- Zimbabwe has been reaffirmed its duty-free and quota-free access to the EU’s 27 member states
- The iEPA, signed in 2009 with Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles, has been provisionally applied since May 2012
- iEPA allows for duty-free imports of EU machinery, enhancing manufacturing and agro-processing efficiency
Harare-Zimbabwe has been reaffirmed on its duty-free and quota-free access to the European Union’s 27 member states, a transformative opportunity spotlighted at the 2025 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo last week.
EU Ambassador Jobst von Kirchmann, speaking at the EU’s expansive reaffirmed that all Zimbabwean companies can export any product to the EU without tariffs or quotas under the EU-Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA).
The EU-Zimbabwe trade relationship is grounded in the iEPA, signed in 2009 with Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles, and provisionally applied since May 2012.
This agreement, part of the EU’s Economic Partnership Agreements with African, Caribbean, and Pacific nations, offers immediate duty-free and quota-free access to EU markets while allowing Zimbabwe to gradually liberalise EU imports, protecting sensitive sectors.
As Zimbabwe’s fourth-largest trading partner, the EU absorbs 42% of its horticultural exports, such as citrus, berries, and cut flowers, with trade valued at approximately US$700 million annually according to the European Commission.
The iEPA also permits duty-free imports of EU machinery, enhancing efficiency in manufacturing and agro-processing.
The duty-free access grants Zimbabwe a competitive edge by eliminating tariffs and quotas, enabling exporters to offer lower prices in a market of 450 million consumers.
The EU’s financial support, including €90 million (US$99 million USD) in lending facilities and trade finance over three years, and a new €60 million ($66 million USD) European Investment Bank loan program, empowers the private sector to seize this opportunity.
These initiatives, aligned with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, complement the iEPA by addressing financial and logistical barriers, fostering sustainable investment and job creation.
Horticulture, a basis of Zimbabwe’s exports, stands to gain significantly, with over 40% of products like citrus, macadamia nuts, and flowers already destined for the EU.
Duty-free machinery imports enhance agro-processing for tea, leather, and fruits, while EU investments in climate-smart agriculture, part of €500 million (US$550 million) in foreign direct investment, support sustainable practices for smallholder farmers.
The mining sector, rich in diamonds, platinum, and lithium, benefits from EU demand for processed minerals, with a €60 million (US$66 million ) investment in diamond mining and technical expertise aligning with Zimbabwe’s value-addition goals.
Renewable energy, critical amid Zimbabwe’s power shortages ,gains from duty-free access for components and EU equipment imports, bolstered by the EU’s focus on off-grid solar and wind solutions and Zimbabwe’s tax incentives for energy investors.
Manufacturing and textiles also stand to prosper, as duty-free EU machinery imports modernize production, enhancing output in textiles, leather, and food processing.
The €10 million Zimbabwe EPA Support Programme aids compliance with EU standards, such as rules of origin, ensuring exporters meet market requirements. Women-led businesses and small enterprises, prioritized through EU initiatives like Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, benefit from cost savings and access to low-interest loans (around 8%) via European Investment Bank credit lines to local banks.
These efforts, part of the EU’s €500 million investment, promote inclusive growth, enabling vulnerable communities to participate in export-driven prosperity.
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