European Community and the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (EC-ACP Aid andTrade Issues in the Context of the European Single Market: Implications for Export Promotion Strategies)

摘要

The European Single Market has raised concerns among the many developingcountries that depend on exports to European Community (EC) members. The paper focuses on the concerns of the Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) states, which, under the Lome Convention, enjoy special trade and aid preferences from the EC. In anticipation of the negative effects on their export trade, these countries have sought changes in the terms of trade, guaranteed price supports for their commodities, and sovereign use of the EC's development resources. The paper briefly highlights the main features of the Lome III Convention and then discusses the major modifications in the recently concluded Lome IV Convention. While the Convention assures ACP nations commodity access to the European market, it offers only the potential for, not the certitude of, export expansion. Realization of this potential will depend on the ability of ACP countries in the areas of product diversification, quality control, and development of a sophisticated marketing and delivery system that meets stringent consumer expectations.