EU presses ex-colonies for fast trade deals

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BRUSSELS, Oct 31 (Reuters): The European Union has increased pressure on ex-colonies in Africa, the Pacific and Caribbean to strike new trade deals with the bloc, two months before a deadline to scrap preferential terms.
The EU hopes to sign the new deals before December 31, expiry date for a waiver from the World Trade Organisation that has allowed the EU to continue giving special access to its markets for many former colonies of member states.
EU officials said Tuesday that talks aimed at striking so-called economic partnership agreements before the end of the year could drag on for several more weeks.