STAFF WRITER
Namibia will soon create a tariff commission to protect the country’s industries from competition.
This follows the tabling of the International Trade Management Bill, 2026 by International Relations and Trade Minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi this week.
The Bill among other things seeks to establish an International Trade
Management Commission) which will operate as an independent and professional body, with a clear mandate and defined powers.
Ashipala -Musavyi said the Commission will investigate, determine, and recommend tariff adjustments, including customs duties, rebates, and refunds, on the basis of rigorous economic analysis and consistent with
Namibia’s regional and international obligations.
The Commission will also be empowered to investigate and act on dumping, subsidised imports, and import surges that affect Namibian producers, through anti-dumping, countervailing, and safeguard measures as well as the implementation of the Infant Industry Protection which is provided for under Article 26 of the SACU Agreement, gives emerging industries the necessary time to build capacity, create jobs and compete with established producers.
“The Commission will advise the Minister and Government on trade policy, tariff strategy, and Namibia’s positions in trade negotiations. Decisions will follow open,
predictable procedures, with public notice, stakeholder participation, published
reasons, and provision for review,” she said.
She said the Bill will provide for merit-based appointments, sound financial management, and will make it mandatory for the Commission to have an annual report to parliament .
“ Firstly, it (the Bill) supports industrialisation and value addition. Namibia’s Vision 2030 calls for a structural shift from exporting raw materials to producing
and exporting finished goods. Targeted and carefully calibrated tariff measures, applied with clear objectives and periodic review, are among the tools needed to nurture emerging local industries, attract investment, and create sustainable jobs,” she said.
Ashipala-Musavyi said the Bill will also protectsNamibian producers and jobs. “Unfair trading practices, such as dumping, can destroy viable businesses overnight. A dedicated national body with the power to investigate and respond swiftly, will give our manufacturers and entrepreneurs confidence that they compete on a fair footing,” she said.
The Bill is also aimed at safeguarding consumers and the cost of living, providing certainty for investors and traders and strengthening Namibia’s voice in regional and continental trade.
“Within SACU, SADC and the AfCFTA, tariff outcomes have significant implications for national revenue and competitiveness. A well-resourced national institution will enable Namibia to negotiate from a position of knowledge and strength, and to prepare our economy to benefit from expanded market access across Africa and beyond,” she said.
The Minister said the Bill is a product of consultation with Government offices, ministries and agencies, the private sector, organised labour, and other stakeholders.
The Bill was presented to the Cabinet Committee on Legislation, legally scrubbed, and certified by the Office of the Attorney General.
“This Bill represents a deliberate step towards building an economy that is more competitive, more diversified, and more resilient. It affirms our commitment to fair and open trade, while ensuring that Namibia’s interests are advanced with skill and conviction,” she said.
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