The impact of transport based non tariff barriers on regional trade: the case study of the East African community

The study sets out to describe the impact of transportation non tariff barriers on regional trade, the case study of the East African Community. East African Community members signed a Common Market Protocol on July 2010 whereby trade barriers were abolished. Non Tariff Barriers (NTBs) yet are challenges to trade performance within and outside the bloc. The study based on a desk review where a range of literature on NTBs and trade are reviewed and analyzed. The findings reveal that most of NTBs which businesses experience in the course of their intra-EAC trade are: Police road blocks, too many weigh bridges and differential Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) requirements. Varying, cumbersome and costly transiting procedures in the EAC countries, long waiting time at ports, Customs and administrative documentation procedures, Immigration procedures, cumbersome inspection requirements, varying cumbersome and costly transiting procedures, Business registration and licensing. In view of the findings the following recommendations were made; EAC partner states should adopt technology based innovative solutions such as customs automation, cargo tracking systems, one-stop border posts, road customs transit guarantee. Member States of EAC should remove the existing NTBs by concentrating on improvement of infrastructure and learn from other RECs how they have been more successful in eliminating NTBs by using a mix of outlawing certain measures and following the mutual recognition principle for others.