The Sectorial Committee on Customs at the East African Community (EAC) last week met to discuss an array of issues related to customs and trade policies.

The meeting, which happened at the EAC Secretariat in Arusha, Tanzania, was attended by Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners of Customs, technical experts from Customs of partner states, Ministry of Finance, Ministry responsible for EAC Affairs, and officials from the EAC Secretariat.

In her remarks, Her Excellency Veronica M. Nduva, EAC Secretary General, highlighted the four pillars of EAC integration: The Customs Union, Common Market, Monetary Union, and Political Federation.

She emphasized that the first two pillars are obligations, while the latter are ambitions of the EAC integration.

“These pillars represent the East African nations’ commitment to shared economic progress, social development and political cooperation,” she said adding; “We are obligated to ensure that our people, goods, and services freely move across our borders and aspire for this to be borderless.”

The meeting, which was chaired by URA’s Ag. Commissioner Customs Hajji. Asadu Kigozi Kisitu considered the current status of previous decisions and directives of the Sectoral Council on Trade, Industry, Finance, and Investment (SCTIFI) as well as the Sectoral Committee on Customs.

Further discussions focused on the implementation of the single customs territory, procedure and facilitation matters, compliance and enforcement matters, tariff and valuation matters, and capacity-building activities.

The Committee also made several recommendations for consideration to SCTFI, which is the policymaking body of the EAC.

By Peace Viko