The Challenges Facing Trade Facilitation in East African Community

ABSTRACT The major purpose of this study was to analyze trade facilitation and its impact on East African regional trade, analyze non tariff barriers and their impact on EAC trade. To achieve this major purpose, four research objectives were formulated and these included: to analyze trade facilitation in East Africa and establish its impact on trade within the region, to identify various NTBs and their impact on regional trade; to discuss key provisions of EAC Customs Management Act and how they address trade related challenges; and to forward some recommendations to curb challenges arising from trade facilitations and NTBS in East Africa. On the aspect of trade facilitation in East Africa, it was discovered that trade facilitation in East African countries is still limited and ineffective as compared to that in other regional integrations and thus, this has limited effectiveness of trade in the region. Concerning the aspect of Non Tariff Barriers, it was also discovered that there are still too many NTBs in East Africa and these impact on the regional trade negatively by increasing business costs, risks and uncertainties, congestions and delays, promotion of cases of bribes and corruption and among others. Regarding the key provisions in East African Community Customs Management Act, it was also discovered that the provisions would actually work to address some of the core challenges resulting from trade facilitations and NTBs. However, the implementation and application of the Act is not yet consistent and coherent in all the customs of the Member States. It was therefore recommended that different governments of the Member States should try to work in collaboration with other stakeholders and engage in dialogue, consult each other and review some of the issues affecting trade in the region so as the speed up the progress of economic federation that can also help to support further integrations in other fields.