An Assessment of Implementation of The East African Community Common Market Protocol in Improving Trade in Tanzania: A Case of Dar es Salaam Region.

This dissertation is a product based on the assessment of implementation of the East African Community common market protocol on improving trade in Tanzania. The study used qualitative and quantitative research approaches In order to meet research requirements and criteria, the study designed and developed research instruments including questionnaire, interview schedules. Findings showed that most of the respondents agreed that the EAC common market protocol have benefited business people in the region. However, findings showed further that there were various challenges that business people still encountered in EAC market including; import bans, cumbersome procedures for registration of business across border, standards and packaging, multiple weight bridges, and numerous police roadblocks. Furthermore, the findings indicated that, majority of respondents suggested various ways to address the envisioned challenges like; provision of education about trade barriers to business persons, reduce the number of road weight bridges, and various stakeholder meetings to discuss various trade issues. The findings of the study came out with various recommendations for proper implementation of EAC common market protocol. They included transparency on NTBs law, business that is free from political interventions and provision of education through radio, magazine, social media, seminars and trade fairs about EAC common market and other platforms of EAC. These would create awareness to citizens as common market is crucial to create a common economic space among the participating countries. Keywords: East African Community (EAC), Common Market Protocol, Trade, Tanzani