Kenya And Tanzania Agree To Remove Trade Barriers

Kenya and Tanzania have signed a landmark deal aimed at eradicating trade barriers between the two nations.

The agreement will enable Kenya to resume exporting key commodities to Tanzania such as tea, as well as facilitate the clearance of Konyagi and timber from Tanzania.

The milestone was achieved during the 8th Joint Trade Committee Meeting, co-chaired by Trade Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano and her Tanzanian counterpart Stephen Dyabato.

Miano noted that 56 out of the 68 identified trade challenges have been successfully resolved, a testament to the collective commitment to seamless trade between Kenya and Tanzania.

“This significant milestone underscores our commitment to fostering closer cooperation and collaboration with Tanzania to unlock business opportunities, drive economic growth, and enhance the prosperity of our people,” said Miano.

Consequently, 14 key issues were addressed, including the harmonization of levies, fees, charges, and other trade-related conditions.

Both countries further reiterated their resolve to address any trade-related issues with a forward-looking approach, aiming to surpass the USD 1 billion annual trademark.

The meeting, held in Kisumu from March 18 to March 22, came after directives from Presidents William Ruto and Samia Suluhu Hassan to resolve trade barriers between the two East African nations.