The reform of the EU sugar trade preferences toward developing countries in light of the economic partnership agreements.

Abstract

This article provides a general overview of the evolution of the European Union 2 trade preferences with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Countries, giving due attention to the reform of the Sugar Protocol (SP) in light of the anticipated Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). The EU sugar trade relationship with the ACP, as captured in both a reformed SP for ACP non–least developed countries and in the Everything-but-Arms initiative for the world’s least developed countries, is analysed and contextualized within the ongoing negotiations toward achieving EPAs, which will substitute the Lome Convention and give a new order to EU-ACP relationships.