PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

U.S. Department of Agriculture East Africa Trade in Agriculture Safely and Efficiently (TRASE)

Easing sanitary and phytosanitary-related trade barriers in East Africa.
2019 – 2024

The U.S. Department of Agriculture East Africa Trade in Agriculture Safely and Efficiently (TRASE) project is expanding agricultural trade for the East African Community (EAC) partner states domestically, regionally, and internationally, with a focus on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards. The project is domesticating the EAC Sanitary and Phytosanitary Legal Framework (ESLF) and building capacity among key public and private institutions to ease barriers to trade. It focuses on driving best practices in SPS, including promoting public-private partnerships and building awareness on the importance of food safety. Through these efforts, TRASE is opening doors for new trade and opportunity in the agriculture sector.

PROJECT FOCUS AREAS

1. Expanding Agricultural Trade

For example, the project is institutionalizing risk-based, lower costs measures to reduce trade transaction costs across borders.

2. Driving Best Practices in SPS

By promoting public-private partnerships, TRASE is domesticating the EAC SPS Legal Framework in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Burundi. It is also building producer and consumer awareness on the importance of safe food and the harmful effects of low quality and/or counterfeit inputs on human health, the environment and trade, thus driving demand for safer products.

3. Strengthening Regional and National SPS Committees

TRASE is strengthening SPS committees to coordinate and communicate with the private sector and EAC governments on actions to reduce trade barriers, increase transparency, and raise SPS awareness.

REGIONAL CONTEXT

East African Community

The East African Community (EAC) represents one of the fastest growing regional economic communities in the world. And yet, trade of agricultural products from and within this region has been hindered by sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues. The EAC Secretariat has recently taken important steps to create and prioritize common SPS standards for its partner states.