This archive report was first published on 15 May 2020.
COMESA has taken a crucial step in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by developing an online platform for exchanging information on the availability of essential products within the COMESA Member States.
On May 15, 2020, the COMESA Council of Ministers held an extraordinary virtual meeting to approve a harmonized set of regional guidelines for facilitating the movement of goods and services across the region during the pandemic.
The guidelines provide common measures and practices to be applied across the 21 COMESA countries, taking into account the East African Community, the Southern Africa Development Community, and the African Union's guidelines to ensure seamless trade facilitation.
COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe emphasized the importance of regional integration and coordination in responding to the pandemic, stating, 'The impact of COVID-19 has made it clear that as a region we need to strengthen and integrate regional policies to take into account the adverse social-economic and political impacts and to develop strategies to support and facilitate quick recovery of our economies.'
The guidelines aim to address disruptions in the regional supply of essential goods, which have been attributed to diverse COVID-19 measures being applied in Member States. To achieve this, Member States will electronically publish newly introduced trade and customs-related measures and share them periodically with the COMESA Secretariat.
Additionally, an indicative list of essential goods based on the latest Editions of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Harmonized System (HS) classifications will be published to facilitate customs and border requirements.
