Museveni to hold trade talks with Tanzanian president,John Pombe Magufuli

Tanzania’s new tariffs target imports of processed goods (25%) and intermediate goods (10%) and but raw materials and capital goods attract zero tariffs. Producers of processed goods such as sugar, edible oil, steel and iron products and mineral will have to between 10 and 35% access the Tanzania market.

The president of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has visited his counterpart in TanzaniaJohn Pombe Magufuli to straighten trade relations between the two countries.

President Museveni was , today, welcomed by Magufuli himself at the Julius Nyerere International Airport from where they headed to State House Dar es Salaam for talks.

Last week, Tanzania announced it would impose a 25% import duty on Ugandan sugar exports, in spite of recent efforts to improve bilateral and trade ties.

The two leaders are expected to discuss various issues affecting trade relations between the countries and the region. They are also expected to discuss the second Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) that will be held in Kampala.

The JPC is expected to review the implementation of decisions agreed upon in various sectors including the East African Crude Oil Pipeline and proposed gas pipeline from Tanzania to Uganda.

According to state minister for foreign affairs, Henry Okello Oryem Tanzania’s new tarrifs on Ugandan sugar were out of tune with what the East African leaders agreed on during the last northern corridor summit held in Kigali, Rwanda in June.

“We agreed that tariffs and charges on consumer products should be discussed by members of parliament. For Tanzania to increase it unfairly goes against the spirit of what was agreed,” Oryem said.

Tanzania is one of Uganda’s largest trading partners with trade volumes (imports) from Tanzania in excess sh700b by the end of 2017.

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