EU says wants East Africa group to sign trade deal
DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - The European Union on Thursday urged the five members of the East African Community to sign a long-delayed trade deal with the EU when EAC ministers gather at a regional meeting on Friday.
Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi have gained access to the EU's markets because they initialled the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), but because they have so far refused to sign, there are no legally binding commitments.
"More than two years after initialling the Framework EPA ... the East African Community has not signed it yet. The situation, as it stands now, is untenable," Timothy Clarke, head of the EU delegation in Tanzania, said in a statement.
For the full report read Reuters at
http://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFJOE6130IJ20100204
Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi have gained access to the EU's markets because they initialled the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), but because they have so far refused to sign, there are no legally binding commitments.
"More than two years after initialling the Framework EPA ... the East African Community has not signed it yet. The situation, as it stands now, is untenable," Timothy Clarke, head of the EU delegation in Tanzania, said in a statement.
For the full report read Reuters at
http://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFJOE6130IJ20100204