An opinion piece highlights the stagnation of intra-East African Community (EAC) trade despite the bloc's potential, calling for renewed political will to overcome persistent non-tariff barriers and protectionist policies. It emphasizes the need for partner states to prioritize regional integration to foster shared prosperity and global competitiveness.

• Intra-EAC trade stands at only 14%, significantly lagging behind the European Union's 69% internal trade flow.
• The author, Chief Executive of Kenya Association of Manufacturers Tobias Alando, points out that EAC partner states have lost approximately 30% of potential trade due to barriers, benefiting third-party countries.
• Recent measures by the United Republic of Tanzania, affecting roughly 80 products, including steel and dairy, illustrate ongoing protectionist tendencies that undermine the EAC common market.