Kenya To Challenge Regional Court Decision Suspending EU Trade Agreement

Kenya has announced plans to contest a regional court ruling that paused its trade agreement with the European Union, warning that the suspension threatens annual exports valued at $1.56 billion, Trade Minister Lee Kinyanjui said on Wednesday.

The East Africa Court of Justice, based in Tanzania, ordered the temporary halt on Monday while considering a case filed by an NGO contesting the agreement, Kinyanjui added.

The trade pact, formally called the Economic Partnership Agreement, was signed in 2023 to secure Kenyan access to the EU market while establishing a timetable for European goods entering Kenya.

Court documents show that the challenge was lodged by the Centre for Law Economics and Policy, which argues that the agreement violates certain provisions of the East African Community’s common market treaty, of which Kenya is a member.

In response, Kenya’s trade ministry has launched an appeal aimed at overturning the court’s injunction, though Kinyanjui did not provide a date for the hearing.

“The Kenya-EU EPA is the lifeline of our booming exports and a source of livelihood to a large majority of Kenyans,” Kinyanjui said in a statement.
“Kenya will continue to trade with the EU and steps are being taken to ensure continuity, predictability and protection of our existing commercial arrangements.”

Last year, Kenya exported $1.56 billion in goods to the EU while importing $2.09 billion from the bloc, the minister noted.

Amid rising global trade barriers, including higher tariffs recently imposed by the U.S., African countries are seeking to expand exports to major markets such as the EU and China.

The East African Community’s secretariat had not provided a comment at the time of reporting.