The South Centre held a round-table dialogue at the margins of the 12th Regional Negotiating Forum of the EPA ESA region on the topic of EPA market access negotiations in Eastern and Southern Africa: what options for the way forward? The dialogue was organised with the support of OXFAM International. Participants to the 12th RNF, comprising representatives of both governments and non-state actors of the region, were invited to attend the workshop.

The round-table dialogue focussed first on the current challenges and main divergences related to market access negotiations between ESA and the EC. Secondly, it also assessed negotiating strategic options for the continuation and conclusion of the market access aspects of negotiations.

1. Selected challenges arising out of EPA Market Access negotiations in the ESA region

2. Strategic options for the way forward for ESA EPA negotiations