Non-tariff barriers in East Africa: a profile, IPRA Working Paper 44

This paper examines the current non-tariff barriers (NTBs) to trade in goods in the East African Community (EAC). It identifies inefficiencies and delays at port and customs, as well as transport delays, multiple transit fees, customs documentation, restricted axle load limits and too many weigh bridges and police road blocks, import and export inspection and certification procedures, arbitrary use of rules of origin and interpretation of standards and SPS requirements, and infrastructure constraints as major obstacles to integration of the East African community. They elevate the cost of trading across borders, and severely impair export competitiveness of the trading partners especially the landlocked EAC members. The other key non-tariff barriers highlighted in the paper are congestion of trucks at the port, bribery and corruption, business registration and licensing procedures, import and export bans various national documents and inland terminal or transit parking yards procedures and facilities, and poor flow or dissemination of policy information.