Govt. unfazed by Tanzanias unwillingness to sign EPA

The government says it has not received official communication from the Tanzanian government over plans to pull out of a joint trade agreement with the European Union.

This even as it emerged that the Tanzanian parliament had shot down plans to approve the economic partnership agreement (EPA) between the East African Community (EAC) and the EU.

It has also emerged that a case has been filed at the East Africa Court of Justice by a Tanzanian national seeking to prevent Tanzania and Uganda from signing the agreement.

Trade and Industrialization Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohamed said on Wednesday that while the odds are stacked against Kenya, the final decision will be made during a heads of state summit to be held in January.

“As East African ministers for trade we continue to dialogue and discuss this issue of the EPA with the European Union. The latest official position is the meeting that was held in Dar es Salaam where the heads of summit meeting agreed to highlight issues that each member states have in relation to that agreement,” Mr Mohamed said.

Kenya and Rwanda are the only countries in the EAC that have signed and ratified the trade deal.

While Uganda has previously expressed its willingness to sign, government officials are said to be waiting for a more unified stand before putting pen to paper.

Tanzania has been vocal on its objection to the EPA deal, further frustrating Kenya’s efforts of gaining special access for its goods to the lucrative European market.

The Kenyan government has appeared to be a lone ranger in pushing for the deal to be signed as it is the only nation classified as a developing state.

The EPA classification means the country is unable to enjoy preferential access to the European Union without the banking of its trading partners in the East African Community.

Mr Mohamed said his ministry would continue engaging the European Union to get a special deal should the joint talks collapse.

“Anything that happens between now and the next meeting in January, anybody can say anything but we do not have a formal position on the matter,” he said.

Tanzanian President John Magufuli while on an official tour to Kenya, promised to work with Kenya to improve the icy trade relations between the two countries.

In 2015, 32 percent of Kenya’s Sh581 billion in exports were sold in Europe.

Tanzania’s opposition to the trade agreement stems from the fact that the European Union is pushing for the liberalization of the EAC market by up to 82.6 percent access.