Modernization of border posts: TradeMark Africa equips Ivorian Customs with the support of the United Kingdom
The Ivorian Customs Administration has received a significant shipment of computer equipment donated by TradeMark Africa, with financial support from the UK-FCDO. This initiative aims to strengthen the technological capabilities of border posts, particularly at the Noé border crossing and in the eastern border areas with Ghana. At the official handover ceremony on Thursday, May […]
Trade facilitation: Ivory Coast accelerates its reforms to become a regional hub
The sixth meeting of the National Monitoring Committee (CNS) of the Trade Facilitation Programme was held this Wednesday, May 6, 2026 in Abidjan, with the ambition of consolidating achievements and giving new impetus to the reforms undertaken to facilitate trade in Côte d’Ivoire. Led by the Ivorian government with the support of TradeMark Africa, this […]
Kazungula OSBP begins 24-hour operations April 1
Preparations to transition the Kazungula One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) to 24-hour operations are underway, with full implementation scheduled for April 1. Addressing the Chobe District Development Committee recently, Kazungula Bridge Authority (KBA) executive director, Mr Mukela Muyonda confirmed that the authority had fast-tracked the rollout, following a directive from Presidents Duma Boko and Hakainde Hichilema […]
Ghana-Togo ministers target faster trade at Akanu–Noepe border
Ghana and Togo have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cross-border trade and improving operations at the Akanu – Noepe Joint Border Post, following a high-level ministerial meeting and handing-over ceremony. The meeting, supported by TradeMark Africa, brought together senior government officials, members of the National Trade Facilitation Committees, and representatives of border management agencies from […]
The Middle East crisis: A stress test for African trade resilience
The escalating Middle East crisis is emerging as a major stress test for Africa’s trade resilience, disrupting supply chains across the continent while also creating a potential opening for key ports in East and Southern Africa to capture more maritime traffic. With shipping once again diverting around the Cape of Good Hope amid the strategic […]
East Africa sets 2026 deadline to scrap trade barriers, but past disputes raise doubts
The decision, reached at the bloc’s 25th Ordinary Summit in Arusha on March 7, underscores efforts to remove longstanding obstacles that continue to slow the movement of goods across member states. Non-tariff barriers, ranging from bureaucratic delays and inconsistent standards to restrictive licensing regimes, have long raised the cost of doing business within the region. […]
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 […]
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 […]