Kenya and the United Kingdom are today marking the ratification and entry into force of the UK-Kenya economic partnership agreement.
The event comes days after Kenya’s lawmakers approved the deal setting the stage for duty-free access to their markets.
Members of Parliament allayed fears that the deal will open floodgates for the dumping of agricultural goods.
Kenyan vegetable exports command a forty three percent share of the U.K market, with cut flowers at nine percent.
The about 2,500 U.K businesses exporting goods to Kenya each year also stand to benefit.
Tariff-free access will be guaranteed overtime to U.K’s machinery, electronics and technical equipment exports.
On March 15, the UK government allayed fears that the recently signed British government’s new bilateral trade agreement with Kenya will undermine the East Africa Community Customs Union protocol.
While addressing the media shortly after holding the first mini Kenya-UK trade exhibition at a Nairobi hotel on March 12, the UK High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriott said the deal will be extended to the rest of the EAC.
“The Economic Partnership Agreement between Kenya and the UK that we negotiated together is fully intended to be an EAC solution. The agreement allows the other EAC partner states to join it,” said Ms Marriot.
Kenya and the UK were eager to agree a deal before Britain formally exited the European Union on December 31.
