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Burundi's isolation by EU over tyranny poses trade risk for Kenya's exporters

Flower firms stand to lose billions of shillings if EPA deal with European Union is not signed by October 1, 2016. [PHOTO: ANTONY GITONGA/STANDARD]

NAIROBI: Burundi has presented the biggest challenge yet to the trade pact that is expected to save Kenyan farmers from hefty taxes when selling to the European Union.

The devastating news came this week after legislators from the EU Parliament said Europe was never going to enter a deal with Pierre Nkurunziza whom they cite as an autocrat. Political upheavals occasioned by Mr Nkurunziza’s decision to run for a third term as President overshadows the blow delivered by Tanzania and Uganda when they walked out of the Economic Partnership Agreement.

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