Singapore will negotiate a free trade agreement (FTA) with a bloc of eight East African countries, its first with an African partner. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam said on Tuesday (Jun 9) that the Republic welcomed the East African Community’s (EAC) intention to pursue such a pact, which would improve trade flows between the economies and open up new areas of growth. This would also be the regional bloc’s first FTA negotiation with a partner outside Africa. Tharman was speaking to the media alongside Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan as part of his state visit to the country from Jun 8 to 10. The FTA would be a significant step, as it would connect Singapore not only with Tanzania, but also with the other seven partner states in the bloc, said Tharman.   https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/singapore-negotiate-fta-regional-bloc-8-east-african-countries   (ICE SINGAPORE)

Fonte notizia: The Business Times, 9 June 2026