Correlating Nuances of Trade Facilitation and SPS from an Africa Perspective

Abstract

Trade and trade-related policy making and implementation require deep analysis of interactions of technically distinct non-tariff measures. Fragmented understanding of policies little appreciation of their mutual exclusivity has denied countries and regions an opportunity to reap economic dividends therefrom. Therefore, chapter makes a case for a need for systems thinking regarding conceptualization of the interaction of SPS and trade facilitation measures at implementation level. While these measures are technically distinct and serve distinct purposes, to a greater degree their successful implementation requires recognition of their mutual dependability for their respective objectives to be fully discharged. However, this notion requires further consideration by African countries in respect of their current notifications at the WTO as well as in the context of their regional integration efforts. African countries with a view to improving their trade facilitation and SPS regimes at national and regional level must consider a number of key areas. To this end, a review by this chapter makes a case for African countries’ need to consider revisiting the following: potential implications heterogeneous TFA notifications of SPS-related trade facilitation measures; outdated REC level TF measures relative to WTO’s TF Agreement; correcting conditioning of implementation of AfCFTA TFA measures in individual country’s commitments notified under WTO’s TFA; consideration of functional diagnosis of areas in which TFA measures and SPS measures mutually enhance beneficial achievement of each other’s objectives. Last but not least, the policy measures whether it is TF or SPS must be adaptable to the market structure of the African continent. They must meet the needs of micro, small and medium enterprises, transnational companies as well as ICBTs.