This archive report was first published on 25 August 2021.
Kenya and Tanzania have set a target of December to resolve most of the non-tariff barriers affecting cross-border trade, following a meeting of the Joint Commission on Cooperation (JCC) in Nairobi.
The five-day meeting, which ended on Tuesday, indicated that nearly half of the barriers that have consistently plagued trade between the two countries have been resolved, and the remaining would be ironed out within the next four months.
According to a joint dispatch from the JCC, the meeting noted the progress made by the Joint Trade Committee in addressing 30 out of 64 challenges facing bilateral relations and urged the resolution of the remaining 34 issues before the end of December 2021.
The meeting is co-chaired by Foreign Affairs ministers Raychelle Omamo of Kenya and Tanzania's Liberata Mulamula, while the trade committee is led by Trade ministers Betty Maina of Kenya and Tanzania's Prof Kitila Mkumbo.
Among the resolved issues is customs clearance of soft drinks made in their territories, removal of inspection fees on processed products with a standardisation mark including wheat flour, and elimination of roaming calling fees following Tanzania's entry into the Common Network Area.
Additionally, the countries have agreed to provide preferential treatment on cement made in their territories and to harmonise standardisation with veterinary products becoming valid for export for up to 30 days.
A permanent committee has also been established to monitor the implementation of decisions made.
On Tuesday, the countries' top diplomats said they would use the next four months to fix the remaining crucial areas, including harmonising health certification, especially in times of Covid-19.
Both countries have improved policies on handling the pandemic, especially after the death of former Tanzanian president John Pombe Magufuli, who had claimed coronavirus had been eliminated in the country.
Since Suluhu's visit to Kenya, Nairobi and Dodoma have since established a joint mechanism for dealing with Covid-19, including testing and recognition of lab results and vaccination.
