The EU welcomes the start of trading under the EU-Ghana interim Economic Partnership Agreement

Today, Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis, and Hon. Alan Kyerematen, Minister of Trade and Industry of Ghana, announced the start of the effective implementation by Ghana of the EU–Ghana interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA). As of today, Ghana will start liberalising access to its market for 80% of the total volume of EU exports. Since December 2016, the iEPA guarantees duty free-quota free access to the EU market for products made in Ghana. The effective implementation of the iEPA is crucial for developing and diversifying EU-Ghana bilateral trade. It creates better opportunities for EU companies to trade and invest in Ghana, and produce goods for export to the wider African market under the preferences available under the African Continental Free Trade Area. Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis, said: “The opening of Ghana’s market to EU exports marks a milestone in our longstanding trade and economic relationship. Products made in Ghana already enjoy duty free-quota free access to the EU market. Increased trade volumes under the framework of the iEPA will increase two-way trade, creating jobs and growth in both the EU and Ghana. A well-functioning iEPA also reaffirms our shared commitment to rules-based trade, and will therefore enhance relations between the EU and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as well as African States more broadly.” The EU-Ghana Joint Statement is available here.