MANDATE: Development of appropriate external trade policies that consolidate and ensure  expansion of Uganda’s export markets.

VISION:    To ensure effective integration of the Ugandan economy into the regional and the       global economy  through increased access to regional and multilateral markets, enhance national capacity to take  advantage of the markets while minimizing the negative effects of globalization
MISSION:To trade the country out of poverty, into wealth and prosperity through increased, sustainable and competitive export trade
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:
  1. To ensure that international/export trade effectively and efficiently complements the domestic trade and production sub-sectors
  2. To ensure that what is produced domestically can be competitively traded at international/export level {To promote the competitiveness of Ugandan goods and services in international/external markets}
  3. To influence policies and practices of the country’s trading partners so that they are conducive to and supportive of the country’s development aspirations through trade negotiations
  4. To play a lead role in adapting Uganda’s economy to the trade and trade related policies and practices of the country’s trading partners in such a manner that Uganda increasingly benefits from international trade

RESPONSIBILITIES
According to the functional analysis the Department of External Trade is responsible for development of appropriate external trade policies that consolidate and ensure expansion of Uganda’s export markets. This is a responsibility that provides support to all other productive sectors of the economy. It is against this mandate that the Department is organized in a way that will respond to the current needs of the external trade sector. In doing this, there is recognition of the importance of synergies with the Internal Trade Department, and other key players in the external trade sector.

The Functional Analysis provides for a number of positions. As such the division of responsibilities takes this into account and matches the positions against the current work load. Considering current staffing levels much flexibility is required of all the staff in the Department in order that the Department performs its mandate. This means that officers are  required from time to time to perform roles other than what they have been assigned.
The Department, is therefore organized in such a way that it has two Divisions namely the Multilateral Trade Division and the Regional Bilateral Trade Division.

REGIONAL AND BILATERAL TRADE DIVISION

The Regional trade division, will be responsible for the overall coordination of regional trade arrangements. Supervise the relevant commercial attaches in the division.

Analyzes and makes appropriate recommendations on the COMESA agreements and instruments. Responsible for coordination of all negotiations and implementation of agreed COMESA programmes. Coordinates the EAC unit as well as with the ACP/EU unit, and works closely with the Multilateral Division to ensure harmonized positions and programmes. Liaise with stakeholders on all matters related to COMESA. The Division will also analyze and make appropriate recommendations on programmes agreed at AU/ECA, NEPAD and IGAD level.
In relation to the EAC, the Division will analyse EAC agreements, protocols and make appropriate policy responses; responsible for coordination of all trade negotiations and implementation of trade and trade related programmes agreed at the EAC level.

Furthermore, the Division will be responsible for  ACP/EU trade relations and in this respect analyzes and makes appropriate recommendations on implementation of the COTONOU Partnership Agreement. Responsible for the coordination of the negotiations for EPAs and the monitoring of its implementation. Liaise with stakeholders at all levels –national, regional and international on matters related to the COTONOU Partnership Agreement and the EPA negotiations. Liaise with the EC on trade related development assistance; coordinate with Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development on EDF programming and on trade related matters under the National Indicative Programme as well as Regional Indicative Programme.
 Prepare the Division’s quarterly, half yearly and annual work plans and budget and reports.

The Multilateral trade division will be responsible for the overall coordination of multilateral trade arrangements including all the WTO Agreements, relations with UNCTAD, ITC, WIPO,UNDP, FAO, UNIDO, ITC, and IMF among others. In addition the division will handle commodity agreements and supervise the Commercial Attaches that fall under this division.

The Multilateral Division will handle matters related to Intellectual Property Rights and trade in Services and will in this regard analyze WTO Agreement on Intellectual property as well as other intellectual property agreements and make appropriate recommendations that will promote Uganda’s trade interest.
This division will be responsible for spearheading WTO negotiations, implementation, trade policy reviews, and notifications. The Division will liaise with government ministries, statutory bodies and other stake holders on matters of WTO following a PPP approach. Advise the business community on opportunities under the MTS.

In the area of trade in Services, the division will analyze WTO Agreement and other agreements related to trade in services and make appropriate recommendations that will promote Uganda’s trade interest in the area of services.

In relation to trade in goods, the Division will analyze WTO Agreements related to trade in goods and make appropriate recommendations that will promote Uganda’s trade interest.
In addition the division will handle the work of all WTO Committees. Furthermore, this division will be responsible for coordination of Commonwealth programmes, OECD programmes. The division will be the secretariat to IITC sub committee on WTO;
Prepare division quarterly, half yearly and annual work plans, budgets and reports.

It has been a very common question asked about Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) recently signed in Uganda at Golf Course Hotel. This trade Review Magazine gives a detailed overview of what is meant by Economic Partnership2 Agreement and what exactly is involved. 

Click Here to Read the Trade Review_June 2008 »

Click here to read Report of the 3rd National Review Trade Conference 

Ministers-remarks-at-the-5th-NTRSC

Trade Review Magazine 2011

The 4th National Trade Sector Review Conference

The Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry with support from the EPA. TAPPS project held its 4th National Trade Sector Review Conference in October 2010 under the theme "Improving competitiveness and doing business environment". This is a report to highlight key discussions and recommendations made during the conference. Download

The EAC Common Markert Brochure

In an effort to help members of the public particularly those in the private sector undestand what the East African Community Common Market is about, the ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry has made a brochure titled, "The East African Community Common Market: What is in it for you?" to answer those frequently asked questions about the EAC Common Market. Download