Food Safety and Codex Standards in Focus at Regional Conference
With funding from USAID-ERRA, the EAC Codex Forum developed and submitted to the EAC Secretariat policy briefs on food safety risks and approaches to curb harmful practices while aligning with international food safety standards. This is an important step towards strengthening regional food safety and trade. Subsequently, the EAC Secretariat called for a high-level regional […]
EAC Secretariat Embarks on the Formation of a Regional Trade Remedies Committee for Resolving Trade Disputes
The EAC region has inched closer to setting up a Regional Trade Remedies Committee, a pivotal platform tasked with addressing issues of dumping goods, safeguards, and subsidies. The set up of the committee is funded by USAID-ERRA, with the EAC Secretariat undertaking implementation. The establishment of a Trade Remedies Committee involves several key actions, including […]
Ethiopia and Somaliland Foster Corridor Cooperation with Transit and Port Utilization Agreement
With funding from the USAID- Economic Recovery and Reform Activity (USAID-ERRA), TradeMark Africa (TMA) will serve as an independent Berbera Corridor Secretariat that will facilitate negotiations between Ethiopia and Somaliland with the aim of developing a transit and port utilization agreement. The agreement holds plausible potential to boost trade along the Berbera corridor. As part […]
Reviewing the Regional Simplified Trade Regime to Boost Small-Scale Cross-Border Trade
USAID-ERRA partnered with the East Africa Community (EAC) Regional Simplified Trade Regime (STR) Task Force to review and adopt the STR study report assessing the STR’s effectiveness. The study, commissioned by the EAC Secretariat, provides policy responses and recommendations to enhance the STR’s role in boosting regional trade. The STR benefits small-scale cross-border traders who […]
Women in Trade: A Case For Berbera Women Fish Traders
On March 16, 2023, the TMA-ERRA team visited Berbera as part of a fact-finding mission to inform the design of an intervention in the fish sector for Somaliland. The team visited the fish market and the fish landing site, where they met with fishermen and the women’s cooperative of fish traders. They interviewed some women […]
Enhancing Private Sector Associations’ Support for African Continental Free Trade Area
In pursuit of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) overall mandate of creating a single continental market by eliminating trade barriers and boosting intra-Africa trade, TMA organized a dynamic two-day collaboration, learning, and adaptation (CLA) event in Nairobi, Kenya. Supported by the USAID-funded Economic Recovery and Reform program, the event explored the crucial role […]
Strengthening Africa’s Digital Trade Capacity
In April 2023, TMA participated in two capacity-building sessions on digital trade. The first session was held in Dakar, Senegal, from April 3-6, 2023, for the Northern and West African countries. The second session was held in Kampala, Uganda, from April 13-16, 2023, for the East, Central, and Southern Africancountries. These sessions aimed to enhance the […]
Boosting Cross-Border Grain Staple Food Trade in East Africa
Regional staple food trade is vital to East Africa’s economic growth and food security. Significant efforts have been made to facilitate intra-regional trade, including infrastructure development, standards harmonization, and thesimplification of trade through simplified trade regimes (STRs) and One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs). Despite this progress, significant challenges hinder the full utilization of trade opportunities, impacting […]
EAC Secretariat Holds the Inaugural EAC Regional Metrology Conference
From June 19-23, 2023, the EAC Secretariat in partnership with TMA through the USAID-ERRP, successfully held the inaugural Regional Metrology Conference in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Themed ‘Metrology in Health,’ the conference highlighted the pivotal role of measurements in health and various aspects of social, economic, and industrial development activities. It also served as a […]
Charting a Path for Strengthening Burundi’s Agricultural Sector
In June 2023, the USAID – Economic Recovery and Reform program team traveled to Bujumbura, Burundi, to gain insights into the country’s agricultural market by engaging with stakeholders, including government institutions, development partners, producer groups, and the private sector. This visit was a significant step to inform USAID-ERRP interventions in Burundi that aim to strengthen […]