Page 25 - Issue 9

Earlier this year, Kenya said Djibouti’s African Group industrialisation plans.
decision to stick to the race “brings The Office of the United States Trade
dishonor and disrepute to the African Asia and the Pacific Group Representative (USTR) published a
Union.” Djibouti, on the other hand, has Eastern European Group raft of key negotiation points in the
termed the AU’s process and decision as Latin American and Caribbean Group proposed bilateral deal, should see
‘illegal.’ Kenya lift tariffs on all US agricultural
Western European and Others Group
China, Russia and the French-speaking products and open its maritime, textile,
countries backed Djibouti, while Kenya UN member not in any voting group telecommunications financial services
depended on AU’s support and that of Observer states and other industries, including those
most western countries. Djibouti’s was Disputed territory classified as sensitive to US investors.
also supported by the Organization of Of course Nairobi expects to export a
Islamic Cooperation, the International US seeks trade with Kenya, as AfCFTA, range of goods tax-free to the US once
Organization of la Francophonie and the EAC raise eyebrows the deal is signed; however,
Arab League. experts have expressed

Membership of the United Nations concerns, warning
Security Council is held by the five that this may conflict
permanent members and ten elected, with the objectives and
principals of the AfCFTA
non-permanent members. Prior to 1966, protocols. This is based
there were six elected members, while on the view that, the
the permanent members have in essence US engaging individual
not changed since the creation of the African countries
United Nations in 1945, apart from the would complicate the
representation of China. implementation; unless
Elected members hold their place on the Washington is willing to
Council for a two-year term, and half of enter similar deals will all
these places are contested each year. To of AfCFTA members.
ensure geographical continuity, a certain President Donald Trump’s
number of members is allocated for each Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta and Donald administration has been pursuing
of the five UN regional groupings. Trump at the Oval Office within the an “America First” policy in its trade
White House on Monday, August, 2018.
Other EAC countries that have served are From the EU’s perspective, perhaps negotiations with other countries
Rwanda that was elected by the United no single development is as crucial to as part of his attempt to counter a
Nations General to one of the rotational setting Africa on a trajectory to become surging Chinese economic and political
seats on the UN Security Council for a fellow bastion of multilateralism and influence around the world.
the 2013-2014 terms. Paradodically, rules-based free trade as the long-term In the proposed FTA, the US is seeking
Tanzania voted for Djibouti. success of the AfCFTA. to secure comprehensive market access
These were the words of European for its agricultural goods in Kenya by
reducing or eliminating tariffs and
Uganda assumed Membership to the Council President Charles Michel, when providing “reasonable” adjustment
United Nations (UN) Security Council he meet African leaders in Addis Ababa, periods for import-sensitive agricultural
on January 01, 2009, having been elected last year, on the margins of the summit, products.
as a non-permanent Member for a term and other EU leaders. Further saying
of two years, during the 63rd Session of “the free-trade regime offers some hope Ms Betty Maina, Kenya’s EAC and
the UN General Assembly, held on 17 that the EU can compete for influence Trade minister defended his country,
October 2008. with China and the U.S., great powers saying it has abided with Section 37 of
the EAC trade protocol, which calls
Kenya has served twice previously as a that prefer bilateral relations. Some EU for any EAC member state to inform
member of the Council in 1973-74 and officials are worried the U.S. might try to other partners whenever it intends to
1997-98. In the 1972 election, Australia, undermine the Africa deal, by pursuing offer preferential market access to a
Austria, Indonesia, Kenya, and Peru were agreements with individual countries third-party since member states share a
elected as the five new non-permanent that make setting common standards common Customs territory before such
members of the UN Security Council for harder” a deal is signed. “We would like to assure
two-year mandates commencing on 1 The exact opposite could the views by our partners in the EAC and the African
January 1973. President Trump as The United States Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
government seeks unfettered access that we do not intend to jeopardise our
to the Kenyan market in the proposed regional interests.”
free trade agreement between Nairobi
and Washington, which could have The controversial Kenya-US deal, once
far-reaching implications on Kenya’s signed, is meant to replace the African
critical agricultural sector and its Growth and Opportunities Act (Agoa)
agreement that expires in 2025.

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