Assessing Trade Relations Between Africa and Europe

The paper examines the transition of Euro-African trade from the non-reciprocal preferences of the Lomé Convention to the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) under the Cotonou Agreement. It argues that EPAs have been unrealistic for African least developed countries (LDCs) due to demands for 80% market opening, which threatens regional integration and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). While Europe remains Africa's lead trading partner (32% share in 2018), the author calls for a move away from paternalism and short-term free-trade expectations toward co-production and sustainable partnerships.

• Non-reciprocal trade preferences implemented between 1975 and 2000 yielded mixed results, with the share of ACP countries in EU imports decreasing from 7% to 3% during that period.
• The European Union's demand for an 80% opening of ACP regional markets over 15 years under Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) is described as unrealistic for African least developed countries (LDCs) due to their limited productive capacities and lack of economic diversity.
• The EPAs may conflict with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), specifically through the most-favored-nation (MFN) clause, which could force African signatories to extend trade benefits granted to other African nations to Europe, potentially undermining partner diversification.
• North Africa operates under a separate cooperation framework from the rest of the continent; it is excluded from the OACP group and the Africa Protocol of the EU-OACP Agreement, and its financial allocation is integrated into the European neighbourhood policy rather than the EUR 32 billion envelope for Africa.
• As of 2018, Europe remained Africa's primary trading partner with a 32% share of goods trade (EUR 235.5 billion), followed by China at 16% and the United States at 6%.

APA

Dieye, C. T. (2021). Assessing Trade Relations Between Africa and Europe. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/assessing-trade-relations-between-africa-and-europe

Chicago

Dieye, Cheikh Tidiane. Assessing Trade Relations Between Africa and Europe. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2021. https://afripoli.org/assessing-trade-relations-between-africa-and-europe.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Dieye |first1=Cheikh Tidiane |title=Assessing Trade Relations Between Africa and Europe |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=22 November 2021 |url=https://afripoli.org/assessing-trade-relations-between-africa-and-europe |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{dieye2021assessing, author = {Dieye, Cheikh Tidiane}, title = {{Assessing Trade Relations Between Africa and Europe}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2021}, month = nov, url = {https://afripoli.org/assessing-trade-relations-between-africa-and-europe}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }