ECCAS TradeBarriers Portal

Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) are restrictions on international trade that result from prohibitions, conditions, or specific market requirements that make importation or exportation of products difficult and/or costly.

Common examples include excessive delays at border crossings, ad hoc fees, cumbersome documentation requirements, restrictive product standards and regulations, and discriminatory treatment of foreign goods.

Tariff barriers are taxes or duties imposed on imported goods at the border. They are transparent, predictable, and published in official schedules.

Non-tariff barriers, on the other hand, are all other obstacles to trade that are not tariffs. They can be less transparent, harder to identify, and may be applied inconsistently. NTBs can sometimes have a greater impact on trade than tariffs.

NTBs are categorized into several types:

• Customs and Administrative Procedures - Complex documentation, slow clearance, arbitrary classification
• Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) - Product standards, testing requirements, labeling rules
• Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures - Health and safety requirements for food, plants, animals
• Quantitative Restrictions - Import quotas, bans, licensing requirements
• Rules of Origin Issues - Disputes over where products were manufactured
• Transit and Transport Barriers - Road blocks, vehicle standards, transit fees
• Corruption and Bribery - Demands for unofficial payments
• Infrastructure Issues - Poor roads, limited border post hours, inadequate facilities

NTBs can significantly impact businesses by:

• Increasing the cost of goods through delays and additional fees
• Causing spoilage of perishable goods due to border delays
• Creating uncertainty that discourages cross-border trade
• Reducing competitiveness of regional products
• Disproportionately affecting small traders and women traders

The platform is open to all business sectors: small, medium and large companies, informal traders, women and youth business operators, transporters, clearing agents, and anyone involved in cross-border trade who encounters a barrier.

You can report an NTB through the following steps:

1. Register an account on the portal with your details
2. Confirm your email address via the activation link
3. Log in with your credentials
4. Click "Register a Complaint" and fill in the details
5. Provide as much detail as possible about the barrier, including location, date, and any documentation

You can also report using our mobile app, available on Android and iOS.

To help us investigate and resolve your complaint quickly, please provide:

• The country where the barrier occurred (imposing country)
• Specific location (border post, port, checkpoint, etc.)
• Date when the incident occurred
• Type of barrier encountered
• Detailed description of what happened
• Products or goods affected
• Estimated value of the trade affected
• Any supporting documents (photos, receipts, etc.)

Yes, reporting an NTB is completely free. The platform is a public service designed to facilitate trade and there are no charges for submitting or tracking complaints.

Yes, your personal information is kept confidential. While the details of the barrier may be shared with relevant authorities for resolution, your identity is protected. Only authorized officials have access to complainant details, and this information is handled in accordance with data protection regulations.

After you submit your report:

1. You receive an acknowledgement that your complaint has been received
2. A focal point reviews and validates your complaint
3. The complaint is forwarded to the relevant national or regional authorities
4. Authorities investigate and work to resolve the issue
5. You receive updates on the status of your complaint
6. Once resolved, you are notified of the outcome

Your complaint is handled by a network of institutions:

• National Focal Points - Officials in each country responsible for receiving and addressing NTB complaints
• Regional Economic Community (REC) Units - For issues requiring regional coordination
• Trade Secretariat - Provides oversight and escalation support

Resolution time varies depending on the complexity of the issue and the cooperation of the parties involved. Simple procedural issues may be resolved within days or weeks, while systemic barriers requiring policy changes may take longer. You can track the progress of your complaint through the portal at any time.

Once logged in, you can view all your submitted complaints and their current status. Each complaint has a unique reference number and shows its current stage in the resolution process. You will also receive email notifications when there are updates to your complaint.

If you are not satisfied with how your complaint was handled, you can request an escalation. The complaint can be referred to higher authorities or regional bodies for further review. You can also add additional comments or evidence to your existing complaint.

Click the "Register" button on the homepage. Fill in your details including your name, email address, and create a password. You will receive an email with a link to verify your account. Once verified, you can log in and start reporting NTBs.

On the login page, click "Forgot Password". Enter your email address and you will receive a link to reset your password. Follow the instructions in the email to create a new password.

The platform is available in multiple languages to serve our diverse user base. You can change your language preference using the language selector at the top of the page. Complaints can be submitted in any language.

Yes! Our mobile app is available for both Android and iOS devices. You can download it from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. The app allows you to report NTBs on the go and attach photos directly from your device.