Diplomacy + Foreign Trade on 14 September 2020
Topping diplomatic coverage this morning: The Kenyan government will move to impose a 25% customs duty on some Egyptian exports in violation of the Comesa trade agreement, which it says it will no longer abide by, Hapi Journal reports, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter. Egypt’s Trade and Industry Ministry is asking the prime minister’s office to send a delegation to Kenya to address the issue. The ministry will also be holding an emergency session with the Federation of Egyptian Industries to discuss the matter.
Egypt could impose retaliatory measures on Kenya, which would only serve to harm the two countries’ trade relations, House Industry Committee chief and Faragalla Group head Rep. Mohamed Farag Amer told Hapi Journal. Amer — who has business interests in Kenya — urged the government to pursue negotiations instead.
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held a meeting with his Armenian counterpart Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement (watch, runtime: 24:34). Shoukry used the occasion to reiterate that Egypt’s threat to intervene in Libya is designed to bring stability to the country and work towards a political solution.