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Namibia ratifies EU trade deal

Xinhua, August 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

After years of holding back on the economic partnership agreement with the European Union, Namibia finally ratified the deal Wednesday ahead of the Oct. 1 deadline.

The 10-year agreement offers duty and quota free market access to the European Union market for African countries and those in the Caribbean as well as the Pacific.

Namibia had refused to sign the initial agreement, demanding clarification on export taxes, infant industry protection, food security and the free circulation of goods.

The deal was signed in Botswana in June this year, and then Namibia's parliament endorsed it about two weeks ago.

Namibia's ambassador to the EU Kaire Mbuende confirmed the signing Thursday. Mbuende said the international affairs minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah signed the agreement Wednesday.

According to Mbuende, the challenge now is for Namibia to produce enough quality products to meet the demand.

"This open market will immediately result in millions of dollars for Namibia through trade and export," he said. Enditem