Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the trade agreement brokered by the European Union with East Africa, and in particular of the difference between that agreement and the previous duty-free quota-free access to the European Union under the Everything but Arms agreement.

This Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) will place our trade relationship on a more equitable, mature and development-focussed relationship with East Africa. It will secure long term, WTO-compatible, duty-free, quota-free access to the EU market for East African countries even if they no longer qualify for ‘Everything But Arms’. This is already the case for Kenya. The East Africa Community has in turn agreed to gradually remove tariffs on 82% of products imported from the EU, but only over a twenty five year period, with safeguards in place to protect their domestic industry. The deal also provides scope for negotiations on areas such as services, investment, and other areas which can benefit East Africa’s development.