India and RCEP /Tanzania and COMESA --- In 2000, Tanzania walked out of COMESA just like India did in 2019 when walked out of "Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)". When reflecting their decisions taken by both, were purely based on safeguarding its national interest. For the case of Tanzania, zero tariffs agreement between member states, was harming Tanzania economy in the sense that more that 5 member states (Zambia, DRC, Malawi, Burundi, Rwanda) are landlocked countries and their imports and exports were highly depends on Tanzanian ports. With such an agreement it means these countries would be exempted from the tax when transiting their goods to and from Tanzania, and Tanzania was not ready to loose about USD 80 million annually. This influenced the decision for Tanzania to join SADC as better option to serve its economic development.

Source author: Frank John Mhina frankmhina01@gmail.com