Complaint
- Complaint number
- AfCFTA-000-093
- NTB Type
- 2.2. Customs classification
- Reported through
- Web
- Complaint
-
Viva&Co Ghana Limited is a Ghanaian manufacturing enterprise which produces glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars. This product is made from the glass fibers and due to technological process afterwards receiving properties that are allowing it to be used as a construction material
As a Ghanaian manufacturer we were exited to start trading with other African countries using preferential treatment provided by AfCFTA.
However having an understanding that Tanzanian authorities might not consider our product as a one which falls under AfCFTA we have decided to test the waters and send first consignment to Tanzania by air. In December 2024, we have received Assessment document from TRA where import duty for our product was imposed at the level of 10%. At that time we were said, that our Certificate of Origin issued by the competent Ghanaian authority is not accepted by TZ customs. Since goods were already in TZ and we had no choice we had to pay full duties and clear the goods.
In order to get official clarification from the Tanzania Revenue Authority, on 15th January, 2025 we have submitted a letter to TRA requesting, inter alia, following:
1) Does HS code 7019.90 in the United Republic of Tanzania receives preferential treatment under Category A products (non-sensitive products) under AfCFTA?
2) Does rate of import duty for products with HS code 7019.90 in 2025 amounts to 5%?
3) Is a Certificate of Origin issued by a competent authority of the Republic of Ghana serves as enough evidence to a fact that goods originated from the Republic of Ghana?
In response, TRA by its letter dated 17th February, 2025 replied to us, that TRA failed to provide guidance/advance ruling on tariff classification and rate of the item listed because Viva failed to provide sufficient documents and justification to help officers to get better understanding of the good.
We are considering this answer as a part of the NTB for our product.
As an evidence to that we can say that, we have sent our product and cleared it under AfCFTA at the Republic of Kenya, where our product received preferential treatment and rate of import duty at the level of 5%. And as Kenya and Tanzania are part of East African Community, there shall be no differences between the classification of the goods.
Having clearance documents from the Kenya on hand on 9th March, 2025 we wrote another letter to the Commissioner for Customs & Excise of TRA and requested to provide another evaluation. However, so far we did not received a reply to this letter.
We consider all mentioned above as a pure NTB from the customs of the Republic of Tanzania. - Progress update note
- Policy or regulatory NTB
- No
- Location
- Tanzania, United Republic of: Customs division, Tanzania Revenue Authority (Government institution)
- Reporting Country or Region
- Ghana
- Date of incident
- 2025-02-17
- Status
- New
- Product Description
-
Glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) bar
- Total value
- 1 155.75
- Annual trade value
- 0
- Date reported
- 2025-03-24
- Modified
- 2025-03-24 20:06
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