Understanding EAC rules of origin

Why these rules exist

Rules of origin prevent a product imported from a third country from simply transiting through a partner state to benefit, without genuine processing, from the duty exemption applied to intra-EAC trade.

General criteria

EAC rules of origin generally combine criteria such as goods wholly obtained in a partner state, a change in tariff classification, or a minimum regional value-added threshold on processing. The precise criteria by product category, set out in the protocol's annex, are not reproduced here.

In practice

An exporter must be able to justify the origin of goods to obtain the corresponding EAC Certificate of Origin. If in doubt about a product's qualification, check with the competent national revenue authority and, if needed, the EAC Secretariat.