African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries are expected to be among those most affected by Brexit since their trading relations with the UK for the last 40 years have largely been within the EU’s regulatory and institutional framework. A research team from the Ramphal Institute examined Brexit’s implications for that group of countries, providing information and guidance that can help avoid or minimise negative consequences as well as identifying and capitalising on opportunities that might arise or be created.

The report was launched on 17 February. Participants took part in a discussion on the multi-tiered approach ACP countries will need to take to make sure that their short, medium and longer-term trade needs are not lost in the Brexit process.

Click on the video below to view the 17 February report launch and discussion held at the Ramphal Institute in central London.

Programme details:

  • Programme Chair: H.E. Roy Mickey Joy, Permanent Representative of Vanuatu to the European Union, and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
  • Call to order –  Edwin Laurent, Director The Ramphal Institute
  • Welcome to King’s College London – Professor Funmi Olonisakin, Director, Africa Leadership Centre
  • His Excellency Dr Hailemichael Aberra Afework, Ambassador of Ethiopia, representing the President of the ACP Council of Ministers
  • Professor Kusha Haraksingh, Chairman, CARICOM Competition Commission
  • Dr Lorand Bartels, Specialist Advisor to the House of Commons Select Committee on International Trade
  • Feature Address: The Secretary General of the ACP, His Excellency Dr Patrick Gomes
  • Presentation to the ACP Secretary General of the After Brexit study by Patsy Robertson, Chair, The Ramphal Institute
  • Discussion
  • The Way Forward: Dr Paul Goodison, Senior Adviser The Ramphal Institute
  • Vote of thanks: Richard Bourne, Trustee, The Ramphal Institute

Report details:

Authors:  Edwin Laurent, SLC, CMG, OBE: Director of the Ramphal Institute
Lorand Bartels, PhD, Reader in International Law in the Faculty of Law and a Fellow of Trinity Hall at the University of Cambridge
Paul Goodison, PhD, GDC Partners, Belgium
Paula Hippolyte, Consultant, ITID Consulting
Sindra Sharma, PhD, Lead Researcher, Ramphal Institute

Copies of the report Securing ACP Economic Interests Post-Brexit
are available from www.ramphalinstitute.org.