Les accords de partenariat économique. Quels enjeux pour le Sénégal ?

Abstract

In recent years the European Union has sought to transform its trading regime with the ACP countries by advocating reciprocal free trade agreements with them through Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). This policy shift from preferential trade to free trade would imply drastic changes for Senegal?s economy, which currently enjoys relatively good access to European markets, but also to the US while applying a high domestic protection on all sources of imports. As a result, this type of reform would result in improved access to foreign markets only for the EU. Furthermore, the EPA implies a loss of tariff revenues from liberalization. Putting differently, this kind of reform could lead to trade diversion in Senegal and will not create much trade. Using the MIRAGE computable general equilibrium model the study examines the potential impact of Economic Partnership Agreements on ACP countries with a special focus on Senegal. JEL Classification : F13, F14, F15.Free trade areas, Trade creation, Trade diversion