Kenya backtracks from slapping 25% tariffs on Egyptian exports

Kenya has made U-turn on its decision to impose 25 percent  tariffs on Egyptian exports. Kenya has proposed to extend the Comesa trade agreement until June 2021.

Kenya is instead urging member states to agree to ratify a unified tripartite trade agreement between Comesa, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the East African Community, claiming that it’s not feasible to conform to different commercial arrangements while holding multiple memberships in trade blocs.

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) free trade area was founded in 1994 and has 21 member states. Egypt signed the treaty in 1998 and started exempting fellow members from tariffs in 1999.