DAR ES SALAAM, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian authorities have stepped up efforts to eliminate non-tariff barriers with neighboring countries to strengthen regional trade and economic cooperation, Minister of Industry and Trade Judith Kapinga said on Friday.
Presenting the ministry's budget estimates for the 2026/2027 financial year in parliament in the capital, Dodoma, Kapinga said the government continues to coordinate trade negotiations and address barriers through regional and bilateral platforms.
She said Tanzania and Kenya reviewed key trade challenges during a Joint Trade Committee meeting held in Dar es Salaam between September and October 2025.
According to the minister, 14 trade barriers were discussed during the talks, including six raised by Tanzania and eight by Kenya, with three of the issues successfully resolved.
"These included concerns over unfair import duties and high stamp duty charges imposed on Tanzanian beer exports to Kenya," Kapinga said.
She added that the two countries also resolved challenges affecting the movement of seeds from Kenya into Tanzania, as well as discrepancies in road user charges.
Kapinga reaffirmed the government's commitment to facilitating smoother cross-border trade to boost economic integration and expand business opportunities within the East African region. ■
