EAC Ministers adopt 35% as the EAC CET 4th Band

Posted in Trade

East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 6^th May 2022: East African Community (EAC) Ministers / Cabinet Secretary in charge of Trade and Finance have adopted 35 percent as the 4^th Band of the EAC Common External Tariff (CET).

The Ministers, during a retreat on the comprehensive review of the CET, held on 5^th May 2022, in Mombasa, Kenya, decided that implementation of the reviewed EAC CET shall commence on 1^st July, 2022.

The meeting further agreed that there should be flexibility in implementation of the revised CET, particularly on products currently affected by the current global economic realities.

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EAC working with EU Technical Groups on Economic Partnership Agreements (EAPs)

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East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 24^th February 2022: The EAC Partner States are currently engaging in internal consultations with a view to ensuring that they are involved in the EAC-EU Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA). 

EPAs are trade and development agreements negotiated between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific Partners engaged in regional economic integration processes.

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Uganda commits to conduct free Covid-19 test to ease Busia-Malaba trucks traffic snarl-ups

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East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 11^th January, 2022: The Republic of Uganda has committed to conduct free Covid-19 rapid tests at the Kenya-Uganda border points of Busia and Malaba for (seven (7) days to clear the truck traffic snarl-up that has disrupted intra-EAC trade on the Northern Transit Corridor. 

This follows a joint multi-sectoral virtual meeting of the Ministers/Cabinet Secretaries responsible for EAC Affairs, Health and Transport convened by the EAC Secretariat. 

Currently, over 4,500 trucks have stalled at the two border posts due to the mandatory Covid-19 testing requirement introduced by Uganda on 20^th December, 2021. 

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Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises play a crucial role in the economic development of the region, says Secretary General

Posted in Trade

East African Community, Mwanza, Tanzania, 6th December, 2021: The EAC Secretary General Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki said Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play a crucial role in the economic development of East African countries, accounting for 90% of businesses and 80% of employment especially among youth and women. 

Speaking during the official opening of the 21^stMSMEs Trade Fair at Rock City Grounds, Mwanza, United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Mathuki reiterated that EAC Partner States still have a critical role in enabling MSMEs growth to ensure long term sustainability and recovery by promoting programs that prioritise MSMEs to spur demand for quality finished goods and progressively improve the region’s competitiveness.  

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