Off the wire
• 1st LD Writethru: Indonesia keeps benchmark repo rate unchanged  • U.S. stocks open lower after Fed minutes  • African nations appeal for funding for drought mitigation  • Palestinian elections commission says Israeli practices obstruct local elections  • 2.6 pct of passengers ride free in Germany  • 1st LD: Xi vows to promote China-Myanmar partnership  • Indonesia keeps benchmark repo rate unchanged  • (Sports Focus) Zhang Jian joins race for Asia seat on FIFA Council, say Chinese football authorities  • Opposition-led gov't formed in S. Africa's administrative capital  • Spotlight: Expectations on G20 trade and investment  
You are here: 　 Home

COMESA experts meet in Nairobi for harmonized commodities list

Xinhua, August 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

Senior trade ministry experts and heads of customs from 19 countries forming the Common Market for Eastern and South Africa (COMESA) met in Nairobi Friday to agree on a harmonized list of products and taxes to be charged on those products, officials said.

Francis Mangeni, Director of Trade, Customs and Monetary Affairs at the COMESA Secretariat, said in Nairobi the customs experts and other ministry of trade officials met to discuss a new list of 6,000 products that are traded around the world to agree on the common taxation and how to classify them.

"The customs officers meet every five years to review the list of products provided by the World Customs Organisation so that we can come up with the agreed taxes for each of the products. We also meet to agree on the rules of origin and how to differentiate the products from our member states," Mangeni told Xinhua in an interview.

Mangeni said preparation of the rules for exporters is a critical to promote and facilitate international trade.

The harmonized list would come into force once it has been approved and becomes effective from January 2017.

COMESA is a leading source of exports to some African countries. Kenya, a member of the 19-member trade body, uses the COMESA as a key regional market for products manufactured locally.

Kenya exported goods worth 6 billion U.S. dollars in 2015 around the world with COMESA, which, for the first time, became the single largest destination of Kenyan exports.

Chris Kiptoo, Kenya's Principal Secretary for Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, said COMESA is a "critical destination" for Kenya's international trade and export development. Enditem