Kenya is running out of time to sign a UK post-Brexit trade deal, as the December 31 deadline approaches. The country has four months until the current trade agreement lapses, which will cut duty free and quota-free access that will affect her flower and vegetable exports. Further, the region will likely miss the September deadline to sign a draft agreement after last week agenda-setting meeting was downgraded to consultative talks.
Kenya faces a challenge from ideological differences within the EAC’s partners, worsened by Tanzania, Burundi and South Sudan’s no-show in last week’s preparatory negotiation meeting. Further, The EastAfrican reports that Kenya will lose the most if the region fails to sign a post-Brexit trade deal.
Kenya is classified as a Lower Middle-Income state, unlike most of its counterparts who fall under the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) category. The difference would subject Kenya’s exports and quotas, whereas other members of the EAC would still have unrestricted access to the UK market.
The UK advocates for a collective trade agreement with the EAC based on the current deal between the UK and the trading bloc. However, Kenya is now weighing its options, including separate discussions from the EAC under a variable geometry for the post-Brexit trade deal.
Earlier, Nairobi said that post-Brexit trade negotiations would follow both EAC guidelines and bilateral partnership frameworks, looking to close the deal before the end of 2020.
READ ALSO: Kenya to Lift Tariffs on US Items Under FTA
