Apparently only Kenya ratified EPA as Rwanda dodged ratification

EPA: Test of unity as Kenya breaks away
MONDAY JANUARY 28 2019



Kenya’s Henry Rotich (centre) in a past meeting with EU officials. The EPA's signing and ratification has stalled since October 2016. FILE PHOTO | NMG

In Summary

• The EPA allows duty-free, quota-free access of EAC products to the European market.
• The pact requires all EAC countries to sign and ratify for it to take effect, but only Kenya has signed and ratified while Rwanda has signed but not ratified.
• The EU has asked the EAC partner states to iron out their differences and agree on the way forward on the trade agreement.

By JAMES ANYANZWA
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Kenya hopes to marshal support for its ambitious plan to trade with Europe during the East African Community heads of state scheduled for February 1, in Arusha, after efforts to get its partners to sign and ratify the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union bore little fruit.
The EPA, whose signing and ratification has stalled since October 2016, allows duty-free, quota-free access of EAC products to the European market.

Kenya, the region’s biggest exporter to the European market, has been allowed temporary access to the European market under special arrangements after Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi failed to sign and ratify the agreement citing various country-specific concerns.

The pact requires all EAC countries to sign and ratify for it to take effect, but only Kenya has signed and ratified while Rwanda has signed but not ratified.
As a result, Kenya is asking that EAC partner states adopt the variable geometry, a move that would be viewed as counter to regional integration.

The Principle of Variable Geometry allows member countries to enforce the trade agreement with the EU as individuals rather than a bloc, implying that Kenyan products will start accessing the EU market under EPA.

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Differences
The EU has asked the EAC partner states to iron out their differences and agree on the way forward on the trade agreement.

“The next EAC Summit in 2019 is expected to discuss the EPA issue and the way forward,” the EU said in its latest EPA update report dated November 2018.
The EastAfrican has learnt that Kenya is planning to table a proposal before the EAC Council of Ministers on January 30, seeking to be allowed to enforce its own trade agreement with the EU as other partner states sort out their own issues.

If Kenya’s proposal on variable geometry is adopted by the ministers, it will be forwarded to the heads of state for review and final decision.

Kenya's Principal Secretary in the Department of Trade Dr Chris Kiptoo confirmed to this paper that the country has settled for the principle of variable geometry but the proposal has to get the backing of all the EAC member states.

“We have already signed and ratified this agreement. We don’t have any problem. If the other countries have issues then I think the principle of variable geometry should apply so that those who are ready can sign and proceed but the proposal has to be endorsed by all member countries,” said Mr Kiptoo.

The EastAfrican has learnt that some of the regional partners are of the view that such a move will compromise the principle of solidarity that binds EAC member states together.

It is understood that Uganda, which has expressed interest to sign the agreement, is keen on the principle of solidarity, which requires all countries to sign and act as one.

It is also feared that signing the pact as individual countries would weaken the region’s rules of origin principle and give rise to partner states operating on different trading regimes, compromising efforts towards regional integration.

EAC’s commitment to the EPA has however come into sharp focus after it emerged that Kenya has won a timeless access to the EU market under the Market Access Regulations.

On the other hand, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania, which are considered least developed countries, continue having duty-free and quota-free access to the EU under the Everything but Arms arrangement.


https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/bu...a-breaks-away-/2560-4954710-aul875/index.html

Ni faida kwa Kenya kwakuwa yeye kiasili ni Semi-Periphery, lakini ni tishio kwa uchumi wa nchi kama Tanzania yenye azma ya kuanzisha viwanda vyake. Ni ngumu sana kwa bidhaa za nchi za Afrika Mashariki kutoboa kwenye soko la EU kuliko bidhaa za nchi wanachama wa EU kutoboa soko la EA.Matokeo yake nchi zetu zitafurika bidhaa kutoka EU na kupelekea Natural Death kwa viwanda vyetu vya ndani kwa kushindwa kuhimili ushindani wa soko na bidhaa za nchi wanachama wa EU.

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ministrant said:

Ni faida kwa Kenya kwakuwa yeye kiasili ni Semi-Periphery, lakini ni tishio kwa uchumi wa nchi kama Tanzania yenye azma ya kuanzisha viwanda vyake. Ni ngumu sana kwa bidhaa za nchi za Afrika Mashariki kutoboa kwenye soko la EU kuliko bidhaa za nchi wanachama wa EU kutoboa soko la EA.Matokeo yake nchi zetu zitafurika bidhaa kutoka EU na kupelekea Natural Death kwa viwanda vyetu vya ndani kwa kushindwa kuhimili ushindani wa soko na bidhaa za nchi wanachama wa EU.

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Aawapii hamna nchi EAC inaweza mudu ushindani wa EU!

Ni kweli kabisa, ila kwa upande wa Kenya atanufaika kwa kiasi kikubwa na Msamaha wa kodi kutoka nchi za Ulaya kwakuwa ana soko kubwa la maua katika nchi hizo

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ministrant said:

Ni kweli kabisa, ila kwa upande wa Kenya atanufaika kwa kiasi kikubwa na Msamaha wa kodi kutoka nchi za Ulaya kwakuwa ana soko kubwa la maua katika nchi hizo

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Ukifanya cost-benefit analysis sioni mauzo ya maua kuzidi hasara itakayo letwa na hiyo treaty. Ukizingatia hayo makampuni yanayo lima maua niya wazungu.

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BTW ukweli ni kuwa produce nyingi za kutoka Kenya kwenda EU ni za masettlers toka huko huko Ulaya. So ni kama wamejipa vibali kwa ajili ya biashara zao.

Kwa mtizamo wangu, kiuchumi Kenya inatawaliwa na EU na hao settlers wanajiona kama wako kwenye nchi yao, blacks wanaambulia vibarua tu toka kwa hao wazungu.

Govt of KE inapelekeshwa na nguvu ya kiuchumi ya hao settlers na wakenya wachache ambao ni matajiri wa kupindukia. Ni kama makaburu walivyokuwa Afrika Kusini.

Kuna baadhi ya maeneo na sehemu za burudani wakenya weusi/Africans hawaruhusiwi kukanyaga. Lakini bado tunasema ati tupo huru..?

Nadhani nchi ambazo hazijasaini zipo sahihi kabisa kwa maslahi ya raia wake waliowengi..!!

ministrant said:

Ni kweli kabisa, ila kwa upande wa Kenya atanufaika kwa kiasi kikubwa na Msamaha wa kodi kutoka nchi za Ulaya kwakuwa ana soko kubwa la maua katika nchi hizo

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Yake maua ni Niashara ya Wazungu msee, wakenya ni Wajinga wa Mwisho.

ministrant said:

Ni kweli kabisa, ila kwa upande wa Kenya atanufaika kwa kiasi kikubwa na Msamaha wa kodi kutoka nchi za Ulaya kwakuwa ana soko kubwa la maua katika nchi hizo

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hahaha sasa Kenya atakuwa yy ni muuza maua tu huko ulaya alafu tazama ss yeye atakuwa anapokea takataka ngapi toka EU ni wazi izo bidhaa toka EU zitakuwani second hand products and goods import to EAC tho i am real sure but with confidence naamini watatuletea takataka tu huku