Zimbabwe: Comesa States Urged to Work Together

The Herald (Harare) - 20 September 2007

Secretary for Industry and International Trade Mr Christian Katsande said recently considerable time was needed to harmonise tariffs and come up with a comprehensive list of sensitive products.

"Different countries face different sensitivities," he said. "To some reducing tariffs is sensitive, yet to others raising the same tariffs results in sensitivities.

"Such situations call for innovative approaches to take into consideration everyone's interest so that we move together as a region."

He also said the recently adopted Common External Tariff (CET) in Nairobi, Kenya by Comesa heads of state and government be accompanied by a list of sensitive products.

The list, Mr Katsande said, should take note of the plight of countries whose national tariffs are high and allow them to carry bigger lists of sensitive products.

"For example, Zimbabwe is operating with a maximum tariff of 40 percent on finished goods," he said, adding some tariffs within this category went up to about 87 or 100 percent.

"If such tariffs were aligned to the CET overnight the consequences will be ghastly. "Therefore, it is imperative that implementation of the CET be accompanied by a list of sensitive products," he said

Mr Katsande said having a common tariff system for sensitive products would further strengthen regional integration and promote trade among member states.

Its development would also pave way for the establishment of the long-awaited Comesa Customs Union. The union has been on the drawing board since 2004 due to a number of logistics, among them lack of seriousness by member states and conflicting interests.

The workshop brought together trade and customs experts from all the 13 Comesa states. It aimed to identify sensitive products and set them at a common tariff.

The products vary but include maize, fertilizer and motor parts.