Non-tariff barriers could hurt East Africa’s integration gains
For more than a decade, East Africa has steadily built one of the most compelling regional integration stories on the continent. Governments, working with development partners, have made significant investments in One-Stop Border Posts, and digital customs systems have replaced much of the physical paperwork that once slowed trade. This enables goods to be cleared […]
How compliance with good agricultural practices is transforming Kenya’s mango industry
When Rose took early retirement more than 30 years ago, she did not set out to join Kenya’s export economy. She simply wanted to make her farm work, because for a long time, it did not. The challenge was growing mangoes in a way that consistently met market expectations, and getting them to market before […]
UNBS and TradeMark Africa Launch Regional Media Trainings to Strengthen Uganda’s Quality Ecosystem
In a strategic move to boost national quality standards and export competitiveness, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and TradeMark Africa (TMA), with funding from UK International Development, have kicked off a comprehensive media training program for journalists and content producers. The training, taking place concurrently in Mukono and Mbale, has drawn selected media […]
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 […]
Kenya launches electronic warehouse receipt system to cut post-harvest losses and unlock finance for smallholder farmers
Nairobi, Kenya | 25th February 2026: Kenya has officially launched the Electronic Warehouse Receipt System Central Registry (eWRS-CR), a landmark digital platform set to modernise agricultural commodity trade, reduce post-harvest losses, and unlock access to structured markets and financing for farmers and agribusinesses nationwide. Launched by the Warehouse Receipt System Council (WRSC) in partnership with […]
Mombasa’s Momentum: Why International Recognition Matters
KPA boss William Ruto (left) with Netherlands Deputy Ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Jaco Beerends (right) alongside Trademark Africa Country Director Ms. Lilian Mwai. (Photo/Courtesy) By Andrew Mwangura Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com The recent commendation by the Netherlands Deputy Ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Jaco Beerends, on the progress at the Port of Mombasa is more than diplomatic politeness. It […]
Ouverture des frontières commerciales grâce à une nouvelle application de KRA
Les autorités ont lancé la plateforme numérique eCustoms App, qui vise à simplifier les échanges commerciaux, accélérer le dédouanement des marchandises et moderniser les opérations frontalières du Kenya. Ce système permettra à l’Autorité fiscale du Kenya (KRA) de traiter les déclarations en douane plus rapidement, sans papier et plus efficacement pour les commerçants, les transporteurs […]
Makueni mango output reaches 183,891 tons in Kenya
Makueni remains one of Kenya’s main mango-producing regions, with an estimated 183,891 metric tonnes harvested in the 2024 season out of the country’s annual output of about 650,000 metric tonnes. The county’s Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperative Development held a two-day forum with Trademark Africa, an EU-funded agency supporting fair trade and market […]