This archive report was first published on 10 May 2020.
The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat has called on partner states to consider waiving ports and border handling charges on essential items as Covid-19 containment measures prolong cargo clearance in the region.
According to the latest administrative guidelines from the Arusha-based EAC Secretariat, border and port officials are also being urged to shun local currencies in favor of US dollars and electronic payments to ease goods clearance.
"Under the prevailing circumstances, it might take longer for some goods in transit to reach exit customs offices. Customs administrations are required to waive the time-limit between customs office of departure to the customs of office of exit," the EAC Secretariat said.
Additionally, shipping lines are being urged to waive charges on container delays during the pandemic period.
These directives come just weeks after importers asked the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) to increase the free cargo period from four to 11 days for local consignments and from nine days to 21 days for transit imports.
Importers also appealed to the Kenya Ship Agents Association to raise the free demurrage period from nine days to 15 days for local cargo and to at least 40 days from the current 28 days for transit goods to cut rising costs as a result of partial trade lockdowns and travel restrictions.
Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda have recently reached a deal for testing of truck drivers for Covid-19 at the point of departure to ease tailbacks that had built at border points after each nation had insisted on separately conducting mandatory testing.
Truck drivers are now required to produce coronavirus-free certificates at points of exit.
