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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 […]

Elmy: From seaweed errand to blue economy trailblazer

Dar es Salaam. On a small island off the coast of Mkuranga, what began as a young woman’s errand quietly evolved into a national mission. In 2023, shortly after completing her undergraduate studies, Ms Farhiya Elmy travelled to Kwale Island to buy seaweed. Her mother had been advised to use it for reproductive health. But […]

Trade Ministry and TradeMark Africa partner to boost Ghana’s garment industry

The Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Sampson Ahi, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing trade facilitation challenges affecting Ghana’s textile and garment industry, describing the sector as a strategic pillar of the country’s industrialisation and export diversification agenda. Speaking at the Public-Private Dialogue on Textile and Garment Trade Facilitation Challenges in Sogakope […]

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 […]

Djibouti, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Uganda Sign Pact to Create DESSU Corridor Authority

Djibouti, 15 February 2026: The governments of Djibouti, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Uganda have formally agreed to establish the Djibouti-Ethiopia-South Sudan-Uganda (DESSU) Corridor Authority. Signed at a ministerial session in Djibouti, the accord sets in motion a regional framework for coordinating trade, transport and logistics across the four nations. This will advance the shared vision […]

Djibouti, l’Éthiopie, le Soudan du Sud et l’Ouganda signent un pacte portant création de l’Autorité du Corridor Djibouti-Éthiopie-Soudan du Sud-Ouganda (DESSO)

Djibouti, le 15 février 2026 : les gouvernements de Djibouti, d’Éthiopie, du Soudan du Sud et d’Ouganda ont officiellement convenu de créer l’Autorité du corridor Djibouti-Éthiopie-Soudan du Sud-Ouganda (DESSO). Signé lors d’une session ministérielle à Djibouti, cet accord met en place un cadre régional pour coordonner le commerce, les transports et la logistique entre les […]

Why the Simplified Trade Regime Matters for DRC Border Communities

In Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, the minister of foreign trade, H.E. Julien Paluku Kahongya, opened a workshop on the Simplified Trade Regime, known locally as RECOS, on 11 December 2025. The two-day forum brought together provincial trade ministers, border agencies and small-scale traders to assess whether border procedures serve the people who rely on […]