ISDS Case Map
COMESA
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa has urged member states to join the Free Trade Area before the launch of the Customs Union in December to enable the region to fully achieve trade and customs growth.
The just concluded Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) Heads of States Summit in Nairobi seemed to confirm the existence of an uneven playing field in global trade.
The leaders mandated Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki to convene a joint summit of COMESA, the South Africa Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) to discuss the harmonization of the cross-border trading system.
Africa's largest trade bloc (COMESA) is in the final stages of setting up a customs union after completing work on tariffs to charge on goods imported from outside the group.
Trade among the 19 Comesa member states is currently worth more than Sh420 billion.
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) has signed an agreement that gives member States uninterrupted European Union market access. The new pact, which covers 25 years will become effective in January next year and is aimed at addressing trade disparities between Europe and Comesa countries.
Kenyan manufacturers have rebuffed calls by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a reduction of import duty.
Trade Minister Mukhisa Kituyi has said preparations for the 12th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit are on course.
Heads of government and policy organs of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) will meet in the Kenyan capital Nairobi from May 11-23 to consider the progress made on the Economic Partnership Agreements with the European Union among other things.
Sugar cane farmers have added their voice to demands that Government seeks an extension of the Comesa moratorium, which comes into effect from early next year. The Kenya Sugarcane Grower's Union officials petitioned President Kibaki to lead the extension campaign to enable local factories and market get ready to compete with the imports from the region.
