Zambia and Tanzania Open Crucial Talks to Ease Trade Bottlenecks
Zambia and Tanzania have launched a four-day Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting aimed at improving the business environment and addressing barriers to trade between the two countries.
The expert-level discussions commenced on 4th May 2026 in Tunduma, Songwe Region, and will run until 7th May 2026. The talks are focused on eliminating tariff and non-tariff barriers, streamlining customs procedures, and enhancing policy coordination to facilitate smoother cross-border trade.
The meeting is being conducted in three phases, with technical experts currently reviewing key issues before submitting recommendations to Permanent Secretaries on 6th May. Final decisions are expected to be made at a Ministerial Meeting scheduled for 7th May 2026.
Zambia has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening trade and economic cooperation with Tanzania, urging both countries to capitalise on their historical relations and geographical advantages to unlock regional growth.
Speaking during the opening of the 5th JTC Technical Experts’ Meeting, Director of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Dr Simon Ng’ona, said both countries must turn their “natural advantages into practical outcomes” by improving border efficiency and removing trade bottlenecks.
He noted that successive JTC meetings since 2023 have been working to resolve trade challenges, building on commitments made during Tanzanian President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan’s State Visit to Zambia in 2023.
Dr Ng’ona emphasised that Tanzania’s access to the Indian Ocean and Zambia’s position as a land-linked hub in Southern and Central Africa place both countries at the centre of key regional trade corridors.
“These positions are not merely geographic realities; they are powerful enablers of trade facilitation, offering immense potential to reduce trade costs, improve market access, and strengthen value chains,” he said.
He further called for improved connectivity and simplified border processes to deepen bilateral trade and support regional integration under SADC and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Dr Ng’ona also highlighted that non-tariff barriers remain a major constraint on trade flows, warning that if not addressed, they could lead to disputes and slow economic progress.
He urged delegates to engage in open and forward-looking dialogue to develop lasting solutions, reaffirming Zambia’s commitment to strengthening partnership with Tanzania.
Tanzania’s Director of Trade Policy in the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Mr Ombeni Mwasha, co-chairing the meeting, echoed the need for frank discussions to resolve persistent challenges affecting trade growth.
“We must engage openly to reach lasting solutions to challenges affecting trade growth between our two countries,” he said.
