DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzania has now lifted its very short-lived ban imposed on agricultural imports from Malawi and South Africa. This ban was imposed as a retaliatory trade measure earlier this week.
The announcement to lift the ban was made late on Friday by the Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority (TPHPA), with Director General Joseph Ndunguru stating that the decision was taken in view of diplomatic discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing trade disagreements.
The ban also included major food items that comprised maize flour, rice, ginger, and bananas from Malawi and bananas from South Africa, which were placed on the ground after those countries imposed restrictions on the export of these goods from Tanzania, while fertilizer export from Tanzania to Malawi was curtailed, only to be reversed as a result of diplomatic engagement.
The three countries are all members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), an economic regional group established to foster trade cooperation. The hasty imposition of the trade restrictions by Malawi and South Africa raised some questions about adherence to the regional trade agreements and economic integration.
TPHPA stated that both countries showed openness to engage in ministerial-level dialogue with a view to finding mutually beneficial solutions. By lifting the bans, Tanzania wishes to de-escalate the tension and cultivate peaceful negotiations within the framework of SADC cooperation.
The decision is viewed positively for regional trade stability specifically, whereas East and Southern African countries are now resorting to the expansion of export markets and the attainment of food security. Particular interest is now being paid toward how the diplomatic interaction will unfold and determine the future of trade among these neighboring nations.
[Source Credit: Business Recorder]
