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EAC

East African Community


East Africa: Sezibera Optimistic Over EPA Negotiations
The East African Community (EAC), Secretary General Dr. Richard Sezibera has said that the region is committed to succeed in the negotiations of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
Davies says intra-African trade is key to SA growth
Strengthening bilateral trade and investment relations with African countries was a key trade and economic strategy for South Africa, Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies told the sixth Africa Economic Forum in Cape Town this week.
Kenya: Region Rallies Behind Nation Over EPAs
The search for a binding pact to safeguard the multi-billion-shilling export trade with Europe has taken a new twist with East African partners resolving to push for new classification of Kenya.
EU trade deal places East Africa in a fix
The East African community is facing a tough time as the deadline for signing a new trade regime with the European Union approaches.
EPAs ‘threaten key sectors’
The signing of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between Europe and the East African bloc (EAC-EPAs) is still uncertain due to disagreements on a number of issues at regional level, as some stakeholders think the signing should not be effected unless some changes are made on the agreement.
EPA negotiations coming to a close, says EAC head
Experts from the East African Community secretariat will next month fly to Brussels Belgium for an audience with European Union officials to finalise the long-standing negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).
Sadc, EAC, Comesa free trade talks begin in December
First round of negotiations to establish the $1 trillion Tripartite Free Trade Area (FTA) covering 27 countries in eastern and southern Africa are scheduled to start next month, the head of the taskforce spearheading the process has said.
EAC-EU EPA talks on
The Director General of the EAC Customs and Trade Directorate, Mr. Peter Kiguta has confirmed that the East African Community (EAC)-European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Negotiations is on course and Partner States are not being bulldozed.
Tough talk over industrialisation expected for FTA - Davies
As South Africa moves to bolster industrialisation efforts within its own borders, the planned roll out of a giant free trade area across Africa may hit a snag when it comes to negotiating about trade in manufactured goods between member countries, the Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies said yesterday.
Africa’s Free Trade Zone: A Pie in the Sky?
African heads of state have ambitious plans to create a free trade zone, encompassing 26 countries and more than 600 million people on the continent. But economic experts warn the project is a bold step that comes with a plethora of legal, administrative and political hurdles. Others suggest the plan might be a pie in the sky.
Kenya walking tightrope on EPAs talks
The outcome of the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations scheduled for December will determine the future of trade between the East African Community bloc and European Union.
Free Trade in Africa, For Better or Worse?
It is not certain that an African free trade area will further regional integration or deepen the existing inequality between countries.
The tripartite FTA - Snags in Africa’s grand plan
At the Chirundu border, along the north-south transport corridor between Zimbabwe and Zambia, commercial trucks used to wait five days to get clearance. Now, they can get through in a matter of hours.
Kenya exports to EU face taxation in trade agreement stalemate
Europe has issued a fresh warning of possible revenue losses for Kenya should the East African Community fail to reach a trade deal soon.
The ’grand’ key to Africa
It is referred to as the “Grand Free Trade Area” or the Tripartite Free Trade Agreement, and true to its name it will be one of the largest free trade areas in the developing world when it becomes a reality. The 26-nation free trade area encompassing countries from Egypt to South Africa and three existing free trade blocs will be a very important platform for countries to engage and invest.
EPAs will bring more costs than benefits
Economic Partnership Agreements are undertakings to create a Free Trade Area (FTA) between the European Commission of the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. Benjamin William Mkapa explores whether it is worthwhile for the EAC.
COMESA, EAC, SADC start merger negotiations
Negotiations for the establishment of a grand free trade area by three African regional economic communities are scheduled to start soon following the launching of the process by a Tripartite Summit that ended last week in Johannesburg, South Africa.
African mega-treaty ’to funnel free-trade fortunes into SA’
The planned creation of a 26-nation African Tripartite Free Trade Area (FTA) will draw industrial investment to South Africa by making it a springboard for low-duty access to other parts of the continent, trade and industry director general Lionel October said on Monday.
FTA to expand market for Zimbabwe goods - Ncube
Industry and Commerce Minister Welshman Ncube says if negotiations for the Common Market for East and Southern Africa - East African Community - South African Development Corporation Tripartite Free Trade Area (FTA) are successfully completed, Zimbabwean goods and commodities will find greater markets on the continent.
Tripartite FTA is key to dismantling the ‘spaghetti bowl’
On Sunday, heads of state and government from Africa’s three main regional blocs – the Southern African Development Community, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the East African Community – will meet in South Africa to launch negotiations for a Tripartite Free Trade Area (T-FTA).