The trade and development agreement concluded by the European Union and four African states -- Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles and Zimbabwe - took effect on Monday.
EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said: "Today, our first interim Economic Partnership Agreement with an African region is applied." He expressed the hope that this trade deal will "accompany the development of our partners in Eastern and Southern Africa and open up better and lasting business opportunities."
The Agreement provides duty and quota free access to the EU market for exports from Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles and Zimbabwe. These countries will gradually open their markets to European exports over the course of 15 years, with exceptions for certain products the countries consider sensitive. Furthermore, it covers provisions on rules of origin, development cooperation, fisheries, trade defense instruments and dispute settlement.
It is therefore an improvement for the four countries on the unilateral duty and quota free regime they enjoyed so far because it encourages regional integration and strengthens a partnership approach with the EU. Regional integration brings economic and political benefits that individual countries cannot achieve alone.
At the end of 2007, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zambia and Zimbabwe concluded an interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU. Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Zimbabwe went ahead and signed it in August 2009. These four countries have now taken and completed steps towards ratification or notified application, so that the Agreement can be applied as of Monday. Once all parties ratify, including all EU Member-States, the Agreement will officially enter into force.
In 2011, total EU imports from the four Eastern and Southern African (ESA) countries amounted to about €2 billion. The main imports were processed tuna, coffee, cane sugar, textiles, tobacco, cut flowers and metals. In the same year, EU exports to the four ESA countries amounted to €1.7 billion and comprised mainly machinery, vehicles, pharmaceutical products and chemicals.
EPA negotiations with other African regions have intensified over the last year. Recently, progress has been made at technical level with the East African Community and West Africa.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Political News
June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.