EAC cross-border trader associations call for removal of non-tariff barriers

East African Community (EAC) member states have been urged to remove non-tariff barriers (NTBs) hindering youth and women-led businesses.

Speaking during the East Africa Cross-Border Trader Associations (CBTAs) Forum on Non-Tariff Barriers, AGRA head of markets and trade Nega Wubeneh said that AGRA research revealed that young agri-food traders frequently face NTBs such as Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) for food safety standards, certificates of origin, import levies and road user charges in come countries.

He emphasised the crucial role of youth and CBTAs in reporting and advocating for the elimination of NTBs.

“As AGRA we are committed to catalysing food systems transformation to improve food and nutrition security through investments in mutual recognition agreements (MRAs), the regional food balance sheet, trade scorecard, and market information systems,” said Wubeneh.

Frank Dafa, manager for trade in goods at EABC said that Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), largely driven by women and youth form the backbone of the EAC economy, contributing an estimated 70 per cent to the region’s GDP and providing livelihoods to 88 per cent of its population.

“The EAC Simplified Trade Regime (STR) has eased access to the ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/amp/business/article/2001491315/regions-private-sector-moot-plan-to-grow-intra-eac-trade">simplified certificate of origin< for consignments below USD 2,000,” said Dafa.

“However, many traders—especially women and youth—continue to face challenges in meeting technical and sanitary requirements, notably due to costly and duplicative certification processes,” he added.

Dafa revealed that through the online NTB Complains a trader can report a case of an NTB when he or she comes across it.

Ms Sakina Usengimana, a cross-border trader from Rwanda and chairperson of Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness (RYAF), said that youth are central partners in East Africa’s trade future.

However, non-tariff barriers such as duplicated certification requirements, bribery demands, unclear trade documentation, and inconsistent standards across EAC countries—discourage many youth-led businesses from scaling regionally.

“I call for the simplification of trade information by even putting it in various languages including venacular ones. There is need to harmonise standards so that a standard in Rwanda will be acceptable in Kenya said Usengimana, who owns Afri Foods Limited,” he said.

She said access to credit is also a challenge, where many banks demand for collateral which women and youth do not have.

“Infrastructure is also a challenge where in some member states there are no enough electricity, warehouses and cold storage facilities for people like us dealing in perishable goods like fruits and vegetables,” she said.

Dafa further called on EAC Partner State Governments to simplify and reduce the cost of SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) and TBT (Technical Barriers to Trade) certifications for small-scale traders, with special focus on women and youth.

 He also lauded the recent decision by the Kenya to eliminate the 25 per cent excise tax on eggs, onions, and potatoes in the 2025 Finance Bill, stating that this measure is expected to boost intra-regional trade, particularly benefiting youth and women cross-border traders, farmers, and enhancing food security.

EAC Principal Secretary Caroline Karugu acknowledged that EAC policy organs are actively working to address challenges facing women and youth traders.

“These efforts include the review of the EAC NTBs Elimination Act, 2017, the simplification of customs procedures under the EAC Single Customs Territory, implementation of gender-responsive trade policies tailored to the needs of women and youth and ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2001485158/lobby-speed-up-eac-single-currency-to-lift-regional-trade">infrastructure improvement< and targeted capacity building for MSMEs at One Stop Border Posts,” said Karugu.

The PS said this in a speech read on her behalf by Violet Mastamet, directorate of economic affairs at the State Department of EAC-Kenya, Ministry of EAC, Asals and Regional Development.

The panel session on “Cross-Border Trade and the Role of Trade Facilitation Agencies” highlighted key challenges faced by women and youth traders and outlined proposals to seize the opportunities of the EAC Common Market, which comprises over 200 million consumers.

The proposals included the need for whistleblower protection mechanisms in cases of sexual harassment, corruption, and reporting of non-tariff barrier, improved access to simplified customs procedures through user-friendly digital tools or technologies such as video animations.

Others are standardisation of certifications, elimination of unjustified trade bans and the adoption of national identity cards by all EAC Partner States as official travel documents.

Additional recommendations focused on enhancing access to contracts and due diligence tools, promoting B2B engagements.

The session also emphasised the need for targeted support to youth-led agri-food export initiatives such as profiling women and youth traders to offer tailored training, finance and investments options.

The two-day forum is expected to co-develop an advocacy roadmap for the elimination of NTBs and establish a dedicated Cross-Border Traders NTB Working Group to enhance coordination and amplify the voices of youth and women traders across the region.

The event was organised by East African Business Council (EABC) in partnership with Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).