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COMESA, EAC and SADC are integrating the economies of their member States into a single enlarged market. An area with the most progress is trade liberalisation. COMESA launched a Free Trade Area in 2000 with 9 countries participating. Today, there are 14, out of 19, countries in the FTA. Two of the remaining 6 have reduced tariffs by 80%. SADC launched an FTA in 2008 with 12 out of 15 member states participating and EAC intends to launch one by 2010.

While trade liberalisation has enhanced consumer choice, supported more efficient resource allocation through increased competition and has fostered public-private sector collaboration, the existence of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) and non-tariff measures (NTMs) continue to inhibit intra-regional trade.

NTBs contribute to the high cost of doing business across the region and all 3 regional economic communities, RECs (COMESA, EAC and SADC) have established NTB monitoring mechanisms to reduce the cost of doing business in order to promote intra-regional trade.

COMESA and SADC have an NTB monitoring mechanism which is available on this website. The web-based NTB mechanism will enhance transparency and easy follow-up of reported and identified NTBs and NTMs. This web-based NTB monitoring and reporting mechanism will be accessible to economic operators, government functionaries, Secretariat experts, academic researchers and other interested parties. COMESA and SADC will share the mechanism with the EAC as part of the Tripartite Collaboration arrangement established among the 3 RECs.

Find out more about Non-Tariff Barriers.