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PRESS/TPRB/230 
30 June 2004 
 
(04-2796) 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW: BENIN 
Commitment to reforms and furt her integration in the world 
economy raises hopes for po verty reduction prospects 
Benin’s recent economic performance, commitment to structural reform and efforts for closer 
integration in the world economy raise hopes of further success in its steps to alleviate poverty and achieve sustainable growth, according to a repo rt on the trade policies and practices of Benin 
released on June 30 by the WTO Secretariat, whic h also notes that consumer prices have fallen 
sharply to controlled levels since the previous review in 1995.  
Benin’s economy has been opened to new economic operators in certain activities but also to 
regional trade, thus boosting competition. Th e report notes major developments arising from 
Benin’s undertakings within the WAEMU (West Africa Economic and Monetary Union) which is 
implementing a common trade policy among its members and has gradually liberalized intra-
community trade. Since the first Trade Policy Re view, the full implementation of the Common 
External Tariff of the WAEMU, which slightly increased Benin’s MFN tariff protection, has led to a 
rise in tax revenue from import duties. 
 Benin (among the poorest LDCs) is one of the countries promoting at the WTO the sectoral 
initiative in favour of cotton, which advocates the phasing out of domestic support for production 
and of export subsidies, and the introduction of a financial mechanism to offset any consequent losses. However, Benin’s reforms have not yet en abled a reduction of its dependence on cotton 
exports. The report adds that the benefits Benin could derive from access to markets at both 
regional and multilateral levels will not be fully realized until its economy is able to respond competitively to external demand. 
 
The WTO has provided trade-related technical assistance (TRTA) to Benin to support the development of human resources, building of institutional capacity, the implementation of WTO 
Agreements and for participation in the Doha Development Agenda. Benin has also received 
technical assistance under the JITAP (Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Programme) and, as from 2004, the Integrated Framework. 
 
The WTO report, along with a policy statement by the Government of Benin,  will be the basis for 
the second Trade Policy Review (TPR) of Benin by the Trade Policy Review Body of the WTO on 28 
and 30 June 2004, which will take place at the same  time as the review of Burkina Faso and Mali. PRESS/TPRB/230 
Page 2 of 2 
 
  
The following documents are available in MS Wo rd format on the WTO web-site. They can be 
downloaded at http://www.wto.org/ english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp230.htm 
 
• Secretariat report 
> Contents and summary observations  > Economic environment  
> Trade and investment regimes  
> Trade policies and practices by measure  > Trade policies by sector  
> Appendix tables  
• Government report  
• Chairperson’s concluding remarks  
• Minutes of the meeting (available appr oximately six weeks after the meeting). 
Note 
Trade Policy Reviews are an exercise, mandated in the WTO agreements, in which member 
countries’ trade and related policies are examined and evaluated at regular intervals. Significant 
developments that may have an impact on the global trading system are also monitored. For each review, two documents are prepared: a policy stat ement by the government of the member under 
review, and a detailed report written independently by the WTO Secretariat. These two documents 
are then discussed by the WTO’s full membership in  the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB). These 
documents and the proceedings of the TPRB’s meetings are published shortly afterwards.  
 
Print copies of the TPR publications are available for sale from the WTO Secretariat, Centre William Rappard, 154 rue de Lausanne, 1211 Genève 21 and through the on-line bookshop at 
https://secure.vtx.ch/shop/boutiques/wto_index_boutique.html  or follow this path :  
www.wto.org >resources > publications > trade policy reviews   
The TPR publications are also available from our co-publisher Bernan Press , 4611-F Assembly 
Drive, Lanham, MD 20706-4391, United States 
Next reviews: 
Belize/Suriname : 12 and 14 July 2004 
European Union : 21 and 23 July 2004 
Republic of Korea  : 15 and 17 September 2004 
 
For a full list of previous trade policy reviews and the full programme of future reviews go to 
http://www.wto.org/english/trat op_e/tpr_e/tpr_ e.htm#reviews 
or follow this path : www.wto.org > trade topics > trade policy reviews 
  
 
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