6 July 2022: UK-Kenya EPA Committee of Senior Officials – note
Published 12 February 2025
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The first meeting of the UK-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Committee of Senior Officials was held on 6 July 2022. The meeting was co-chaired by the United Kingdom (UK) and Kenya and took place via video conference.
The UK and Kenya highlighted the significance of the meeting and discussed the importance of ensuring the foundations of the agreement deliver the objectives of the EPA to their fullest extent. As a regional agreement, the parties discussed the ambition for other members of the East African Community (EAC) to accede to the EPA when they are ready to do so.
The parties discussed matters of joint interest under the EPA, including the establishment of the EPA’s governance and institutional arrangements. To this end the Senior Official Committee agreed and adopted their rules of procedure. The parties also agreed the rules of procedure for the Ministerial Council, and next steps for the Special Committee on Customs and Trade Facilitation, Consultative Committee and dispute settlement framework under the EPA.
The UK and Kenya noted the importance of using the EPA framework to raise and resolve any emerging issues facing traders following implementation of the agreement and the importance of continued communication between the parties and their various stakeholders in ensuring free and fair trade.
The UK provided an update on the full scope of its development co-operation to support the effective implementation of the agreement, particularly with respect to supporting trade and economic development in Kenya, and the UK reaffirmed its commitment to greater regional and bilateral trade. The UK also updated on its sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) regime, which included an overview of its competent authorities and contact points.
The parties also discussed the ‘Rendez-vous Clause’ in Article 3 of the agreement, which commits the parties to commence negotiations on several areas, including services.
The UK welcomed the constructive discussions at this first meeting of the Senior Official Committee.