Cross-border traders in Busia have raised concern over the increasing tariffs on petroleum, saying it will hurt the business between Kenya and her neighbour Uganda where Kenya earns in excess of $1 billion annually through exports.

The traders who presented a memo to the two countries’ East African Community (EAC) Cabinet Secretaries Peninah Malonza (Kenya) and Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga (Uganda), said such tariffs should be revised to ease business.

“Many countries in the EAC have protectionist policies that protect domestic industries and discourage regional trade integration. The current high tariffs recently introduced in Kenya, for example, will hurt border trade with Uganda and beyond,” said Sylvanus Mbongo Abungu on behalf of the traders.

The traders engaged the ministers who were on a working tour at the Busia One Stop Border Point (OSBP) on Thursday.