2010. november 29., hétfő

Preparation for Brussels 2

AAA, GSP, DDA, GATT, EPA

What is AAA?
The Accra Agenda for Action (AAA), adopted in Accra on September 4, reflects the international commitment to support the reforms needed to accelerate an effective use of development assistance and helps ensure the achievement of the MDGs by 2015. The AAA, the result of an extensive process of consultation and negotiations among countries and development partners, focuses the aid effectiveness agenda on the main technical, institutional, and political challenges to full implementation of the Paris principles.

What is GSP?
Generalised System of Preferences

What is DDA?
The Doha Development Round or Doha Development Agenda (DDA) is the current trade-negotiation round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) which commenced in November 2001. Its objective is to lower trade barriers around the world, which allows countries to increase trade globally. As of 2008, talks have stalled over a divide on major issues, such as agriculture, industrial tariffs and non-tariff barriers, services, and trade remedies. The most significant differences are between developed nations led by the European Union (EU), the United States (USA), and Japan and the major developing countries led and represented mainly by China, Brazil, India, South Korea, and South Africa. There is also considerable contention against and between the EU and the USA over their maintenance of agricultural subsidies—seen to operate effectively as trade barriers.

The Doha Round began with a ministerial-level meeting in Doha, Qatar in 2001. Subsequent ministerial meetings took place in Cancún, Mexico (2003), and Hong Kong (2005). Related negotiations took place in Geneva, Switzerland (2004, 2006, 2008); Paris, France (2005); and Potsdam, Germany (2007).

In Doha ministers placed development at its centre. “We seek to place developing countries’ needs and interests at the heart of the Work Programme adopted in this Declaration,” they said. “… We shall continue to make positive efforts designed to ensure that developing countries, and especially the least-developed among them, secure a share in the growth of world trade commensurate with the needs of their economic development. In this context, enhanced market access, balanced rules, and well targeted, sustainably financed technical assistance and capacity-building programmes have important roles to play.”


General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (typically abbreviated GATT) was negotiated during the UN Conference on Trade and Employment and was the outcome of the failure of negotiating governments to create the International Trade Organization (ITO). GATT was formed in 1949 and lasted until 1993, when it was replaced by the World Trade Organization in 1995. The original GATT text (GATT 1947) is still in effect under the WTO framework, subject to the modifications of GATT 1994. In 1993, the GATT was updated (GATT 1994) to include new obligations upon its signatories. One of the most significant changes was the creation of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The 75 existing GATT members and the European Communities became the founding members of the WTO on 1 January 1995. The other 52 GATT members rejoined the WTO in the following two years (the last being Congo in 1997). Since the founding of the WTO, 21 new non-GATT members have joined and 29 are currently negotiating membership. There are a total of 153 member countries in the WTO.



What is EPA?
EPA stands for Economic Partnership Agreements, also known as partnership agreements.
What are EPAs involve?
Free trade between EU and ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific regions, ie. The former colonies). EPAs have been formed to meet the WTO rules on FTAs, meaning removing almost all barriers to trade in commodities such duty.
The aim of the EPAs, as seen from the EU perspective:
- Poverty Reduction (integration of ACP countries in world trade).
- Breakdown of ACP countries into smaller "trading regions". The duty is lowered within the region, increasing regional trade. The regions must then be the EU's new trade partners.
- To take account of development of ACP countries (eg flexibility in relation to the pace of duty shall be reduced).

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