Sugar safeguards top Comesa agenda in Congo Kenya’s request that sugar imports from the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (Comesa) continue being restricted from its market will be discussed at a summit later this month.
Comesa secretary-general Sindiso Ndema Ngwenya told President Uhuru Kenyatta that the extension of the safeguards would be on the agenda at the heads of state meeting in Kinshasha, DR Congo.
The Presidential Strategic Communications Unit quoted Mr Ngwenya saying during a courtesy call on President Kenyatta that he was optimistic that the safeguards would be extended.
For the safeguards to be granted the Trade Remedy Regulations would have to be amended, allowing Kenya to exceed the maximum allowable safeguard duration of 10 years.
President Kenyatta appealed to Comesa to extend the safeguard to give the Kenyan sugar industry time to reform before the unregulated sugar imports from the 19 member-state is allowed.
“Cheap sugar imports at this time when our industry is facing a myriad of challenges does not augur well for our cane farmers,” he said.
‘‘More time given to us will help address the issues that have held down the sector,” said President Kenyatta.