The focus on this issue is on the Economic Partnership Agreements that African countries are negotiating with the European Commission. As is well known these negotiations have faced an impasse for a long time.

At the African Union conference of Trade Ministers in Kigali in early November, the African Trade Ministers at the AU Conference called on Europe to rethink the basic premises of these EPAs.

The Bulletin has articles analysing this latest situation.  

It also has a report on a new African Union Commission paper (jointly issued with 5 regional economic communities of Africa) which spells out the risks of EPAs and proposes alternative options for the way forward.

The latest Declaration on EPA by African Ministers and a Resolution on EPAs by ACP Ministers are also reproduced in the Bulletin.

The Bulletin also publishes a report on a letter by the South Centre Chairperson Mr Benjamin Mkapa alerting African leaders on the the EPA issue, as well as excerpts from the South Centre policy brief on the EPAs.

The Bulletin also publishes an important article by the renowned trade expert B.L. Das on why South-South cooperation can lead the way to a new global economic cooperation order.

Finally, there are reports on the South Centre and Development Agenda Group's breakfast meeting for Ministers on the theme of IPRs and development, as well as excerpts from selected speeches by developing countries at the recent WIPO Assemblies.

To access the whole South Bulletin, please  click here

To access individual articles, please see below:

• A Rethinking Is Needed on Africa’s EPAs with the EU
• AU Commission Deputy Chair: African, European leaders need to resolve EPA impasse
• African Union Paper Spells Out Risks of EPAs and Proposes Options in Way Forward
• Kigali Declaration on the Economic Partnership Agreement Negotiations
• Resolution on EPAs by ACP Ministers
• South Centre Chairman Writes to African Leaders Expressing Serious Concerns on EPAs
• Implications of the EPAs for Africa
• South Centre Breakfast Meeting with Ministers on IP and Development Agenda
• Moving Towards A Development Reform of WIPO
• Quotes from Developing Countries’ Statements at WIPO Assemblies, Sept. 2010
• Some Preliminary Thoughts on New International Economic Cooperation