What will the impact of the deals be on those countries who have signed?

The impact could be devastating. EPAs will force poor countries to 'liberalise' their economies too fast and too much. Experience from similar deals in the past shows that EPAs will result in:

• Job losses: poor countries will face direct competition with goods from Europe before they are ready, destroying local industries, resulting in huge job losses.

• Loss of sovereignty: legal commitments to look after the rights of overseas investors, ahead of local laws to protect workers and the environment. These could also override poor countries' own plans for development.

• Less government income: a huge reduction in government revenue because of reduced taxes on imports into poor countries. This will mean there's less money for investing in health, education and infrastructure like electricity cables or new roads.