Dissertation (MA International Relations)
The study assessed the foundations of Tanzanian’s skepticism on Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU). The study is organized in a framework of four specific objectives: to examine the current status of Tanzania Free Trade market for domestic commodities, to examine the effects of EPA on Tanzania’s Economy, to identify the consequences of the removal of trade barriers on Tanzania’s economy as a result of implementing EPA, and to identify the foundation of Tanzania’s skepticism on Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union (EU). The study employed a qualitative approach to generate data from 30 respondents who informed the study through interviews and documentary reviews. Data were analyzed through thematic and content analysis. The analysis revealed that the status of the free-trade market on domestic commodities is not good for Tanzania since the country is focused on the production of primary goods, imports more than it exports, unqualified standard of manufactured goods and dependent on few commodities. The Economic Partnership Agreement would have negative effects on Tanzania economy to suppress the domestic industries, market and domestic products. The findings have further revealed that the removal of the trade barriers to implement EPA would have negative effects to the economy. The findings of the study revealed that Tanzania is skeptical that EPA would not be in the interest of the nation. The study concluded that the Economic Partnership Agreement has the terms that are not in favor of Tanzania national interest. This is the major foundation of Tanzania skepticism about the Economic Partnership Agreement. The study recommends Tanzania to drop the Economic Partnership Agreement because once ratified it would shutter all the efforts Tanzania has laid in building its economy.