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Join regional stakeholders in a workshop to talk about relevant European Union (EU) trade initiatives and explore and review their implications for East Africa. The workshop will create awareness on the current EU’s trade strategy and implications for East Africa, present the sustainable trade index (STI) and use it to define the trade-offs and synergies that may advance or limit the region’s progress towards a balanced, inclusive and sustainable trade.
Graphic: EU.
The workshop will also identify knowledge gaps relevant to environment and trade policies for the region and propose measures to address emerging challenges from the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) implementation.
Significant risks to international cooperation in both trade and climate change areas are likely to arise with the implementation of the proposed CBAM by the EU. A recent study by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) notes that the introduction of carbon pricing, coupled with a CBAM may help reduce carbon emissions inside and outside the EU, but the implementation of the CBAM may result in a decline in exports in developing countries in favour of developed countries, which tend to have less carbon intensive production processes. In this regard, views and perspectives from EU trading partners in the developing world, including in East Africa can inform measures to mitigate potential negative impacts of the proposed CBAM. At the same time, this world-first policy is an opportunity to generate international momentum that could facilitate a green level playing field that leads to trade policy becoming a climate good.
A view of the Kenyan Rift Valley showing signs of degradation. Photo: Lawrence Nzuve / SEI.
SEI is undertaking a scoping study on the potential impacts of the EU trade strategy, including the CBAM implementation in Eastern Africa in order to generate evidence to inform policy measures both by the EU and the Governments in the East African Community (EAC). This scoping study is supported by the Green Trade Network (GTN), a network established in 2021 to promote a European agenda for a better alignment of trade policies and trade-impacting measures with key environmental and climate objectives. GTN consists of European research organizations including SEI, that conduct evidence-based research and outreach activities on the trade and environment nexus.
The initial focus of the GTN is on the European trade strategy and key environmental trade policy measures such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
Participants in the workshop will include experts, policymakers and practitioners from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, including ministries of environment, trade, industry, and finance, as well as academia, civil society organizations and private sector.
9:00 – 9:10: Welcome and opening remarks
9:10 – 9:30 Introduction to the workshop objectives and outputs, and participants
Facilitator: Dr. Anderson Kehbila – SEI Africa
9:30 – 9:50 Keynote address: The private sector perspectives on climate change effects on the East African export markets
Speaker: Mr. Richard Ngatia, President, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (KNCCI)
9:50 – 10:20 Group Photo and Tea/Coffee Break
10:20 – 10:40 Presentation on the Sustainability trade index (STI)
Speaker: Dr. Anderson Kehbila, Stockholm Environment Institute
10:40 – 11:20 Plenary Reflections on the sustainable trade index presentation
11:20 – 12:30 Group Breakouts for 5 groups for each sustainability trade index.
Discussions will focus on solutions to overcome the challenges highlighted by the analysis of the sustainability trade index.
• Group 1: Macroeconomic performance
• Group 2: Governance and Institution
• Group 3: Social Equity
• Group 4: Environmental Protection
• Group 5: Monitoring and Evaluation.
Facilitator: Dr. Anderson Kehbila, Stockholm Environment Institute
12:30 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 15:00 Presentation and discussion on the outcomes of breakout group discussions
Facilitator: Prof. George Outa, Technical University of Kenya/Stockholm Environment Institute
15:00 – 16:00 Panel discussion on balanced, inclusive and sustainable trade in a Covid-19 era
Facilitator: Prof. George Outa, Technical University of Kenya/Stockholm Environment Institute
16:00 – 16:15 Summary of workshop outcomes and closing remarks
16:15 – 17:00 Tea/coffee break and departure
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