European Union's Standards and Food Exports from Africa: Implications of the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme for Coffee and Fish

Abstract

The preponderance and stringency of product standards have implications for global trade, especially for developing countries. Despite the importance of this issue to Africa, only a few empirical studies exist in the area. It is on this basis that this study draws its objective, which is to investigate the impact of EU standards on Africa's exports in relation to the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme. A two-step Heckman model is adopted using mostly unexploited standards data from Perinorm International. A high-value commodity (fish) and traditional cash crop (coffee) are selected. The findings show that at the extensive margin of export, standards are trade-inhibiting for fish and coffee. At the intensive margin, the standards are trade-inhibiting in coffee exports while trade-enhancing in fish exports.