EAC Customs Union still a distant dream

by Valentine Marc Nkwame

While the proposed signing date for the protocol to establish the East African Customs Union is at the threshold, some members of the East African Legislative Assembly, (EALA) are doubtful whether the entire arrangement would be put into practice.

The assembly members from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, who met here last week to discuss the report on the series of public hearing workshops on the, Draft EAC Customs Union protocol and the Standardization, Quality assurance, Metrology and Testing (SQMT) pointed out that the protocols operations might delay due to lack of the relevant legal framework.

Although a study on legal, institution and administrative structure of the Customs Union has been commissioned by the EAC Secretariat and that its report is due for approval by the Council, EALA members noted that the legal text regarding putting the protocol into operation has not yet been prepared.

"This implies that signing of the protocol draft is one thing, but putting it into operation is another" They noted, adding that it may not commence immediately.

Signing of the customs union protocol which is a crucial stage in the economic integration among the EAC member states, is set for the end of November this year, as provided for in the Article 75(7) of the Treaty for the establishment of the EAC, which states that, the partner states shall finalise establishment of the Customs Union within four years of signing of the EAC treaty.

However, the EAC secretariat plans to establish a fully operational Customs Union by 1st of July 2004. It is estimated that more than 80 million East Africans are going to benefit from this trade arrangement which will also help the region compete effectively at international level.

An EALA representative from Kenya, Rose Waruhi, suggested that it was important for the EAC secretariat to prepare all legislations procedures required, to make the Customs Union protocol operational prior to the signing date.

Waruhi added that, the legislations needed to be enacted into laws by the EALA as soon as possible in order to facilitate the active operation of the protocol.

In their resolutions to the EAC Council of ministers, EALA members stressed the need for the Council to take an immediate decision on the legal framework and institutional arrangement regarding the mode of collection and distribution of the collected revenues.

Yonnas Kanyomozi, another Kenyan representative said that East Africans including commercial institutions and people from both the Dar-es-Salaam and Nairobi stock exchange markets are anxious to enter into the regional common market.

"There is also need for an urgent action on the protocol on the free movement of people, goods, services and the rights of establishment, because the customs union cannot work without them!" He said.

Last modified: October 23, 2003.
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