Dar Es Salaam, 9 June 2010 - On 9 June 2010 European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht met Trade Ministers from the East African Community (EAC) in Dar es Salaam to discuss the way ahead in Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations.

The Ministerial meeting was preceded by a Senior Official negotiation round. The Commission and EAC representatives from Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda appreciated the progress made, especially with regard to Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, Technical Barriers to Trade, and Customs and Trade Facilitation. Both parties are to accelerate and intensify negotiations with a view to conclude a full and comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) for mid-November 2010. EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht made it clear that he would do his upmost to maintain applied tariffs provided that both parties conduct negotiations in good faith. The parties also addressed the "Development Matrix" to be attached to the Agreement.

More information on the EU-EAC relations