Kenya and the United Kingdom have signed a trade agreement that will ensure the continuation of goods and services between the two countries as the UK prepares for the end of its transition period with the European Union.
The trade agreement will ensure that all companies operating in Kenya, including British businesses, can continue to benefit from duty-free access to the UK market.
According to a joint statement from the UK, the UK-Kenya trade was worth £1.4 billion in 2019.
“We have a great opportunity ahead of us,” Betty Maina, Kenya’s trade minister, said in a statement issued from London.
“This trade deal will build on the UK and Kenya’s historic ties and is the perfect springboard to increase our trading in the future,” said UK’s Minister for Africa James Duddridge.
The UK & Kenya have a historic relationship. Today, we built on that through a new Economic Partnership Agreement, so firms operating in Kenya can continue to benefit from duty-free access to the UK market, helping protect jobs and boosting economic prosperity for all. https://t.co/ONmyl67hnd
— Sir James Duddridge KCMG MP (@JamesDuddridge) December 8, 2020
According to the deal, the rest of the East African Community (EAC) trade bloc members, will be free to join the trade deal.
International Trade Minister Ranil Jayawardena said: “Today’s agreement is also a first step towards a regional agreement with the East African Community, and I look forward to working with other members to secure an agreement to forge ever-closer trading ties.”
The U.K. left the European Union on Jan. 31 however, it was given until Dec 31 to conclude the transition.
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