Kenya and Tanzania have resolved their trade disputes over various restrictions on some products.
One of these products that had particularly impacted trade hostilities between the two countries in the recent past was cooking gas. Kenya banned its importation of Tanzanian gas, reportedly due to quality standards.
Kenya also banned Tanzanian wheat, as well as cutting its exported products to Tanzania such as milk products and cigarettes.
However, yesterday, the Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary of Kenya, Amina Mohamed, and her Tanzanian counterpart, Augustine Mahiga, announced a compromise that would see both sides benefit from it.
According to the announcement they made in a press conference in Nairobi, Tanzanian traders, who complained a week ago that they had made ‘massive losses’, can now export liquefied petroleum gas into gas.
Kenya also undid their restrictions on wheat flour coming from Tanzania, as Tanzania does the same by undoing their restriction on Kenyan milk products and cigarettes.
“The Republic of Kenya will lift import restriction on wheat flour and LPG from Tanzania with immediate effect,” said a joint statement by Kenya and Tanzania as it was read by Mr Mahiga, “The United Republic of Tanzania will lift restriction on milk and milk products and cigarettes manufactured in Kenya with immediate effect.”
Both Amina Mohamed and Augustine Mahiga announced an agreement after President Uhuru Kenyatta and President John Magufuli had had discussions on the same issues, as well as two meetings between the two ministers.
The two countries also formed a multi-agency committee to be made up of government officials from either side, that will help resolve ‘important and weighty bilateral issues’ as told by Amina Mohamed.
She also said, “The committee will be chaired by the two ministers of Foreign Affairs and will compromise the ministries of EAC, trade, finance, interior, energy, agriculture, transport, tourism and will incorporate other key government agencies as the need arises.”
Written by Collins Gathogo