Analysis of the EAC Common External Tariff

The Government of Tanzania is currently involved in the negotiations at the East African Community (EAC)-level of the rules of origin and the Common External Tariff (CET), which unifies the customs duties, import quotas, preferences and other non-tariff barriers across all Member States of the customs union. The leading government institutions for this project are the Ministries of Industry, Trade and Investment (MITI), and Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC).

This project will use monthly firm-level export and import data from NBS, from 2011-2016, and also secondary data sets from TRA and a detailed sensitive items list. In addition to these secondary data, the study will draw on primary data collected via surveys sent to a small set of manufacturing firms in Arusha, Zanzibar, Moshi, Tanga and Mtwara. Out of the 21 firms surveyed, 15 were visited for follow-up meetings and focus group discussions.

The main goal of this project is to serve as policy support document for the government and feed into Tanzania’s international trade position at the EAC level.