| Complaint number |
NTB Type
Check allUncheck all |
Date of incident |
Location |
Reporting country or region (additional) |
Status |
Actions |
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NTB-001-287 |
2.6. Additional taxes and other charges |
2025-09-04 |
Tanzania: TRA |
Kenya |
Resolved 2025-11-25 |
View |
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Complaint:
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URT denial of the preferential treatment to blankets that have been manufactured in Kenya and instead subjecting the blankets to full CET of 25% duty on the blankets transferred from Kenya into URT by Spinner and Spinners LTD with reason that the company is benefitting from DRS. The raw material used in the manufacture of the blankets is EAC wide remission on HS Code 5402.33.00 as a regionally eligible code under the DRS. The affected consignment is Assessment Ref: TRA Namanga, Entry Ref. 158254115-25-9900817 subjecting to 25% duty. This creates an unfair trade barrier, distorts competition, and frustrates intra-EAC trade integration goals.
URT to grant preferential treatment to blankets enjoying regional DRS
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Resolution status note:
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The consignee did not request for preferential tariff treatment when making his declaration and thus he was required to pay a total tax of Tshs 37 million. Later an amendment was done on 11th October 2025 and currently the taxes assessed are Tshs 13 million. This resolved the matter. |
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NTB-001-250 |
1.8. Import bans |
2022-01-06 |
Tanzania: CPRA |
Uganda |
Resolved 2025-08-07 |
View |
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Complaint:
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The Director General Cereals and Mixed Crops Regulatory Authority (CPRA) informed the public that no permits for exporting maize and rice would be issued before the completion of a certain assessment. Traders and stakeholders were advised to wait until the evaluation was completed. The issuance of epermits was to resume after 1 May 2025, and applications submitted before that date would not be processed or approved. On 30th April 2025, an extension was announced.
We request that there be non-discriminatory treatment for rice,grain and other crops from Uganda from Uganda during this assessment |
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Resolution status note:
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On 7 August 2025, the Focal for Tanzania reported that this matter was discussed and resolved during the 38 RMC in Nairobi |
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NTB-000-041 |
2.3. Issues related to the rules of origin |
2004-12-22 |
Sudan: Ministry of Trade |
Kenya |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
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Complaint:
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Non recognition of Certificate of Origin (case outstanding since 2001)
Kenya complained that the Authorities in Sudan refused to recognise the COMESA Certificate of Origin from Kenya on exports of Galvanised Steel Pipes |
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Resolution status note:
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Sudan reported that the issue was resolved through the COMESA Customs and Trade Committee. (Report of the COMESA Customs & Trade Committee) |
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NTB-000-040 |
2.3. Issues related to the rules of origin |
2005-05-29 |
Sudan: Ministry of Trade |
Egypt |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Non adherence of 35% value added
Egypt complained that the Authorities in Sudan denied access on Egyptian Shaving Blades market due to non-adherence with 35% value addition. |
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Resolution status note:
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Sudan reported that the issue was resolved through the COMESA Customs and Trade Committee. (Report of the COMESA Customs & Trade Committee) |
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Products:
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8212.20: Safety razor blades of base metal, incl. razor blade blanks in strips |
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NTB-000-412 |
2.3. Issues related to the rules of origin |
2009-05-08 |
Sudan: Port Sudan sea port |
Kenya |
Resolved 2015-01-19 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Sudan customs authorities refused to recognise COMESA certificates of origin for the export of laundry soap noodles manufactured in Kenya. The soap noodles are packed in 25kgs PP woven bags. |
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Resolution status note:
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On 19 January 2015, Kenya focal point reported that, ideally Sudan Customs should have requested COMESA for a verification mission to Kenya, but the issue was left hanging. Kenya would therefore want this NTB removed from the outstanding NTBs ‘as resolved’ on grounds that the affected company had advised Focal point to close the case since they are no longer exporting soap noodles to Sudan. The NTB shall be registered afresh if it features again. At that point, reporting company will be requested to provide the supportive documents with current dates. |
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Products:
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3401.20: Soap in the form of flakes, granules, powder, paste or in aqueous solution |
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NTB-000-720 |
2.3. Issues related to the rules of origin Policy/Regulatory |
2016-06-07 |
Sudan: Sudan Customs Authority |
Egypt |
Resolved 2021-03-17 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Sudan Customs authority has stopped applying the customs exemption on Egyptian Ceramic tiles products despite the fact that the consignments are accompanied by a COMESA certificate of origin . |
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Resolution status note:
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RESOLVED during 1st Meeting of the COMESA Regional NTBs Forum held on 16- 17 March 2021 |
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NTB-001-360 |
2.4. Import licensing |
2026-03-01 |
South Sudan: Nimule |
Uganda |
Resolved 2026-06-04 |
View |
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Complaint:
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The implementation of electronic permits (e-permits) and related electronic cargo tracking for goods entering South Sudan from Uganda has led to significant delyas and costs to traders eg Over 1,000 trucks are currently stranded at the Nimule border due to challenges with the e-permit system such as additional charges, and slow processing. On the same issue,there are complaints of Extortion.Truck drivers have reported that some officials refuse electronic payments and instead demand cash, leading to corruption and higher, unofficial fees. |
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Resolution status note:
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During the 48th SCTIFI, the two Partner States agreed that the NTB is resolved, and any other pending issues will be resolved bilaterally. |
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NTB-000-344 |
7.8. Consular and Immigration Issues |
2009-12-18 |
South Africa: Ministry of Transport |
Zambia |
Resolved 2011-01-07 |
View |
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Complaint:
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South Africa trucks with Zimbabwean and Zambian drivers are being impounded and at times foreign drivers get fined by the South African Cross Border Transport Agency for not possessing South African Professional Driving Permits disregarding section 32(3) of the National Road Traffic Act (Act No. 93 of 1996) which stipulates that "any document , serving a purpose similar to that of a professional driving permit issued by a competent authority , be deemed to be a professional driving permit".
This has been a serious issue for many years and rears its head every now and then. ( |
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Resolution status note:
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South Africa reported that Zimbabwean driving a Zimbabwean registered vehicle only need to produce a credit card metal licence with a category for the Public drivers for heavy vehicles marked '2', endorsement of medical certificate and expiry date at the back of the licence.
Drivers driving a vehicle not registered in Zimbabwe should produce an A5 size white booklet type licence, International driving permit equivalent of a Proffessional Driving Permit in South Africa issued by Automobile association of Zimbabwe. An AA stamp indicating category for heavy vehicle will be displayed on the right handside of the document.
Zambian public drivers licences are similar to those of South Africa issued with a C1 to EC category of licences with endorsement (PrDP) .However the Zambian driving licences have 'P', which means passengers and 'G' indicating goods and th expiry date next to these categories
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NTB-000-132 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures Policy/Regulatory |
2009-07-26 |
South Africa: South Africa Revenue Services |
Eswatini |
Resolved 2012-04-26 |
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Complaint:
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South Africa is charging a fine of E1000.0 per set of customs documents for documents not acquitted within a month. |
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Resolution status note:
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At the 3rd meeting the Tripartite NTBs Focal Points and NMC Chairs held in Dar -es-Salaam on 19-20 April 2012,South Africa reported that this is a standing transit regulation. Swaziland and South Africa agreed that South Africa would provide the regulation for distribution to stakeholders. It was therefore resolved that the NTB be considered resolved. |
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NTB-000-088 |
2.6. Additional taxes and other charges |
2009-07-23 |
South Africa: South African Revenue Services |
Namibia |
Resolved 2011-06-08 |
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Complaint:
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South Africa charging an import levy on beer |
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Resolution status note:
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South Africa reported that beer is traded free under SADC and 5%/litre under SACU (Source: Jacobsens tariff book) |
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NTB-000-077 |
1.6. Domestic assistance programmes for companies Policy/Regulatory |
2009-07-23 |
South Africa: Industrial Development Corporation |
South Africa |
Resolved 2012-06-15 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in South Africa grants concessional credit facilities to productive investments |
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Resolution status note:
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The 10th meeting of the SADC Committee on Trade Facilitation held on 14-15 JUne 2012 agreed that the subsidy was permissible under the international trade rules and therefore the NTB should be considered resolved. |
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NTB-000-189 |
2.11. Lack of control in Customs infrastructure |
2009-07-27 |
South Africa: Beit Bridge |
Malawi |
Resolved 2012-04-26 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Pilferage of goods and the opening of sealed containers at the South African side of the Beitbridge border post |
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Resolution status note:
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At the 3rd meeting the Tripartite NTBs Focal Points and NMC Chairs held in Dar -es-Salaam on 19-20 April 2012,South Africa reported that they would consult SARS to provide an explanation of how the border process works and on measures put in place to prevent the incident re-occurring. Once this information was received from SARS, it wiould be uploaded to the online system. It was therefore agreed to have this NTB resolved as this could have been a once off incident. |
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NTB-000-090 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-07-26 |
South Africa: SouthAfrica Revenue Services |
Mauritius |
Resolved 2011-03-09 |
View |
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Complaint:
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There are delays in VAT refunds for Mauritian importers of South African goods. It is also not clear whether the VAT refunds re only for those companies that use South African imports. |
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Resolution status note:
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South Africa reported that this is no longer existing |
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NTB-000-090 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-07-26 |
South Africa: SouthAfrica Revenue Services |
Mauritius |
Resolved 2011-03-09 |
View |
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Complaint:
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There are delays in VAT refunds for Mauritian importers of South African goods. It is also not clear whether the VAT refunds re only for those companies that use South African imports. |
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Resolution status note:
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South Africa reported that this is no longer existing |
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NTB-000-090 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-07-26 |
South Africa: SouthAfrica Revenue Services |
Mauritius |
Resolved 2011-03-09 |
View |
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Complaint:
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There are delays in VAT refunds for Mauritian importers of South African goods. It is also not clear whether the VAT refunds re only for those companies that use South African imports. |
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Resolution status note:
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South Africa reported that this is no longer existing |
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NTB-000-349 |
6.2. Administrative fees |
2010-02-10 |
South Africa: Ministry of Transport |
Mozambique |
Resolved 2011-03-09 |
View |
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Complaint:
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South Africa charges on refrigerated trucks that come to pick bananas from Mozambique are too high |
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Resolution status note:
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South Africa reported that this is no longer existing |
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NTB-000-303 |
2.7. International taxes and charges levied on imports and other tariff measures |
2009-09-09 |
South Africa: Department of Trade and Industry |
Madagascar |
Resolved 2010-07-22 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Complex tariff and other import tax structure |
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Resolution status note:
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South Africa reported that both countries are members of SADC hence SADC tariff reduction schedules apply |
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NTB-000-219 |
2.3. Issues related to the rules of origin |
2009-07-28 |
South Africa: South Africa Revenue Services |
Zambia |
Resolved 2010-07-22 |
View |
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Complaint:
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SARS is issuing a blue colour SADC certificate of origin with wrong specifications instead of the approved Yellow certificate which is in accordance to the SADC specifications. Zambia Revenue Authority has rejected the blue certificates and demanded that Zambian importers pay full duties as deposits in order to clear their cargo which would have qualified under the SADC rules of origin had a proper certificate been issued. |
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Resolution status note:
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South Afric areported that SARS corrected the anomally and are noiw issuing correct colour certificate of origin |
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NTB-000-091 |
2.3. Issues related to the rules of origin |
2009-07-26 |
South Africa: SouthAfrica Revenue Services |
Mauritius |
Resolved 2011-03-09 |
View |
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Complaint:
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South Africa is not accepting the certificate of origin for cake decorations from Mauritius. |
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Resolution status note:
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South Africa reported that this is no longer existing |
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NTB-000-086 |
2.6. Additional taxes and other charges |
2009-07-23 |
South Africa: Ministry of Trade |
Namibia |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
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Complaint:
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South Africa applying a levy on imports of sorgum |
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Resolution status note:
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South Africa reported that, according to the tariff book this product is traded free under SADC, for SACU, a tariff of 3% /kg is charged. .This has been discussed by SACU Member Countries, again this complaint does relate to NTBs, |
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