NAIROBI, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Africa's largest trading bloc's trade lobby on Thursday decried restrictive cross-border trade measures applied by members.
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Business Council (CBC) said in a statement that non-preferential customs duties should not be applied on COMESA origin goods by the customs authorities of any of the member states.
"Notwithstanding the arrangements under the East African Community (EAC) or Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA), member States must uphold the arrangements under the COMESA Free Trade Area," the Council said in a statement.
"Furthermore, the private sector requests member states to ensure alignment within the treaties of the EAC and COMESA countries, and to fully recognize the pre-existing arrangements," it added.
The TFTA brings together the EAC, Southern African Development Community (SADC) and COMESA.
COMESA established a Free Trade Area (FTA) in October 2000, granting preferential tariffs to products of COMESA origin.
The COMESA business council urged member states to consult on and implement a grace period of at least one month to ensure business readiness and adjustment, prior to instituting trade measures, especially those with grave impact on business operations and cross border trade.
The trade lobby said that it will continue to engage with COMESA and partners to address the business impediment brought by the imposition of tariffs, which has already significantly impacted operations and raised unprecedented costs to industries in the region. Enditem
