This study establishes whether the protection given to the list of sensitive products since 2005: has increased the EAC regional capacity to produce, and whether this reduced the importation of the same products from the rest of the world, have increased the intra-EAC trade, and improved welfare. The results indicate that while there is significant intra EAC export trade demonstrated by increases especially after 2005, it is skewed in nature in favour of Kenya. Uganda’s main export to the region, in terms of products, are cigarettes and tobacco products, followed by sugar and milk products, cement and matches. Kenya on the other hand exports cement, cigarettes and tobacco, corks, crown and base metal products, milk products, wheat, manganese dioxide primary cells and batteries and matches that generate the largest export revenue while Tanzania’s main exports to the region include wheat, cement, rice and maize.
