Beyond Economic Partnership Agreements: the European Union and the trade–development nexus

Abstract

Without disregarding them, this volume seeks to go beyond the controversial and extensively researched Economic Partnership Agreements to offer new perspectives on the evolution of the trade–development nexus in the European Union against dramatic changes in the international context. In particular, it focuses on the reform of the Generalised System of Preferences, the negotiation of various Preferential Trade Agreements, the application of trade sanctions, the allegedly ambitious agendas on decent work, Aid for Trade and aid untying, and the implications of the changing balance of power in global economic relations. Taking diverse approaches and, at times, reaching different conclusions, contributors directly or indirectly address one or more of the three general themes that are discussed in this introduction: differentiation, coherence, and norms.

Keywords:

• Aid for Trade (AfT)
• aid untying
• Generalised System of Preferences (GSP)
• Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs)
• trade–development nexus
• trade sanctions

Acknowledgements

We want to acknowledge support received from the Glasgow Jean Monnet Chair in EU External Policies, held by Prof. Carbone, and the Centre for EU Studies of the University of Ghent, codirected by Prof. Orbie, to organise a workshop at the University of Glasgow in March 2013, where most of the contributions to this volume were presented. We also want to thank NielsKeijzer, Svea Koch, Mike Smith, Chris Stephens, and Alasdair Young for sharing ideas and giving helpful comments.