The Economic Partnership Agreement Between Ecowas And Eu: A Bane Or A Catalyst To Development

ABSTRACT The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and the ECOWAS sub region which seeks to alter the long standing non-reciprocal arrangements that have existed between the two parties has been contentious. The necessity to change this relation has been occasioned by the inception of the World Trade Organization (WTO). As a rule-based and member driven organization, the WTO abhors discrimination. Thus member states must face identical opportunities where trade is concerned. The transition from the erstwhile nonreciprocal arrangements to a WTO-compatible arrangement has perhaps created a divisive debate among CSOs, NGO and the academia. The arguments have been shaped by the issue as to whether or not the new trading arrangements are the bane or catalyst to the ACP countries in general and West African sub region in particular. These perspectives form the basis of this study. The main argument of this study is that the West African EPAs have both potential development and challenges. The study however concludes that development potentials can only be unlocked when the economies of the ECOWAS sub regions can support liberalization. It is the conclusion of the study that given their current economic structures and supply side rigidities, the implementation of the EPAs will be a bane to their development.