Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 695373,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/695373/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 59,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Langat",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 384,
        "legal_name": "Benjamin Kipkirui Langat",
        "slug": "benjamin-langat"
    },
    "content": "For the comfort of the Member, I would want to inform him that the report that we are noting is for information; that we are informed of the deliberations. The substantive Motion is for the ratification of EPAs and the Report of the Committee is for the information of the House. This House, at the end of the day, can adopt, amend or reject the Report of the Committee. The substantive Motion which we are discussing here is the ratification of EPAs. The trade between Kenya and the EU for the last 30 years up to 31st December, 2007 was conducted under a non-reciprocal preferential trade regime under what was called the Lomé Agreement between 1975 and 2000 and subsequently, the Cotonou Agreement of 2000 to 2007. The EPA which we are ratifying today is a baby of the Cotonou Agreement following the commitment by the EU and the African Caribbean Pacific countries to enter into an agreement. The EPA is enshrined in the Cotonou Partnership Agreement which was signed in June 2000. The legal basis of EPA is, therefore, the Cotonou Agreement, which Kenya is a signatory. Basically, the objective of EPA is to set trade rules between the East African Community on one side and the EU on the other side so that the rules are clear and consistent. Therefore, if a trader in Kenya wants to trade with the EU, the rules are clear. The tariffs which are attracted by Kenyan goods are clear. It is the same for the EU traders in Kenya. Basically, the overall objectives of EPA are to ensure sustainable development of Kenya and other African Caribbean and Pacific countries, the smooth and the gradual integration into the global economy and eradication of poverty. Specifically, the EPA aims at promoting sustained growth, increasing the production of supply capacity, fostering the structural transformation and diversification of the Kenyan economy and support for regional integration. This process of economic partnership agreement negotiations started way back in 2000. So, it is a process which has taken almost 16 years since it began. There were so many disagreements along the way, but the process kept moving on up to now. I would say all the EU countries have signed and ratified. In the East African region, it is Kenya and Rwanda who have already signed. Tanzania, Burundi and other countries recently said that they needed time to check further and, maybe, sign in the next three months. I wish to draw the attention of this House to the fact that Kenya, in the East African region, is considered a developing country. The other countries are still considered as least developed countries and, therefore, whether they sign it or not, it may not affect their trade. Kenya, which is considered a developing country, if we do not ratify this agreement, we stand to The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}