Cement and cigarettes will be the first goods to be cleared under a new trade deal allowing for joint collection of Customs taxes by Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.
Under the deal starting April 1, clearing agents have been granted rights to relocate and carry out their duties in any of the partner states under the single Customs territory system, raising hope for improved flow of goods and curbing of dumping.
Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) commissioner of customs service Beatrice Memo said: “Effective April 1, importers and exporters of cigarettes, cement and neutral spirit originating from Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda for trade within the three countries shall have them cleared through the SCT system.”
Importers of these commodities will lodge the import declaration forms in their home country and pay relevant taxes first to facilitate the export process.
KRA will then issue a road manifest against the import documents submitted electronically by the revenue authority of the importing country.
Source: The East African
