Impact of Non-Tariff Barriers in Trading Within East African Community: Evidence From Sirari One Stop Border.

Msuya, Mariam Mamdali (2023) Impact of Non-Tariff Barriers in Trading Within East African Community: Evidence From Sirari One Stop Border. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

The study aimed to assess the impact of non-tariff barrier in trading within the East African Community (EAC) using Sirari one stop border in Tarime district as the case study. Specifically, the study examined the non-tariff barriers challenging Tanzanian exporters within the EAC, the technical barriers to trade affecting the Tanzanian exporters within EAC and mitigating factors of NTBs and TBTs. The study used a descriptive research design basing on quantitative and qualitative approaches. The sample size comprised 100 respondents. Questionnaires, interviews and documentary review were employed. SPSS and Microsoft Excel used to analyze data. The study revealed that the non-tariff barriers to trade within the EAC included; documentation and procedures, lack of harmonization in working hours at the border posts, delays at weighbridges, multiple police road blocks and mobile control, burning transportation of locally produced goods, use of immigration and visa procedures, insecurity of goods at the container freight stations. The Technical Barriers to Trade includes;voluntary standards and conformity assessment procedures, various Tanzanian ministries, departments and parastatals. Also some mitigation procedures identified for minimizing this situation include establishment a communication network between NTB focal points, and launching suitable procedures for classifying and eradicating NTBs. The study recommends that existing advance ruling mechanisms in various boarders and countries should be classified into the national customs tariff and verification of the origin of goods declared for preferential treatment. All parties should also introduce an advance ruling mechanism to provide information in a way that simplifies the whole process cross-border trade. Keywords: Non-Tariff Barriers, Common Market, Trading, East African Community.

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