Leveraging Trade Facilitation (TF) Measures to Maximize the Benefits of Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) in West Africa

Abstract

As a key component of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Development Agenda (DDA) and Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs), trade facilitation is essential to reducing trade transaction costs and it remains an effective instrument for fostering regional trade. Trade Facilitation (TF) exists on the agenda of all West African based RTAs. However, the implementation of World Trade Organization (WTO) provisions on trade facilitation has always been a cause for concern for West African countries, dating back to 1996 when trade facilitation was introduced in the WTO agenda at the Singapore Ministerial Conference, as one of the ‘Singapore Issues’—in the context of simplifying trade procedures. One of the core costs associated with trade facilitation in West Africa is that improved trade facilitation within the context of Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) will require increased technical and financial assistance to narrow the technology and human resources gaps that exist between developed and developing countries.’ Based on this background, this paper attempts to provide an overview of the RTAs in West Africa. Further, it examines and discusses the trade facilitation provisions and issues within the context of West African RTAs. This discussion uses information from the WTO’s RTA database to provide a comprehensive description of the trade facilitation content of existing RTAs in West Africa. In conclusion the paper proposes policy suggestions to leverage TF to maximise the benefits of RTAs in West Africa.