Tackling Trade Barriers: Key Highlights from the Torit Workshop (April 14, 2025)

The workshop held in Torit on April 14, 2025, co-hosted by the Association of South Sudan Manufacturers (ASSM) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO), successfully brought together local entrepreneurs, state officials, and trade experts to address the critical issues of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBTs) hindering trade within South Sudan and the East African Community (EAC).

The primary objectives of the workshop were to:

• Identify and eliminate the various obstacles impeding the free movement of goods and traders.
• Address and reduce bureaucratic delays encountered at borders and checkpoints.
• Improve the efficiency of processing trade-related licenses and permits.
• Streamline the procedures involved in goods clearance.
• Lower the escalating costs associated with conducting business.
• Enhance transparency and communication regarding changes in regulations.

The voices of the business community vividly illustrated the challenges:

• Mr. Patrick (Flixtone Enterprise): Emphasized the burden of multiple monthly tax collections by different agencies and advocated for a harmonized, transparent single payment system for stability.
• Ms. Rose (Trader from Torit): Highlighted the costly and redundant requirement of goods cleared at Nimule needing further clearance in Juba. She also pointed out the detrimental impact of poor road infrastructure and excessive checkpoints on their businesses.

These first-hand accounts underscored how fragmented systems, the imposition of double taxation, and inadequate infrastructure are significantly impacting business operations and discouraging trade activities in the region.

The workshop participants collectively identified the following key challenges:

• Multiple Tax Collections: Lack of coordination among various tax-collecting agencies.
• Duplicate Clearance Processes: Redundant clearance procedures at different transit points along trade routes.
• Weak Infrastructure: Particularly the poor condition of roads connecting different counties within South Sudan and linking them to Juba.
• Limited Communication: Insufficient and untimely information flow between government bodies and traders regarding policy changes and tax regulations.

To address these challenges, the workshop participants put forth the following key recommendations to the Government and relevant stakeholders:

• Harmonize and Simplify Tax Systems: Streamline tax collection processes across all relevant government agencies.
• Repair and Maintain Key Trade Roads: Prioritize the rehabilitation and upkeep of essential road networks connecting counties and facilitating trade with regional hubs.
• Create a Centralized Clearance System: Implement a unified process for clearing goods and issuing necessary trade permits.
• Improve Information Access for Traders: Establish effective channels for providing timely and accurate information on policies, regulations, and tax changes.

Moving Forward:

The Torit workshop provided a crucial platform for open dialogue and the identification of practical solutions to the trade barriers plaguing South Sudan. The report concludes that realizing South Sudan’s full trade potential, especially within the EAC framework, necessitates concerted efforts in implementing coordinated reforms, investing in infrastructure development, and adopting inclusive policymaking approaches.