Includes information on average tariff rates and types that U.S. firms should be aware of when exporting to the market.
Last Published: 7/22/2019

In general, goods imported into Botswana from outside the Southern African Customs Union - SACU (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and eSwatini) attract customs duties at rates outlined in the Customs Tariff Book.  Customs duties are paid against a prescribed form (SAD 500), which is a declaration form, formally known as a bill of entry.  A tariff book and goods codebook is available for sale at all regional Customs and Excise offices.  It is not currently available via the internet.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is an inter-governmental organization that promotes socio-economic cooperation and integration and political and security cooperation among the fifteen member states.  The SADC Free Trade Area (FTA) was launched in August 2008.  The FTA is not yet in force and SADC members are reducing their tariffs at different rates.  If the effect is successful, it will allow for free movement of goods and services produced within the region, but each member state will still have its own external tariff to non-member states of SADC.

The Botswana Unified Revenue Services (BURS), with assistance from USAID’s Southern African Trade Hub, developed a draft amendment to the Customs and Excise Duty Act with the view of streamlining procedures and lowering importing and exporting costs.  The draft is currently pending review by the Attorney General’s Office.
 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.