{The European Union will grant an early return to duty-free trade in a range of agricultural products from east Africa, its ambassador to Kenya said on Wednesday, in a “Christmas gift” for Kenyan flower growers ahead of Valentine’s Day. }
The new deal will take effect on December 25, replacing a tax the EU imposed on October 1 after five east African countries missed a deadline for putting forward proposals for renewing their duty-free export status with the EU.
The countries agreed a new deal in October, but the European Parliament and European Commission had not been expected to confirm it until January.
Kenya is the biggest beneficiary of the duty-free regime because of its vast horticulture sector, a major foreign exchange earner for east Africa’s biggest economy. The other countries also part of the trade deal are Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
Agencies
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