The Lomé Convention is a treaty that regulated trade between the European Union and 71 (later 77) African, Caribbean and Pacific states (collectively known as the ACP countries) between 1975 and 2000.

Established in 1975 in Lomé, Togo, the treaty preserved some of the preferential access rights of members of the Commonwealth of Nations to the United Kingdom market on its entry into the Union. It was renewed in 1979, 1985, 1989, and 2000 before being succeeded by the Cotonou Agreement.

Treaty of 1975

• It replaced previous agreements made by the original six EC members with former colonies, the Yaoundé Convention , and agreements made with the East African Community, the Arusha Agreement .
• Under the Lomé Convention all ACP industrial exports, and most agricultural exports to the EC are free of duty.
• Financial and technical aid, including an export income stabilization scheme called Stabex for agricultural exports were also agreed.
• The European Development Fund was set up by the EC to administer aid to the Lomé countries.

External links

• A history of the Lomé Convention