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Making EAC products competitive
On joint declaration, the EAC wants clarification on an annex that obliges the community to negotiate with countries that the EU has Free Trade Agreements with.
“This is far beyond what is politically tenable in the EAC and should be removed,” Museveni told Juncker.
Also of concern to EAC, said Museveni, is the clause that commits the EU to remove export subsidies on EAC-destined exports only but does not address other forms of domestic support that equally distort the market.
“This makes EU products competitive in the EAC market,” said President Museveni. “But EAC products cannot be competitive in the EU market due to other domestic support provided by the EU.”
He added: “Moreover, with regard to these export subsidies, the prohibition is not permanent and will be reviewed after 48 months.”
The President also made the case that Kenya, which had already signed these pacts, should not be disadvantaged in terms of trade, “nor should EU stampede EAC into hurried conclusions which would result into dissensions and possibly split the EAC”.
Juncker, who warmly welcomed Museveni and his East African delegation to Brussels, promised to review all issues raised by the EAC and offer a comprehensive response.
Background:
In May, as President Museveni assumed the EAC chair in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from President John Pombe Magufuli, the other heads of state tasked him to lead a team to Brussels to resolve the sticking issues in the EPAs.
After today’s meeting and upon receipt of a response from the EU, #Museveni will again convene the meeting of the trade ministers to trash out the key issues before preparing a final document for the EAC heads of state.
The EAC heads of state summit will then take a final and binding position on the EPAs whose text was first initialed in 2014
Proposed Economic Partnership Agreement EU and EAC by The Independent Magazine on Scribd
