Uganda has withdrawn its decision to channel EPA with EU

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni

Uganda has reversed its decision to delay the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union.

Trade minister Amelia Kyambadde said the government has since made up its mind and was ready to sign the deal irrespective of whether all the other regional countries are on board or not.

On Thursday, Kenya and Rwanda Trade ministers signed the EPA pact in Brussels, Belgium, with the European Union, a deal the East African Community Council of Ministers had recommended earlier this year.

Kenya was desperate to have the agreement signed to safeguard unlimited duty-free access of its exports to Europe after Tanzania and Uganda said the deal initialled in October 2014 needed to be renegotiated following Britain’s exit from the bloc.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 7th Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives sector review annual conference in Kampala on Tuesday, Ms. Kyambadde said: “The EU is our major trading bloc and we are going ahead to sign the EPAs.”

Burundi has also shown strong desire to sign the agreement in its current form, leaving Tanzania in its effort to seek further reassurance regarding the matter.

Tanzania’s refusal to sign the EPAs is due to fear of repercussions the deal would have on the growth of the emerging regional industries.

Without guarantees against the side effects, Tanzania says it is not prepared to commit itself into economic enslavement.

EPAs are trade and development agreements negotiated between the EU, African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) partners engaged in regional economic integration processes.

The EU is Uganda’s second leading exports markets destination.

Speaking at the conference, the assistant commissioner, External Trade, Mr. Emmanuel Mutahunga, said: “We can’t afford to lose the EU market because it’s contributing a lot to our economy.”

He said Uganda coffee exports to the EU are worth $252 million while flowers exports to the region bring in $45 million.

Mr. Mutahunga said a conclusive decision on the deal is expected to be discussed at the ongoing negotiations by the regional council of ministers who will make final recommendations to the heads of states next week in Arusha, Tanzania. The EAC states are expected to sign the deal before this month ends

Source: the-star