Bill to create a tariff management board on the cards

STAFF WRITER

NAMIBIA is formulating a Bill for the creation of a tariff management body to safeguard the country from high trade tariffs in future, Minister of International Relations and Trade Selma Ashipala-Musavyi has said.

The development comes after the Donald Trump led government in the United States of America slapped most African countries including Namibia with high trade tariffs.

This has heightened fears of challenges that African products could face to access the American market.

Speaking at a Regional Business Engagement in the Kavango East Region on Friday Ashipala-Musavyi said the government acknowledges that trade liberalisation creates competition to the local producers and industry.

Ashipala-Musavyi said the  Ministry is in the advanced stage to establish our tariff management board, to ensure that the economy is safeguarded against unfair trade practices.

She added that the Bill aimed at establishing such a body will soon be tabled in parliament.

“Let me reiterate that this engagement serves as a platform for policymakers and business to exchange ideas on how to ensure that the Namibian products have access and compete effectively in the Regional, continental and global markets, by capitalising on the opportunities offered under the SADC and AfCFTA frameworks. We need to see more and diverse exports under the said agreements, including SME’s participation, in particular by women and youth. We are not starting from scratch,” she said. 

She said the Government will continue to engage locally and internationally to  foster a conducive business environment, and better appreciate the isolated challenges faced by exporting MSMEs, such as difficulties in reaching wider markets, lack of access to trade information pertaining and to address issues such as trade facilitations and non-tariff barriers.

Ashipala-Musavyi said the market access created by the Africa Continental Continental (AfCFTA), accords a great opportunity for Kavango East region to exploit this market. 

“Private sectors both large and small are the backbone of every economy in terms of creating jobs, generating tax revenue, and innovation stimulation. We will continue to advance policies that promote trade through. We stand ready to continue to work with the private sector, in order to collectively address the challenges that they face and exploit the abundant opportunities that exist,” she said.