Browsing: Economic Partnership Agreement

• Kenya will progressively allow more imports from the EU into its market.
• An EU official terms the trade agreement with Africa’s seventh largest economy “a partnership of equals”.
•  Under the Kenya-EU trade deal, Nairobi’s exports to European bloc will be tariff-free from day one.

A new Kenya-EU trade deal will see Nairobi’s exports to the European bloc enjoy tariff-free status from day one, while tariffs on EU exports will be liberalised over time but not on all products. The Kenya and European Union trade deal will provide new opportunities for Kenyan and European businesses, including the micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises.

The two parties have concluded negotiations on the much awaited Economic Partnership Agreement. A new era of Kenya-EU trade ties will start in post-Brexit world where Brussels is exerting more influence across Africa.

European Commission Executive Vice-President and EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis and Cabinet Secretary of Kenya’s Ministry …

• President William Ruto is seen to be leaning more towards the West as opposed to his predecessor and former boss Uhuru Kenyatta, who had built a strong relationship with Asian countries.
• During Mr Kenyatta’s 10-years rule, China became a major financier and developer of key projects among them the $3.6 billion Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
• China and India have also been dominating the country’s trade as the Asian market accounts for 65.7 per cent of Kenya’s total import bill.

Since coming into office in September last year, Kenya’s fifth President William Ruto has been keen on building and expanding alliances with countries that can help foster trade that remains in favour of foreign nations.

An interesting facet, however, has been his renewed interest in the United States and Europe, in what is seen as a slow but sure move to attract more investments while growing market for Kenya’s exports, manly …

According to the statement, the Forum will have several interactive engagements and presentations focusing on opportunities for Namibian and EU traders, agriculture and agro-processing, manufacturing, and trade facilitation and logistics.

The ministry of trade serves as the coordinator for the plan’s initial goal, which is to provide improved coordination and cooperation across institutions and organizations addressing areas related to EPA implementation.

It is also concentrated on establishing and enhancing the performance of important institutions involved in EPA implementation.

Making a case for technical support to strengthen the necessary legal, institutional, and infrastructure frameworks for Namibia’s EPA implementation is the third point of emphasis.…

The UK left the European Union (EU) in January after a long and tedious process which saw Prime Minister Theresa May quit as the Conservative leader on June 7, 2019.

Following the divorce, the EU and the UK will determine their future trade relations during the transition period which goes on until the end of this year.

With this reorganisation, developing countries could see their exports to the UK increase. The EU could also offer a slightly bigger market for goods coming from these economies. However, this is dependent on whether the UK increases tariffs for third world countries.

Trading with Britain under preferential terms

With this, it is time for Africa as Brexit could create new opportunities for the continent which just became one the largest free trade area in the world with the AfCFTA which will be operational starting in June 2020.

The UNCTAD notes that a no-deal …