The economic partnership agreement between the EU and West Africa: Are there really benefits for West Africa?

In principle, Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is welfare improving. This positive outcome holds under the assumption that its members are major trade partners and the agreement is reciprocal. Then, FTA is not necessary welfare improving. To increase the likelihood of positive aggregate effect two conditions need to be respected: first, the trade creation should dominate the trade diversion; second, import prices should not increase.