New Caledonia's Trade Relationship with the European Union

Faced with a global recession and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) on the table, now is the time for New Caledonia to link hands with its Pacific neighbours and put in place realistic trade liberalisation goals. This Book promotes regional integration as the necessary step for New Caledonia to conform to international demands. The trade preferences that are currently available to African/Caribbean/Pacific (ACP) states and the liberalisation of trade in the Pacific promoted by the Cotonou Agreement are considered, as is the proposed comprehensive EPA between the European Union (EU) and the Pacific region. This Book particularly discusses the relevance of the EU/ACP trade arrangements to New Caledonia and whether there is any constitutional impediment to New Caledonia's increased participation in the EPA negotiations or membership of a free trade agreement. The author proposes that New Caledonia should be more actively involved in the Pacific region by fully participating in the EPA negotiations as a potential member of the Pacific Group.