Services Trade Liberalization at the Regional Level: Does Southern and Eastern Africa Stand to Gain from Epa Negotiations?

35 Pages Posted: 10 Oct 2006

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: August 2006

Abstract

Given the sluggish progress in multilateral trade negotiations Southern and Eastern African negotiators are likely to focus their attention on the negotiations of Economic Partnership Agreements with the European Union. This paper analyses possible advantages and disadvantages for ACP countries of including the services sector in these regional agreements. It describes the latest developments in a number of services sectors, including financial services, tourism and business services. Particular attention is paid to the possible role of mode 4 flows. For each individual sector the role of regulation, the importance of first mover advantages and the possible role of foreign technical assistance are discussed. The paper attempts to identify possible export opportunities for ACP countries and analyses the risks and benefits for these countries of giving preferential access to EU suppliers in those services sectors where African countries are likely to import.

Keywords: Regional trade agreements, trade in services, GATS, Africa, European Union

JEL Classification: F13, F15, O19

Suggested Citation

Jansen, Marion, Services Trade Liberalization at the Regional Level: Does Southern and Eastern Africa Stand to Gain from Epa Negotiations? (August 2006). CEPR Discussion Paper No. 5800, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=936420

Marion Jansen (Contact Author)

International Trade Centre ( email )

54-56 Rue de Montbrillant
Geneva
Switzerland

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