EU and Cape Verde conclude Package on Cape Verde's WTO accession
The EU and Cape Verde have concluded bilateral market access negotiations on Cape Verde’s accession to the World Trade Organization. EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said: “The EU is pleased to be among the first WTO Members to sign the bilateral agreement with Cap Verde. This is a clear demonstration of Europe’s commitment to facilitate the accession of least developed countries to the WTO and I am confident that the accession of Cap Verde can be concluded before the end of the year. I hope that other LDCs will also move to join the WTO and that richer countries will be fully supportive.”
Cape Verde applied to join the WTO in November 1999, and negotiations started in 2004 with the submission of initial offers on goods and services. Cape Verde has made steady progress toward concluding the accession negotiations and has shown that it made the most out the technical assistance provided by the EU and other donors.
The market access commitments undertaken toward the EU foresee the binding of all tariff lines at an average level below 40% for agricultural products and close to 30% for non-agricultural products.
In services, Cape Verde will make commitments in a broad range of sectors that are essential to attract investment and build up the economic infrastructure necessary for Cape Verde’s development and growth. These include computer and related services, telecommunications, financial, construction, distribution, travel, tourism, environmental and transport services. The EC reportedly took into account Cape Verde’s development needs and its domestic policies. In particular, the bilateral deal between the EC and Cape Verde which includes 3 MFN exemptions on audiovisual services. There will not be any market access or national treatment commitment in the audiovisual sector, which will enable Cape Verde to maintain and develop its national and international cultural policies, including co-production agreements with the EC and other third countries.
05 November 2007