EU, southern African states agree trade deal

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BRUSSELS, Nov 24 (Reuters): The European Commission and four southern African countries agreed a new trade deal yesterday, opening the way for what Brussels hopes will be a series of agreements with scores of former European colonies.
In a breakthrough after five years of talks on so-called Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA), negotiators from the EU and Botswana, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho initialled deals covering trade in goods and development, the Commission said.
"This is an historic step forward in the relationship between the European Union and southern Africa," EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson-who has faced stiff criticism from aid campaigners over the EPAs-said in a statement.
"I welcome the commitment shown by both sides and the leadership shown by SADC (the Southern African Development Community) in completing these essential negotiations."