Call for Accelerated Removal of Trade Barriers in East African Community (EAC)

TLDR

• Meanwhile, EAC Secretary General Stephen Mbundi said the Community's market of about 300 million people remains largely underutilised due to the persistence of non-tariff barriers despite progress in eliminating customs.
• He said EAC Heads of State have set a target of increasing intra-regional trade from the current 22.8 per cent to at least 50 per cent over the next five years, urging businesses to embrace the Community as a single.
• The appeal was made during the East African Business Council (EABC) CEOs Trade and Investment Roundtable, which brought together policymakers and private sector leaders to discuss Tanzania's trade and investment.
• AFRICAN business leaders have called for accelerated removal of trade barriers across the East African Community (EAC), saying persistent regulatory bottlenecks, high transport costs and policy inconsistencies continue.
• ARUSHA: THE East African Community (EAC) Secretariat and the East African Business Council (EABC) have stepped up efforts to accelerate regional integration by strengthening collaboration on trade facilitation.