Nairobi — Comesa has moved to quell uncertainties on whether Africa would meet a December 31 deadline for signing of a new trade agreement with the European Union.

The 19-country trading bloc, mandated to drive the negotiation on behalf of east and southern Africa under eastern and southern Africa, said transitional measures would be worked out if the deadline was missed.

"We assure the business community that we are aware of the challenge, but we will ensure trade with the European Union is not disrupted," said Comesa secretary general Erastus Mwencha at a news conference Thursday. African, Caribbean and Pacific countries have enjoyed preferential access to the EU market for decades, under the Cotonou Partnership Agreement. This will be replaced by the Economic Partnership Agreements giving EU exports duty-free access to ACP countries.

Mr Mwencha said that Trade and Industry minister, Mukhisa Kituyi had written to the European Commission on transitional measures, to avoid any disruption before the EPAs come into force.

Dr Kituyi is the current chairman of the ESA council. On Wednesday, the Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya said that if no accord was signed by December 31 this year, Kenyan vegetables, flowers and fruits, would be slapped with an eight per cent import duty.