The effect of Tanzania’s wide-ranging economic reforms on the performance of its manufacturing industries has been the focus of debate. How far have protectionist policies of the pre-liberalisation era rendered domestic firms vulnerable to increased competition? Has the removal of market distortions facilitated greater long- term efficiency? Research by the University of Nottingham finds that the effects of trade liberalisation on Tanzania’s manufacturing sector have been diverse. The impact of trade liberalisation is determined mainly by firms’ export-orientation, and the strength of competition from imports.