Kenya is exempted from ACP-EU treaty
Kenya Broadcasting Corporation | 16 November 2007
Kenya is exempted from ACP-EU treaty
Written By: Faith Kendi
Kenya has been exempted from signing the Economic Partnership Agreement for another year.
Under the new arrangement Kenya and other East African Community states will continue to enjoy free access into the European Union market for all products except sugar and rice upto December next year.
The deal was reached at in a meeting held in Brussels this week.
The interim Framework Agreement between East African community members and the EU allays fears that trade between Kenya and the EU would be disrupted come December 31 when the Cotonou agreement comes to an end.
A delegation from the private sector and other stakeholders led by trade and industry PS David Nalo negotiated the agreement on behalf of Kenya.
Among the beneficiaries of the agreement are the horticultural, fisheries, textile and the dairy sectors.
The Kenya Association of manufacturers and the fresh produce exporters praised the deal after raising fears that 65 percent of the country’s locally manufactured products would be adversely affected by the reciprocal free trade agreement between African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and the EU.
Economic analysts however say the deal is very good for Kenya in the short term but could become oppressive in the future.
