On this 6th December, the Ministry in Charge of East African Community Affairs has held a Press Conference aimed at sensitizing the public to the non-tariff barriers (NTBs) elimination process. But there are still some challenges.-By Lorraine Josiane Manishatse
Mathiew Bizimana, Benjamin Muyakana and Karl Chris Nsabiyumva during the Press Conference. ©Iwacu
In order to boost EAC sustainable development, non-tariff barriers elimination must be a priority while non-tariff barriers can be obstacles to the trade and regional integration process. In other words, non-tariff barriers hinder trade patterns and free movement of goods and services in EAC countries. At the beginning of the Customs Union, the region has known many non-tariff barriers’ obstacles in various different forms. However, much effort must be made for the total elimination of all identified non-tariff barriers in order to allow the full enjoyment of a veritable customs union.
Effective mechanisms have been set up to eliminate NTBs
National Committees in Charge of following up NTBs elimination have been put in place in all EAC Partner States. According to Benjamin Muyakana, Member of NTBs National Committee indicates that the secretariats of the three Regional Economic communities like EAC, COMESA and SADC have implemented non-tariff barriers whistle blowing, follow- up and elimination system on line on the WWW.tradebarriers.org web site. In addition, a SMS reporting system is already operational, but at the EAC level, only Tanzania has already started its full application. “For Burundi case, Trademark East Africa has promised to fund the implementation of that system. The message is sent to number +277294920093,” points out Muyakana. For Cargo Trucking System, this is used to follow all movement of the vehicle from its entrance to destination. “That system is only reserved to lorry transporters. The truck is followed on line so that drivers can’t add other goods during the travel. The system also facilitates the tonnage respect on roads,” he explains. He mentions that the system is already operational in all trade corridors. Karl Chris Nsabiyumva, Burundi Revenue Authority (BRA) Representative indicates that many reforms have been made especially those related to NTBs elimination. “Now, customs clearance document procedures are harmonized to EAC norms, entry is free for vehicles from EAC countries whereas they should pay USD 50, we try to implement single windows for import and export clearance,” he explains. The view is also confirmed by Mathiew Bizimana, Representative of customs agents that there have been a lot of reforms in customs clearance.
BRA ready for the single customs territory implementation
During the 15th Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of States held at Kampala in Uganda on 30th November 2013, the Summit noted that the framework for the operation of the single customs territory had been finalized and adopted by the Council. The Summit directed that the single customs territory will start on 1st January2014 and that all operational requirements will be finalized by July 2014. Nsabiyumva indicates that BRA is ready for the implementation of the Single Customs Territory. “When Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda have started that system, BRA has sent some of his workers visiting Mombasa Port and we have noticed that the system is almost similar to that we normally use,” he highlights. According to him, customs clearing procedures are the same in all EAC countries but there will be a small change. “We are ready because what will change is only the payment system; payments are made before the embarkation of goods,” concludes Nsabiyumva.
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