Africa-Press – Tanzania. TRADE between Tanzania and Kenya is set to flourish after reaching an agreement to resolve 30 Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) that appeared to strain trade relations between the two East Africa’s largest economies.
The two neighbouring nations have moreover vowed that in the next three months would address and resolve the pending 34 issues that dented their trade volume.
A delegation of Trade Ministers from both countries who were locked in a threeday- long meeting that ended here on Saturday evening, also agreed to facilitate maize entry to Kenya, as well as to waive excise duty for glass products from Tanzania.
The two parties further agreed to grant cement products from Tanzania a preferential treatment, where it was also established that Tanzania had started implementing the Single Window System which has significantly reduced delays in the clearance of pineapple juice produced in Kenya.
The new development comes barely three weeks after President Samia Suluhu Hassan made a state visit to Kenya where she held successful bilateral talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta on several issues of trade and investments.
During their talks, the presidents vowed to address setbacks hindering smooth trade and investments between the two countries, directing ministers responsible to meet and find out remedies for challenges facing traders and investors.
According to a joint communiqué of the 5th bilateral meeting between the two countries to address issues affecting trade, some of the issues resolved on the Tanzanian side include facilitating clearance of soft drinks such as juices, removal of inspection fees for processed products with standardization mark including wheat flour.
“Tanzania has streamlined some of the standards regulating institutions such as TBS and TMDA and agreed to expedite verification and clearance of perishable goods in accordance to EAC Customs Management Act Matters as well as increased the validity period of permits for veterinary products from 15 to 30 days,” the communiqué read in part.
The meeting which was jointly chaired by Industry and Trade Minister, Pro Kitila Mkumbo and his Kenyan counterpart Betty Maina further directed revenue authorities of both countries to explore possibilities of granting preferential access to cigarettes made in Kenya and tobacco sourced from Tanzania and report back in the next bilateral meeting.
Some of the issues to be implemented related to trade also include establishing a Permanent Implementation Committee to monitor implementation of decisions agreed upon in the bilateral meetings, to champion the process of harmonization of domestic taxes, levies and fees within the EAC and to ensure compliance with the Rules of Origin to be upheld and preferential treatment to be accorded to products that qualify, and in case of doubt, to expedite the process of verification and implementation of the recommendation.
Others are enhancing the process of clearing goods, where it was agreed that Single Customs Territory would be fully implemented by both parties.
The joint meeting also agreed that Immigration Chiefs from both countries convene a meeting to consider immigration and labour issues.
The three-day grueling meeting was held pursuant to the directive of Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta, when the former visited Kenya early this month.
The Heads of State directed the Ministers of Trade to meet and address issues affecting trade.
The East African Business Council (EABC) attributes the decline in intra EAC trade to several barriers to trade, investment and movement of persons.
Intra-EAC trade currently stands at below 20 percent against Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) 48 percent and European Union’s (EU) 70 percent.
