WhyTanzania’s Magufuli will not sign EU trade deal

Deputy President William Ruto is welcomed to the opening of the EAC Heads of State and Government Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. PICTURE REBECCA NDUKU/DPPS

Tanzanian President John Magufuli has maintained his hard-line stand on signing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union, saying it threatens local industries.

The no-nonsense leader said his country needs to industrialise hence the need to cushion young enterprises from European competition, but opened the door for further negotiations over deadline extension.