Levious Chiukira on Customs and Trade

  Recovery cost on infrastructure becoming non-tariff barrier to trade case of Zimbabwe Beitbridge Border Post Upgrade.   From a global perspective, movement of commercial trade across the globe has witnessed a well-coordinated transport network through economic liberalization making it possible for firms in the industrial and retail sector to register tremendous growth, with reference to the developed countries (Hanif and Kaluwa 2016). The efforts at global level have been the eradication of both tariff and non-tariff barriers with the implementation of World Trade Organisation Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA). The major thrust has been on eradication of mainly non-tariff barriers which have continued to resurface in different forms regardless of the efforts being put. The major cost drive in Africa has remained related to transport and logistics which are high as compared to other regions. Of late the dilapidated railways systems have put pressure on road infras...

A Non-Tariff Barrier is any obstacle to international trade that is not an import or export duty. They may take the form of import quotas, subsidies, customs delays, technical barriers, or other systems preventing or impeding trade. Achieving the stated aim of the AfCFTA, ‘to create one African market’, will require eliminating of such NTBs.   As we celebrate the launch of AfCFTA , it is critical for both academics and professionals to start assessing the new kid on the bloc. Any criticism should be re4garded as constructive and not a wish list for the failure AfCFTA. As the secretary general of AfCFTA and team are in Ghana, the question is , has enough ground work been done to ensure the smooth implementation of AfCFTA.   Africa looks forward to the elimination of poverty through trade as the intra African trade is expected to increase from the current 15%. AfCFTA, which in the long-term is still likely to have a markedly positive impact on the intra-African trade of go...