Competition from Egypt held off for two years under free trade area agreement
Finalisation of negotiations on outstanding TFTA areas especially with regard to rules of origin (RoOs), trade remedies, and dispute settlement will be introduced following the launch of a post-signature implementation plan. After the launch, the deal will enter into force upon ratification of the text by two-thirds of the Tripartite FTA member states. The Tripartite FTA will then form a building block for the continent-wide free trade agreement, known as the Continental FTA. ILLUSTRATION | PATRICK GATHARA
East Africa’s producers of sugar, maize, cement and other goods categorised as “sensitive” will be protected from intense competition from Egypt and other countries as the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) comes into force next month.
Restrictions on the entry of the sensitive goods will remain in force until 2017, allowing the industries to adjust to the cut-throat competition expected from cheaper products.
