· Kenya has signed a post-Brexit trade deal with the UK.
· The long-term treaty was signed in London on December 8th.
Kenya has signed a post-Brexit trade deal with the UK. The deal will enable it to continue to get duty- and quota-free access of exports even after UK formally exits the European Union (EU) at the end of the month. The long-term treaty was signed in London on December 8th. According to the statement, it would “enhance privileges for agricultural goods and confer originating status” to exports from the six-nation East African Community (EAC).
The signing of the agreement based on the text in the stalled EU-EAC trade pact ratified by Kenya in October 2016 was the result of bilateral negotiations that started in September after Nairobi’s bid to hold the talks under the EAC framework flopped. Trade secretary Betty Maina said that the deal included a comprehensive package of benefits that will ensure a secure, long-term and predictable market access for exports originating from the EAC free trade area.
The strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) agreed by the two nations has to be approved by respective lawmakers. Kenya’s exports continue to access the 27-member EU bloc tax-free under a temporary special arrangement.
