Kenya’s flower exports to the European Union (EU) will be subjected to a 16 per cent duty should a proposal to impose a deadline on the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) negotiations sail through the European Parliament this year.
"A proposed amendment to the European Commission regulation 1528/2007 imposes a deadline of up to December 31, next year when all negotiations for the EPA’s must be concluded. Once passed, 18 African Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) countries — which include Kenya that fall under this trade regime — will be deleted from the quota-free agreement," Washington Oloo, Kenya’s Deputy Head of Mission to the EU said in an interview with The Standard at his office in Brussels.
"The decision is expected in parliament this summer (June), and if passed Kenya’s flower exports will no longer enjoy duty-free access to the European market," he added.
Kenya’s flowers and vegetables are sold directly to the European market in Amsterdam, Netherlands where a demand for Kenya’s cut flowers has been on the increase.
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