Simplified Guide on procedures on EAC Trade Rules, Regulations and Procedures available

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It is known that one of the NTBs impeding trade in Africa, especially for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), is the lack of clear and accessible information on formalities related to cross-border trade and facilitation tools that are available. Also in the East African Community (EAC) traders find it difficult to obtain information on the goods and services allowed for trade in each Partner State, as well as on the standards and authorisations required, the taxes and tariffs applied, among others. Traders also do not know where to go to for help in addressing the challenges they face as they trade or where to go to file complaints. In partnership with GIZ, the EAC has developed a simplified information pack that describes in a simple and concise language the existing policies, procedures for importing and exporting in the EAC, with the main formalities that cross border traders have to fulfil.

The Simplified Guide on procedures on EAC Trade Rules, Regulations and Procedures is mainly addressed to economic operators engaging in trade of perishable agricultural goods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, roots and seeds, livestock, poultry and related products (meat, meat products, eggs and milk).

Moreover, the guide gives a description of the main trade facilitation tools available within the EAC and on how to benefit from them. Among these, the functioning principles of One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs), single windows, Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) schemes, trade portals and the EAC Simplified Trade Regime (STR) are illustrated.