Kenya as a Non-LDC WTO Member: What Implications for the EAC in NAMA Negotiations?

This paper attempts to provide a closer examination of the specific provisions concerning the LDCs and Kenya under the NAMA modalities at the WTO, the latter being engaged on different modalities due to its status as a non-LDC. This situation is likely to challenge their regional integration efforts, whereby they have already adopted a Common External Tariff (CET) and are pursuing industrialization goals as a region. The paper compares the current CET of EAC Customs Union in order to provide an analysis of the implication of NAMA negotiations to EAC countries given their current status and to help EAC trade negotiators take positions that are consistent with both regional integration and industrialization objectives.