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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Final Assessment of the EU-Africa Trade Deals—Ways Out?

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Based on the emerging country configurations (EPA groups) and the content of the EU-Africa trade arrangements, the chapter reviews the political impasse between the EU and Africa following the highly contested implementation start of the bi-regional trade agreements. Regional economic integration in Africa is considered to be in present danger with regard to the engendered fragmentation of main African RECs, namely the emerging customs unions. Suggestions are reviewed on how these and other North-South agreements can be either replaced by treaties that will be more beneficial for African countries and regions (‘grand alternatives’) or at least substantially improved (‘repair work’). New areas for the intercontinental policy dialogue and for new and better aid for trade are identified.