ensure the government continues to press the Commission to be flexible in the final stages of these negotiations to ensure the agreements are pro-development.
The Loughborough MP said “these agreements have to be got right; they represent the best chance for lots of developing countries to grow industries and make goods which they can trade with Europe. We have to ensure the Commission does not miss this opportunity to help some of the poorest countries develop through the trade of good.
I was encouraged by the meeting and will continue to call for a fair deal on trade for these countries.”