Read < 1 minute

The East African Community says it will continue to deliberate on a free-trade agreement with the European Union for another three months.

It was initially meant to commit to the deal by the 1st of October. The countries have been negotiating with the E-U since 2002. While Rwanda and Kenya have already initialled the treaty, the other nations are required to commit in order for the deal to take effect. Tanzania’s President, John Magufuli, who is also the East African Community chairperson, has been at a heads of state meeting in Dar es Salaam. He’s appealed to the EU not to punish Kenya by denying it access to the European market.

Kenya stands to lose the most without the agreement.