Arusha, Tanzania — The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) has passed a new bill aimed at strengthening trade integration, improving customs transparency, and enhancing economic cooperation among member states of the East African Community (EAC).
The bill, passed on Friday, October 17, 2025, marks a major step toward the EAC’s long-standing goal of creating a seamless regional market where goods, services, and people can move freely across borders.
The EAC Trade and Customs (Amendment) Bill 2025 seeks to harmonize customs procedures and address non-tariff barriers that have slowed down trade within the region. The bill also introduces stronger mechanisms for sharing trade data, tracking goods electronically, and curbing corruption at border posts.
EALA lawmakers said the bill would boost confidence among traders, investors, and consumers by ensuring greater accountability and fairness in regional trade operations.
“For too long, small traders and transporters have suffered from inefficiency, delays, and unfair practices at border points,” said Bertha Ismail, one of the EALA members who supported the bill. “This law is about creating a level playing field and making East Africa a truly competitive trading bloc.”
Under the new law, customs authorities in all EAC partner states — Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo — will be required to digitize trade documentation and use a common electronic platform to share information.
This will make it easier for businesses to move goods between countries, reduce costs, and minimize smuggling or under-declaration of goods.
The bill also promotes transparency in customs revenue collection, a key concern for partner states that rely heavily on import taxes. By improving data exchange and accountability, the new system is expected to increase government revenue while discouraging corruption.
“Transparency in customs operations is essential for trust among partner states,” said EALA Speaker Joseph Ntakirutimana. “It strengthens integration and helps all members benefit equally from regional trade.”
The legislation aligns with the EAC’s broader vision of creating a single market and investment area, as outlined in the EAC Common Market Protocol.
It also supports the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to connect regional markets across the continent.
Economists have praised the move as a practical step toward unlocking the region’s full trade potential. According to the EAC Secretariat, intra-regional trade currently accounts for less than 20% of total trade — a figure experts believe could double with better coordination and transparent customs systems.
The bill will now be forwarded to the EAC Council of Ministers and eventually to the Heads of State Summit for approval before it becomes law across all partner states. Once enacted, the new law will require member countries to update their customs laws and systems within a set timeframe to ensure full compliance.
Trade experts say the law’s success will depend on political will, technology investment, and close coordination among border agencies.
“Passing the bill is only the beginning,” said Dr. Rose Nduku, a regional trade analyst. “Implementation will determine whether this effort truly transforms the way East Africans do business.”
If successfully implemented, the new customs and trade law is expected to:
• Reduce clearance time for goods at borders.
• Cut transport and logistics costs for traders.
• Increase government revenue through improved accountability.
• Strengthen trust and cooperation among EAC member states.
With this reform, the East African Community moves one step closer to realizing its vision of a fully integrated, prosperous, and competitive regional economy — built on fairness, efficiency, and shared growth.
