Eswatini belongs to three economic blocks including the Southern African Customs Union, Southern African Development Community and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.

Established in 1910, SACU facilitates duty-free trade among the five-member states. SADC is a 14-member state body established as Free Trade Area (FTA) in 2008. The 21-member state COMESA is a free trade area formed in 1994 to replace a Preferential Trade Area which had existed since 1981. The establishment of a single market through the merged Tripartite Free Trade Area (COMESA, the East African Community [EAC], and SADC was formally launched in June 2015. As part of COMESA, SADC, and SACU, Eswatini is a party to SACU-US TIDCA, SACU – Mercosur, SADC Investment Protocol, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)-SACU FTA, the COMESA-US TIFA, and the SADC –EAC-COMESA TFTA. Eswatini signed and ratified the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) in 2016.

These trade agreements are significant to women in business in Eswatini as they allow them to sell their products duty free thereby promoting trade and economic activity across the region. Eswatini has also developed a trade portal which makes reliable trade-related information accessible to the private sector, while Eswatini Business organizes activities to make these instruments known to businesspeople.

List of signed trade agreements

• Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA, 2008)
• Preferential Trade Agreement with MERCOSUR (2016)
• Southern African Development Community (SADC) FTA (Protocol on Trade Goods)
• Market for Eastern Southern Africa (COMESA) FTA (trading under a derogation)
• SADC Economic Partnerships Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU)
• USA - Generalized System of Preferences (GSPs)

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Economic Cooperation Agreements with:

• China on Taiwan
• Canada
• India

Contact information
Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade
International Trade Department
Gwamile Street
Between Eswatini Bank and Deputy Prime Minister’s Office
P.O. Box 451, Mbabane H100
Tel: (268) 2404 1808/9

Fax: (268) 2404 3833, (268) 2404 4711

Email: info@idtswaziland.org

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1. Southern African Development Community (SADC)

Seychelles first became a member of the SADC in September 1997, and although it withdrew in 2004, it formally rejoined the bloc in 2008. In May 2015, Seychelles formally acceded to the SADC Free Trade Area (FTA).

2. Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

Seychelles became a member of COMESA in June 1993 when it was still the Preferential Trade Area (PTA) for Eastern and Southern Africa. In November 2007, The Council of Ministers agreed to allow Seychelles to join the FTA, and the subsequent COMESA FTA regulations were published in Seychelles on 25 May 2009 with effect from 11 May 2009.

3. Indian Ocean Commission (IOC)

The Indian Ocean Commission is an intergovernmental organization that joins Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion and Seychelles together to encourage cooperation. It was started in 1984 under the General Victoria Agreement.

The original aim of IOC was to encourage trade and tourism. Seychelles currently gives preferential rates to imports of goods originating from member states of the IOC in the form of a 5% reduction on the trade tax rates. This however applies to only selected products.

4. Tripartite FTA

First Tripartite Summit, held on 22 October 2008 in Kampala, Uganda, approved the expeditious establishment of a Free Trade Area (FTA), encompassing the Member/ Partner States of the three Regional Economic Communities (RECs). It is envisaged that the twenty-six (26) countries will engage in negotiations for the establishment of a Tripartite FTA, recognizing that substantial progress on trade liberalization has been achieved within their three RECs.

The establishment of the Tripartite FTA will build upon and consolidate the RECs acquis. The negotiations shall be in two phases as follows:

i) first phase will cover negotiations on the following areas: tariff liberalization, rules of origin, dispute resolution, Customs procedures and simplification of Customs documentation, transit procedures, non-tariff barriers, trade remedies, technical barriers to trade and sanitary and Phyto-sanitary measures.

ii) Movement of business persons will be dealt with during the first phase of negotiations as a parallel and separate track.

iii) second phase will cover negotiations on the following areas: trade in services, intellectual property rights, competition policy, and trade development and competitiveness. The Tripartite process is a means of removing administrative burden and other technical difficulties associated with multiple membership.

5. Other Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs)

Seychelles is negotiating a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EC so as to achieve a trade agreement between the two counterparts which are compatible to international trade rules.

Seychelles signed the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA) in 2000 together with 77 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries with the member states of the EU. The Agreement provided non-reciprocal preferential market access to the EC for goods originating from these countries. Given that the EPA negotiations were taking longer than expected to conclude, Seychelles signed an interim agreement with the EC in 2008 to prevent trade disruption until the finalization of the comprehensive EPA.

Seychelles exports its products to the EC at duty free quota free and started implementing reciprocal treatment to imports from EC in January 2013.

6. The World Trade Organization

Seychelles applied for accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995; however due to human resource and capacity constraints, this was put on hold from 1997. The process was re-initiated in 2008 with the resubmission of its Memorandum of Foreign Trade Regime (MOFTR) in 2009 which provided an overview of how trade policy in Seychelles is being administered. A

s part of the negotiating process, Seychelles concluded bilateral agreements with a number of WTO members, namely; Oman, Mauritius, Canada, South Africa, Switzerland, European Union, Thailand Japan and the United States. At the National Level, a number of steering committees was established to ensure that the decision-making process is as inclusive as possible.

Technical recommendations stem from the four sub-committees and feed into the National Working Group. Seychelles also made significant progress in the development of the MOFTR (submitted in 2009), with the same having now evolved into a Draft Working Party report which was tabled at the Working Party meeting for Seychelles accession to the WTO, held in October 2014.

Seychelles accession package was adopted by the General Council in December 2014. On 24 March 2015, the National Assembly of the Republic of Seychelles by a historic vote, unanimously enacted into law the Protocol on the accession of Seychelles to the WTO.

Trade Information Desks

Contact information

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
P.O. Box 656
Maison Quéau de Quincy
Mont Fleuri, Mahé
Tel: (248) 428 35 00Fax: (248) 422 48 45

Fax: (248) 422 58 52 (Protocol)

Email: ps@mfa.gov.sc
Web: http://www.mfa.gov.sc
Twitter: @SeychellesMFA

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As part of the promotion of trade and economic cooperation, Tunisia has opted for integration into the world economy. This integration has resulted in the progressive liberalization of its foreign trade and the establishment of free-trade zones with several economic groupings and countries as well as adherence to the multilateral trading system within the framework of the WTO.

This legislative framework makes Tunisia an ideal space for business and investment, in addition to the proximity factors of the European Arab and African market.

Multilateral and bilateral agreements now contribute to the consolidation of Tunisia's position and its membership in its regional and international environment.

Free trade agreements

Bilateral agreements

Tunisia is signatory to ten bilateral free trade agreements

• Jordan
• Egypt
• Morocco
• Libya
• Syria
• Sudan
• Turkey
• Iran
• Kuwait (economic, commercial and technical convention)
• Algeria (Preferential Trade Agreement)

Multilateral agreements

• GZALE: Greater Arab Free Trade Area Convention for the facilitation and development of trade between Arab States (18 Arab countries)

• AGADIR: Free trade agreement between the Mediterranean Arab States (Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan) signed in 2004 and entered into force in June 2007 to which two states, Palestine and Lebanon, have just acceded on March 4, 2020.

Economic groupings

• Association Agreement with the European Union (27 member states) signed in 1995 Tunisia became the first country on the southern shore of the Mediterranean to effectively enter the Free Trade area on January 1, 2008.
• European Free Trade Association EFTA (Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein) As of December 17, 2004.
• Tunisia joins the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

Most Favored Nation type agreements

Several agreements providing for the reciprocal application of most-favored-nation treatment at the tariff level have been concluded by Tunisia with several trading partners, notably the African countries (20 countries) and the Asian countries. These agreements promote, in particular, the exchange of commercial information and the facilitation of participation in events of an economic nature.

MFN agreements are concluded with: Norway, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Malta, Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Canada, China, South Korea, North Korea, Iran, India , Japan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Nigeria, Liberia, Gabon, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Mali, Togo, Benin.

Generalized system of preferences

In order to promote the growth of developing countries, some industrialized countries agree to allow certain products from developing countries to enter their markets, free of customs duties.

Tunisia benefits from this system with the USA, Canada, Japan and Russia.

View or download all trade agreements here: http://www.commerce.gov.tn/

Contact information

Ministry of Commerce, angle between Streets Ghana and Pierre de Coubertin and Hédi Nouira in Tunis-Tunisia.

Tel: +216 71 240 155/71 240 208

Fax: +216 71 354 435

Email: mincom.brc@tunisia.gov.tn

Directorate General of Foreign Trade

Phone: (+216) 71245913

Fax: (+216) 71354456

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Egypt occupies a central position between the circles of supply and between the regions of production and consumption, and between continents and the oceans, and has one of the most important navigation arteries in the world.

Egypt’s policy is to position itself as a global hub for regional services, production and re-export; creating jobs and economic growth by opening new markets for Egyptian products while simultaneously attracting Foreign Direct Investment from corporations looking to harness Egypt’s unique basket of preferential trade agreements, highly competitive and talented labor force and utility costs,  as well as proximity to key global markets. Together, these advantages make Egypt an ideal hub from which to export to the rest of the world.

The trade agreements Egypt has signed give women in business the ability to export their products to all Arab countries (free trade exchange among Arab countries), COMESA countries and the EU agreement which  creates a free trade area between the EU and Egypt by removing tariffs on industrial products and making agricultural products easier to trade.

Egypt's bilateral, regional and international trade agreements

Agreements

Egypt - Jordan (December 1999)    
Egypt - Lebanon (March 1999)
Egypt - Libya (January 1991)
Egypt - Morocco (April 1999)    
Egypt - Syria (December 1991)    
Egypt - Tunisia (March 1999)

Click here for details

Greater Arab Free Trade Area Agreement (GAFTA) | Click here for details

PAFTA - Pan-Arab Free Trade Agreement | Click here for details

Agadir Free Trade Agreement among Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Jordan | Click here for details

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) | Click here for details

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) | Click here for details

The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) | Click here for details

The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) | Click here for details

European Union-Egypt Free Trade Agreement (Association Agreement) | Click here for details

Egyptian-European Mediterranean Partnership Agreement | Click here for details

Free Trade Agreement with EFTA States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) | Click here for details

Turkey-Egypt Free Trade Agreement | Click here for details

Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZ) | Click here for details

Egypt-MERCOSUR Free Trade Agreement | Click here for details

Burundi, a partner country of the East African Community and a member of the other regional economic communities, has signed several trade agreements, between one or more African countries and outside the African continent.

Burundi has also been a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) since July 23, 1995 and is a member of the General Agreement on Customs Tariffs and Trade signed in 1947, which aims to develop free trade.

Burundi is also part of the Customs Union and the Common Market of the East African Community which consists of creating a regional economic block characterized by the free movement of goods and investments.

Among the main objectives of the Customs Union of the East African Community are the liberalization of regional trade in goods on the basis of mutually beneficial trade agreements between the Partner States of the East African Community as well as the removal of barriers to trade that they are technical, tariff and non-tariff.

With commercial agreements concluded, Burundian economic operators can import or export goods freely to or in other African countries and outside the African continent, according to the agreements concluded and in force.

Burundian women in the trade and other income-generating sectors can also take advantage of these trade arrangements to expand and expand their businesses and prosper economically.

Agreements ratified by Burundi

Bilateral agreements

Burundi has already signed Bilateral Trade Agreements with certain African countries and others outside the Continent

National Instruments and Laws

Burundi has Laws and Instruments that regulate Trade and Investments

COMESA Free Trade and Tripartite Agreements

Burundi is part of COMESA and the COMESA-EAC-SADC tripartite agreement

International agreements

Burundi is a member of the World Trade Organization and GATT

CEPGL agreements

signed on September 10, 1976 between Burundi, Rwanda and the DRC

ECA Customs Union

A customs union for the elimination of tariffs exists between the countries of the East African Community (CEA)

The Common Market

There is a memorandum of understanding between ECA countries for the free movement of goods and people

These agreements allow preferential rates applied on trade between the signatory countries. They facilitate trade, investments. Many of these agreements dedicate a specific component to the empowerment and strengthening of female entrepreneurship through capacity building, facilitation for women.  

National agreements:

1. Law n ° 2006-027  between the Government of the Republic of Madagascar and the People's Republic of China on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments
2. Law n ° 2006-028 between the Government of the Republic of Madagascar and the Belgian-Luxembourg Economic Union relating to the Encouragement and the Reciprocal Protection of Investments
3. Agreement for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments between the Republic of Madagascar and the Republic of Mauritius

Regional instruments / agreements:

• Indian Ocean Commission - IOC : Intergovernmental body bringing together certain countries of the Indian Ocean. The IOC's mandate is to promote intra-regional exchanges and defend the island interests of its member states. Its regional cooperation objectives for financing are reflected in partnerships with donors, international cooperation agencies and other regional cooperation organizations which then facilitate the process of economic integration.

• Southern African Development Community - SADC : Madagascar joined SADC (2005 and has been a member of the Free Trade Zone since 2008 in order to access the South African market, which is its main partner in the area. SADC aims to strengthen the growth and economic development of member countries by reducing dependence on traditional partners and strengthening regional integration and international cooperation.

• Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa - COMESA: International organization with a regional vocation in East Africa. Its objectives are to eliminate internal tariff and non-tariff barriers in a first phase, and in a second phase to adopt common external tariffs, liberalize human and capital movements, harmonize standards for products, harmonize taxation, strengthen cooperation in the area of ​​investment and intellectual property laws with a view to the eventual creation of a monetary union.
  Furthermore, COMESA also allows the free movement of capital and investment by adopting a common investment practice in order to create a more favorable investment climate in a common area for the COMESA region.

• The purpose of the African Union is to promote unity and solidarity among African states; coordinate and intensify development cooperation; to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Member States and to promote international cooperation.

• The Association of the countries bordering the Indian Ocean - IORA: regional forum, of a tripartite nature, bringing together representatives of Governments, the economic community and the academic community with the aim of promoting cooperation and exchanges between them.
• Relations are based on the principles of open regionalism to strengthen economic cooperation, particularly in terms of trade facilitation and investment promotion as well as social development in the region. Open regionalism has three elements, namely: trade liberalization, trade and investment facilitation and economic and technical cooperation

International instruments / agreements:

• World Trade Organization serves as a framework for negotiation between states in order to reduce barriers to trade and ensures that states respect their commitments. It has a body for settling disputes that may arise between member states as a result of its agreements. The mission of the WTO is to promote trade and assist exporters, importers and producers of goods and services in their activities.

• Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) combines SADC, COMESA and the East African Community (EAC). The objective of this agreement is the accelerated establishment of a free trade area (FTA) encompassing the member states / partners of the three organizations with the main objective of creating a single customs union. Its membership in several international organizations with a regional vocation (IOC, SADC, EAC, COMESA, etc.) gives it access to the free trade areas of these organizations, totaling more than 600 million potential consumers.

Contact and information source

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

BP 836
Rue ndriamifidy
Anosy 101 Antananarivo
Email: info-web@diplomatie.gov.mg
Website: https://www.diplomatie.gov.mg/

Malagasy Customs

Administration / customs clearance services
Headquarters: Immeuble des Finances et Budget
Antaninarenina 101 Antananarivo
Tel: +261 20 22 229 16 - +261 345564406 Toll free
number: 360
Email: sed.douane@gmail.com
Website: http: //www.douanes .gov.mg /

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Ethiopia signed a Treaty of Friendship and Economic Relations which describes bilateral and multilateral trade agreements that this country is party to, thus women can get more information from this content on how to take advantage of these agreements. The different trade agreements have been summarized below:

1. Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs): these are with the following countries; Algeria, Germany, Libya, Switzerland, Austria, India, Malaysia, Tunisia, Belgium, Iran, Netherlands, Turkey, China, Israel, Russia, United Kingdom, Egypt, Italy, South Africa, Yemen, Equatorial Guinea, Djibouti, Spain, USA, Finland, Qatar, Sudan, France, Kuwait and Sweden.
2. Double Taxation Avoidance Treaties (DTTs): with 12 countries including Czech Republic, Russia, Italy, Turkey, France, South Africa, Kuwait, Yemen, Israel, Tunisia and Romania.
3. Generalized System Preferences (GSP): extended to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) by most developed and developing countries including; Australia, Canada, European Union, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, USA, India, China and South Korea
4. AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act): is a market opportunity provided by US Government to eligible Sub-Saharan African countries to export their qualifying products free of tariffs and quotas.
5. Everything but Arms (EBA): is a market opportunity that is given to all Least Developed Countries (LDCs) granting them full duty free and quota-free access to European Union markets for all their exports with the exception of arms and armaments.
6. Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA): is a free trade area with 21 member states stretching from Libya to Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland) and to which Ethiopia is a member.
7. Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA): is meant to create a tariff-free continent that can grow local businesses, boost intra-African trade, revamp industrialization and create jobs. The agreement creates a single continental market for goods and services as well as a customs union with free movement of capital and business travelers.

Furthermore, Ethiopia is a signatory to the following trade agreements:

1. Agreement Establishing Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
2. African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group States (ACP)-EU Economic Partnership Agreement
3. At the continental level, Ethiopia has signed and ratified the Abuja Treaty that aims to establish an Africa Economic Community among the continent's 54 countries.

Understanding the country’s trade agreements will help women entrepreneurs to benefit from the opportunities available through these agreements. For further information click here.

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The Democratic Republic of Congo is a member of several regional economic communities (RECs) including ECCAS (Economic Community of Central African States), COMESA (Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa), SADC (Southern African Development Community ) and CEPGL (Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries).

Regional Agreements Signed and Ratified

Southern African Development Community - SADC

Within the framework of the Southern African Development Community - SADC, The DRC only signed the protocol on the service agreement but did not sign the protocol on the goods agreement.

Scope and coverage:

1. The protocol applies to all measures taken by member states which affect trade in services:

• From the territory of the Member State and bound for the territory of any other Member State;
• In the territory of a Member State intended for a consumer of services from any other Member State;
• By a service provider from a member state, through a commercial presence in the territory of any other member state;
• By a service provider of a State Party, through the presence of natural persons in the territory of any other State Party;

2. The protocol does not apply to the following measures relating to air traffic:

• Traffic rights, regardless of how they are granted;
• Services directly linked to the exercise of traffic rights;

3. The protocol applies to the following measures:

• Aircraft repair and maintenance services;
• The sale and marketing of air transport services;
• Computerized reservation systems (CRS) services

4. Services include any service provided in any sector, except services provided in the exercise of governmental authority.
5. A service supplied in the exercise of governmental authority means any service which is supplied neither on a commercial basis nor in competition with one or more service suppliers.

In other words, this service protocol covers five (5) sectors according to the W120 classification of the World Trade organization, in particular:

The transport, tourism, communication, finance, professional service, construction and and electricity sectors.

Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries : CEPGL is a sub-organization of CEEAC with only the DRC, Burundi, Rwanda . This organization is redundant in terms of trade regime because these three member countries, Rwanda, Burundi and DRC, are also all members of COMESA. Within these zones, free trade is operational and effective, that is to say that goods circulate between these countries without customs duties.

Bilateral trade agreement between the DRC and Uganda

The DRC and Uganda are committed to promoting cross-border trade. The two countries signed, on April 9, 2018 in Kasese, a memorandum of understanding aimed at improving bilateral trade relations. Several areas are affected by this agreement. These include, inter alia, the diversification of trade in goods and services, the promotion of investment in the manufacturing sector, the elimination of non-tariff barriers, cooperation on customs and cooperation on immigration issues. With regard to the mechanism for implementing this memorandum of understanding, provision is made for the establishment at each border of a joint border committee which will hold regular evaluation meetings.

Regional agreements signed and not ratified by the DRC

SADC - COMESA - CAE: The DRC has also been a signatory of a tripartite free trade agreement since 2015 but has never ratified it. The treaty is said to be tripartite because it brings together three regional groupings of Africa including the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa ( Comesa ), the Community of Southern African States (SADC) and the community of 'East Africa (CAE).

COMESA: Within the framework of COMESA, the DRC is a member of the COMESA free trade area but the DRC has not yet joined the customs union although it had requested the moratorium to join the free area. exchange. This moratorium has already ended.

The development of the DRC's trade relations with Zambia and South Africa does not result from the existence of regional agreements but from other factors such as the existence of a road and rail network.

The Continental Free Trade Zone A frican (ZLECA, ZLEC or Zlecaf):

The DRC is among the 54 countries signatory to the African Free Trade Area agreement , but the ratification process is underway at the parliamentary level.

However, it has finalized the list of tariff concessions which will be sent after validation to Union Afrique. 90% will be liberalized products for 10 years but 7% will be sensitive products to be liberalized for 13 years, the remaining 3% will be exclusion products which will not be liberalized.

Concerning services, out of the 12 sectors and 166 sub-sectors, the Head of State chose 5 sectors to be liberalized; namely: the service sector provided to companies (professional service), transport sector, tourism, communication and the finance sector. The rest will liberalize. Gradually.

International Agreements

L O rganisation M ORLD C ommerce

The Democratic Republic of Congo is the 51st original member of GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) to join the World Trade Organization, two years after its entry into force on January 1, 1995. En as an LDC (Least Developed Country), DR Congo receives additional attention from the WTO . All the agreements recognize that it must benefit from the greatest possible flexibility.

The objective of the WTO is to facilitate the exchange of goods and services between countries, international cooperation and free trade by controlling customs tariffs.

By unilateral agreement from the European Union "Everything but arms - TSA"

The member countries of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), of which the DRC is a member, have negotiated the economic partnership agreement with the European Union (EU) as part of the initiative "Everything but arms Which aims to grant full tax exemption and duty-free, quota-free access to the EU single market for all products, except weapons and ammunition. Provided that the products meet the SPS product quality standards (sanitary and phytosanitary measure). But so far this economic partnership agreement with the European Union has never been signed by the DRC.

Africa Growth and Opportunity Act - AGOA

Until 2010, the DRC had the status of privileged economic partner conferred on it by the law of AGOO (Africa Growth and Opportunity. This law instituted since 2000 in the United States of America by former President Clinton, offers beneficiaries of Sub-Saharan Africa access to the US market, duty-free and quota-free, for almost all products under the generalized system of preference, however since January 2011, the DRC has been removed from the list of the beneficiaries of this Agoa law for non-respect of human rights.

Contacts:

General Secretariat for Foreign Trade

Floribert Kwete Mikobi

Director of studies and planning

Civil service building

Ref. : In front of the Central Bank of Congo

fkwetemikobi@gmail.com

+243815187776

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The Republic of Djibouti has trade agreements with a number of countries, is a member of the WTO. It is a member of COMESA, a signatory to the Tripartite Free Zone (COMESA-EAC-SADC), is a member of the Continental and African Free Trade Zone. Djibouti is also a member of IGAD and the League of Arab States .

International conventions

Djibouti is a founding member of the Marrack Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO). The country successfully presented its first review of Trade Policy in 2006, its second review in 2014 testified to the progress made in recent years.

Djibouti is bound by multilateral trade agreements of the WTO. Most recently, Djibouti ratified the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement in March 2018.

Also, Djibouti is part of international conventions:

• Signatory to the Kyoto Protocol

• Signatory to the Washington Convention on Trade

meeting of endangered flora and fauna

• Signatory to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
• Signatory to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

International economic cooperation

Djibouti has shown great interest in promoting regional economic integration.

The Republic of Djibouti is a member:

1. The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and has been part of the COMESA Free Trade Area since 2000;
2. Djibouti has signed the Tripartite Free Trade Area Agreement (COMESA-EAC-SADC) since 2015;

3. The Continental and African Free Trade Area (ZLECAf): Djibouti signed and ratified the ZLECAf Agreement in February 2019;
4. The Community of Sahelo-Saharan States (CEN-SAD);
5. The Intergovernmental Development Authority (IGAD) and its headquarters are in Djibouti;

6 . AGOA: This American initiative which allows Djibouti to export to the American market without customs duties. Djibouti is indeed one of the 38 countries eligible for the benefits of the African Growth and Opportunity Act , better known by the acronym AGOA ( African Growth and Opportunity Act ).

7. Except for all weapons (EU) : Djibouti benefits as an LDC from the abolition of customs duties on products to be traded to the EU.

Non-tariff barriers

• At the multilateral level, Djibouti has not been involved in WTO dispute settlement.
• At the Tripartite (COMESA-EAC-SADC) level, an identification and resolution mechanism for non-tariff barriers has been set up and the latter has not identified any non-tariff barrier for Djibouti.
• The main non-tariff barriers are linked to Djibouti's membership of the Arab League . This organization prohibits the importation of goods and services of Israeli origin.

Main partners

The main economic partners of Djibouti are:

• Ethiopia
• United Arab Emirates
• Saudi Arabia,
• Somalia
• United States,
• France

The economies of Ethiopia and Djibouti are highly interdependent via the various Ports of Djibouti which constitute the main transit route for Ethiopian goods and the Djibouti Corridor constitutes one of the main gateways to the Common Market of East Africa and Austral (COMESA) .

Contact and Information source

Ministry of Commerce of Djibouti
Address: Cité Ministérale
BP: 24
Tel: +253 21 32 54 41
Fax: +253 21 35 49 09

COMESA Focal Point Department

Department of foreign trade and regional integration
Address : serpent plateau
Rue Mohamed Dileita Mohamed
Loyalty building, 3 rd floor
Tel: +253 21 35 51 77

Sudan is working to integrate into the regional and global economy, by reviewing the bilateral agreements in line with national interests and regional and international obligations, and taking advantage of the advantages and preferential transactions granted by the bilateral, regional and global agreements and systems of trade preferences. Sudan is a member of some regional and international organizations and groups and through its membership it has signed a number of important trade agreements and protocols and benefited from the preferences enjoyed by some of these agreements.

There is no clear positive discrimination for business women in these agreements, but there is also no negative discrimination for them from businessmen, meaning that business women benefit from all preferences from zero tariffs with some countries or even some commodities as businessmen do.

Bilateral Agreements

African Bilateral Agreements

• Chad: Trade, Technical and Economic Cooperation Agreement signed in 2001 in Khartoum.
• Ethiopia: A framework agreement in the field of commercial, economic and technical cooperation was signed in Khartoum on the fourth of December 2013, the preferential agreement was signed in 2002 AD, the transit trade agreement was signed in July 2001 AD, a signed and valid protocol since 2002 AD, a protocol Border Trade 2007
• South Sudan: Framework Agreement in the Field of Trade Exchange 2012
• South Africa: 2007 Trade Cooperation Agreement
• Central Africa: Trade Cooperation Agreement signed in Banqi 1970
• Niger: Comprehensive Framework Agreement 1998
• Kenya: Trade Agreement 2015
• Burundi: Framework Agreement for Economic, Trade, Technical and Cultural Cooperation 2007

‍European bilateral agreements and the Americas

• Turkey: Economic and Trade Partnership Agreement (2017)
• Belarus: Investment, Scientific and Technical Trade Cooperation Agreement (2004).
• Cuba: Framework Agreement for Economic, Technical and Technical Cooperation (2003).

Asian Bilateral Agreements

• China: Trade Agreement (1965), Commercial Protocol (1990), Preferential Agreement (2008).
• India: Trade Agreement (1965) Economic and Trade Cooperation, Economic and Trade Cooperation Agreement (2000), Preferential Agreement (2009).
• Malaysia: Trade Agreement (1998).
• Indonesia: Trade Agreement (1998).
• Pakistan: Trade Agreement (1973).
• South Korea: Renewed Trade Agreement (2003).
• Vietnam: Trade Agreement (1995).
• Iran: Renewed Trade Agreement (2013).

Arab Bilateral Agreements

• The United Arab Emirates: Trade Exchange Agreement (1981), Free Trade Zone Agreement between the two countries (2003).
• Djibouti: A framework trade agreement was signed in August 1982 in Khartoum, and it was renewed in the year (2000).
• Saudi Arabia: The first trade agreement was concluded between the two countries (1984).
• Egypt: Trade Agreement, Trade Centers, Exhibitions, Training (2017), Cooperation Protocol between the Ministries of Commerce of both countries, Executive Program (2017).
• Jordan: Trade Agreement (2002), Agreement to Establish a Free Trade Area between the two countries (2003).
• Syria: Trade Agreement (2002).
• Iraq: Trade Agreement (1974).
• Lebanon: Renewed Trade Agreement (2002).
• Yemen: Renewed Trade Agreement (2002).
• Bahrain: Trade Agreement (2002), Economic and Trade Framework Agreement (2003).
• Qatar: Framework Agreement for Trade and Economic and Technical Cooperation (1998).
• Algeria: Trade Agreement (1997), and in the framework of the Arab Free Trade Zone, Trade Agreement (2001).    
• Morocco: Trade Agreement 1998, renewed (2002).    
• Tunisia: Trade Agreement (2002).
• Libya: Trade Agreement (2002).
• Mauritania: Trade Agreement (2009).  

Regional Agreements

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

Sudan joined COMESA in 1990. Sudan, through its membership in the COMESA that spanned nearly thirty years, was able to promote joint development on the economic and political levels, and this included all industrial sectors, agricultural, transport, trade, finance, energy, insurance, customs, statistics, investment and others.

https://www.comesa.int

Tripartite Free Trade Zone (Sadak, Ayak, COMESA)

The tripartite aims at economic integration, the development of the three regions, and the establishment of a large market for goods and services of more than 620 million people. It also aims to free movement of business, money, and natural persons, and the establishment of a customs union. The tripartite partnership agreement was signed between SADC IAC and COMESA in Sharm El-Sheikh - Egypt in June 2015 AD, signed by 26 countries of Sudan, among them, 5 countries have ratified ten countries that initiated the ratification procedures Sudan, among them.

Greater Arab Free Trade Area ( GAFTA)

Sudan joined the Greater Arab Free Trade Zone in September 2002 AD. Sudan gained a preferential advantage according to a gradual customs reduction on imports of 20% annually starting in 2006. Then 10% in the year 2008 AD, then Sudan reached the zero tariff in 2012. As for exports, the customs reduction has been included in 2003 by 60%, and in 2004, it reached 80%, and in 2005, it reached 100%.

https://www.gafta.com

African Continental Free Trade Area

Agreement to facilitate trade movement \ includes in its membership all the countries of the African Union (55) countries, which will constitute the largest free trade area in the world in terms of the number of member states and includes more than 1.2 billion people. Sudan signed the agreement on the continental free trade zone in March 2018 and is working on completing the procedures for ratification by the legislative authorities in addition to participating in the negotiations to establish this zone.

The Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD)

Sudan has become a coordinator of economic and commercial integration in the authority that aims to promote joint development strategies and coordination of economic and social policies, achieving food security, peace and conflict disputes, coordination in the field of trade, transport, communications and agriculture, and infrastructure development and improvement. The member countries are Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan.

https://www.igad.int

International agreements signed

The system of trade preferences among the OIC member countries

Sudan signed the framework agreement for this system on May 13, 1992. This system of trade preferences between the member countries of the Organization of the Islamic Conference is one of the projects of the Standing Committee for Economic and Trade Cooperation of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (COMCEC) with the aim of promoting intra-trade between member countries through the exchange of trade preferences among them. The agreement entered into force in 2002. Sudan is an active member of the six working groups for COMCEC activities.

http://www.comcec.org

The comprehensive system of trade preferences

This system is a multilateral treaty in which the member states of the Group of 77 participate, and it sets a comprehensive and specific framework for the rules of trade relations among member states on the basis of exchanging customs preferences and benefits. Sudan signed the Comprehensive System of Trade Preferences agreement in 1991.

Generalized System of Preferences

The generalized system of preferences was established in the framework of the Special Committee on Trade Preferences, which is affiliated with the Trade and Development Board at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in 1970, to make it from that time a subject of economic cooperation between developed and developing countries. It is a system that provides a reduction in the customs tariff for the least developed countries. Sudan benefits from this system in the field of sugar exports.

Economic Partnership with the European Union ( EPA )

It is the group of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries that was established under the Georgetown Agreement in 1975. The main objectives of the group are sustainable development and poverty reduction within its member states, as well as greater integration into the global economy. As for Sudan, it is not a signatory to the agreement.

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Position on implementation

There are many agreements not implemented that we have not monitored here, but all of the above agreements are implemented except for the tripartite and continental and are in the process of ratification and partnership with the European Union that Sudan has not yet signed.

Activities to publicize these agreements

Yes, they are seminars and workshops to introduce the agreements and the extent of implementation

Electronic information about the agreements? Clarify the link

Not yet, but in the framework of working with the Ministry's Information Center

Zambia belongs to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, which is a free trade area with 21 Member States stretching from Tunisia to Eswatini. COMESA was formed in December 1994, replacing a Preferential Trade Area which had existed since 1981.  Zambia also belongs to the 14-member Southern African Development Community (SADC), which established a Free Trade Area (FTA) in 2008.  The establishment of a single market through the merged Tripartite Free Trade Area (COMESA, the East African Community [EAC], and SADC was formally launched in June 2015.

Zambia has duty-free and quota-free access to the EU market, under the “Everything but Arms" (EBA) scheme for the world’s Least-Developed Countries (LDCs).  Zambia is also eligible for trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides duty-free/quota-free access to the U.S. market for most goods, including textiles and apparel.

Regional Instruments/Agreements

1. Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

2. Southern African Development Community (SADC)

International Instruments/Agreements

3. World Trade Organization (WTO)

4. Duty Free Quota Free (DFQF) Schemes including the Generalized System Preferences (GSP): As an LDC, Zambia has DFQF Market Access Schemes with the following countries:

• USA – AGOA;
• European Union – EBA and GSP+;
• China DFQF Scheme for LDCs
• South Korea DFQF Scheme for LDCs;
• Canada DFQF Scheme for LDCs; and
• India DFQF Scheme for LDCs

5. Zambia has signed but not yet ratified the following trade agreements:

• East and Southern Africa (ESA) – EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA);
• COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA); and
• African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Benefits of signed trade agreements for women in business

The signed are significant for women in business in that them to sell their products duty free thereby promoting trade and economic activity across the region.

Zambia is implementing both COMESA and SADC trade protocols which require full liberalization of trade, thus providing an advantage to women traders engaged in cross border trade. The AfCFTA already has cooperation mechanisms in place such as removal of non-tariff barriers as well as resolving disputes that African businesses can benefit from, as they seek to deepen their  integration.

Contact information

Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry
New Government Complex
8th, 9th and 10th Floors, Nasser Road
P.O. Box 31968
Lusaka, Zambia
Tel: +260 211 228301/9
Fax: +260 211 226984
Email: info@MCTI.gov.zm
Facebook: Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry

Zimbabwe has entered into a number of trade agreements. The most common trade agreements are of the preferential and/or free trade type which are concluded in order to reduce (or eliminate) tariffs, quotas and other trade restrictions on qualifying products traded between the signatory countries.

The purpose of a Trade Agreement is to stimulate and encourage trade between the countries or group of countries that sign the agreement, by giving one another preferential treatment in the reduction or elimination of customs duties as well as removal/relaxation of quantitative restrictions. Exporters should be able to use this advantage as a marketing strategy to give their products a competitive price incentive to customers in the importing country.

Zimbabwe is a member of some Multilateral Trade Agreements. These are:

• Southern African Development Community (SADC)

• Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

• Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA) with the European Union

Duty and import related taxes constitute a large percentage of the final price for cross border transactions. A reduction or elimination of the duty gives the exporter a substantial advantage in terms of cost over competitors from countries that do not have similar trade agreements. Women entrepreneurs will benefit through a trade agreement they will able to use this advantage as a marketing strategy to give their products a competitive price incentive to customers in the importing country.

COMESA Simplified Trade Regime

Traders with consignments that are below US$1,000 can import with reduced duty rates on specified products.

Bilateral Trade Agreements

Zimbabwe – Mozambique (See details here)

Zimbabwe – Botswana (See details here)

Zimbabwe – Namibia (See details here)

Zimbabwe – Malawi (See details here)

International Trade Agreements

1. The interim Economic Partnership Agreement confers quota and duty free access of Zimbabwean products exported into the 28 Member States of the European Union (EU).
2. The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) offers non-reciprocal preferences (not necessarily duty free) to qualifying products exported to developed countries such as the USA, Canada, Japan, Norway, Russian Federation, Switzerland, the EU, New Zealand and Australia.

Access to foreign markets and the consequent sustained economic growth, have led to the development of productive capacities, more employment opportunities, and sustainable livelihoods.

Gender issues need to be mainstreamed in trade policies, and subsequently, trade issues need to be factored into development policies.

Mainstreaming gender in trade policies means assessing the impacts of these policies on the well being of men and women and ultimately on the household and community.

What was missing in Rwanda was an assessment of the effects of trade liberalization and trade agreements on women as a discrete sector of the population.

Such an assessment was crucial to making trade an instrument for development in the country. It has helped in better understanding the specific challenges and opportunities that women face as a result of market liberalization.

This has paved way for the design and implementation of complementary policies aimed at maximizing opportunities for women and facilitating the transition of women to more competitive and better rewarded activities.

Women entrepreneurs are a significant force in Rwanda's private sector.

Women head 42% of enterprises. They comprise 58% of enterprises in the informal sector, which accounts for 30% of GDP.

Rwanda is signatory to several bilateral and multi-lateral trade agreements. The agreements present many opportunities for traders in Rwanda.

Signed agreements

Bilateral Trade Agreements

Signed with Zambia, Uganda, Mauritius and Singapore

Regional Trade Agreements

Trade agreement offers lower or zero tariff (tariff concession) on exports and imports of goods and components assigned under TA

International Agreements

International Treaties, Protocols and Agreements Rwanda has signed

Contacts

Ministry of Trade and Industry
P.O.Box : 73 Kigali
E-mail: info@minicom.gov.rw
Hotline: 3739

Uganda has developed various national policies and frameworks and signed a number of regional and international trade agreements that have secured market access for her products and services.

Through bilateral, multilateral, regional and preferential trading agreements, the Government aims at ensuring easier access to international markets for Ugandan products, and to encourage foreign direct investment.

Information guide on ratified trade instruments

Mandate of the authority in charge

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives in Uganda hosts the External Department responsible facilitating domestic and external trade with emphasis on export promotion

National frameworks

Uganda has a number of national frameworks that promote women in business, starting from the National Export Strategy

East African Community (EAC)

Customs Union and trade between 6 partner states

Common Market for East and Central Africa (COMESA)

Uganda is a member of COMESA

COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite

This Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) brings together 26 countries

Global trade arrangements

Globally, Uganda is also a signatory to a number of trade arrangements

Since its independence in 1993, Eritrea has signed various bilateral trade agreements including with Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Turkey.  Eritrea has also joined different Regional Economic Communities in Africa such as COMESA, IGAD and CEN-SAD.

Eritrea reduced its Most Favored Nation (MFN) duties by 80 percent on imports originating from COMESA Member States, and at the moment it only charges 20% of the MFN duty. It is important to note that the threshold for acceding to the full FTA is 100 percent tariff liberalization coupled with elimination of non-tariff and other technical barriers to trade.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) was created in 1996 to succeed the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development that was founded in 1986 to deal with issues related to drought and desertification in the Horn Africa. Eritrea is one of the founding members of IGAD.

Eritrea had also ratified the revised treaty of the CEN-SAD.

How these agreements are beneficial to women in business

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The tariff reduction for goods originating from COMESA Member States is expected to benefit the potential exporters in general and women in business in particular. Removal of customs duties on exports will enable exporters to be competitive in the regional markets.

Eritrea is one of the beneficiaries from the EU Generalized System of Preference (GSP) scheme. Women engaged in manufacturing and agriculture can benefit from this scheme.

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The EU has introduced REX (Registered Exporters) System. It is a self certification of origin by registered exporters making out so-called statements on origin. The threshold for which an exporter does not need to be registered in the REX System is 6,000 EUR. This means any exporter, manufacturer or trader from the beneficiary countries with export value less than 6,000 EUR is not required to be registered in the system.

Additional useful information    

The Department of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, in collaboration with COMESA, organizes different workshops aimed at sensitizing the relevant stakeholders and the private sector on issues related to COMESA programs, Rules of Origin, regional integration and others.

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The responsibility for concluding treaties involving the Republic of Kenya lies with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry is responsible for policy aspects, as well as matters of form and procedure.

The Ministry has a Treaty Section within the Legal Division that keeps records of bilateral and multi-lateral treaties involving Kenya. It runs an inquiry service that provides information on treaties to the public. The Ministry also coordinates Kenya’s responsibilities as depositary for certain treaties deposited with the Government of Kenya.

‍Read More

Information guide

COMESA TREATY

Objectives of the common market attain    sustainable    growth    and    development   ...

EAST AFRICA MONETARY UNION PROTOCOL

Monetary Union to promote and maintain monetary and financial stability

Protocol On The Establishment Of The East African Community Common Market

operationalized through a work programme of 4 main pillars

Agreement Establishing The World Trade Organization

international agreements

Articles of Agreement of The International Monetary

International agreements

List of international treaties

Protocol On Patents And Industrial Designs Within The Framework Of The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO)

These are the regulations for implementing the protocol on patents and industrial designs within the framework of the African regional intellectual property organization (ARIPO) ...

The Cotonou Agreement

focuses on reducing and eventually eradicating poverty

List of international instruments

Establishing the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency The   objective   of the   Agency   is to encourage  the  flow ...

Quick information guide

Treaties and Conventions to which Kenya is a signatory:

• COMESA Treaty
• East Africa Community Monetary Union Protocol
• East Africa Community Common Market
• Agreement on the World Trade Organisation
• Agreement on the International Monetary Protocol

Contacts

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Old Treasury Building, Harambee Avenue
P.O Box 30551 – 00100 G.P.O
NAIROBI, Kenya
Tel: +254 20 3318888
Email: info@mfa.go.ke
Website: www.mfa.go.ke

Trade agreements are contractual arrangements between countries governing their trade relationships. They are either bilateral or multilateral and are important because they eliminate trade barriers (e.g. tariffs, quotas or prohibitive standards). Thus, they lead to creation of new markets.

(I) Bilateral trade agreements

Malawi has five bilateral trade agreements. The key features of these bilateral trade agreements are highlighted below:

(1) Malawi-Zimbabwe Trade Agreement

Goods originated from either country are exported to the other on import duty free status basis. To enjoy the provision of this agreement, Malawian producers are required to apply to the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) which verifies the origin of the goods. To qualify the goods should be wholly produced in Malawi. Otherwise their domestic value addition should not be at least 25%. Moreover, the goods should be accompanied by a certificate of origin. The Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) issues the certificate of origin.

(2) Malawi-Mozambique Trade Agreement

This agreement grants duty free access to goods originating from the two countries except those on the Exclusion List. Goods on the Exclusion List include sugar, beer, Coca-Cola and other branded soft drinks, manufactured tobacco, refined edible oil, dressed chicken, table eggs, unmanufactured tobacco, stationary, petroleum products, firearms, ammunition, and explosives. Since Mozambique is an important transit route for Malawi’s imports, this agreement also includes provisions for trade facilitation.

(3) Malawi-South Africa Trade Agreement

The Malawi-South Africa bilateral trade agreement was negotiated as part of the support programs by the Government of South Africa to aid the economic development of Malawi. Therefore, the agreement is non-reciprocal or asymmetrical. Malawi exports to South Africa enjoy duty-free treatment while imports from South Africa into Malawi are dutiable at the normal (Most Favoured Nation) rates applied to any other country.

South Africa is the major export market for Malawi in Africa accounting for over 35% of Malawi’s total exports. Major exports include tobacco, farm vegetables, rubber, oil seeds and fruit, clothing and iron. Imports include fertilizers, pharmaceutical products, dairy products, mineral fuels, machinery, glassware, stationery, chemical compounds, motor vehicle and industrial spares.

(4) Malawi-Botswana Trade Agreement

Malawi and Botswana’s trade relations are regulated by the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement, Southern African Development Community (SADC) Trade Protocol and a Customs Agreement of 1956. The latter allows entry of goods grown, produced or manufactured in either country duty-free, except potable spirits and spirituous liquors. Malawi’s major exports to Botswana include tobacco, tea, timber, plywood/block board, textiles and garments and cotton lint. Malawi imports wheat flour, salt, soda ash, plastic products and pharmaceutical products from Botswana.

(5) Malawi-China Trade Agreement

The Agreement allows duty free entry into China of Malawi's major exports such as tobacco, tea, sugar cane, coffee and legumes. Malawi’s trade volume with China hit US$100 million in 2012, a 400-percent jump from 2010.

(6) Malawi-Tanzania Trade Agreement

Malawi and Tanzania trade relations are regulated by the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Trade under the Most Favoured Nation Agreement. There is no Bilateral Trade Agreement between the two countries. However, Malawi and Tanzania established a Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC) in April, 1993 in Lilongwe, Malawi.

(II) Regional trade agreements

(1) Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

Malawi is part of the COMESA Free Trade Area (FTA), which was achieved on 31 October 2000. Eleven of COMESA's 21 Member States belong to the FTA. These, according to the COMESA website, include; Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar,  Mauritius, Rwanda, Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The FTA members eliminated their tariffs on COMESA originating products, in accordance with the tariff reduction schedule adopted in 1992. They are also working on the eventual elimination of quantitative restrictions and other non-tariff barriers.

(2) Southern African Development Community (SADC) Trade Protocol

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Trade Protocol was signed in 1996 to promote intra-regional trade in goods and services through reduction and eventual removal of tariffs and non-tariff barriers in the region. It was also aimed at enhancing economic development, diversification, and industrialization of the region. SADC Member States are Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Madagascar, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. A SADC Free Trade Area was established in January 2008. Malawi has not reached the minimum threshold of 85% trade liberalization which was agreed to be the minimum for the Free Trade Area. Meanwhile Malawi has liberalized 70% of her trade with SADC. Malawi is, therefore, part of the SADC FTA and is working on removing tariffs on the remaining products.

(III) Multilateral trade agreements

(1) World Trade Organization (WTO)

Malawi is a member of the World Trade Organization, a legal institution of the multilateral trading system promoting the negotiations for liberalisation of trade in goods and services through removal of barriers to trade. The organisation is also responsible for development of international trade rules and settlement of trade disputes. The WTO came into being on 1st January 1995 (After the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade-GATT 1947).

(2) European Union

Malawi is a party to the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) – European Union (EU) Partnership Agreement. Under the Agreement ACP countries enjoy duty-free market access to the European Union. Since its inception in the 1970s, the Agreement has been revised several times. The last revision was done in 2000 and a new agreement (Cotonou Agreement) was signed which introduced a requirement for ACP countries to offer reciprocal duty-free treatment to imports from the EU in line with the World Trade Organisation rules.

Since 2002, ACP countries have been negotiating the new trade arrangements with the EU known as Economic Partnership Agreements. The negotiations are being done in regional configurations. Malawi is negotiating for an EPA under the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) configuration which comprises Burundi, Comoros, Seychelles, DR Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Seychelles, Rwanda Sudan, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, Malawi is trading with the EU through the Everything But Arms a special arrangement for Least Developed Countries under the EU Generalised System of Preferences.

(3) African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is a United States Trade Act, enacted in May 2000 and renewed to 2025 enhances market access to the USA for qualifying Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. Qualification for AGOA preferences is based on a set of conditions contained in the AGOA legislation. To qualify and remain eligible for AGOA, each country must be working to improve its rule of law, human rights, and respect for core labour standards.

Malawi's major exports to the USA under AGOA include agricultural products, followed by textiles and apparel products.

For detailed information on trade agreement Malawi is a party to, visit www.malawitradeportal.gov.mw

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