European and West African Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiators say they are making significant progress towards closing the new trade deal.Compromises have been found on export taxes and free circulation, and significant progress is achieved on the EPA-related development cooperation as part of the Agreement.Other issues, such as services, competition and sustainable development have been addressed but need more work and should be tackled in forthcoming trade talks, a statement issued at the end of the technical and senior officials' level in Brussels has said.Regional levies, the Most Favoured Nation clause and the "non-execution" clause are still issues where a compromise needs to be found" but both parties are committed to working seriously with a view to trying to conclude the full EPA by mid-June 2009, as West African Heads of States planned.The momentum for EPA signature has been building up since the positive meeting of the Regional Preparatory Task Force (RPTF), of December 2008 and during the last three EU-West Africa's negotiation rounds of Dakar (February), Abuja (March) and Brussels'(April).Issues ranging from Trade Defence Instruments, Sanitary and Phytosanitary rules, Technical Barriers to Trade, Agriculture and Fisheries, Trade Facilitation, export taxes and market access, as well as services, competition, the EPA Programme for Development, dispute settlement, generalThe way ahead Further negotiations on the EPA­ related development cooperation, on market access (a revised offer is expected from West Africa) and on the few remaining points of divergence will take place in the next round, of negotiations scheduled for 8-11 June in West Africa. This round will possibly be followed by an EU-West Africa Ministerial meeting in June with a view to giving a final push towards a conclusion of the negotiations. Concluding a full EU-West Africa EPA will be key to fostering economic integration in the region (now split into three different trade regimes) ­and to boost competitiveness in a region which is very poor but also full of untapped potential.The "EPA Programme for Development" (PAPED) is an essential pillar of the deal. In combination with the West African pro-development liberalization scheme (which will priorities the liberalization of industrial machines, certain vehicles or certain chemicals products not produced in West Africa but which are inputs necessary for West African, businesses and farmers and represent the bulk of EC exports to the region), and the new trade and economic disciplines.This substantial development assistance package will boost competitiveness of the region, reduce adjustment costs of the EPA, and support regional integration.Source: B&FT