TRAPCA | ESAMI | Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) | East Africa Community(EAC)

Oct

Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) Reporting & Advocacy – A Guide for Small Agroecological Traders

October 24, 2025

Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) Reporting & Advocacy

How to identify NTBs, use reporting mechanisms (e.g., EAC NTB online tool), escalate issues, and mobilise trader groups for collective advocacy.

Why NTBs Matter

Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) are obstacles to trade that increase cost and time without being formal tariffs.
Examples: illegal fees, multiple checkpoints, confusing permits, slow customs clearance, unnecessary SPS tests, and discriminatory treatment of women traders.
In East Africa, NTBs cause delays of up to 48 hours and raise informal costs by 20–40% for small agroecological traders (AFSA Border Trade Study, 2024).
Both the EAC and the AfCFTA have formal mechanisms to identify, report, and remove NTBs — but they only work if traders use them.

Common Types of NTBs Affecting Agroecological Trade

Category	Examples	Impact on Traders
Administrative Delays	Customs takes 1–3 days to verify small consignments; repeat SPS testing	Spoilage of fresh produce; higher costs
Informal Payments	Unofficial “facilitation fees,” bribes at checkpoints	Unpredictable costs; harassment
Non-Recognition of STR	Officials refuse simplified procedures or demand full customs clearance	Lost STR benefits; higher duties
Restrictive Permits	Extra local authority licenses or travel passes	Adds cost & time
Discriminatory Practices	Women/youth traders asked for extra documentation	Reduced participation
Technical Barriers	New labelling rules without notice	Goods rejected or delayed

Source: AFSA Cross-Border Trade Study 2024; EAC NTB Monitoring System reports.

Step-by-Step: How to Report an NTB in the EAC

A. Immediate Action at the Border

Stay calm and polite.
Request explanation: Ask for the legal basis or written instruction.
Record details: Date, time, officer name/badge, location, what was requested (fee, permit, delay).
Keep receipts/photos (if safe to do so).

B. File an NTB Complaint Online

EAC NTB Reporting System
- Website: https://www.tradebarriers.org
- Languages: English, Kiswahili, and French.
- Mobile-friendly & SMS enabled in some countries.
How to file:
- Go to “Report a Barrier.”
- Fill: Name/Cooperative, product, border post, nature of barrier, evidence (photo/receipt).
- Submit. You will get a case number and email updates.
National NTB Focal Points
- Each EAC Partner State has a desk officer:
  - Kenya: Contact list
  - Tanzania: Contact list
  - Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC — see full NTB Contacts.

C. Escalation if Unresolved

National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC)
- Usually hosted by the Ministry of Trade.
- Raise cases through trader cooperatives/CSOs.
EAC Regional Monitoring Committee (RMC)
- Meets quarterly; unresolved NTBs are escalated here.
AfCFTA NTB Mechanism (for intra-African trade beyond EAC)
- Web portal: https://tradebarriers.africa
- Similar process: register and submit a complaint.

Tips for Successful NTB Reporting

Be factual, not emotional — stick to what happened, when, where, and how.
Use evidence: receipts, permits, photos, WhatsApp group witness accounts.
Leverage cooperatives/associations — cases from groups are taken more seriously.
Follow up: log in to your case profile on www.tradebarriers.org to track status.
Escalate: If 14–30 days pass without resolution, raise to NTFC or AfCFTA portal.

Advocacy & Collective Action

A. Form or Join Trader Networks

Why: Collective reporting → more pressure on authorities.
Examples: Women Cross-Border Traders Associations (WCBTA), cooperatives, chambers.

B. Work with Civil Society & Media

CSOs like AFSA or SEATINI can help push unresolved NTBs to policy forums.
Community radio or local media amplify systemic issues.

C. Engage in Policy Platforms

National Trade Facilitation Committees (NTFCs) request observer/associate membership.
AfCFTA Women & Youth in Trade Network: https://au.int/en/ti/cfta/about — join to advocate regionally.

D. Use Data to Influence Policy

Keep a simple NTB logbook: date, border, barrier type, cost/time lost.
Present at cooperative meetings or NTFC sessions.

Digital & Mobile Tools for NTB Reporting

Tool	Platform	Link
EAC NTB Reporting Portal	Web & Mobile	https://www.tradebarriers.org
AfCFTA NTB Mechanism	Web	https://tradebarriers.africa
Trade Help Desks	At major borders	Check local signage
EAC-ATKH (upcoming)	Web & Mobile	(link TBA by AFSA/trapca)

Real-World Case Study

Case: Informal bean traders at Rusumo (Tanzania–Rwanda border)

In 2024, small traders faced illegal roadblocks and extra SPS fees despite valid STR and phytosanitary certificates.

Traders reported collectively via www.tradebarriers.org.
NTB desk intervened within 14 days; roadblocks removed.
The group was invited to an NTFC meeting to share barriers.
Result: Average clearance time dropped by 50%, and informal payments reduced significantly.

Key References & Links

EAC NTB Portal: https://www.tradebarriers.org
AfCFTA NTB Mechanism: https://tradebarriers.africa
NTB Focal Points Contact List: https://www.tradebarriers.org/contacts
EAC Elimination of NTBs Act (2017): Download PDF
EAC Simplified Trade Regime Guidelines: https://www.eac.int/customs/simplified-trade-regime
AfCFTA Agreement & Annexe 5 on NTBs: https://au.int/en/ti/cfta/about
WTO NTB & TBT resources: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tbt_e/tbt_e.htm

📦 Suggested Design

Length: 8–10 pages with screenshots (NTB portal, AfCFTA portal, SMS reporting), flow diagrams for escalation.
Format: PDF & mobile-friendly version; QR codes to portals & contact lists.
Languages: English & Kiswahili (and French if targeting wider Africa).

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