By: Hon Beatrice Kiraso

Deputy Secretary General, (Political Federation) at the EAC Consultative Meeting of Parliamentary Committees.

The EAC has adopted a holistic integration approach where harmonization of policies among the five Partner States is taking place in all areas – economic, political and social.  Integration is being carried out in four broad and distinct and yet related stages namely the Customs Union, Common Market, Monetary Union and ultimately a Political Federation, stipulated in the Treaty for the establishment of the East African Community.

The Customs Union was embarked on by the three original countries in January, 2005, acceded to by Rwanda and Burundi and launched in July 2009. The aim is to abolish all tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade within East Africa and establishing one common external tariff while trading with other countries outside East Africa. 

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