States sign new pact to clear trade barriers
The Standard, Kenya
States sign new pact to clear trade barriers
24 July 2008
By Tom Mogusu
The East African Community (EAC) has signed an agreement that will remove non tariff barriers and allow free movement of food and trade in the region.
The agreement was signed between EAC and the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) on Wednesday.
Some countries have either imposed bans or increased tax citing protection of their domestic markets from increased competition.
African Cotton and Textile Industries Federation (Actif) and the Eastern and Southern African Dairy Association (Esada) also signed the MoU.
Onen said the agreement was crucial in reducing the high cost of food in eastern and southern Africa but called on regional governments to play a bigger role in reducing trade barriers.
"Governments must still invest and support these sectors in a pragmatic way because we need sustainable trade and food supply situations," he said. "Experiences from the European Union and the Americas has shown that everyone benefits when we have borderless economies," he added.
The MoU is in tandem with the EAC regional integration arrangement.
