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In order to facilitate the elimination of Non-Tariff-Barriers (NTBs) to trade, the COMESA, EAC and SADC Tripartite, with support from Trademark Southern Africa (TMSA) are implementing a NTB reporting, monitoring and eliminating mechanism. According to Vonesai Hove of TMSA, this mechanism has enjoyed great success since its upgrade in 2010. To date, 60.7% of NTBs reported have been resolved. Use of the online reporting system, furthermore, has grown with 3.3 percent since October 2010. The system is supported by NTBs structures whose main function is to process and facilitate resolution of reported barriers. Significant progress has been made in this regard - all Tripartite Member countries have established NTB focal points while 10 have established National Monitoring Committees (NMCs). NMCs comprise all government ministries and departments, private sector organisations, trade associations and major exporters and importers who are appointed to facilitate resolution of reported barriers. In other countries, the work of the NMCs have been assigned to existing trade facilitation committees who will deal with reported cases as and when they arise. With support from TradeMark Southern Africa, the Regional Economic Communities (RECS) are working to improve awareness of the NTB reporting, monitoring and eliminating mechanism. During 2009/10, a round of awareness raising workshops were held in all the SADC Free Trade Area (FTA) member states. Private and public sector awareness workshops were also held in Kenya, Comoros and Rwanda between November 2010 and March 2011. For more information about the NTB’s reporting, monitoring and eliminating mechanism, visit www.tradebarriers.org or read the full article by clicking here.
