The study undertook a theoretical review of Competitiveness as strategy for sailing through the turbulences in International Trade by focusing on Leather Industry in the East African region. The objective of the study was to find out the theories and models that can be used to measure competitiveness in international trade. Data was collected from literature and several documents that are related to theories on trade and competitiveness. It was found out that the various models and theories were used to measure competitiveness in international trade for leather products such as the Diamond Model, Comparative Advantage, Competitive Advantage and the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA). It was concluded that the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) methodology, which is referred to as the Balassa Index (BI) is the observed pattern of trade which identifies the economic sectors that enjoy a comparative advantage and compares a country to its trading partners or the world. However, choosing the right model or theory that is appropriate to measure competitiveness in international trade for leather products by government agencies remains a challenge. It was therefore recommended that, government agencies should always undertake a cost benefit analysis of each competitive model and theory so that they are able to choose best appropriate and most advantageous model or theory that can be used to for measuring competitiveness in international trade.

Keywords: Competitiveness, Model, Trade, Diamond, Comparative, Theory.