Protectionist barriers are designed to protect certain sectors of domestic industries at the expense of other countries. The restrictions make it difficult for other countries to compete favorably with locally produced goods and services.
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About Non Tariff Barriers
Tanzania NTBs Removal Mechanism
Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) refer to restrictions that result from prohibitions, conditions, or specific market requirements that make importation or exportation of products and services difficult and/or costly. NTBs also include unjustified and/or improper application of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) such as Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures and other technical barriers to Trade (TBT).
NTBs arise from different measures taken by Governments and authorities in the form of Government laws, regulations, policies, conditions, restrictions or specific requirements, private sector business practices, or prohibitions that protect the domestic industries from foreign competition. Non-Tariff Barriers to trade can arise from; import bans, quotas, complex / discriminatory rules of origin, etc.
In 2000, the East African Community (EAC) partner states came together to form a regional trading bloc in order to ‘widen and deepen economic, political, social and cultural integration to improve the quality of life of the people of East Africa through increased competitiveness, value added production, trade and investment’ (EAC, 2016).
Despite these high-level commitments, trade barriers continue to affect the free-flow of goods and services amongst EAC states. Although tariffs have been eliminated in trade among members, non-tariff barriers (NTBs) are common and constitute a major hurdle to the establishment of the common market.
Identification, removal and monitoring of Non-Tariff Barriers to trade by the Member States in the East African Community is one of the priority areas for policy harmonisation and coordination under the EAC Common Market framework. With tariff liberalisation largely achieved, the challenge remains to eliminate non- tariff and other barriers to trade that contribute to the high cost of doing business across the region thereby inhibiting intra/inter -regional trade.
Tanzania through the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) has established an online NTBs reporting, tracking and monitoring system that shall enhance transparency and easy follow-up of reported and identified NTBs.
Types of Non-Tariff Barriers
Explore the types of barriers affecting trade
Protectionist barriers
Assistive Policies
Assistive policies are designed to protect domestic companies and enterprises, they do not directly restrict trade with other countries, but they implement actions that can impede free trade with other countries.
Non-protectionist Policies
Non-protectionist policies are designed to protect the health and safety of people and animals while maintaining the integrity of the environment they do not directly restrict the import or export of goods and services.
Facts & Stats
Latest trends on the elimination of NTBs
Unresolved NTBs
Resolved NTBs
Road Blocks
SPS & TBTs
Reporting Mechanism
Tracking, Reporting, Monitoring and Elimination of NTBs
Report Online
Report NTB case experienced..
Submit A Complaint
Get an NTB incident , please report your complaint now
System Status
Current system operational status...
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Team Members
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Reported Institutions
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Reported Incidents
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Recorded Cases
Recent Engagements
See recent NTBs elimination engagements...
Frequently asked questions.
Answers to the most basic questions you may have about NTBs...
Non-tariff barriers are trade barriers that restrict the import or export of goods through means other than tariffs. The World Trade Organization (WTO) identifies various non-tariff barriers to trade, including import licensing, pre-shipment inspections, rules of origin, custom delayers, and other mechanisms that prevent or restrict trade.
The mechanism enables stakeholders to report and monitor the resolution of barriers encountered as they conduct their business in the EAC and SADC regions. It enhances transparency and easy follow-up of reported and identified NTBs and NTMs. This web-based NTBs reporting, monitoring and eliminating system mechanism is accessible to business community, government functionaries, academic researchers and other interested parties.
Any affected party from the Non tariff barriers can report an incident by using his/her mobile phone and compose a normal text message starting with a keyword NTB followed by his/her complaint and send it to 15054 short code.
All messages carry standard billing and charges based on their respective carrier network provider.
Once affected party has finished reporting his/her case. They can alway track the status of the progress being made on his/her reported incident by sending a normal text message NTB REPORT followed by [NTB ID NUMBER] to 15405
Businesses testimonials
How NTBs elimination supports business prosperity across the borders..
Okello Oryem
Uganda’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs"I am delighted to learn that both delegations have heeded to the call by our two Heads of State to work together to eliminate all Non-Tariff Barriers to facilitate trade between our two countries. Trade is an important element for our mutual growth and prosperity."
Dr. Richard Sezibera
Former Secretary General - EACI call upon the Partner State’s National Monitoring Committees and EAC Regional Forum on NTBs to address the unresolved NTBs in the EAC Time Bound Programme (TBP) in accordance with the agreed timelines.
Okello Oryem
Uganda’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs"I am delighted to learn that both delegations have heeded to the call by our two Heads of State to work together to eliminate all Non-Tariff Barriers to facilitate trade between our two countries. Trade is an important element for our mutual growth and prosperity."
Our Partners
Our major supporting partners for the elimination of NTBs.
