Mistrust has emerged among the East African Community partner states over Tanzania’s commitment to the Economic Partnership Agreement that would give the region’s goods duty-free access to European markets.
Tanzania is likely to delay the signing and ratification of the EPA document on the grounds that it was rushed through. Dar es Salaam has threatened not to sign the deal before its concerns on contentious issues are addressed.
The region has until December 31 to sign the deal with the European Union or go back to the negotiating table.
Initial document
A source at the EAC Secretariat, who is privy to the matter, said Tanzania was forced to sign the initial document on the eve of October 14 after the EU threatened to withdraw its funding for agriculture under the European Development Fund (EDF).
“At the time when Tanzania had refused to sign the initial document, discussions on when to release the EDF funds to member countries were ongoing in Italy. So Tanzania was given an option of either signing or forgoing the EDF funds. The same night they agreed to sign the EPA document,” said the official.

Source: The East African

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