NAIROBI, Kenya, July 23 – The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has called on member states to strengthen regional trade ties and accelerate the adoption of trade facilitation tools in response to rising global trade disruptions and new tariff measures.
Speaking at the opening of the bloc’s 41st Trade and Customs Committee meeting, Director of Trade and Customs Christopher Onyango said more efficient cross-border systems are needed to support integration, especially for small-scale traders operating informally.
He noted that the Simplified Trade Regime (STR) is central to enabling trade between neighbouring countries, particularly for women and youth who dominate informal commerce.
Sixteen COMESA states are currently trading under the Continental Free Trade Area, with preferential tariffs or full zero-duty access. However, non-tariff barriers (NTBs) continue to block seamless trade, despite existing tariff agreements.
A recent COMESA study estimates that intra-regional trade potential in the bloc exceeds $100 billion (Sh12.96 trillion), much of it hindered by NTBs, low manufacturing capacity, and limited value addition.
The committee is discussing the rollout of an electronic certificate of origin and a regional trade strategy aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The secretariat also raised concerns about shifting external market conditions, including new U.S. tariffs, urging members to adopt common strategies to reduce external vulnerabilities.
