Kenya, Tanzania agree to lift trade restrictions

Kenya has lifted restrictions on wheat flour and cooking

gas imports from Tanzania, which has in turn allowed milk and

cigarettes from Kenya, local media, the Daily Nation reports.

The

Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Augustine

Mahiga, announced the decision in Nairobi on Sunday following

discussions between President John Magufuli and his Kenyan counterpart,

Uhuru Kenyatta.

"The Republic of Kenya and the

United Republic of Tanzania will lift any other restrictions that affect

products and services exchanged between the two countries,” they said

in a statement read by Tanzania Foreign Affairs Minister Augustine

Mahiga, who is also in charge of the East African Community Affairs

docket, the report said.

The two East African

nations have also agreed to lift “any other restrictions that affect

products and services exchanged between them."

The

two countries in what seemed like a tit for tat banned each other’s

exports straining diplomatic and trade relations. Kenya had issued a ban

on the import of cooking gas and wheat from Tanzania.