A new market analysis warns that non-tariff barriers (NTBs) restrict intra- African trade more deeply than tariffs.
TradeMark Africa (TMA) points out that factors like slow border procedures, divergent standards and discretionary enforcement are undermining efforts to build strong regional value chains.
The findings echo a growing consensus across the continent, while tariffs have gradually fallen under regional trade agreements, the real obstacles lie in procedural inefficiencies, unpredictable border practices and weak regulatory enforcement.
“Today’s trade barriers are procedural rather than tariff-based, Standards and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) requirements (health and safety rules), now govern most global trade,” said TradeMark Africa chief executive officer David Beer.
“Our focus is on turning them into a gateway to markets, not a source of delay. Trade succeeds when systems work together—when laboratory capacity is credible, digital systems reduce discretion, and clearance processes align across borders.”
The TMA analysis shows that when trade systems are modernised, the impact is immediate. Upgrades to digital customs platforms, certification systems and border posts across East Africa have already reduced clearance times and improved predictability.
For instance, the EAC Single Customs Territory digital platform processed over 800,000 transactions and enabled 6.6 million real-time data exchanges, helping reduce certification timelines across the region.
Similarly, improvements to Kenya’s port roads and traffic systems cut travel time around the Port of Mombasa by 46 per cent, enabling smoother cargo flow and reducing logistics costs for businesses.
The improved mobility has positioned Kenya as a backbone of East Africa’s trade efficiency, offering predictability to regional shippers and exporters who rely on the Northern Corridor.
TradeMark Africa’s Board Chair and former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn, said the continent must urgently address these procedural barriers if it is to unlock the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“NTBs restrict African trade far more than tariffs. Aligning standards, reducing discretion and resolving NTBs are essential if Africa is to build regional value chains. Africa’s credibility in trade is won or lost at the border” said Desalegn.
His remarks reflect growing pressure on governments to streamline border operations, strengthen regulatory agencies, and adopt digital systems that minimise human discretion—one of the biggest contributors to NTBs.
With African economies seeking to integrate and diversify exports, global markets are demanding stricter compliance with health, safety, and quality standards.
Failure to meet these requirements leads not only to delays but also costly rejections that can wipe out entire consignments and damage reputations.
This means NTBs, especially those linked to standards and SPS requirements are no longer peripheral issues, they are central to Africa’s competitiveness.
by JACKTONE LAWI
