THE tripartite free trade area is expected to be launched next month and is anticipated to offer Zambian farmers and agribusiness players’ wider access to export markets in the region.

The agreement will comprise of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), East African Community (EAC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Africa (COMESA) member states.

According to the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) Friday brief availed to the Daily Mail on Monday, the objective of the tripartite agreement is to strengthen and deepen economic integration of the southern and eastern African region.

“The big free trade area encompassing SADC, EAC and COMESA is expected to be launched on June 10, 2015 in Egypt. This big free trade area will have 26 countries including Zambia and other trading partners such as South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Kenya, among others,” the statement reads.

It however,, says in view of the amount of outstanding work to implement the SADC-EAC-COMESA Free Trade Agreement, the launch of this big free trade area next month will only be symbolic as countries will not be able to trade without completing work on applicable duties and rules of origin.

The SADC-EAC-COMESA Free Trade Area will not come into force until a minimum of 14 countries sign and ratify the agreement.
Once implemented, the big free trade area is expected to offer Zambian farmers and agribusiness players’ wider access to export markets in the region.

It is also expected that Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola will be able to open their markets as part of their commitment under the Free Trade Area agreement.
The agreed rules of origin so far for primary agricultural products only allows preferential trade in commodities that have been raised or grown in the region to protect farmers from competing with cheap and subsidised commodities from international markets.

Source: Zambia Daily Mail

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