Non-Tariff Barriers :: Complaints

Resolved complaints

Showing items 21 to 40 of 757

Complaint number	NTB Type Category 1. Government participation in trade & restrictive practices tolerated by governments 1.1. Export subsidies 1.2. Government monopoly in export/import 1.3. State subsidies, procurement, trading, state ownership 1.4. Preference given to domestic bidders/suppliers 1.5. Requirement for counter trade 1.6. Domestic assistance programmes for companies 1.7. Discriminatory or flawed government procurement policies 1.8. Import bans 1.9. Determination of eligibility of an exporting country by the importing country 1.10. Determination of eligibility of an exporting establishment (firm, company) by the importing country 1.11. Occupational safety and health regulation 1.12. Multiplicity and Controls of Foreign exchange market 1.13. "Buy national" policy 1.14. Lack of coordination between government institutions 1.15. Other Category 2. Customs and administrative entry procedures 2.1. Government imposing antidumping duties 2.2. Arbitrary customs classification 2.3. Issues related to the rules of origin 2.4. Import licensing 2.5. Decreed customs surcharges 2.6. Additional taxes and other charges 2.7. International taxes and charges levied on imports and other tariff measures 2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures 2.9. Issues related to transit fees 2.10. Inadequate or unreasonable customs procedures and charges 2.11. Lack of control in Customs infrastructure 2.12. Lack of capacity of Customs officers 2.13. Issues related to Pre-Shipment Inspections 2.14. Other Category 3. Technical barriers to trade (TBT) Category 4. Sanitary & phyto-sanitary (SPS) measures Category 5. Specific limitations 5.1. Quantitative restrictions 5.2. Exchange controls 5.3. Export taxes 5.4. Quotas 5.5. Import licensing requirements 5.6. Proportion restrictions of foreign to domestic goods (local content requirement) 5.7. Minimum import price limits 5.8. Embargoes 5.9. Non-automatic licensing 5.10. Prohibitions 5.11. Quantitative safeguard measures 5.12. Export restraint arrangements 5.13. Other quantity control measures 5.14. Restrictive licenses 5.15. Other Category 6. Charges on imports 6.1. Prior import deposits and subsidies 6.2. Administrative fees 6.3. Special supplementary duties 6.4. Import credit discriminations 6.5. Variable levies 6.6. Border taxes 6.7. Other Category 7. Other procedural problems 7.1. Arbitrariness 7.2. Discrimination 7.3. Corruption 7.4. Costly procedures 7.5. Lengthy procedures 7.6. Lack of information on procedures (or changes thereof) 7.7. Complex variety of documentation required 7.8. Consular and Immigration Issues 7.9. Inadequate trade related infrastructure 7.10. Other Category 8. Transport, Clearing and Forwarding 8.1. Government Policy and regulations 8.2. Administrative (Border Operating Hours, delays at border posts, etc.) 8.3. Immigration requirements (Visa, travel permit) 8.4. Transport related corruption 8.5. Infrastructure (Air, Port, Rail, Road, Border Posts,) 8.6. Vehicle standards 8.7. Costly Road user charges /fees 8.8. Issues related to transit Other Policy or Regulatory NTB Not a policy or regulatory NTB Check allUncheck all	Date of incident	Location COMESA Burundi Comoros Democratic Republic of the Congo Djibouti Egypt Eritrea Eswatini Ethiopia Kenya Libya Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Rwanda Seychelles Somalia Sudan Tunisia Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe EAC Burundi Democratic Republic of the Congo Kenya Rwanda South Sudan Tanzania Uganda SADC Angola Botswana Comoros Democratic Republic of the Congo Eswatini Lesotho Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Seychelles South Africa Tanzania Zambia Zimbabwe COMESA EAC SADC	Reporting country or region COMESA Burundi Comoros Democratic Republic of the Congo Djibouti Egypt Eritrea Eswatini Ethiopia Kenya Libya Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Rwanda Seychelles Somalia Sudan Tunisia Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe EAC Burundi Democratic Republic of the Congo Kenya Rwanda South Sudan Tanzania Uganda SADC Angola Botswana Comoros Democratic Republic of the Congo Eswatini Lesotho Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Seychelles South Africa Tanzania Zambia Zimbabwe COMESA EAC SADC	Status	Actions
NTB-001-000	2.14. Other	2020-12-01	Zimbabwe: Beitbridge	Zimbabwe	Resolved 2021-03-31	View
Complaint:	ZIMRA is requesting all transporters to be registered in its system to be able to lodge electronic manifest. This is still happening and is resulting in delaying of movement of cargo at all its points of entry. The requirement is compulsory and difficult to operationalise as transporters most of them are small and medium and they do not have the technical know how of doing it. The requirement should be removed or be given to the registered agents who are already utilising the ZIOMTRA system. there has been no joy for both inward bound transporters and removal in transit. This is against the spirit of Trade facilitation .
Resolution status note:	Issue was resolved
NTB-000-999	2.3. Issues related to the rules of origin	2020-12-01	Uganda: Busia	Kenya	Resolved 2021-03-23	View
Complaint:	Uganda denial of Market access on Fay Aluminium Foil and Fay Cling they have instead charged full CET to Kimfay Kenya manufactured products. KRA conducted a verification visit to Kimfay premises as required under the EAC ROO 2015 to ascertain origin and certified in 2016. Since then the company has been exporting under EAC preferential Treatemnt until December 2020 where URA charged full CET and also charged infrastructure levy and excise duty despite the two products meeting the criteria for EAC rules of Origin 2015. New imposed levies Fay Cling Film film Fay Aluminium Foil Excise duty 10% 0 Infrastructure levy 1.50% 1.50% Import duty 0 25% Existing tax VAT 18% 18
Resolution status note:	During the NMC it was noted that not all aluminium foil is denied preferential treatment in Uganda. The criteria cited to grant the Origin was contrary to Rule 6 of the EAC RoO 2015. Hence the denial of preferential treatment. KRA will take it up to engage the trader on the matter. Hence the issue is not an NTB and was RESOLVED
Products:	7607.20.90: -- Other
NTB-000-997	1.7. Discriminatory or flawed government procurement policies Policy/Regulatory	2018-07-01	Uganda: Uganda VAT	Kenya	Resolved 2021-10-19	View
Complaint:	Uganda charges Kenya manufactured excise books VAT at 18%. The VAT is not levied on Uganda locally manufactured books. The discriminative VAT is in violation of Article III of GATT 1994, Article 75(6) of the Treaty establishing the EAC and Article 15 of the EAC Custom Union Protocol as it subjects Kenyan manufactured products to VAT charges not charged on same domestic products in Uganda.
Resolution status note:	During the Regional Meeting held in October 2021, the Republic of Kenya confirmed that the NTB was Resolved
NTB-000-992	7.10. Other	2020-12-01	Zimbabwe: Chirundu	Zambia	Resolved 2021-09-02	View
Complaint:	Zimbabwe is not consistent with the SADC COVID-19 requirement/guidelines of drivers requiring a 14 days validity test as a 48 hours requirement has been imposed. This has resulted in increase in cost of doing business as drivers have to take multiple COVID-19 tests which cost on average $76 per test. Transporters travelling into Zambia on the other hand can use their COVI-19 certificates within a 14 day period. A transporter delivering/transiting in Zimbabwe is required to take at least 2 COVID tests within the 14 day period. In some cases this has caused congestion at the border as truckers rush to beat the 48 hour COVID-19 test validity.
Resolution status note:	Zimbabwe reported that the COVID policies are consistent with SADC as follows: 1. 14 day validity is for bus operators and Malaitsha 2. Truck operators we need PCR valid for 30 days 3. Regular travellers 48 hrs. 48hrs means that for regular travellers, they must travel within 48 hours of getting PCR results. This requirement is for regular travellers. If truckers are complaining, its a misinterpretation by implementers. In light of the above, ZIMRA indicated that corrective actions will be undertaken to address issues raised by the complaint. Effective supervision and monitoring will be implemented.
NTB-000-984	2.9. Issues related to transit fees	2020-10-07	Kenya: Namanga	EAC	Resolved 2020-10-07	View
Complaint:	Namanga /Kajiado County still charges 2,000 Ksh for all Burundi Cargo trucks transiting Kenya
Resolution status note:	It's a resolved NTB that rised again
NTB-000-980	2.3. Issues related to the rules of origin	2019-11-30	Rwanda: Rwanda Revenue Authority	Egypt	Resolved 2021-03-14	View
Complaint:	Rwanda Authorities didn't approve Comesa certificate of origin which is issued from Egypt as they are objecting that the product is not Egyptian production . We will be more than happy to invite the delegates from Rwanda to visit our factory & can do inspection to satisfy themselves. The exporting company provided all the required documents necessary to satisfy the criteria for issuing Comesa Certificate to Rwanda. As per the Rules of Egyptian Government for Comesa we have submitted all the necessary documents. Comesa Certificate No. (0092824) is attached.
Resolution status note:	RESOLVED during 1st Meeting of the COMESA Regional NTBs Forum held on 16- 17 March 2021
NTB-000-975	1.8. Import bans	2020-07-02	Kenya: Ministry of Agriculture,Livestock,fisheries and cooperatives	Uganda	Resolved 2021-03-18	View
Complaint:	Kenya banned importation of sugar ,brown sugar and raw cane from Uganda
Resolution status note:	During the NMC meeting that took place in March 2021, the meeting was informed that two bilateral meetings were held with Kenya to discuss among others the NTB on the importation of brown sugar, The Trade Ministers from both sides met and Kenya agreed that the issue will be resolved. Kenya agreed to undertake a verification mission to Uganda. The Mission has not yet taken place but there has been a commendable improvement in the area, where sugar has been allowed into Kenya. The issue on raw cane was RESOLVED
NTB-000-974	7.2. Discrimination Policy/Regulatory	2020-05-02	Kenya:	Tanzania	Resolved 2021-06-10	View
Complaint:	Kenya recently enacted the Business Law (Amendment) Act, 2020 which amended the Excise Duty Act, 2015 (the Excise Duty Act) by imposing excise duty on imported glass bottles (excluding glass bottles for packaging pharmaceutical products) at a rate of 25%, with effect from 18 March 2020. This amendment will result in an increase in the cost of imported glass bottles as compared to glass bottles which are locally manufactured in Kenya.
Resolution status note:	TheRepublic of Kenya issued an administrative note to implement the Court injunction on the Kioo case and the NTB was resolved .
NTB-000-973	We are asked to pay 500mts to gain entry and exit to and from Mozambique (250 in/250 out) under the guise that the trucks need to be inspected.	2020-08-04	Mozambique: Delegação Aduaneira de Namaacha	Eswatini	Resolved 2021-07-09	View
Complaint:	Eswatini Company is asked to pay 500mts to gain entry and exit to and from Mozambique (250 in/250 out) under the guise that the trucks need to be inspected in line with Ministerial Diploma NO 18/2007 of February 9, which approves the table of various fees for Border Posts, effective from August 2, 2020. However inspection cargo is not done and therefore we are made to pay for services not rendered. Further , the drivers have t pay to get their passport stamped. How do we dertermine the time the vehicles stays at the border if we are billed a hourly charge all documentation and taxes dues are paid in advance to try and speed the process up why does the driver need to pay to have his passport stamped on arrival and more strangely on exiting with an empty vehicle.
Resolution status note:	Mozambique Focal Point reported that the inspection fee for motor vehicles at the Namaacha border was charged under Ministerial Diploma nº 18/2007, of 9 February. However, said fee was revoked by Ministerial Diploma nº 28/2021, of 30 April 2021
Products:	3214.10: Glaziers' putty, grafting putty, resin cements, caulking compounds and other mastics; painters' fillings
NTB-000-972	7.5. Lengthy procedures	2020-07-24	Zimbabwe: Beitbridge		Resolved 2021-07-29	View
Complaint:	There is usually a very long queue of north-bound trucks on the South African side of the border. This situation is very undesirable at it negatively affects trade facilitation along the north-south corridor and is a big concern in efforts to fight the covid-19 pandemic. These trucks are held up at the border due to some of the following reasons: 1) The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority Document Processing Centres (DPCs) are opening at 0800hrs and closing at 1500hrs. Outside this period trucks are still moving and documents are continuously lodged into the system by clearing agents. Processes that should be done in the Zimra system cannot be performed during this period. The border post is open for 24 hours and closure of the DPCs creates a bottleneck. Operating hours of the DPCs have been affected by the national curfew (0600hrs-1800hrs) that was recently introduced by Government to fight against the covid-19 pandemic. 2) Other customs processes such as cargo release (manual) procedures and query resolution are taking too much time to be done. 3) Due to the recent upward movement in the exchange rate, clearing agents sometimes do not have enough bond cover to move goods in transit. This has also resulted in truck movement delays. A proposal to have these bonds denominated in USD (in order to introduce stability in the system) has been made by the association to Zimra. 4) There are delays by Zimra in generating T1s which allow movement of transit cargo even in cases where bonds sufficiently cover the goods. 5) Of late Zimra did very well by opening a fast lane (green route) for some traffic but there has been no consistency in this process. The route is closed at times. 6) There are undesignated check-points within the border which humper movement of trucks.
Resolution status note:	ZIMRA advised that this issue has been dealt with by the Ease of doing business task force, however In the interim as the lead agent will escalate the challenges to the responsible authorities of the respective other agencies making reference to the Ease of doing business resolutions and will monitor to ensure checkpoints as agreed in the Ease of doing business meetings are adhered to.
NTB-000-971	8.6. Vehicle standards	2020-07-14	Zambia: Halfway Patrol	Zimbabwe	Resolved 2021-03-17	View
Complaint:	We export to Zambia and use our own truck (an 8tonne truck with yellow plates)to dispatch the products. We have exported for 5 times without any incident. On the above mentioned date our driver got a fine apparently for "plying for hire and reward". We have been exporting to Botswana since 2016 and we have never come across such an incident.We are not into transport business therefore our truck is specifically for dispatching to our customers hence the Yellow plates. We have a PTA Carrier Licence. Please assist us.
Resolution status note:	The Focal Point contacted the exporter to provide further information on whether it was a one of or repeated challenge . Exporter has not provided feedback. RESOLVED DUE TO LACK OF EVIDENCE
NTB-000-969	1.4. Preference given to domestic bidders/suppliers	2020-06-11		Kenya	Resolved 2020-08-10	View
Complaint:	Uganda denial of market Access of essential products of Kenya manufactured and exported handsanitizer by Unilever Kenya. Uganda Drugs Authority through a letter has denied market access handsanitizer manufactured in Kenya by Unilever Kenya and exported into Uganda Unilever making trucks loaded with the products stranded. The products have been issued with certificates of origin.
Resolution status note:	During the RMC meeting held on 10 August 2020, Uganda Focal Point reported that the NTB had been resolved .
NTB-000-968	1.7. Discriminatory or flawed government procurement policies	2020-01-10	Tanzania: Government Chemists & Lab Allied (GLCA)	Kenya	Resolved 2020-09-01	View
Complaint:	Chemical Transport Permit for vehicles transporting Kenya’s carbon dioxide (food grade) is classified as a chemical in Tanzania (C02) The license to transport chemicals into Tanzania costs approx. US$ 2/mt. So for trucks which are usually approx. 20mt, are required to pay US$ 40 per truck. The license is issued by GCLA.
Resolution status note:	During the RMC meeting held on 1 September 2020 , the Secretariat advised that the East African Community Vehicle Load Control Act of 2016 Article 9 read together with the East African Community Vehicle Load Control (Special Loads) Regulations, 2018 Article 12 provides for special categories of vehicle loads that shall only be transported through the Regional Trunk Road Network if a special permit has been issued by the Minister of the relevant Partner State. Carbon dioxide is a chemical that is classified under the Industrial and consumer chemical (Management and Control) Act (pg 55) as hazardous loads and hence needs a special permit to be transported. The small service fee charged is non-discriminatory and is provided for by Law. Therefore this is not an NTB and should be resolved.
NTB-000-967	2.3. Issues related to the rules of origin	2020-01-01	Uganda: Uganda Revenue Authority	Kenya	Resolved 2020-11-24	View
Complaint:	Uganda denial of preferential market access for wheelbarrow wheels wholly manufactured by Kenrub LTD transferred into Uganda. The wheelbarrow wheels have been verified by KRA and issued with the certifiate of origin but Uganda do not accept. URA has not communicated officially to the manufacturer/buyer or KRA on the reasons for denial of preferential treatment.
Resolution status note:	On 24th November 2020, the Secretariat Focal Point reported that Kenya submitted a report that they are satisfied with progress made to resolve this NTB and hence this NTB has been resolved.
Products:	4012.19: Retreaded pneumatic tyres, of rubber (excl. of a kind used on motor cars, station wagons, racing cars, buses, lorries and aircraft)
NTB-000-965	1.4. Preference given to domestic bidders/suppliers Policy/Regulatory	2020-06-01	Kenya: Eldoret Storage KPC	Rwanda	Resolved 2022-06-14	View
Complaint:	The issue of Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) requiring upfront payments or a guarantee cheque for storage of oil and after expiration of the grace period of 21 days they charge 2$ per cube meter (1000 liters) per day as a fine while in Tanzania the grace period goes up to 2months. Also, in order to be able to import products through KPC , a foreign registered company is required to have an agreement with a Kenya based company to bid for them in other to be part on the Open Tender System (OTS).
Resolution status note:	Kenya informed the meeting that the charges are in accordance with the existing KPA regulations. The verification charges are applicable to containers identified for verification upon the customer's request. The customer has a choice to use an independent agent. Hence this is not an NTB and is resolved.
NTB-000-965	1.4. Preference given to domestic bidders/suppliers Policy/Regulatory	2020-06-01	Kenya: Eldoret Storage KPC	Rwanda	Resolved 2022-06-14	View
Complaint:	The issue of Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) requiring upfront payments or a guarantee cheque for storage of oil and after expiration of the grace period of 21 days they charge 2$ per cube meter (1000 liters) per day as a fine while in Tanzania the grace period goes up to 2months. Also, in order to be able to import products through KPC , a foreign registered company is required to have an agreement with a Kenya based company to bid for them in other to be part on the Open Tender System (OTS).
Resolution status note:	The Republic of Kenya informed the meeting that KPC does not require upfront payment or guarantee cheque for storage of oil. Therefore, the meeting agreed that Kenya sends written communication to the Republic of Rwanda through the EAC Secretariat by 13th May 2022.The meeting was informed that the Republic of Rwanda received the letter on 11th May 2022 through EAC Secretariat.The meeting, therefore, agreed to discuss operationalization modalities during Rwanda and Kenya JPC. The meeting agreed that the NTB was resolved.
NTB-000-964	2.6. Additional taxes and other charges	2020-06-01	Kenya: Nairobi ICD	Rwanda	Resolved 2020-11-24	View
Complaint:	Introduction of the new verification/inspection tariff at Nairobi ICD (80 USD for 20 feet containers and 120 USD for 40 feet containers by Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) due to outsourcing of labor to conduct inspections and verification on behalf of KBS and KRA
Resolution status note:	After investigations, Kenya confirm that;- - The charges are in accordance to the existing KPA tariff applicable to both local and transit cargo where labour is required to provide verification/stripping and stuffing services. - The verification charges are applicable to only those containers that have been targeted for verification by Customs/other Government cargo intervening Agencies and or on customers request - Clients have the option of either using the outsourced service provider or seeking for an approval from Customs for their containers to be released under seal for destination verification at their warehouses. -There are no charges for sight and release mode of verification This NTB is therefore resolved
NTB-000-963	2.10. Inadequate or unreasonable customs procedures and charges Policy/Regulatory	2020-06-01	Kenya: At Taveta border post	Rwanda	Resolved 2020-09-10	View
Complaint:	The unclear and high fine of Ksh 100,000 charged by Kenya Revue Authority (KRA)to trucks without Electronic Cargo Tracking gadget (GPS) based on provisions 73 (1) and 204 (a) and (b) of the EACMA 2004 revised in 2017
Resolution status note:	During SCTIFI held in September 2020, the Republic of Kenya informed that the fee is not discriminatory and is provided for by the EAC CMA the maximum charge is USD 5,000.Hence the SCTIFI agreed that this is not an NTB and hence is resolved.
NTB-000-962	5.4. Quotas	2020-04-07	South Africa: International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) South African Revenue Services (SARS)		Resolved 2020-11-26	View
Complaint:	Export permits were identified by participants as a major issue in South Africa but not an issue outside South Africa. To apply for an export permit, a company engaging in international trade concurrently applies for the export permit approval from the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC), Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and the National Department of Health (NDOH). Once approved by DTIC and NDOH, ITAC provides the exporter with a permit. Once the permit is issued by ITAC, the exporter will send the permit approval to South African Revenue Services (SARS) to issue a customs clearance for export to take place. However, one could have an ITAC permit and not have a SARS customs clearance. Without the SARS clearance, medicines will not be exported. The issue of export permits is discussed in detail below: 1. Due to the COVID-19, South Africa restricted the export of pharmaceutical products to meet domestic demand. While the objective to meet domestic demand is noble, the challenge is that some medicines limited to export permits are unrelated to COVID-19. 2. Also, application forms keep changing even after engagements with stakeholders with the export products restricted under a single HS code. 3. Another challenge is that essential medicines that are exempt from export permits are subject to export permits. This violates SADC regional guidelines for harmonising and facilitating movement of critical goods and services across the region during the COVID-19 4. Products that are readily available locally are also subjected to export permits (the exception being countries in the Southern Africa Customs Union-SACU). This in turn restricts movement of lifesaving medicines to needy markets and affects company profitability. 5. Participants also highlighted frustration with the slow approval of permits (although it is improving) in South Africa by the International Trade Administration Committee (ITAC), South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry which is received in a fragmented fashion, resulting in delays, thereby putting products at risk. 6. The above challenges on export permits in South Africa were confirmed by a participant from Mauritius. According to the participant, his company has been unable to order new stock from South Africa since March 2020. Their stock has been depleted due to delays in issuance of export permits by ITAC. 7. Lastly, participants also expressed their frustration with the slow processes by the SARS in processing customs clearance of export permits and noting that the requirements are changing on a regular basis without proper notice.
Resolution status note:	Following a series of meetings organised by the SADC Business Council and subsequent follow-ups with the Department of Trade Industry and Competition (DTIC) in South Africa, the DTIC on 26 November 2020 amended the COVID-19 export control regulation issued in February 2020 which removed, with immediate effect, the restrictions on export of essential medicines for SADC countries.
NTB-000-961	8.8. Issues related to transit	2020-04-24	Tanzania: Benaco and Rusumo.	EAC	Resolved 2020-05-20	View
Complaint:	An incident with truck drivers in Benaco, Tanzania, who prevented cargo trucks destined for Rwanda to cross the border in protest against the new guidelines issued by the Government of Rwanda on 24th April 2020 on the movement of goods and services through Rwanda borders to prevent the spread of COVID-19 Pandemic. The same time, at Rusumo border, movement of goods and services were stopped.
Resolution status note:	This NTBs was resolved bilaterally between Rwanda and Tanzania.

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