The East African Community (EAC) has launched a revamped single tariff platform to streamline regional trade and enable real-time sharing of customs and trade data among member states.
The platform unveiled on Tuesday in Arusha on the sidelines of the ongoing African Heads of State Energy Summit aims to boost efficiency, cut cargo clearance times, and address challenges such as non-tariff barriers.
Cargo systems clearance long processes have in the past hampered trade between member states of the EAC.
This has seen many goods taking more time at the ports of Mombasa and Dar es Salam in Kenya and Tanzania which most of the EAC member states rely on to transport their goods through.
A file image of impounded ethanol containers at the Kenya Ports Authority
FILE
Kenya’s main seaport, the Port of Mombasa, handled 29.92 million tonnes of cargo throughput in the first nine months of 2024, compared to 26.68 million tonnes during the same period in 2023.
According to a report released by the Kenya Ports Authority(KPA) in 2024, Uganda contributed to a significant portion of the traffic.
According to the KPA, the Port of Mombasa remains a critical hub for trade in East Africa, and these promising results reflect its strategic importance in facilitating trade and connectivity across the region.
The single tariff system will further address high transaction costs to aid in the trade activities within the East Africa region, even as it aims to improve trade among its member states.
The system will also have new features to enable maritime trade integration and scanner image sharing between Kenya and Uganda enhancing transparency in custom processes.
Additionally, the platform will enhance seamless trade across the region according to the official documents from the EAC trade partners.
Traditionally, the free movement of goods between EAC member states has been hindered by perceived ideological differences among the nations.
Additionally, restrictions on the free movement of people and goods have emerged as member states compete to impose their own customs regulations, further affecting regional trade.
Flags of East African Countries on display.