ARUSHA, July 22 -- THE East African Business Council (EABC) has urged East African Community (EAC) member states to address existing trade barriers to enhance intra-regional trade and reduce overdependence on external markets.

EABC Acting Executive Director, Mr Adrian Njau made the remarks in Arusha yesterday during a media briefing on the EAC Common External Tariff (CET).

Mr Njau noted that the slow growth in intra-EAC trade, compared to the rapid expansion of external trade, is largely due to the underutilisation of regional trade opportunities.

He cited key impediments including the persistent existence of non-tariff barriers (NTBs), weak regional industrial value chains, lack of product diversification and inconsistent application ...