Abstract Nine 2003

GLOBAL

DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

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Volume Three Winter 2002-Spring 2003 Numbers 1-2.

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Theme: THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WEST INDIAN COMISSION REPORT: ASSESSING THE

PROGRESS OF CARICOM NATIONS IN IMPLEMENTING THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS

EU-ACP TRADE: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ACP CHALLENGE

Marie Freckleton

Department of Economics

The University of the West Indies

Mona Campus, Kingston 7

Jamaica, The West Indies

Published online: February 10, 2017

ABSTRACT

This article examines the potential costs and benefits of reciprocal free trade with the European Union for the African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries. It argues that EU-ACP free trade presents some daunting challenges for the ACP countries. The poor performance of the ACP countries under the non-reciprocal Lomé preferences suggests that they are ill prepared for a reciprocal free trade with the EU. The article concludes that the extent to which the potential benefits of reciprocal free trade will accrue to the ACP countries is dependent upon the degree to which economic restructuring and institutional reforms and development are successfully implemented during the transition period.