Transparency data

21 October 2021: UK-Côte d’Ivoire Stepping Stone Economic Partnership Agreement Committee � joint communique

Published 5 November 2021

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp first meeting of the UK-Côte d’Ivoire Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Committee was held on 21 October 2021. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp meeting was co-chaired by the United Kingdom and Côte d’Ivoire, and took place via video conference.

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp UK and Côte d’Ivoire underlined the importance of the EPA, which secured continuity in a trading relationship worth £501 million (387.7 billion FCFA (XOF)). »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýappy further noted their mutual desire to use the EPA to grow bilateral trade.

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp parties discussed matters of joint interest under the EPA, including the establishment of the EPA’s governance and institutional arrangements. To this end the EPA Committee agreed to adopt the Rules of Procedures of the EPA Committee and discussed other matters including the agreement’s dispute settlement framework which will ensure the smooth running of the EPA’s core institution and facilitate the implementation of its commercial and developmental objectives.

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp parties exchanged views on the United Kingdom’s provision of development co-operation under the EPA. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp meeting was also an opportunity for both parties to provide updates on relevant trade policy developments and to reaffirm the importance of timely information exchange, and focusing on promotion of the private sector to facilitate trading among businesses.

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp United Kingdom and Côte d’Ivoire co-chairs welcomed the constructive discussions at this first EPA committee meeting and agreed to continue to work towards the effective implementation and operation of the agreement.