Team from EABC visits partner states to collect views on tariff

Representatives of the business community yesterday embarked on a one week tour of the three East African partner States to seek industry views and assessment on various proposed changes to the EAC`s Customs Union Common External Tariff (CET).

They are doing this under the aegis of the East African Business Council (EABC).

The visit follows the recently held Council of Ministers meeting in Arusha during which the States either requested in some cases for the staying application of CET, or the re-classification of products and splits. The issue has since been a subject of discussions at the EAC.

Among the areas are requests for increase in import duty on reinforcement bars and angles from 10 to 25 per cent, and the stay application of CET of 25 per cent on heavy buses as well as the increase in duty rate of finished bicycles to 25 up from 10 per cent.

Other areas include the increase of CET on hides and skins from 10 to 25 per cent to encourage usage of local hides and the corresponding reduction of duty on soap noodles from 25 to 10 per cent.

``EABC has thus thought it appropriate to hold consultations to develop a harmonised position of the EAC private sector on these issues to enable its members present a common and well articulated position`` the EABC Communication and marketing officer, Bobi Odiko told The Guardian yesterday.