Kenya’s imports from Tanzania hit KSh20.5 billion in H1 2021, riding on the back of resolved trade disputed between the two countries. This compares to KSh10.8 billion for the same period last year.
According to Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) data, the value of goods exported to Tanzania also grew to KSh17.8 billion, compared to KSh14 billion in H1 2020.
In June this year, a month after the State visit by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu to Kenya, Joint Commission on Cooperation (JCC) identified 60 tariff and non-tariff barriers between the two countries that had to be resolved. JCC is a bilateral organ comprising officials from the two countries created to resolve issues affecting areas of cooperation.
Among those resolved is customs clearance of soft drinks made in their territories, and removal of inspection fees on processed products with a standardisation mark.
Kenya then agreed to grant cement imports from Tanzania preferential treatment in accessing its market with Tanzania allowing Kenyan juices and wheat flour to be exported without hindrances at the border.
The East African reports that the two countries have so far handled 64 issues that were impeding on trade, out of which 30 were resolved and decisions made on how to settle the remaining 34.
Overall, Kenya’s imports increased to KSh992 billion in the first six months of 2021 from KSh777 billion in the same period in 2020 as the economy slowly recovered from the covid19-linked slump experienced last year. According to data from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), the value of commercial imports in the six months to June amounted to KSh959 million from KSh752 million last year.
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