WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  RESTRICTED 
WT/TPR/G/133 
24 May 2004  
 
 (04-2117) 
Trade Policy Review Body Original: French 
  
 
 
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW 
 
MALI 
 
Report by the Government 
 
   
Pursuant to the Agreement Establishi ng the Trade Policy Review Mechanism 
(Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade 
Organization), the policy statement by the Government of Mali is attached. 
 
 
Note: This report is subject to restricted circul ation and press embargo until the end of the meeting 
 of the Trade Policy Review Body on Mali. Mali WT/TPR/G/133 
 Page 3 
 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 
Page 
I. PHYSICAL AND INSTITUTIONAL SITUATION 7 
 (Geographical location, area, density, geographical divisions, climate, 
population, birth rate, mortality rate, nature of the political regime (laic, democratic and pluralist), membership of international organizations  - UN, 
WAEMU, ECOWAS, OHADA, WTO) 
II. PRESENTATION OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK 7 
 (1) E
CONOMIC ENVIRONMENT  7 
 (2) M ACROECONOMIC INDICATORS  7 
 (3) S OCIAL INDICATORS  9 
III. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES 9 
 
(A) SECTORAL POLICY ANALYSIS 10 
  (1) R URAL SECTOR  10 
   (a) Agriculture 10 
   (b) Livestock breeding and fisheries 12 
  (2) I NDUSTRY  12 
  (3) M INING  13 
  (4) T OURISM  13 
  (5) E NERGY  15 
  (6) C OMMUNICATION AND NEW INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES  15 
  (7) T RANSPORT  16 
  (8) I NFORMAL SECTOR  16 
 (B) ANALYSIS OF THE TRADE POLICY FORMULATION AND 
IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK 16 
 General and specific trade policy objectives 16 
 Trade policy instruments 17 
  Legislative and regulatory measures 17 
 Domestic and foreign trade 17 
 Competition policy 19 
 Domestic taxation 19 
 Tariff measures   Trade policy framework agreements 19 
 Bilateral trade agreements 19 
 Regional trade agreements 20 
 Multilateral trade agreements 20 WT/TPR/G/133 Trade Policy Review 
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Page 
  (1) M
ALI'S WTO  COMMITMENTS  20 
   (a) Trade in goods 20 
   (b) Trade in services 20    (c) Trade-related intellectual property rights 21 
  (2) O
BLIGATIONS  21 
   (a) Notifications 21    (b) Trade policy review 21 
  (3) P
ARTICIPATION IN WTO  ACTIVITIES  21 
 Trade-related technical assistance 21 
IV. OUTLOOK AND RECOMMENDATIONS 22 
V. CONCLUSION 23 
 LIST OF ACRONYMS 5 
 
 
 
  
 Mali WT/TPR/G/133 
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LIST OF ACRONYMS 
 
 
DNCC:  National Directorate for Trade and Competition 
MICA:  Ministry of Trade, Industry and Crafts LDC:   Least Developed Country  
JITAP:  Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Programme 
UNCTAD:  United Nations Conference on Trade and Development 
ITC:  International Trade Centre  
UNDP:  United Nations Development Programme IMF:  International Monetary Fund 
WAEMU:  West African Economic and Monetary Union 
ECOWAS:  Economic Community of West African States OHADA:  Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa 
BOAD:  West African Development Bank 
BCEAO:  Central Bank of West African States 
TCI:  Special import tax 
RS:  Statistical fee PCS:  Community solidarity levy 
CET:  Common external tariff 
AGOA:  African Growth and Opport unity Act of the United States 
HIPC:  Heavily Indebted Poor Countries 
PRSP:  Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper 
CILSS:  Interstate Committee to Combat Drought in the Sahel Mali WT/TPR/G/133 
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I. PHYSICAL AND INSTITUTIONAL SITUATION 
1. Located in the heart of West Africa, Mali is  a landlocked country bounded by Algeria, 
Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea Conakry, Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Niger, and covering an area of 
1,241,000 km2.  Its population was estimated at about 1.7 million in 2001, with a majority of females 
(51 per cent).  Its capital is Bamako.  With a population growth rate of some 2.3 per cent per year, it 
has a population density of 9.4 per km2, unequally distributed across the country.  The less extensive 
southern part of the country is densely populated because of its arable soil and relatively favourable 
rainfall conditions, while the north is vast and th inly populated owing to its arid and semi-arid 
climate.  The country is divided into eight admi nistrative regions (Kayes, Koulikoro, Sikasso, Ségou, 
Mopti, Tombouctou, Gao, and Kidal) plus the Dist rict of Bamako, and the regions are sub-divided 
into 703 communes.  From the south to the north ther e are three climatic zones:  the Soudanian zone, 
the Sahelian zone, and the Saharan z one.  Rainfall is heavy in the s outh of the country and decreases 
progressively towards the north. 
2. Under the 1992 Constitution, the President of the Re public is the head of State.  The President 
is elected by universal suffrage for a term of five  years, renewable only once.  The current President, 
Amadou Toumani TOURE, was sworn in on 8 June 2002 and is in his first term.  The President of the 
Republic appoints the Prime Minister, who is the head of Government. 
3. Mali, a sovereign country faithful to its constitution, is a member of several international and 
regional organizations (UN, WTO, AU, OHADA).  It  is also a member of sub-regional integration 
organizations whose purpose is to develop ec onomic and trade relations:  WAEMU, ECOWAS, 
Liptako-Gourma, CLISS, CEN-SAD, etc. 
II. PRESENTATION OF THE SO CIO-ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK 
(1) ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT  
4. Since Mali's first trade policy review in 1998, the country's economy has been subjected to 
numerous of factors which affect its development po licy.  Among the most important of these factors 
are: 
- the climate with irregular rainfall from one year to the next influencing production; 
- the international environment, the paramete rs of which are difficult to control:  
deterioration in the terms of trade, monitary fluctuations, political instability etc. 
 All of these factors have a negative impact on the macroeconomic variables. 
(2) MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS  
5. The primary sector is the pillar of Mali's economy, employing approximately 80 per cent of 
the active population.  Agriculture plays a leading role and supplies most of the basic foodstuffs 
(millet, rice, maize, sorghum, groundnuts, etc.).  Cott on is the main agricultural export product.  There 
is considerable potential in the areas of livestock br eeding, fisheries, forestry and "wild" products.  
The growth rate in the agricultural sector  for 2003 was estimated at 3.7 per cent. 
6. The secondary sector (industry, mining, etc.),  already very fragile, is suffering from the 
opening up of the domestic market to competition.  It s growth rate for 2002 was estimated at -2.6 per 
cent. WT/TPR/G/133 Trade Policy Review 
Page 8 
  
7. The tertiary sector experienced a growth of about 5.9 per cent in 2003 compared to 2002, 
largely owing to the recovery of the telecommuni cations sector with the development of mobile 
telephony.  Transport activities were marked by the sh ifting of goods to other ports of the sub-region 
in the wake of the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire. 
8. Several years of efforts to introduce refo rms and macroeconomic adjustments have not 
enabled Mali to reach a sufficient level of econom ic and social development to respond to the 
essential needs of the  majority of its population. 
9. Per capita GDP was estimated at CFAF 166,30 0 in 2003, i.e. 255 Euros, while the 2003 
growth rate was estimated at 5. 6 per cent.  Mali is among the lo w-income countries, and comes under 
the general classification of least-developed country (LDC).  According to the Human Development 
Index of the United Nations Development Progra mme (UNDP) for the same year, Mali is among the 
poorest of the least-developed countries, classified 172nd among 175 countries.  More than 64 per cent 
of the population lives below the poverty line. 
10. According to the 4th quarterly report of the National Committee on Economic Policy 
concerning Mali's economic and financ ial situation, the annual inflation rate stood at 1.3 per cent in 
2003, as compared to 5 per cent in 2002. 
11. In the area of public finances, the overall balance,  including grants and before the moratorium 
on payments, stood at CFAF -17.3 billion at the e nd of December 2003, as agai nst the planned deficit 
of CFAF 89.6 billion, and the deficit of CFAF 83.8 billion one year earlier. 
12. The outstanding foreign debt amounted to CF AF 1,673.8 billion in 2003, and represents 
approximately 67.1 per cent of GDP.  Mali reached the completion point of the enhanced Heavily 
Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative in 2003 , and is eligible for relief amounting to some 
US$675 million on foreign debt service payments. 
13. During the same period, the overall trade balance remained in deficit.  A record deficit was 
recorded in 2001, owing to the preparation of th e African Nations Cup (ANC) and to the presidential 
and legislative elections. 
14. The high volume of imports in 2001 led to a decr ease in imports in 2002.  At the same time, 
there was a sharp increase in exports, thanks essentially to gold.  Consequently, 2002 was an 
exceptional year, with an unusually sm all trade balance deficit.  The st atistical series below shows that 
imports progressed less rapidly than exports. 
CFAF billions 
Year 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
Imports (c.i.f.) 498 507.23 573.52 724.95 646.77 
Exports (f.o.b.) 348.34 351.57 373.64 523.10 603.25 
Balance -149.66 -155.66 -199.88 -201.85 -43.52 
 
15. The ratio of the current account balance excl uding grants to GDP was -10.9 per cent in 2002 
and -7.6 per cent in 2003. Mali WT/TPR/G/133 
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(3) SOCIAL INDICATORS  
16. The report on the first year of implementati on of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper 
(PRSP) presents the social indicators as follows: 
- With respect to health, the degree of fulf ilment of the objectives relating to health 
coverage is reasonably satisfactory.  Howeve r, other health system indicators that are 
linked, inter-alia , to socio-cultural factors, in particular the quantitative and 
qualitative weakness of human resources and their lack of motivation, remains a major problem.  In 2003, the share of the population with access to health facilities 
within a radius of 15 kilometres was estimated at 73 per cent.  During the same period 
vaccination coverage (DTCP3) for children less than 1 year old was estimated at 
75 per cent. 
- In the area of education, the qualitative weakne ss of the educational system persists in 
spite of the improvement in the pupil/t eacher ratio, which stood at 61 per cent in 
2002.  There is a shortage of classrooms  and professors in the Teacher Training 
Institutes.  The objective of hiring 2500 teachers per year is far from having been 
attained.  The adult literacy or special e ducation rate is very low (34 per cent in 
2003).  The gross school enrolment ratio at the first stage of basic education was estimated at approximately 68 per cent in 2003. 
- Population pressure, poverty, pollution, and infrastructure costs tend to limit access to 
drinking water.  Consequently, wate r-related diseases are common.  Actions 
undertaken in the sector during 2002-2003 rev ealed 24,562 modern watering points in 
20,512 locations within the country.  Thus, the proportion of villages with access to at 
least one modern water point was estimated at 84 per cent, and the proportion of the 
population with access to drinking water at 61.6 per cent. 
17. Generally speaking, the macroeconomic objec tives set in the Poverty Reduction Strategy 
Paper include the mobilization of public and private savings with a view to achieving an investment 
rate of at least 25 per cent for the period 2003-2007 .  This should make it possible to achieve an 
average growth rate, in real terms, of about 6 pe r cent starting in 2004, or 9 per cent taking account of 
inflation, which must not exceed 3 per cent. 
18. The priority in attaining these objectives will be to develop the growth and job-creating 
sectors, focusing in particular on the rural sector .  To that end, the priority areas will be: 
- Promotion of investment and development of the private sector; 
- basic infrastructure development; 
- development and optimum use of human resources; 
- reform of the political framework, goo d governance, and decentralization. 
 
III. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES 
19. The entire economy is relevant to trade policy, since it is an indivisible whole.  Given the 
interdependence of economic phenomena, a comp lete trade policy analysis requires a better WT/TPR/G/133 Trade Policy Review 
Page 10 
  
understanding of policies relating to sectors with a pot ential for exploitable supply or indirect effects 
on trade. 
(A) SECTORAL POLICY ANALYSIS 
20. The Government's current efforts are guided by  the development model that Mali has been 
advocating for the past few years now.  It involves further State withdrawal from certain key areas in 
favour of the private sector, in conformity with  the objectives of the Poverty Reduction Strategy 
Paper.  This has given the private sector a new responsibility and a leading role in the country's 
economic activity.  Thus, in keeping with this sp irit, the State is progressively handing over certain 
key areas of activity to the private sector, and as a result, a number of State enterprises have been 
privatized or are in the course of being privatized. 
21. The Council of Ministers of 16 June 1999 adopted an action plan for the reform of State 
enterprises for the period 1999-2002 whose objectiv e was to reduce the number of non-banking State 
enterprises in the Government's portfolio  from 33 to 18 between 1998 and 2002. 
22. Under this action plan, the following enterpri ses are currently being privatized:  HUICOMA, 
the Usine Malienne de Produits Pharmaceutiques (UMPP), Aéroports du Mali, SOTELMA, BIM-SA, 
CMDT and COMANAV. 
23. While in the case of some compani es the State has sold all of its shares, in the case of others it 
has retained a minority participation.  The ultimat e aim of all of these actions is to support trade 
liberalization measures designed to stimulate production in the different sectors and to boost international confidence in the economy. 
(1) R
URAL SECTOR  
24. The rural sector, accounting for an overwhelming 45 per cent of GDP, plays an important role 
in the economy.  Development and liberalization po licy is defined by the Master Plan for Rural 
Development.  The objectives set for the rural deve lopment sector for 2010 are in keeping with Mali's 
general development and poverty reduction objectives, namely: 
 - to improve the sector's contribution to the country's economic growth through 
 sustainable development of the volume of agricultural and food production; 
  - to strengthen food security and self-sufficiency by creating a socio-economic and 
institutional rural sector environment c onducive to the sustainable production of 
goods and services by motivated and organized actors; 
 
 - to improve the income and standard of li ving of rural populations by promoting the 
agri-food industries and developing appropria te financial intermediation services, and 
by ensuring access to basic so cial and agricultural services; 
 
 - to protect the environment and improve  the management of natural resources by 
developing a set of laws, rules, and instituti ons bringing together all of the different 
players, and by strengthening the capacity of the players. 
 
(a) Agriculture 
25. With a 33.8 per cent share of GDP during the 2002/2003 season, agriculture forms the 
backbone of the Malian economy.  It remains highl y dependent on the vagaries of the climate. Mali WT/TPR/G/133 
 Page 11 
 
 
26. In order to boost agricultural development, th e Government intends to develop some 50,000 
hectares by 2007, and to build dams. 
27. This should lead to a significant increase in th e production of sugar, rice,  fruit and vegetables.  
There are also plans to extend the use of seed grai n suited to local climatic conditions for dry cereals 
such as millet, sorghum and maize. 
28. For the specific case of fruit and vegetabl es and certain "wild" products, the long-term 
objective is to create added value, and hence j obs, through processing, marketing and transport. 
29. Cotton is Mali's principal cash crop, and the cotton subsector directly employs some 3 million 
persons, making it the number one employer in the country.  Cotton accounts for some 14 per cent of 
Mali's GDP, and for 98.8 per cent of its agricultural export revenue. 
30. In addition to the jobs relating to its cultivati on, cotton indirectly generates a considerable 
number of jobs in the ginning and textile factorie s, the oil mills and the cattle feed manufacturing 
plants, and in the transport and crafts sectors. 
31. The development of cotton has contributed to in frastructure development in rural areas in the 
form of rural tracks, bridges, drinking water points, schools, health centres and other community 
infrastructures.  The cultivation of cotton also cont ributes to food self-sufficiency by promoting the 
cultivation of food crops. 
32. All of these activities have contributed to impr oving the standard of living of the populations 
in the areas concerned and has favoured their inte gration into the economic and social development 
process. 
33. The production of cottonseed oil and soap li mits the importation of those products, and 
therefore has a positive impact on the balance of payments. 
34. Cottonseed cakes play an important role in feeding the country's livestock. 
35. These different elements eloquently illustrat e the Malian economy's dependence on cotton, 
and hence the interest shown by the Government of Mali in finding a solution to the distortions 
affecting world trade in cotton.  As a result of  the subsidies granted (domestic support and export 
subsidies), Mali lost, on average, 30 million dollars  per year in cotton export revenue between 1997 
and 2002, i.e. approximately CFAF 18 billion. 
36. Because cotton is so important not only to Mali's exports, but also to its economy as a whole, 
the authorities have had to reorganize the subsector .  Thus, on 6 June 2001 the Government adopted 
the Policy Letter on the Development of the Cott on Subsector (PDSC), and on 5 November 2003, a 
revised action plan.  The general objective of this plan is to increase the c ontribution of the cotton 
subsector to the country's economic and social development.  Its specific objectives are: 
 
 - To ensure the funding and smooth opera tion of the subsector during the 2003/2004 
  season; 
  
 - to ensure the smooth functioning of  the Malian Textile Development Company 
 (CMDT) during the transitional period; 
  - to carry out the privatization of the CMDT and the national oil mills (HUICOMA); WT/TPR/G/133 Trade Policy Review 
Page 12 
  
 
 - provide essential support in view of the long-term liberalization of the subsector; 
  - help to build the capacity of producers in order to enhance their role in the subsector. 
 
(b) Livestock breeding and fisheries 
37. Livestock breeding plays an important role in Mali's economy, livestock being the third 
export product after gold and cotton.  Seventy per cen t of the country's territory lends itself to this 
activity, which provides a livelihood for 30 per cent of the population.  The livestock population 
consists of bovines, sheep and goat s, camels, horses, pigs and poultry. 
38. Mali exports live animals to neighbouring countries instead of meat.  This is due to lack of 
processing and transport infrastructure, and prevents  the country from taking full advantage of its 
livestock. 
39. On the subregional markets, Sahelian meat faces competition from subsidized European and 
South American meat, a situation which seriously affects its competitiveness. 
40. From the country's independence until the 1970's, fisheries were an important component of 
Mali's exports.  However, the fishing industry went  into decline following the years of recurring 
drought.  Today, with an estimat ed annual production of 100,000 tonnes, the authorities are showing a 
renewed interest in this activity, as testified by the organization of a "fisheries day" presided over by 
the Head of State in person. 
(2) I
NDUSTRY  
41. The industrial sector is one of the weak links  of Mali's economy.  According to the Prime 
Minister's General Policy Statement, the State' s industrialization policy will focus on rapidly 
enhancing the sector's contribution to economic growth.   The objective for 2007 is to raise the 
number of industrial jobs from 14, 000 to 30,000 and increase the industrial sector's share in GDP 
from 8 per cent to 12 per cent.  Generally speaking, measures will be taken to promote 
industrialization and boost indus trial production while at the same time strengthening the 
competitiveness of enterprises and diversif ying the industrial development poles. 
42. The strategy adopted consists in promoti ng the development of the SMEs/SMIs that 
contribute to growth and to the creation of jobs in  the sectors in which the country has a comparative 
advantage, in particular agro-indus try and textiles.   A spinning mill, FITINA-SA, was inaugurated on 
21 February 2004, and ITEMA  (Textiles Industries of Mali), which has been closed for several years, 
will be starting up again by the end of 2004. 
43. A vast regional industrialization programme ha s been organized under the auspices of the 
WAEMU Commission to enable 25 per cent of the co tton fibre production to be processed locally by 
2010.  This programme will contribute to increasing th e industrial sector's general contribution to the 
creation of wealth and employment in the West African subregion. 
44. The Government plans to diversify the indus trial structure by expanding the production of 
durable goods.  However, this calls for the prior organization of a vocational training programme and 
a strengthening of basic infrastructure, including the development of industrial zones. Mali WT/TPR/G/133 
 Page 13 
 
 
45. The specific objectives of the Government's industrial policy are: 
 The development of the textile subsector with  the creation of at least four spinning 
mills in order to bring the rate of processi ng of cotton fibre to about 8 per cent during 
the 5 year period from 2002 and 2007, as against the current 0.8 per cent; 
 
 implementation of the industr ial sugar production project in order to create a new 
industrial development pool in the countr y and cover at least domestic needs; 
 
 revival of cement, lime and marb le production at the Diamou site. 
 
(3) MINING  
46. As Africa's third gold producer after South A frica and Ghana, Mali has performed remarkably 
well over the past five years.  Moreover, duri ng 2002, following the opening of the new gold mines 
(Sadiola in 1997, Morila in 2000, and Yatela in 2001) the share of mining in GDP, which stood at 6.4 per cent in 1998, reached 15.1 per cent.  During the same period, gold production rose from 20.5 to 63.7 tonnes.  However, this sharp growth in mining has not had a significant ratchet effect on the 
rest of the economy. 
47. For the period 2003-2007, the Government plans to set up small and medium mining 
operations at Tabakoto, Sègala, Loulo, etc.   The po tential of these sites is estimated at 500 tonnes of 
gold.   The Government's action plan provides for measures to consolidate the contribution of gold, 
which, since 1999 has been the leading export product. 
48. The Government also plans to develop and di versify its mineral resources by improving the 
sector's regulatory environment.  Its plans include oil prospecting, the introduction of a mechanism for 
the regular monitoring, control and assessment of mining and oil activities and projects, the 
structuring and organization of small-scale mining, and capacity-building among the players involved.   
The Government has also set itself the goal of de termining the causes of geological phenomena in 
certain parts of the country and rehabilitating the hydrocarbons market. 
49. In addition to gold and oil, th e Government has undertaken to prospect for gas, base metals 
(copper, lead, zinc and nickel), industrial minera ls (lime, clays, phosphates and gypsum), building 
materials (clay, marble), and precious stones.  A petroleum code will also be adopted. 
(4) T
OURISM  
50. Mali has great potential in the tourism sector, particularly recreational tourism, the chief 
destinations being the Pays Dogon, Tombouctou, Djenné, Gao, Mopti, Ségou, Sikasso, Kayes and 
Kidal.  Valued at US$19 million, tourism is the country's leading source of services export revenue. 
51. This potential is difficult to exploit because of  the weakness of communications and lack of 
facilities for receiving tourists, the lack of professionally trained human resources, the cost of international transport to Mali, and the difficulties li nked to the domestic land,  river and air transport 
systems. 
52. Mali received 94,300 tourists in 2001, 95,851 in  2002, and 97,346 in 2003.   The number of  
overnight stays grew from 115,160 in 2002 to 196,118 in 2003.  Generally speaking, 60 per cent of 
recreational tourists visit the Pays Dogon, Tombouc tou, Djenné, Mopti and Gao; 10 per cent visit the 
Sikasso region; 7 per cent, the Ségou region; 2 pe r cent, Kayes; and 1 per cent the Kidal region. WT/TPR/G/133 Trade Policy Review 
Page 14 
  
53. Twenty-five per cent of business tourists vis it Bamako and its surroundi ngs, Sélingue and the 
Mandingue region, etc. 
54. In order to stimulate the development of tourism sector the Government adopted, on 
3 June 2002, Law No. 02-015 of 3 June 2002 offering special advantages to tourist enterprises, such 
as: 
 - Exemption from the trading tax; 
  - exemption from the tax on business profits;  
 - exemption from customs duties on equipment. 
 55. In addition to this Law, the institutional a nd regulatory environment for tourism has been 
marked by the adoption of a number of decrees, including: 
 - Decree No. 96-128 P-RM of 18 April 1996 regulating the approval and operation of 
tourist establishments; 
 
 - Decree No. 96-144 P-RM of 3 May 1996 laying down the conditions for practising 
the professions of travel or ganizer and tour operator; 
  - Decree No. 96-030 P-RM of 25 January 1996 laying down the administrative 
formalities for setting up enterprises; 
  - Decree No. 96-129 P-RM of 18 April 1996 laying down the conditions for practising 
the profession of tourist guide. 
 56. Mali's  principal specific commitments under th e General Agreement on Trade in Services 
(GATS) are the development of tourist sites, extern al promotion (participation in international events: 
trade fairs, conferences and other professional enc ounters), support for the hotel and restaurant 
subsector, support for travel agencies, and vocatio nal training for government and private sector 
employees, including tourist guides. 
57. In connection with the development of tourism,  the Government has drawn up an action plan 
which aims at promoting handicrafts with a view  to their sale on the domestic and international 
markets.   This plan also aims to diversify activ ities and introduce a reliable system for gathering and 
processing statistical data. 
58. The Government's objective is to considerably increase the number of visitors to Mali by 
2007.  This will require a strategic orientation plan  for development, which is currently being drawn 
up with a view to: 
 - Diversifying and strengthening the quality of supply; 
 
 - developing vocational training; 
 
 - encouraging domestic and foreign private initiative and investment; 
 
 - developing co-operation with the pr ivate sector and with other partners; 
 
 - strengthening the administrative structure of the tourism sector etc. Mali WT/TPR/G/133 
 Page 15 
 
 
(5) ENERGY  
59. The Government has franchised the public utiliti es.  This franchise involves a programme for 
the extension of the interconnected distribution netw ork as far as Sikasso via the Office du Niger rice 
growing area, an extension that will make it possible to interconnect with Côte d'Ivoire, in keeping 
with the ECOWAS energy exchange programme. 
60. The aim of this capacity extension policy is to increase electricity coverage from 8 to 20 per 
cent of the population in 2007, and to work towa rds the rapid reduction of water and electricity 
charges. 
61. For populations located outside the electricity  network, "new" and "renewable" sources of 
energy will be developed to cover their needs.  The strategy will essentially consist in promoting the 
dissemination of solar, aeolian and biomass technologies.  The Government has set up a specialized agency for the development of local energy and rural electrification. 
62. In the hydrocarbons subsector, the challenge li es in the development of storage capacities and 
the diversification of the country's sources of supply in petroleum products. 
63. As regards the water sector, in addition to  the investment programme planned in the 
framework of the concession, the Government's policy,  which it has been developing since 2000, aims 
to provide the largest possible number of Malians w ith access to drinking water and to enable them to 
live in a healthier environment.  The target should be attained by 2007 with the construction of water 
conveyance systems to supply water to all popula tion centres of more than 2,000 inhabitants. 
64. Policy in the water sector will also involve the monitoring and environmental protection of 
the country's water resources. 
(6) C
OMMUNICATION AND NEW INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES  
65. The written and audiovisual communications sector  experienced a surge following the events 
of March 1991.  Today, there are a multitude of re gistered newspapers and rural and private radio 
stations.  In fact, Mali is considered a pilot country in the subregion. 
66. The Government is determined to consolidate these significant achievements.  In the area of 
audiovisual communication, the policy adopted for th e five years to come involves the extension of 
FM/TV broadcasting networks to the entire country.  In the postal services area, the objective is to 
pursue the consolidation and modernization of the National Post Office through the introduction of 
new information technologies in order to maintain th e public service, while at the same time adapting 
the current regulatory framework to the national and international environment. 
67. Telecommunications is an area in which Mali co mpares rather badly with the countries of the 
subregion, its handicap being the limited access of most of the population to the different types of communication technology as well as the cost of using such services. 
68. Mali's objective will be to ensure access of households and businesses to quality 
communication services at competitive rates, in the ru ral areas as well.  By 2007, all settlements of 
more than 5,000 inhabitants should be  connected to the telephone network. 
69. The positive impact of the new sectoral telecommunications policy on prices, supply and the 
development of telecommunications in  Mali could already be felt in 2003. WT/TPR/G/133 Trade Policy Review 
Page 16 
  
70. The process of opening up the capital of the Société des Télécommuncations du Mali 
(SOTELMA) is currently under way, the objective bei ng to find a reference partner that would be 
responsible for mobilizing the resources necessary fo r the company's development.  In addition to 
SOTELMA, a second company, IKATEL, has been esta blished in Mali since 2002 and is operating in 
the area of mobile telephony.  Its terms of reference also provide for fixed telephony. 
71. Given the extent of Mali's territory and its  land-locked situation, new information 
technologies represent an opportunity not only at the administrative level, but also for the decentralized communities and for companies. 
(7) T
RANSPORT  
72. The country's transport infrastructure is still fa r from equal to the enormous challenge posed 
by the conveyance of agricultural and industr ial goods within the country and abroad. 
73. The Government's policy in the area of ro ad transport consists of speeding up the 
development of main roads and agricultural track s to form an interconnected network linking the 
production centres to the domestic and subregional ma rkets.  The specific objectives in this area will 
be governed by the continued effort to improve access to remote areas within the country.  Measures 
are also under way to link the country with all of the ports in the neighbouring countries. 
74. In the area of rail and air transport, the reforms undertaken involve:  the franchising of the 
national railways (which entered into effect in  September 2003);  the granting of an operating 
concession for the airports of Mali (Aéroports du Ma li – ADM) to a private company (currently under 
way);  the privatization of current road main tenance, already achieved with the creation of 
AGEROUTE;  and the introduction of a user funding mechanism for such maintenance in the form of 
a toll system. 
75. In the river transport area, policy will focus on improving the navigability of the Niger river, 
inter alia  through dredging and the development of por ts, docks and other navigational facilities. 
(8) INFORMAL SECTOR  
76. In reality, a prominent feature of the country 's economic activities is the informal sector, 
whose share in GDP is constantly growing.  Its im pact is felt above all the tertiary sector, notably 
trade. 
(B)  ANALYSIS OF THE TRADE POLICY FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION 
FRAMEWORK 
General and specific trade policy objectives 
77. The objectives of Mali's trade policy are determined by the country's overall economic 
objective:  job creation and improvement in the sta ndard of living through a sustainable increase in 
the economic growth rate and a more efficient allocation of resources. 
78. The Malian authorities have pursued their efforts, begun in the 1980's, to liberalize the 
country's economy, efforts which have resulted in th e simplification of the legislative and regulatory 
framework. 
79. As part of this liberalization effort and in keeping with the liberalization measures agreed 
under the WTO, tariff and non-tariff barriers were elim inated.  These measures will be maintained and Mali WT/TPR/G/133 
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consolidated in order to enhance the country's par ticipation in subregional, regional and international 
activities. 
80. The objectives and specific activities pursued under this trade policy include: 
 - Increasing Mali's export capacity by diversifying its export products; 
 
 - improving market access for Malian pr oducts and ensuring that commitments 
undertaken in the framework of multilateral trade are respected; 
  - regulating and improving markets by clarifyi ng the functions and roles of the players 
involved; 
  - taking full advantage of the benefits offered by international trade (technical 
assistance). 
 81. The development of Mali's trade policy is the responsibility of various governmental bodies 
with the participation of private sector entities and non-governmental organizations. 
82. The Minister of Industry and Trade is responsible for formulating, evaluating and 
implementing trade and industrial policy, with the assistance of the Minister of the Economy and 
Finance responsible, inter alia , for customs services. 
83. At any time, the Minister of Trade may resort  to the services of any of the national bodies 
involved in the country's trade policy. 
84. The National Directorate for Trade and Competition, under the authority of the Ministry of 
Industry and Trade, is the technical service in charge of developing, implementing and monitoring trade policy. 
Trade policy instruments 
85. The main trade policy instruments in Mali are th e Commercial Code and the Tariff.  The texts 
governing foreign trade also contain a number of other trade regulation provisions.  
Legislative and regulatory measures 
 Domestic and foreign trade 
86. The Commercial Code adopted by Law No. 92-002 of 27 August 1992 remains the reference 
text.  It governs trade, trade activities and the in stitutional framework in which trade activities are 
conducted in Mali. 
87. This Law was amended by Law No. 01-042/AN-RM  of 7 June 2001 which stipulates that 
foreign natural or legal persons may engage in trade activities without prior authorization from the 
Ministry in charge of trade. 
88. Certain trade activities may nevertheless be subj ect to an authorization without regard to 
nationality, either by an order of the Minister in charge of trade of by a decree of the Council of Ministers. WT/TPR/G/133 Trade Policy Review 
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89. In Africa, the provisions relating to business law in the different countries have been 
harmonized in the "Uniform Acts" of the Organi zation for the Harmonization of Business Law in 
Africa (OHADA). 
90. Since 2000, seven OHADA Uniform Acts have pr ogressively entered into force in Mali.  
Given their primacy over domestic law, they have re placed all similar or contrary provisions of the 
Commercial Code. 
91. This work has been undertaken with a view to harmonizing the Commercial Code with the 
OHADA Uniform Acts to produce a single document that is simple to use. 
92. Foreign trade is governed by Decree 00-505/ P-RM of October 2000 on the regulation of 
foreign trade.  Since 1989, foreign trade has been gove rned by two regimes:  the free trade regime and 
the prohibition regime. 
93. Prohibition may be restrictive or absolute. 
94. However, the Government may subject imports or exports of certain goods to other specific 
provisions, inter alia for reasons of: 
 - Health, security or public morals; 
 - defence of consumer interests; 
 - protection of industrial or commercial property;  - protection of origin and of national treasu res of artistic, historical or archaeological 
value. 
95. Natural and legal persons registered in th e Register of Commerce and Personal Property 
Transactions and having a tax identification card and a valid licence are eligible to carry out foreign 
trade operations in Mali. 
96. Foreign trade procedures have been simplifie d and grouped together under a single office 
known as the "guichet unique" (single window) for forei gn trade.  This office groups together the 
various entities involved in foreign trade forma lities:  The National Directorate for Trade and 
Competition, The National Directorate of the Treasu ry and Public Accounting, the National Council 
of Employers of Mali, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Mali and the preshipment 
inspection company. 
97. Import and export transactions are carried out on the basis of a document known as the 
"certificate of intention to import" or the "certif icate of intention to export" which is issued 
automatically within a maximum period of 24 hours. 
98. An Import Verification Programme was introduced in 1989 authorizing a preshipment 
inspection company to inspect goods prior to their shipment to Mali. 
99. The main objectives of the Import Verification Programme are: 
 - To maintain proper control of foreign trade flows; 
 - to guarantee customs revenue; 
 - to protect consumers and the interests of economic operators. Mali WT/TPR/G/133 
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Competition policy 
100. Mali has opted for a policy of liberalization invol ving, inter alia, the liberalization of trade, 
the liberalization of prices and freedom of enterprise. 
101. This policy has led the State to decentralize its  activities and to develop its role as regulator 
and arbitrator, particularly in the area of compet ition law, in order to ensure healthy and fair 
competition and to make the market more transparent. 
102. Ordinance No. 92-021/PE-CTSP of 13 April 1992 establishing price liberalization and 
freedom of competition, in force since 1992, has bro ught about a complete liberalization of prices and 
introduced competition.  It identifies and punishes abuses and practices that restrict competition. 
103. WAEMU legislation concerning anti-competitive practices entered into force in Mali in 
January 2003, supplementing the domestic le gislation dealing with unfair competition. 
Domestic taxation 104. The streamlining and modernization of procedures has made it easier to maintain control over 
the tax base.  Mali's domestic tax policy is refl ected by the introduction of a synthetic tax and a 
uniform VAT, which replaced the IAS (tax on business and services) within the WAEMU 
community. 
105. The special import tax (TCI) is levied exceptionally on a single product, sugar. 
106. Order No. 2034/MEF-SG of 16 September 2003  established reference values for certain 
products, including wheat flour and meslin, pasta,  cotton fabrics (dyed, bleached, printed), etc. 
107. The WAEMU Commission has an anti-dumping co de and a safeguard code which have not 
yet entered into force. 
Tariff measures 
 108. The Common External Tariff (CET), in for ce within the WAEMU since January 2000, 
remains the reference tool. 
109. In the multilateral trade area, Mali has bound its tariffs in acco rdance with the WTO 
provisions.  However, the applied tariff levels remain below the bound levels. 
Trade policy framework agreements 
Bilateral trade agreements 
110. With the entry into force of th e WAEMU, the bilateral trade agreements concluded by each of 
the member countries of the Union with a third country lapsed.  Only the WAEMU Commission has 
the authority to sign trade and investment agreements with third countries. 
111. A non-preferential agreement on the development of trade and investment relations between 
the United States and the WAEMU was signed on 24 Ap ril 2002.  Other agreements are currently 
being prepared with Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia. WT/TPR/G/133 Trade Policy Review 
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Regional trade agreements 
112. Mali is a Member of ECOWAS, WAEMU and CEN-SAD, which aim to integrate the 
economies of their members, thereb y creating an environment conducive to the development of trade. 
113. The WAEMU has made remarkable progress in liberalizing trade.  Under the preferential 
regime, since 1996 duty-free access has been accorded  to local products and traditional handicrafts 
from the Union, and since 2000, to approved originating industrial products. 
114. In ECOWAS, these same advantages are granted to local products and traditional handicrafts 
from the Community. 
115. Non-originating products are subject to the CET on the basis of a common tariff and statistics 
nomenclature and a common customs evaluation regime. 
116. Additional duties are levied in the form of a statistical fee (RS) and a community solidarity 
levy (PCS) in order to help finance the compensati on fund for reduced customs revenue.  This system 
comes to an end in 2006. 
117. Mali is a party to the ACP-EU Partnershi p Agreement commonly known as the "Cotonou 
Agreement", which was signed in Cotonou on 23 June  2000 and entered into force on 1 April 2003.  It 
is also a member of the OHADA Treaty, the Afri can Union, the West African Development Bank 
(WADB), the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), the African Development Bank (ADB) and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). 
Multilateral trade agreements 118. Mali became an original Member of the WT O on 31 May 1995, and is recognized by the 
WTO as an LDC Member.  It has made commitmen ts under all of the WTO multilateral agreements, 
but has not made any commitments under the plurilateral agreements. 
(1) M
ALI'S WTO  COMMITMENTS  
(a) Trade in goods 
119. Upon accession to the WTO, Mali bound its tariffs on all agricultural products listed in the 
Annex to the Agreement on Agriculture at a ceiling of 60 per cent.  The products in chapters 44, 81 
and 92 of the harmonized system were also bound at  the same rate.  Other charges and taxes on 
imports of these products were bound at 50 per cent.  The Government of Mali supplied tariff data to 
the integrated database (IDB) in 1999 and 2003. 
120. Pursuant to Regulation No. 5/99/CM/UEMOA of 6 August 1999 on the determination of the 
customs value of imported goods, Mali has taken steps to implement the transactional value by 
adopting Order No. 2582/MEF-SG of 31 December 2002 establishing modalities for the 
determination of the customs value of impor ted goods.  This Order entered into force on 
1 January 2004. 
(b) Trade in services 
121. Mali's commitments in the area of trade in ser vices concern activities related to tourism and 
adult education. Mali WT/TPR/G/133 
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(c) Trade-related intellectual property rights 
122. Mali is a signatory of the revised Bangui Agreement on the creation of the African 
Intellectual Property Organisation (AIPO).  Under that agreement, it registered: 
 - in 2002:  6 patents, 27 product and service marks, 23 trade names, and 5 industrial 
 designs; 
 - in 2003:  10 patents, 34 product and service marks, 25 trade names, and 17 industrial 
 designs. 
 The texts on copyright are currently under review. 
 
(2) O
BLIGATIONS  
(a) Notifications 
123. In accordance with WTO provisions, Mali has been submitting the required notifications.  
However, it has faced serious problems in meeting th is obligation, owing partly  to the constraints it 
faces in collecting and processing the information, and partly to the insufficient training of human 
resources responsible for preparing the notifications. 
(b) Trade policy review 
124. Today, Mali is participating in its second trad e policy review.  The first took place in 1998, 
and since then the economic and trade context has undergone significant changes. 
(3) PARTICIPATION IN WTO  ACTIVITIES  
125. Mali opened a permanent mission in Geneva in 200 2, and participates regularly in WTO trade 
negotiations.  It was present at all of the WTO mini sterial conferences, including Cancun, where, with 
other African cotton producing countries, it denounced the cotton subsidies granted by certain developed countries.  Its negotiating positions are in harmony with those of the African group and 
ACP countries and the LDCs. 
126. Mali participates in the trade policy seminars,  workshops and courses organised by the WTO 
for its member countries. 
Trade-related technical assistance 
127. Mali, an LDC Member of the WTO, plans to take the fullest possible advantage of the 
technical assistance offered in order to become more fully integrated in the multilateral trading 
system. 
128. The fact is that it currently suffers from the poor capacity of its human resources and of its 
means of production.  This is a handicap when it comes to understanding the WTO agreements and 
preparing to face regional and international trad e negotiations.  At the same time, it limits the 
country's exportable supply possibilities. 
129. At the WTO ministerial conference in Singapore, it was noted that the developing countries 
were under-represented in international trade.  Th rough the Integrated Framework, managed by the 
ITC, the WTO, UNCTAD, the World Bank, UNDP and the IMF, the developed countries took the initiative of assisting the developing country Members,  from Africa in particular, in improving market WT/TPR/G/133 Trade Policy Review 
Page 22 
  
access for their products, and building up their production, human resources and institutional 
capacities. 
130. Mali is participating in the second phase of the Integrated Framework.  It has also been 
included in the Joint Integrated Technical Assi stance Programme (JITAP).  These initiatives represent 
an excellent opportunity to foster Mali's in tegration in the multilateral trading system. 
131. To fulfil its commitments and obligations and participate fully in the activities of the WTO 
and the various subregional and regional development organizations , Mali has created the following 
bodies and institutions: 
 - Through Decision No. 10 /MICA-SG of 27 March 1998, a National Commission on 
Follow-up to the WTO Agreements and Relations with UNCTAD; 
    - Through Decision No. 16 /MICA-SG of 4 April 1998, a Follow-up Unit for WTO 
Agreements and Relations with UNCTAD; 
  - Through Decree No. 03 294../  PM-RM of 22 July 2003, the Inter-Ministerial Follow-
up Committee and the Integrated Framework Steering Committee; 
  - Through Decision No. 30/ MIC-SG of 3 June 2003, the JITAP Steering Committee of 
the Ministry of Industry and Trade. 
 
132. Since October 2000, Mali has been eligible under the African Growth and Opportunity Act 
(AGOA) of the United States.  It received a visa for textiles in December 2003.  The AGOA is in the 
category of non-reciprocal tariff preferences, and its  objective is to promote economic growth in the 
sub-Saharan African countries, and to foster trade and investment between the United States and the 
countries of sub-Saharan Africa. 
IV. OUTLOOK AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
133. From the point of view of trade, Mali is very open to the rest of the world.  It believes in the 
multilateral trading system and considers trade to be a factor of sustainable development. 
134. It is determined to enhance its participation in international trade.  To that end, it aims to: 
 - Build up the capacity of its human resources by training domestic trade players; 
 
 - increase its exportable supply in th e area of trade in goods and services; 
  - protect its natural intellectua l property and traditional know-how. 
 135. To attain these objectives, Mali will seek to act  in cooperation with its multilateral trading 
partners and the WTO in the following areas: 
 - Strengthening of technical cooperation th rough national and regional workshops and 
 seminars with a view to acquiring a better understanding of the multilateral trade 
 agreements; 
  - implementation of the Integrated Framew ork in order to enhance and diversify its 
supply of goods and services; 
 Mali WT/TPR/G/133 
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 - implementation of the WTO agreements a nd greater justice in international trade 
through the elimination of bad trade practices, in particular the use of unjustified subsidies and technical barriers to trade. 
 V. CONCLUSION 
136. Mali is in the process of developing a liberal economy.  It has introduced many reforms to 
create an environment conducive to the development of private initiative and to the opening up of its economy to the outside world. 
137. At the domestic level, political reforms have  produced a democratic regime and greater 
decentralization, enabling local communities to participate increasingly in the national decision-
making process. 
138. The ongoing judicial reform is providing a more secure business environment. 
139. Reforms are being introduced in different sect ors of the economy, alone or in cooperation 
with sub-regional or regional partners, to develop an efficient and competitive economy. 
140. Exportable supply capacity has remained weak a nd not very diversified.  Mali's main export 
product, cotton, still has to contend with the agricu lture subsidies of the rich countries, which are 
exacerbating Mali's marginalization in the multilateral trading system. 
141. The equity that the WTO advocates can only be guaranteed if the LDCs, including Mali, are 
properly rewarded for their efforts.  
142. Mali is relying on technical assistance from its b ilateral and multilateral partners in order to 
acquire a proper mastery of the mechanisms and rule s of the multilateral trading system, to boost its 
production capacity, and to ensure  proper implementation of the multilateral trade agreements. 
143. It is relying, to a certain extent, on the capacity  of the integrated framework and the JITAP to 
contribute to its integration into world trade. 
 
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