Union of Comoros hosts 13th round of EPA negotiations -AfOA5

The 13th round of negotiations for the deepening of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the five countries of Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) and the European Union (EU) kicked off this Monday, March 18, 2024 in Moroni, Comoros. The meeting will end on March 22, 2024

This round of negotiations, held behind closed doors, brings together more than seventy participants from the five ESA countries – Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Zimbabwe – and the European Commission.
This meeting marks a further stage in the negotiations to establish the first modern, comprehensive free trade agreement supported by economic development cooperation between the EU and the countries of sub-Saharan Africa. This agreement will be a source of investment, growth and jobs for the AfOA-5 countries, and will contribute to achieving the objectives of the new Africa-Europe Alliance.

Exhibition: Comorian companies in the spotlight
As part of the event, five Comorian companies supported by the APILE program (Appui à la Production, à l’Industrialisation et au Libre-échange aux Comores) showcased their products at the conference venue. As a reminder, the APILE program, financed by the European Union, contributes to improving the business environment, strengthening the technical capacities and competitiveness of young entrepreneurs, and facilitating the national production of quality consumer goods for local, regional and international markets. It is implemented by two executing agencies, UNIDO and ITC respectively.
The companies presenting the products are: AMS, Biozen, Comores Moringa, Maison Beaucor and Vaniacom.

The European Union remains Comoros’ main export destination
All countries have seen their trade with the EU grow since the interim EPA came into force.
In 2022, trade between Comoros and the EU will amount to 81 million euros, an increase of +7.2% compared to 2021. Excluding petroleum products, the EU is the country’s main economic partner, accounting for 18.7% of trade.
To find out more about trade flows between the EU and Comoros: click HERE

What is the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)?
In 2007, the EU concluded an Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (” EPAi “) with five countries in the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region, namely the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Zimbabwe. The agreement has been applied by four countries in the zone (Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Zimbabwe) since May 2012, while Comoros ratified the agreement in February 2019 for immediate implementation.
The agreement provides duty-free, quota-free access for AfOA-5 exports to the EU market. In exchange, the ESA countries have progressively opened up a large part of their market, with a 10-year transition period.

Deepening the EPAi
The free trade agreement between the EU and sub-Saharan African countries includes the following chapters:

• Rules of origin
• Customs and trade facilitation
• Sanitary and phytosanitary measures
• Technical barriers to trade
• Trade defense mechanisms / trade remedies
• Trade in services, investment liberalization and digital trade
• Transparency in public procurement
• Intellectual property rights, including geographical indications
• Trade and competition
• Trade and sustainable development
• Partnership in Agriculture
• Fisheries and aquaculture
• Dispute prevention and settlement
• Institutional structure
• Development and economic cooperation