Trade policy between European Union and African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries : agriculture in the negotiations on economic partnership agreements in Southern Africa

摘要

This doctoral thesis deals with the reorientation of trade relations between European Union and African, Caribbean, and Pacific Countries (ACP Countries) within the so-called Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). The focus is on the agricultural sector in these Economic Partnership Agreements because agriculture is of particular importance for both ACP Countries and European Union. The research question is: Is the enormous importance of agriculture adequately taken into consideration in the Economic Partnership Agreements? The thesis examines the Southern African region (Southern African Development Community, SADC) to answer this question. Therefore, this work analyses the framework of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as well as European and Southern African agriculture and the interim agreement (interim EPA) between European Union and Southern African countries.