Nairobi - East African Community (EAC) member states can now negotiate as a bloc in all matters relating to regional and multinational trade following the enactment of the East African Trade Negotiations Act, 2008.
The Act has provisions for the development and adoption of a common trade regime and cooperation in matters of trade policy. It also allows partner states to establish national trade negotiations committees to come up with national positions on issues of negotiations at regional or multilateral level.
At the same time, the EAC has enacted the EAC Supplementary Appropriation Act, 2007, to guide the allocation of supplementary appropriation out of the EAC budget to the service of the financial year ending 30 June, 2007.
Both Acts have been assented to by the Heads of States of EAC Partner States.
The East African Trade Negotiations Act seeks to facilitate the promotion of regional and international trade for sustainable development of member states and establish a mechanism for joint negotiations of the partner states in bilateral, regional and multilateral trade.
It is also aimed at developing an east African trade regime in accordance with the treaty and protocol establishing the EAC Customs Union.
A commission, to be known as East African Joint Trade Commission, will be set up to harmonise trade policies, develop an East African trade regime and conduct trade negotiations on behalf of the EAC Partner States.
The commission will also be tasked with harmonising negotiating positions for individual partner states in instances where other partner states are not present, conducting research and studies to produce strategic papers, maintenance of databank on trade matters and performing such other functions in accordance with the laws of the Community.
Decisions of the commission on matters of policy would be by consensus. Where consensus cannot be obtained, the matters would be immediately referred to the Council.
The commission has been given the leeway to establish its own rules of procedure to conduct its business.
