Business Daily (Nairobi)
13 February 2008
editorial
February 14, 2008: Trade ministers have come close to agreeing on a way out of differences arising from member states belonging to different trading blocs.
At the core of the differences is Tanzania's subscription to the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) while its EAC partners Kenya and Uganda are in the Comesa bloc.
The ministers are now proposing that broadening the regional trading bloc, say by joining SADC and Comesa would be a way out of the perennial headache.
While this is an ideal way to resolve the dispute once and for all, it ignores the underlying mindset in Tanzania that its economy will be swamped over by intruders from its more developed neighbours.
Such a mindset cannot be won over by having a wider trading bloc; it can only be persuaded through negotiations, backed by hard facts on the ground and an acceptable compensation package.
SADC and Comesa should not join forces simply to resolve a dilemma facing one country, they should only do so for the overall benefit of their members once they harmonise key policies.
It is from such a foundation the competing blocs within the continent can one day close ranks and realise the dream of an African trading bloc, along the lines of the European Union.
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