NAIROBI, KENYA - A diplomatic row is brewing between Kenya and Zambia following a decision by the later to slap an import ban on all Kenyan products.
The move was in retaliation to a decision by Kenyan authorities to deny entry of sugar imports from Zambia citing the Common Markets for Eastern Southern Africa (COMESA) treaty.
The trade row comes in the wake of a recent visit to the southern Africa country by President Mwai Kibaki where the two governments agreed on enhanced bi-lateral trade relations.
According to sources quoting Zambia’s Trade permanent secretary Stephen Mwansa, the ban followed reluctance on the part of Kenyan authorities for discussions to break the impasse that has already affected a cross section of the Kenyan business community.
“We have tried to engage our Kenyan counterparts but a breakthrough has not been forthcoming. We therefore had no alternative but to make a decision,” Mwansa is quoted as having said.
“How can we continue allowing their goods into Zambia when our trader and their goods are being locked from theirs,” he said.
Kenyan trade authorities however played down the matter only saying that it was a temporary breakdown in communication.
A statement from the Ministry of Trade indicated that apart from the sugar, no other imports from Zambia had been blocked entry into Kenya.
For more than two weeks now, ten Lorries carrying tonnes of sugar have been denied entry into Kenya through the Namanga boarder point along the Kenya-Tanzania boarder.
Both countries are members of COMESA and therefore enjoy the free-trade-zone as established under the treaty.
There have been rumors however that some crooked business people are importing sugar from non-COMESA member countries into Kenya and passing it off as originating from member countries. This is likely to be the reason why the trucks ferrying the sugar were denied entry.
Kenya is currently facing a sugar deficit and therefore imports from COMESA countries through a quota window captured in the treaty. The treaty among other things prevents flooding of the market with imported sugar, a situation that could paralyze the country’s sugar industry.
Among the other countries that export sugar to Kenya are Uganda and Malawi. Last year Zambia sugar imports to Kenya stood at 2,097 tonnes while Ugandan exports rose to 30,299 tonnes by close of November last year.
Value of Kenya exports to Zambia jumped 31 per cent in 2011 to $72.7 m while Zambian imports to Kenya stood at $65.5 m.
The move was in retaliation to a decision by Kenyan authorities to deny entry of sugar imports from Zambia citing the Common Markets for Eastern Southern Africa (COMESA) treaty.
The trade row comes in the wake of a recent visit to the southern Africa country by President Mwai Kibaki where the two governments agreed on enhanced bi-lateral trade relations.
According to sources quoting Zambia’s Trade permanent secretary Stephen Mwansa, the ban followed reluctance on the part of Kenyan authorities for discussions to break the impasse that has already affected a cross section of the Kenyan business community.
“We have tried to engage our Kenyan counterparts but a breakthrough has not been forthcoming. We therefore had no alternative but to make a decision,” Mwansa is quoted as having said.
“How can we continue allowing their goods into Zambia when our trader and their goods are being locked from theirs,” he said.
Kenyan trade authorities however played down the matter only saying that it was a temporary breakdown in communication.
A statement from the Ministry of Trade indicated that apart from the sugar, no other imports from Zambia had been blocked entry into Kenya.
For more than two weeks now, ten Lorries carrying tonnes of sugar have been denied entry into Kenya through the Namanga boarder point along the Kenya-Tanzania boarder.
Both countries are members of COMESA and therefore enjoy the free-trade-zone as established under the treaty.
There have been rumors however that some crooked business people are importing sugar from non-COMESA member countries into Kenya and passing it off as originating from member countries. This is likely to be the reason why the trucks ferrying the sugar were denied entry.
Kenya is currently facing a sugar deficit and therefore imports from COMESA countries through a quota window captured in the treaty. The treaty among other things prevents flooding of the market with imported sugar, a situation that could paralyze the country’s sugar industry.
Among the other countries that export sugar to Kenya are Uganda and Malawi. Last year Zambia sugar imports to Kenya stood at 2,097 tonnes while Ugandan exports rose to 30,299 tonnes by close of November last year.
Value of Kenya exports to Zambia jumped 31 per cent in 2011 to $72.7 m while Zambian imports to Kenya stood at $65.5 m.
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