Zambia has a liberalized economy and generally complies with its trade obligations as a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).  However, to artificially reduce the cost of maize (corn), Zambia’s primary dietary staple, the government intermittently increases domestic supply by limiting export license issuances.  While Zambia allows the importation of GM food products, unprocessed GM products and GM crop production remain prohibited. 

Administrative corruption may be the most serious non-tariff barrier, particularly as it relates to government procurements, trade facilitation, and obtaining business licenses.  Other non-trade barriers include intellectual property infringement, preferential treatment of state-owned enterprises, local labor requirements, sector specific local ownership requirements, and an overly cumbersome and often arbitrary and non-transparent regulatory environment.