East African Community (EAC) member states have agreed to accelerate efforts to remove trade barriers that continue to increase the cost and delay the movement of goods across the regional bloc.
The agreement was reached on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at a regional meeting of permanent secretaries responsible for EAC affairs and trade sectors in Dar es Salaam.
The meeting is reviewing progress in implementing directives issued by the 25th EAC Heads of State Summit held in Arusha on March 7, 2026, which directed member states to address and eliminate all reported non-tariff barriers (NTBs) to intra-EAC trade by June 30, 2026.
Permanent secretaries also assessed the status of NTBs that remain unresolved and agreed on urgent measures to address barriers affecting trade among member states.
The officials further agreed to speed up measures to eliminate discriminatory duties, fees, charges and domestic taxes imposed on goods originating from EAC partner states.
The measures are in line with Articles 10 and 15 of the EAC Customs Union Protocol, which provide for the removal of restrictions and discriminatory treatment of goods traded within the bloc.
The move is intended to create a more level playing field for locally produced goods, reduce the cost of doing business and facilitate the movement of goods across EAC borders.
Speaking at the meeting, Tanzania's Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation responsible for EAC affairs, Charles Ngeleja Kadonya, said Tanzania would continue implementing regional plans, decisions and agreements aimed at deepening integration and increasing the benefits of regional cooperation for citizens.
He stressed the need for member states to ensure that decisions reached at the regional level are implemented on time, saying delays in implementation can increase business costs and hinder trade.
Kadonya also highlighted the need to improve the efficiency of trade and transport systems across the region, including One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs), which allow border procedures to be handled jointly by authorities from neighbouring countries.
The meeting, which runs from September 22 to 25 in Dar es Salaam, brings together experts and permanent secretaries as part of wider EAC efforts to strengthen implementation of regional agreements, remove trade barriers and facilitate the movement of goods, services and capital.
Tanzania's delegation is led by Kadonya and includes Zanzibar's Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industrial Development, Dr Habiba Hassan Omar, as well as senior officials from various government ministries and institutions.