A Win for the Private Sector : Harmonizing Standards in the East African Community Partner States

Nderitu, Elizabeth Murugi ; Odongo, Mary

International Finance Corporation, Washington, DC

关键词: trade facilitation;    regional integration;    free trade area;    regional trade;    standards harmonization;   

RP-ID  :  113169

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA) launchedits standards harmonization project in 2011 to helpbusinesses cut costs associated with the different standardsin force across the East African community (EAC). The firstphase of the project will come to an end in June 2017. Thisproject stemmed from the importance of standards developmentfor regional integration and has been done throughsupporting the national bureaus of standards in achievingregional harmonization. Product standards have a significantimpact on trade in goods within the EAC while non-harmonizedstandards continue to interrupt the smooth flow of goods inthe region. This smart lessons describe the challenges tothe harmonization process and how the project’s successfulimplementation is boosting trade within the region.