November, 2012

Regional Context Protocols & Decisions

Relevant International Perspectives

ECOWAS Regional Interventions Trade & Customs Transport & Trade Facilitation Programmes and Interventions

Conclusion

Some Related ECOWAS PROTOCOLS ECOWAS Revised Treaty Article 3 para. 2(d): Establishment of a common

market ECOWAS Trade liberalization Scheme, Customs Co-operation

and Administration towards the Customs Union Article 32: Transport & Communications

Member States resolve to develop transport infrastructure and policies to promote physical cohesion among member states and the facilitate the movement of persons, goods and services within the Community special emphasis on increased access to island and land-locked countries

Article 35: Liberalization of Trade Article 36: Customs Duties Article 37: Common External Tariff Article 45: Re-Exportation of Goods and Transit

Facilities Article 46: Customs Cooperation and Administration

The WCO’s SAFE Framework of Standards, June 2007 – Aims, amongst others, to facilitate legitimate trade through concepts of ‘Customs-to-Customs’ and ‘Customs-to-Business’ partnerships.

Risk management to focus attention on high risk traders and goods, Automation to enable traders and intermediaries to submit

documentation electronically, Single Window Systems Integrated/Coordinated Border Management Accreditation for “trusted traders”, AEO, etc

UN Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier Controls of Goods, Geneva 1982

Reduce requirements for completing formalities, No./duration of controls by national and international coordination of controls

WTO International Trade Principles (National, Regional & International

Harmonization Simplification Standardization Transparency

Ensuring Trade Facilitation - Obligation or Prerogative?

The ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) to promote the Free Trade Area within the regionFree movement (tariff and non-tariff ) of

regional originating products Rules of OriginAgreed list of products (www.etls.ecowas.int )

ECOWAS Customs UnionThe Common External Tariff (CET) (in 2013)ECOWAS Customs Computer Interconectivity

Program (ALISA) – designed, pilot

Harmonization of the Community Customs Code and the customs procedure code (still in progress) Harmonization and simplification of trade procedure (processing of customs documents or declarations, collection of data…)Positive Results: Reduction of Customs barriers in Member

States (Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso) Bilateral agreement on harmonization of

customs documents and free movement of customs officers in some Countries

Signature of MOU for the movement of some specific goods within the region

Increasing & Unpredictable Customs Barriers on Corridors increasing the time to export goods

Non-uniform harmonization of customs instruments.

Lack of will of authorities in the implementation of legal text on trade facilitation.

absence of comprehensive data at customs check points at the borders.

Lack of cooperation and confidence between the countries

Trade Infrastructure and Transport Infrastructure

Milestones Infrastructure – 3 being

constructed, several plannedLegal Framework – operating

hours, management, security coordination, flow of traffic types, Information sharing, etc…

Operational Manuals – develop a compendium of operating manuals to guide agencies

ICT Interconnection & Info Excahnge

Management – facilities, security, etc

Sensitization and Training

Extraterritorial jurisdiction;

Hosting officials of adjoining States in UEMOA/ECOWAS land within the State of location to perform functions in terms of their own national laws

Niger

Benin

Extraterritorial jurisdiction;

Hosting officials of adjoining States in UEMOA/ECOWAS land within the State of location to perform functions in terms of their own national laws

Burundi

Rwanda

Extraterritorial jurisdiction;

Hosting officials of adjoining States in UEMOA/ECOWAS land within the State of location to perform functions in terms of their own national laws

Ghana

Côte d’Ivoire

Architectural and engineering designs completed for the initial seven (7) JBP sites (Sèmè-Kraké Plage, Hillacondji-Sanveekondji, Noépé, Malanville, Paga, Noé-Elubo and Kouremalé,)

Construction ongoing on three (3) sites: Sèmè-Kraké Plage (Nigeria/Benin border) (25%), Noépé (Togo – Ghana border) (45%) and Malanville (Benin – Niger border) – 65%.

Consistent Consultation and Dialogue with States (all levels)

Completion of harmonized Legal Framework and Operations Manual

Development of Bilateral Agreements between border countries regarding the haulage/trucking modalities

Study on the Management options for sustainability and maintenance of facilities

Equipment Needs assessment and procurement Training, Sensitization and traveler Education

Ensure the smooth flow of Inter-State Road Transport, Trade & Persons

Chairperson – Director of Road Transport

NATIONAL ROAD TRANSPORT AND NATIONAL ROAD TRANSPORT AND TRANSIT FACILITATION C’TTEESTRANSIT FACILITATION C’TTEESRoad Transport Dir

Gendarmerie NationaleNational PoliceTrade DirectorateOrganized Road Transport UnionsNational GuarantorsForwarding AgentsCustomsPort AuthoritiesECOWAS/UEMOA National UnitsECOWAS Brown Card Sec.Chamber of CommerceANY OTHER INSTITUTION or STRUCTURE

COMPOSITION

A corridor is a set of transport infrastructures and transport services supporting an international trade route.

Formation (Corridor Countries) Reps from Public Sector and Private Sector

Monitor and Coordinate activities relating to the implementation of the RRTTFP and Inter-State Transit

Identify obstacles hampering the smooth flow of traffic along the corridor and seek their removal

CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEESCORRIDOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES

Establishment of a permanent Corridor Management and Development Agency - Pilot (Corridor/Proof of Concept Approach) - MOU among Corridor countries

Experiences – Southern and Eastern African Corridor Groups and Agencies

Smart & Multi-Modal Corridor programmes (feasibility studies) – off AU PIDA-PAP projects. Single window, cargo tracking, commercial vehicle tracking,

container tracking, and high-visibility corridor efficiency monitoring.

Corridor Management Committees Improve maritime transport and the connection between

island and mainland countries New maritime service between regional ports and facilitating

this with modern information system that links the maritime service with ports and road corridor – Praia – Dakar – Abidjan

Monitoring process (two levels): ECOWAS STRATEGY monitoring corridor efficiency - indicators linked to transport

services demand, offer and delivery monitoring actual programme implementation aimed at

improving the efficiency of the corridor USAID West Africa Trade Hub & Abidjan-Lagos

Corridor Organization (ALCO) Coordinated Region-wide Transport Observatory off

the successes and lessons of earlier initiatives Expanded, Sustainable and Institutionalized

transport observatory initiatives Coordination – (RECs, EU, USAID-WATH, ALCO,

Agribusiness Trade Promotion, World Bank, AfDB, etc)

Supports Advocacy, transparency, Name & Shame...

Implementation of the Inter State Road Transit (ISRT) Scheme National Guarantee System being phased out for a Regional

system Road Haulage Transport Industry Reforms

1 - Reforms in the Road transport industry (Professionalization)Liberalization – suppress cargo sharing to ensure

competition to improve efficiencyCapacity building on sound management practices Incentives to strictly respect rules and regulation such as

axle load, road safety2 - Vehicle fleet modernization (assess existing fleet conditions

& obstacles to fleet modernization; explore financing options)

Axle Load Control Harmonization – Supplementary Act adopted by Summit of HoS&G in 2012. Implementation Sensitization Equipment Enforcement