ISDS Case Map
EAC
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.
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.
The East African community is facing a tough time as the deadline for signing a new trade regime with the European Union approaches.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
