The negotiation of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the European Union (EU) and the African, Carribean and Pacific (ACP) states to replace the trade provisions of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA) has been controversial and given rise to many (sometimes wild) claims about the likely development effects. Until now such arguments have been speculative because the final details of the agreements were unknown. But now, following the conclusions of a full EPA with the CARIFORUM region and interim EPAs (IEPAs) with some African and Pacific states, it is possible for the first time to analyse what has actually been agreed and to assess the potential development effects.