b'3.1.3. General Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) In addition to GSPs, the EU has a GSP+country had suffered over 25 years of civil scheme. In 2016-2017, the EU enteredwar followed by the Asian super-tsunami. into GSP+ agreements with nine countries:The EUs cancellation of GSP+ cost Sri Armenia, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Kyrgyzstan,Lanka around 100 million.22 It was not until Mongolia, Pakistan, Paraguay, theMay 2017 that Sri Lanka was reinstated. Philippines, and Sri Lanka. GSP+ has stricter entry criteria, but offers deeper tariff cuts toThis has opened the way for China, which is these countries.replacing European countries in Sri Lanka on key projects such as the Hambantota Port.23In 2016, the exports of these 10 GSP+ beneficiary countries to the EU were worthMoreover, GSP+ provides an opportunity for 15.1 billion.21 EU fishing vessels to fish (many would say plunder) the waters of African countries. Regrettably, GSP+ also exemplifies a highlyThis policy has been particularly harmful to undesirable trend that of continuing EUSomalia. It is estimated that the value of fish attempts to politicisetrade.taken from Somali waters by EU fishermen is five times the amount that Somalia receives Alone, the EU requires GSP+ countries toin foreign aid each year. ratify certain international treaties. GSP+ applicants must fulfil criteria linked to 27Is it not logical to see a link between the EUs international conventions on human anddepletion of Somali fishing stocks and the labour rights, sustainable development andeconomic necessity that drives Somali governance. These mainly stem from UNfishermen to people-smugglingand piracy off and International Labour Organisation (ILO)the Horn of Africa? conventions. That smuggling and piracy have been Even with full ratification, the EU imposesthe cause of enormous cost to the world a right to cancel its side of the GSP+economy in loss of life and disruptionto arrangement. The EU did this to Sri Lankashipping.in 2010, notwithstanding the fact that the 73'