Tension mounts as Kenya awaits outcome of EPA meeting
A worker at Oserian farm. The EU accounts for 31 per cent of Kenya’s export market, especially for cut flowers, tea, fresh vegetables and coffee. The EPA deal is expected to ensure continued duty-free and quota-free access to the EU for all EAC exports. PHOTO | FILE
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At the meeting to be chaired by Tanzanian President John Magufuli, Kenya will know the fate of its reported 200 firms and four million jobs at stake in the cut flowers, tea, fresh vegetables and coffee sectors.
Whether Tanzania signs the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) rests on the East African Community (EAC) heads of state who meet today in Dar es Salaam at an extraordinary summit.
This comes after the EAC council of ministers disagreed during their meeting which was held in Arusha on Tuesday.
At the summit to be chaired by Tanzanian President John Magufuli, Kenya will know the fate of its reported 200 firms and four million jobs at stake in the cut flowers, tea, fresh vegetables and coffee sectors.
Speaking to reporters in Dar es Salaam Wednesday, Tanzania's Minister for Foreign Affairs and EAC Cooperation Dr Augustine Mahiga said the country maintained its stand for the deadline of signing the deal to be pushed back.
Dr Mahiga said Tanzania wants assurance that the deal will not affect the country’s targets of becoming an industrial economy by 2025.
According to him, Dar wants guarantee that the agreement will not interfere with the EAC treaty on the Customs Union.
On the other hand, Dr Mahiga insisted, Kenya has signed the agreement to protect its horticulture farmers whose main market is in the EU, while Rwanda’s decision wasn’t linked to business benefits.
Integration crossroads
Regional ministers spent over 18 hours at the earlier meeting but failed to reach an agreement as member States adopted a hardline position.
At the end it, it was decided that the issue will be resolved by Heads of State.
“The integration is politically and economically at crossroads. Sometimes such periods are important and healthy for prosperity any cooperation because once we successfully resolve the issue using ordinary meetings we will emerge even stronger”, said the minister.
Rwanda and Kenya have already signed the trade agreement while Uganda is expected to sign during the summit.
Burundi declared that it would not sign the deal after the EU imposed economic sanctions following President Pierre Nkurunzinza's decision to run for presidency for a third term.
Reports on conflict
Apart from the EPA, the heads of state will receive a report from mediator of Burundi's conflict and former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa.
A report on the South Sudan political situation will also be tabled during the meeting.
The heads of states will also swear in an EAC deputy secretary general from Rwanda.
Dr Mahiga earlier said that Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni as well as his Rwandan counterpart will attend the summit while Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta had not confirmed if he will attend the meeting.
Burundi and South Sudan's presidents have sent their representatives.
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