A report that the East African Community (EAC) is preparing to negotiate a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) with the United States sounds a good move.

Although it has come at a time when Rwanda is at advanced stages of negotiation, it was stressed that our terms in our separate agreement will still be considered.

And best of all, it has been found to be more beneficial to have these bilateral trade agreements with the US as a community than to have individual country agreements.

The deals will address some trade and investment problems we do face in Africa especially EAC as an economic bloc.

A Trade and Investment Framework Agreement or TIFA is a trade pact that establishes a framework for expanding trade and resolving outstanding trade disputes between countries.

Just as it was said that it will attract investors from US who will push for our development since we have a lot of unexploited resources, we too will be allowed to trade and invest in the US. This is a viable idea for all EAC countries, not so??

GITARAMA