Trade Row Deepens as Tanzania Bans Imports From Regional Neighbors | Firstpost Africa
Tanzania has banned all agricultural imports from South Africa and Malawi, escalating a growing trade dispute in southern Africa. The move comes after both countries imposed restrictions on Tanzanian exports—sparking tensions within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). South Africa has long blocked Tanzanian bananas, citing plant health risks, while Malawi recently suspended imports of key goods from Tanzania to protect its local producers. This report breaks down what triggered the ban, how it’s impacting trade routes and economies—especially landlocked Malawi—and what it means for the future of regional cooperation under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).