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angle-left COMESA Free Trade and Tripartite Agreements

COMESA Free Trade and Tripartite Agreements

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA): Burundi has been part of the COMESA Free Trade Area since 2004 along with 14 other COMESA countries. This assumes that goods circulate freely with the elimination of customs duties.

The Tripartite Free Trade Area between COMESA-EAC SADC Member Countries: Burundi signed the Tripartite Agreement on June 10, 2015 and the ratification process is ongoing.

Trade Agreements in Burundi

Burundi, a partner country of the East African Community and a member of other regional economic communities, has signed several trade agreements between one or more African countries and outside the African continent.

Burundi is also a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) since July 23, 1995 and is a member of the General Agreement on Customs Tariffs and Trade signed in 1947, which aims to develop free trade.

Burundi is also part of the Customs Union and the Common Market of the East African Community, which consists of creating a regional economic bloc characterized by the free movement of goods and investments.

Among the main objectives of the East African Community Customs Union are the liberalization of regional trade in goods on the basis of mutually beneficial trade agreements between the Partner States of the East African Community as well as the removal of barriers to trade that they are technical, tariff and non-tariff.

With the trade agreements concluded, Burundian economic operators can import or export goods freely to or in other African countries and outside the African continent, according to the agreements concluded and in force.

Burundian women in Commerce and other sectors that can generate income can also take advantage of these business arrangements to grow and expand their businesses and prosper economically.