{"id":10456,"date":"2022-02-18T08:19:01","date_gmt":"2022-02-18T08:19:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.foretiafoundation.org\/?p=10456"},"modified":"2022-02-18T08:19:01","modified_gmt":"2022-02-18T08:19:01","slug":"operational-working-group-3-nkafu-open-trade-initiative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.foretiafoundation.org\/staging\/operational-working-group-3-nkafu-open-trade-initiative\/","title":{"rendered":"Operational Working Group 3 \u2013 Nkafu Open Trade Initiative"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Free trade between Cameroon and Nigeria would boost local production in both countries and create opportunities that will promote industrialization and the development of national value chains. To give domestic firms a competitive advantage, it is essential to remove tariffs and import quotas. That notwithstanding, these measures can only be effective if the free trade agreement between the two countries respects the rules of origin. These rules which determine the country of origin of a product, are therefore essential for selecting products eligible for preferential treatment in the bilateral trade undertaken between both countries. Also, they are essential for promoting the national know-how of each country.\u00a0The working session illustrated that while Rules of Origin exist, they are not currently implemented in Cameroon, whose origin rules draw from the\u00a0Economic\u00a0Community of Central African States (CEMAC).\u00a0The deliberations illustrate that the\u00a0AfCFTA\u00a0currently has clear and logical origin rules that can be applied by both Cameroon and Nigeria.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The participants outlined that Cameroon does not have rules of origin for non-preferential purposes. However, as a member of the CEMAC Customs Union, it does have the Community\u2019s rules of origin for preferential purposes. These rules can, in principle, also be applied for non-preferential purposes. Cameroon has not notified the WTO of any rules of origin, whether preferential or non-preferential. Community origin status is based on goods that are obtained wholly from the\u00a0CEMAC\u00a0region, where manufactured products must be made from raw materials of community origin whose value is at least 50% of\u00a0the total of all raw materials\u00a0or\u00a040%\u00a0domestic added value.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Recommendations.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n