Thursday, 01st Nov. 02
Zambia Daily Mail
GOVERNMENT has been urged to introduce national debate towards negotiations on the economic partnership agreements with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to highlighting special implementation issues.
Consumer Unity & Trust Society- Africa Resource Centre (CUTS-ARC) Zambia programme officer Sajeev Nair said this is an interview in Harare, Zimbabwe recently at the end of a workshop on interface between Trade and Regional Agreements on the WTO; are they conflicting or complementary.
He said Government should introduce national debates on the going negotiations on the economic partnership agreements. Mr. Nair said there was need to study and highlight special implementation issues through national debates before opening up markets.
He added that the state would also establish a national development strategy for the agreements, citing AGOGA and contonou agreements which were of concern to the civil society whose efforts on debates were vital towards the relations. Nothing is moving and there is no progress at all agreements.