About the report
The report, Uganda: Company perspectives – An ITC Series on Non-Tariff Measures, highlights regulatory and procedural challenges that Ugandan exporters and importers face when complying with trade regulations and procedures. The findings reflect interviews with nearly 500 exporters and importers, and provides suggestions on how to address these challenges
The most challenging NTMs for Ugandan exporters are certification, labelling, packaging and rules of origin. Countries in the East African Community (EAC) and the European Union (EU), Uganda’s two biggest markets, impose the most NTMs. Procedures hamper exporters’ compliance with NTMs. Administrative hurdles, high fees and charges, delays and inadequate testing facilities affect Ugandan businesses both at their border and in destination markets.
The report suggests that better export-quality management within Uganda, including laboratories for testing, certification and standards development, would improve the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It also recommends the implementation of an automated border clearance to reduce delays and increase transparency.
Background
The results presented in this report are based on a business survey implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives of Uganda (MTIC). Interviews with 493 companies were carried out between August 2015 and August 2016.
ITC and MTIC jointly organized a stakeholder meeting in Kampala in October 2016 to present the survey results and initiate discussion on necessary actions to alleviate the problems due to NTMs.
Recommendations presented in this report are based on consultations with relevant stakeholders and experts.
The report was presented to Ugandan stakoholders by ITC Executive Director and the Minister of Trade, Indutry and Cooperatives on 30 April 2018 in Kampala.