GHANA-EU INTERIECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (EPA)
The second meeting of the EPA Committee under the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Ghana and the European Union (EU) was held in Brussels on Thursday, 29th November, 2019. The EPA provides duty -free and quota-free access to all of Ghana’s exports, be it agricultural or manufactured goods to the EU market, while Ghana would gradually and partially liberalize imports from the EU.
Ghana’s delegation was led by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Alan Kyerematen and included Ghana’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and the EU, H.E. Sena Siaw-Boateng and other officials from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ghana Revenue Authority (Customs Division) and the Brussels Mission. The EU side included the Deputy Director General for Trade, Helena Koenig and Head of Unit, EPA, ACP DG-TRADE, Cecile Billaux and other officials from DG-TRADE, EU.
During his visit to the EU, Hon Alan Kyerematen also held a bilateral meeting with the new EU Commissioner for Trade. Mr. Phil Hogan. The two discussed issues concerning the linkage between the EPA and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as well as exchanged views on the “Ghana Beyond Aid” agenda and reforms of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Minister of Trade and Industry also signed the EPA Committee Decision 1/2019 on Croatia’s Accession to the EU EPA. The EU Commissioner for Trade, Mr. Phil Hogan, signed on behalf of the EU.
Ghana will start to liberalize its market for EU products by the first quarter of 2020 and the liberalization schedule will be concluded by 2029.