EAST AFRICA: EAC Agrees on Tariff-free Imports Category A List for AfCFTA

According to a statement from the East African Community (EAC) on 19 February 2022, the bloc’s member nations have agreed to adopt the proposed EAC Tariff Offer for Category A products for trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. Category A products cover 5,129 lines representing 90.2% of all lines that will see tariffs removed under AfCFTA within 10 years for the least developed countries, and five years for developing countries.

At the EAC Extra-Ordinary Meeting of the Sectoral Council on Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment held on 18 February, the EAC Secretariat was directed to submit the Tariff Offer to the AfCFTA as soon as possible to undergo verification. Once verified, the number of AfCFTA countries verified to trade is expected to increase to 34. After approval, EAC member countries can start trading the products under the agreement with other nations whose tariff lines have also been verified.