EAC member states meet in Dar to streamline intra-EAC trade, non-tariff barriers
DAR ES SALAAM: THE East African Community (EAC) member states have met in Dar es Salaam to discuss strategies for addressing challenges and barriers hindering intra-EAC trade, particularly Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs).
The meeting is being held in implementation of directives issued during the 25th EAC Heads of State Summit, held in Arusha on March 7, 2026. The summit directed Partner States to take urgent measures to eliminate all reported non-tariff barriers to trade within the Community by June 30, 2026.
The meeting will also review progress in implementing directives from the Second Special Meeting of the Sectoral Council on Finance and Economic Affairs (SCFEA), held on November 25, 2025.
The SCFEA meeting directed EAC Partner States to eliminate duties, fees, charges and domestic taxes that discriminate against products from other Partner States, in violation of Articles 10 and 15 of the EAC Customs Union Protocol, by June 30, 2026.
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The Partner States were also directed to review the interpretation of certain terms in their domestic legislation to ensure consistency with EAC agreements.
Key items on the meeting’s agenda include an assessment of the performance of One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs), the Action Plan for Addressing Issues Affecting Trade within the Community, and the implementation matrix for the action plan.
The meeting will also review the EAC Non-Tariff Barriers Index, a tool used to monitor, identify and measure measures taken by Partner States to address barriers affecting trade across East Africa.
The measures are considered important to strengthen implementation of the EAC Common Market, which seeks to facilitate the movement of goods, persons, services and capital, as well as the right of establishment and operation of businesses across Partner States.
The removal of non-tariff barriers and the simplification of border procedures are expected to reduce the cost and time of conducting business, enhance competitiveness and boost intra-EAC trade.
