Kenya in last push to maintain access to duty free EU market

Kenya risks being knocked out of the duty free market access to the European region if it fails to convince the East African Community states to sign a joint pact with the EU before October 1.

In its bid to position itself on the safe side, Kenyan government has sent a delegation to Brussels to make the case for Kenya as the expiry of the EU Market access regulation beckons.

Speaking on his way to Brussels, Trade and Industrialization Cabinet Secretary, Aden Mohammed, said their aim is to make sure Kenya’s products continue to access the European markets on duty free quota basis.

“This development poses a great risk to Kenya unless it is addressed before the deadline of 1^st October 2016 that the EU put for EAC to sign and ratify the EPA in order for EAC products to continue accessing the EU market on duty free quota basis,” said the CS.

The Government has been undertaking high level bilateral consultations with EAC Partner States geared towards agreeing on alternatives for signing of the EPA over the past three months.

If Kenya will not have struck a deal that will see the EU –EAC pact before the deadline Kenya trade regime for live plants and floriculture products will attract duties of between 5 to 8 percent

Whereas Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania have an option to rely on Everything But Arms (EBA) trade arrangement where they have a duty free access to the European market, Kenya faces a tough choice as the clock ticks to the deadline.

Kenya will have its last attempt to have impasse solved during the deliberations at the EACC Summit that has been convened early September.