Civil society activists want trade pacts scrutinised by Parliament

A woman prepares red pepper for export. The civil society wants such agreements debated by Parliament because this will allow relevant parties to share their views.

What you need to know:

Parliament’s approval would protect the country from raw trade deals.

Kampala

Civil society activists want Parliament to analyse trade agreements before being recognised as policy. Leading the pack in calling for the Parliament’s involvement is the Southern and Eastern African Trade, Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI), an organisation created to safeguard the Third World countries, of which Uganda is among, from being subjected to raw trade deals.

Citing the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), which the East African Community countries, including Uganda signed late last year, the trade experts say it will turn the EAC market into a dumping ground for European goods.

The EPA negotiations, whose sole aim is opening the markets for free trade for European countries and vice versa, were concluded last year on October 14, and the agreement signed two days later.
Ms Faith Lumonya, whose docket at SEATINI falls under Influencing multilateral trading systems and bilateral trade negotiations programme, last week, said stakeholders should be involved because such agreements affect their operations.

She recommended that the ratification of the agreement should be either done after Parliament has debated the matter with key stakeholders or the responsibility of endorsing the treaty should be assumed by parliament and not the Cabinet as is the case now.

She said: “… Our Parliament has no say on trade agreements as the Cabinet takes full charge of it. We want amendments done so that Parliament is involved and that will make the whole process consultative.”
Ms Khadijah Nakakande, the Ministry of Trade public relations officer, said the ratification will be done by Parliament as it is the procedure, given that this is an international agreement. But before it goes to Parliament, the cabinet must first endorse it.

EAC-EPA deal
The EPA negotiations, whose sole aim is opening the markets for free trade for European countries and vice versa, were concluded last year on October 14, and the agreement signed two days later.