The Non-Tariff Barrier Monitoring Mechanism

This case study examines the Non-Tariff Barrier (NTB) Monitoring Mechanism, a regional instrument designed for the monitoring, reporting, and elimination of non-tariff barriers across the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Launched in 2009 and administered primarily by Trade Mark Southern Africa (TMSA), the mechanism serves as a supplementary, facilitative tool to support the rules-based trade frameworks of these regional economic communities (RECs). It emphasizes the participation of the private sector through focal points and National Monitoring Committees (NMCs) to address trade-inhibiting barriers that disproportionately affect small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

• The NTB Monitoring Mechanism is a regional tool for the monitoring, reporting, and elimination of non-tariff barriers across three regional economic communities: COMESA, EAC, and SADC. It is primarily administered by Trade Mark Southern Africa (TMSA), with the three REC Secretariats serving as the institutional points for implementation and national government focal points acting as domestic contacts.
• The mechanism integrates the private sector by assigning both a government and a private-sector focal point for each of the 26 participating countries. These focal points receive complaints logged via the mechanism's website or SMS, and private-sector focal points participate in yearly meetings, which can include bilateral sessions with offending governments to resolve outstanding NTBs.
• Non-tariff barriers (NTBs) increase the cost of doing business in Africa and hinder the growth of trade volumes expected from tariff reductions. Research indicates that NTBs disproportionately impact small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and SMMEs compared to large enterprises, and can even impede the development of new SMEs.
• The NTB Mechanism acts as a 'conciliatory and non-adjudicatory' supplementary tool that complements existing rules-based trade frameworks. This facilitative approach is preferred in the region over litigious state-to-state dispute settlement, which is often avoided due to a preference for cooperation, the desire to avoid internal conflict, or capacity constraints.
• The mechanism utilizes National Monitoring Committees (NMCs) to foster domestic consultations with the private sector, particularly in member states where such systems were previously weak. These NMCs are intended to be institutionalized under the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA).
• As of April 2013, the most frequent types of NTBs logged in the mechanism included 'Lengthy and costly customs procedures' (53), 'Issues related to rules of origin' (44), and 'Costly road user charges' (33). Out of 451 logged NTBs, 73% were listed as 'Resolved'.

APA

Chikura, C. (2013). The Non-Tariff Barrier Monitoring Mechanism. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/REV_SAIIA_perisa_ps_CS1chikura_20131212.pdf

Chicago

Chikura, Cynthia. The Non-Tariff Barrier Monitoring Mechanism. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2013. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/REV_SAIIA_perisa_ps_CS1chikura_20131212.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Chikura |first1=Cynthia |title=The Non-Tariff Barrier Monitoring Mechanism |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=August 2013 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/REV_SAIIA_perisa_ps_CS1chikura_20131212.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{chikura2013nontariff, author = {Chikura, Cynthia}, title = {{The Non-Tariff Barrier Monitoring Mechanism}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2013}, month = aug, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/REV_SAIIA_perisa_ps_CS1chikura_20131212.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }