TradeMark Africa
Growing Prosperity Through Trade

TradeMark Africa

Traders brace for higher costs as Tanzania joins Kenya in raising port tariffs

Traders across East Africa face rising costs after Tanzania introduced new cargo handling tariffs, just weeks after Kenya raised its own. The Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) says the revised charges, effective from January 9, 2026, will increase port service fees by between 2 and 15 percent, adding fresh pressure to logistics and consumer prices in […]

Africa’s Entrepreneurs Confront Rising Non‑Tariff Trade Barriers

Africa’s trade challenges have shifted decisively. Tariffs, once the headline obstacle, are no longer the biggest threat. Instead, non‑tariff measures (NTMs)—fragmented standards, slow and inconsistent testing regimes, unrecognised certificates, and unresolved procedural disputes—are quietly shutting firms out of markets. TradeMark Africa’s (TMA) 2024–25 Annual Report underscores the point: “Tariffs are no longer the main obstacle to Africa’s […]

Traders brace for higher costs as Tanzania joins Kenya in raising port tariffs

Traders across East Africa face rising costs after Tanzania introduced new cargo handling tariffs, just weeks after Kenya raised its own. The Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) says the revised charges, effective from January 9, 2026, will increase port service fees by between 2 and 15 percent, adding fresh pressure to logistics and consumer prices in […]

A Closer Look at EAC and TMA’s Joint Efforts to Drive Regional Economic Integration

In a strategic meeting aimed at bolstering regional integration and economic growth, Ms. Annette Ssemuwemba Mutaawe, the Acting Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat met with leadership from TradeMark Africa (TMA), led by CEO Dave Beer. The discussion centred the commitment of both organisations to tackle regional trade barriers, enhance infrastructure and […]

AmCham ministerial panel to dissect trade and investment prospects in Eastern Africa

TradeMark Africa (TMA) will participate at the AmCham Business Summit, the highest profile U.S. – East Africa forum to be held in Nairobi from 24-15 April 2024 at Windsor Golf Hotel, Nairobi, as a knowledge partner. The Summit is designed to appeal to forward-thinking companies looking to expand into Kenya and the East and Horn […]

Contribution of Standards Harmonisation and Certification towards reduction in the conformity assesment clearance time and testing cost-The Case of the EAC

Context: The East African community (EAC) comprises of five countries namely: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda with a total population of about 143.5 million people with a GDP of US$110.3 billion as of 2014. The EAC Common Market Protocol provides for “accelerated economic growth and development EAC Partner States through the attainment of free movement of […]