In Kenya, the government announced that it was going to immediately appeal the decision of a regional court that suspended the implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) concluded with the Union European. According to the minister of Commerce, Lee Kinyanjui, this judicial injunction represents a threat immediate for annual exports worth a colossal 1.56 billion dollars destined for the European market.

The suspension was pronounced on Monday by the Court of Justice of East Africa (CJEA), based in Tanzania. This decision follows a proceedings brought by a non-governmental organization challenging the legality of the text.

The EPA, signed by Kenya and the EU in 2023, aimed to ensure duty-free access for Kenyan products on market in the 27 member countries, in exchange for a gradual opening schedule from the Kenyan market to European goods.

The complainant NGO, the Centre for Law Economics and Policy, contends that this EPA violates fundamental provisions of the Treaty establishing the East African Community (EAC), of which Kenya is an active member, calling into question the compatibility of the bilateral agreement with the commitments of the regional common market.

Faced with this blockage, Minister Kinyanjui confirmed that his Ministry has launched an appeal procedure to obtain the rapid lifting of the injunction.

“The Kenya-EU EPA is the lifebuoy for our booming exports and a source of livelihood for a large majority of Kenyans”, hammered the minister in a vibrant statement.

However, he assured that the trade would continue: “The Kenya will continue to trade with the EU and measures are under way to ensure the continuity, predictability and protection of our arrangements existing trade.”

The challenge is huge: last year, Kenya exported for $1.56 billion to the EU, while importing $2.09 billion of property from the block.

This dispute comes in a context of strong pressure. commercial, with African countries, including Kenya, actively seeking to diversify and increase their exports to lucrative markets such as the EU and China, in part in reaction to the introduction of tariffs higher by the US government of President Donald Trump this year.

The outcome of this appeal will be decisive for the future of Kenya's trade policy and for the credibility of the agreements regions within the CAE.