- Kenya and Uganda two founder members of the East African Community (EAC) have locked horns on some trade disputes. The East African Business Council (EABC) has urged both the counties to find solution for their trade disputes through dialogue.
- EABC pointed out that through dialogue only the outstanding non-tariff barriers (NTBs) can be eliminated and increase trade.
Kenya and Uganda two founder members of the East African Community (EAC) have locked horns on some trade disputes. The East African Business Council (EABC) has urged both the counties to find solution for their trade disputes through dialogue. EABC pointed out that through dialogue only the outstanding non-tariff barriers (NTBs) can be eliminated and increase trade.
The allegations from both sides were mainly on some specific commodities, but have spilled over to retaliatory acts that could paralyse normal bilateral trade. In a statement, EABC urged Kenya and Uganda to hold a bilateral dialogue and avoid a trade stalemate and retaliation due to the imposition of Non-tariff Barriers( NTBs). The trade barriers between the two countries will not only curtail cross border business between Kenya and Uganda but also impact intra-EAC trade, curb employment and industrial development.
The statement – issued by John-Bosco Kalisa, the EABC executive said that, with intra-EAC trade currently at 15 percent low, there should be no room to entertain business disputes in the bloc. The lower volume of trade was attributed to lack of preferential market access to the EAC originating products and called for an effective EAC trade dispute settlement mechanism such as the proposed EAC Trade Remedies Committee for resolving the frequent NTB issues.
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