WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1 • Cameroon  
- 68 - 
 
  ANNEX  1: CAMEROON  
 
  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1 • Cameroon  
- 69 - 
 
  CONTENTS  
1   ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT  ................................ ................................ .........................  73 
1.1   Main features of the economy  ................................ ................................ ....................... 73 
1.2   Recent economic developments  ................................ ................................ ..................... 75 
1.3   Developments in trade and investment  ................................ ................................ .......... 78 
1.3.1   Trends and patterns in merchandis e and services trade ................................ ................. 78 
1.3.2   Trends and patterns in FDI ................................ ................................ ......................... 81 
2   TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES ................................ ................................ ............  83 
2.1   General framework  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......83 
2.2   Trade policy formulation and objectives ................................ ................................ .......... 84 
2.3   Trade agreements and arrangements  ................................ ................................ ............. 84 
2.3.1   WTO ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................ 85 
2.3.2   Regional and preferential agreements  ................................ ................................ ......... 85 
2.3.2.1    Relations with the European Union  ................................ ................................ ........... 85 
2.3.2.2    Relations with the United States  ................................ ................................ .............. 86 
2.3.3   Other agreements and arrangements  ................................ ................................ .......... 86 
2.4   Investment regime ................................ ................................ ................................ .......86 
2.4.1   Institutional and legal framework ................................ ................................ ................ 86 
3   TRADE POLICY AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  ................................ ............................  89 
3.1   Measures directly affecting imports  ................................ ................................ ................ 89 
3.1.1   Customs procedures, valuation, and requirements  ................................ ........................ 89 
3.1.1.1    Registration  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 89 
3.1.1.2    Declaration and customs valuation  ................................ ................................ ........... 89 
3.1.1.3    Preshipment inspection  ................................ ................................ ........................... 91 
3.1.2   Rules of origin  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......... 92 
3.1.3   Tariffs  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 92 
3.1.3.1    Applied MFN tariff ................................ ................................ ................................ ...92 
3.1.3.2    Other import duties and taxes  ................................ ................................ ................. 93 
3.1.4   Other charges aff ecting imports  ................................ ................................ .................. 93 
3.1.4.1    VAT ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 93 
3.1.4.2    Excise duties ................................ ................................ ................................ .......... 94 
3.1.4.3    Bindings  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 94 
3.1.4.4    Other taxes  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 94 
3.1.5   Prefere nces ................................ ................................ ................................ .............. 95 
3.1.6   Duty and tax concessions ................................ ................................ ........................... 95 
3.1.7   Import prohibitions and restrictions and import licences  ................................ ................ 95 
3.1.8   Anti-dumping, countervailing, and safeguard measures ................................ ................. 96 
3.2   Measures directly affecting exports  ................................ ................................ ................ 97 
3.2.1   Customs procedures and requirements  ................................ ................................ ........ 97 
3.2.2   Taxes, charges, and levies  ................................ ................................ ......................... 97 WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1 • Cameroon  
- 70 - 
 
  3.2.3   Export prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing  ................................ .............................. 97 
3.2.4   Export support and promotion  ................................ ................................ .................... 98 
3.2.5   Export finance, insurance, and guarantees ................................ ................................ ...99 
3.3   Measures affecting production and trade  ................................ ................................ ........ 99 
3.3.1   Incentives  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 99 
3.3.2   Standards and other technical requirements  ................................ ................................ 99 
3.3.2.1    Labelling, marking and packaging  ................................ ................................ ..........  100 
3.3.2.2    Conformity testing and certification  ................................ ................................ ........  101 
3.3.3   Sanitary and phytosanitary requirements ................................ ................................ ... 101 
3.3.4   Competi tion policy and price controls  ................................ ................................ ........  103 
3.3.5   State trading, state -owned enterprises and privatizat ion ................................ .............  103 
3.3.6   Government procurement  ................................ ................................ ........................  105 
3.3.7   Intellectual property rights  ................................ ................................ .......................  107 
3.3.7.1    Overview  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  107 
3.3.7.2    Industrial property  ................................ ................................ ...............................  107 
3.3.7.3    Copyright and related rights  ................................ ................................ ..................  107 
3.3.7.4    Implementation of the legislation  ................................ ................................ ...........  108 
4   TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  ................................ ................................ ....................  109 
4.1   Agriculture, forestry and fisheries  ................................ ................................ ................  109 
4.1.1   Overview ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  109 
4.1.2   Agricultural policy  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 110 
4.1.3   Policy by subsector ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 111 
4.1.3.1    Coffee and cocoa ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 111 
4.1.3.2    Cotton ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  112 
4.1.3.3    Palm oil  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  112 
4.1.3.4    Hevea and rubber ................................ ................................ ................................ . 112 
4.1.3.5    Bananas  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  113 
4.1.3.6    Sugar ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  113 
4.1.3.7    Cereals and other food crops  ................................ ................................ .................  113 
4.1.4   Livestock and animal products  ................................ ................................ ..................  113 
4.1.5   Fisheries and aquaculture  ................................ ................................ ........................  114 
4.1.6   Forestry  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  114 
4.2   Mining and energy  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 116 
4.2.1   Oil and gas products ................................ ................................ ................................  116 
4.2.1.1    Oil ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  116 
4.2.1.1.1    Crude oil ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  116 
4.2.1.1.2    Refined products  ................................ ................................ ...............................  117 
4.2.1.2    Gas................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  118 
4.2.2   Mining products  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 118 
4.2.3   Electricity  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  119 WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1 • Cameroon  
- 71 - 
 
  4.3   Manufacturing  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  121 
4.4   Services ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  121 
4.4.1   Telecommunications services ................................ ................................ ....................  121 
4.4.1.1    Market overview ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 121 
4.4.1.2    Telecommunications policy  ................................ ................................ ....................  123 
4.4.2   Postal and express services  ................................ ................................ ......................  125 
4.4.3   Transport services ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 127 
4.4.3.1    Air transport services ................................ ................................ ............................  127 
4.4.3.2    Maritime transport and port services  ................................ ................................ ...... 128 
4.4.3.3    Land transport  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 129 
4.4.3.3.1    Road transport  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 129 
4.4.3.3.2    Railway transport services  ................................ ................................ ..................  130 
4.4.4   Tourism services  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 131 
4.4.5   Financial services  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 132 
4.4.5.1    Insurance services ................................ ................................ ................................  132 
4.4.5.2    Banking services  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 133 
4.4.5.3    Financial market services  ................................ ................................ ......................  135 
5   APPENDIX TABLES ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 136 
CHARTS  
Chart 1.1 Structure of trade in goods, 2012 and 2021  ................................ ............................. 79 
Chart 1.2 Direction of trade in goods, 2012 and 2021 ................................ .............................. 80 
 
TABLES  
Table 1.1 Basic economic indicators, 2012 -21................................ ................................ ......... 73 
Table 1.2 Balance of payments, 2012 -21 ................................ ................................ ............... 77 
Table 1.3 Trade in services, 2012 -21 ................................ ................................ ..................... 81 
Table 3.1 Administrative customs values for imports, 2019  ................................ ...................... 90 
Table 3.2 Cost of the electronic cargo tracking note (ECTN), 2022  ................................ ............ 93 
Table 3.3 Products subject to "technical endorsement" prior to import, 2020  ............................. 95 
Table 3.4 Selecti on of public or semi -public companies active in international trade  ..................  104 
Table 4.1 Principal crops  and animal products, 2012 -20................................ .........................  109 
Table 4.2 Key telecommunications indicators, 2022 ................................ ...............................  122 
Table 4.3 Private postal operators in Cameroon, 2022  ................................ ...........................  126 
Table 4.4 Air passenger traffic trends, selected indicators, 2015 -21 ................................ ........  127 
Table 4.5 Air freight traffic trends, 2014 -17................................ ................................ ..........  127 
Table 4.6 Container traffic, 2015 -20 ................................ ................................ ....................  128 
Table 4.7 Cameroon port traffic trends, 2011 -17................................ ................................ ... 128 
Table 4.8 Total number of vehicles registered by tonnage, 2014 -17 ................................ ........  129 
Table 4.9 Total number of blue cards and licences by category, 2014 -17 ................................ . 130 
Table 4.10 Annual change in traffic on transit corridors, 2012 -17 ................................ ...........  130 WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1 • Cameroon  
- 72 - 
 
  Table 4.11 Overall traffic trends in the rail sector, 2011 -17 ................................ ....................  131 
Table 4.12 Main economic indicators for the Cameroonian tourism sector, 2014 -21 ..................  131 
Table 4.13 Turnover and market share of non -life insurance companies operating in 
Cameroon, 2021 -22................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  132 
Table 4.14 Turnover and market share of l ife insurance companies operating in Cameroon, 
2021-22 ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  133 
Table 4.15 Main indicators for the Ca meroonian banking sector, 2021  ................................ ..... 134 
Table 4.16 Financial soundness indicators, 2016 -21 (Q2) ................................ .......................  134 
BOXES  
Box 3.1 Some advantages under the industrial free zone (ZFI) regime  ................................ ......98 
 
APPENDIX TABLES  
Table A1.1 Structure of exports, 20 12-21................................ ................................ .............  136 
Table A1.2 Destination of exports, 2012 -21................................ ................................ ..........  138 
Table A1.3 Structure of imports, 2012 -21 ................................ ................................ ............  139 
Table A1.4 Origin of imports, 2012 -21 ................................ ................................ .................  141 
Table A4.1 Air transport agreements concluded by Cameroon with third countries  ....................  142 
 WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1 • Cameroon  
- 73 - 
 
  1  ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT  
1.1  Main features of the economy  
1.1.  Cameroon is an average -sized country in Central Africa, situated along the Gulf of Guinea . It 
was home to an estimated population of 29.9  million  in 2021 and covers an area of 475,650 km2 
(Table 1.1) . Its geographical position, sharing  borders with Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic 
of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Chad and Nigeria , make  it a regional centre for transit 
and trade in respect of goods and services . With the exception of  Nigeria, all of its neighbouring 
countries form, together with Cameroon, the Central Africa n Economic and Monetary Community 
(CEMAC), whose members ar e part of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) 
(Section 2.3).  
1.2.  Cameroon boasts vast natural resources (including oil, gas and wood) and a favourable climate 
for developing agriculture, the main products of which are  coffee, cocoa, cotton  and bananas . In 
addition, thanks to its coastline of approximately 402  km along the Gulf of Guinea and its three 
autonomous ports, Douala, Limbe and Kribi, there is plenty of scope for the country to expand 
economically . All of these assets make Cameroon' s economy the most diversified within the 
CEMAC  zone. 
1.3.  The sectoral distribution of GDP remained stable overall during the review period . The services 
sector, which is driven by trade, hotels, restaurants, transport and storage, accounted for 55.7 % of 
GDP in 2021 . Mining and manufacturing contributed over 20 % of GDP . Agriculture (including 
fisheries, animal husbandry, forestry and logging) plays a key role . Its GDP share increased steadily 
from 14.6 % in 2012 to 16.4 % in 2021 . It employs around 60 % of the working population and 
significantly contributes to non -oil export earnings.  
1.4.  With a gross national income per capita of USD 1,590 in 2021, Cameroon is still a lower 
middle -income country, as per its classification by the World Bank .1 Cameroon is CEM AC's largest 
economy in GDP terms ( Common Report, Section 1), and the size of its population means that it 
alone accounts for around half of the CEMAC zone 's market . 
Table 1.1 Basic economic indicators, 2012 -21 
 
2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Various            
GDP at current market 
prices (CFAF  billion )  14,858.6  15,981.2  17,276.3  18,285.3  19,304.8  20,328.4  21,492.6  22,854.8  23,085.7  25,103.8  
Non-oil nominal GDP 
(CFAF  billion ) 13,771.0  14,910.3  16,141.7  17,509.8  18,687.0  19,628.8  20,594.5  22,034.6  22,653.2  24,426.5  
GDP at current market 
prices ( USD billion )  29.1 32.4 35.0 30.9 32.6 35.0 38.7 39.0 40.1 45.3 
Real GDP growth (%, at 
constant 2005 prices)  4.5 5.4 5.9 5.7 4.6 3.6 4.0 3.5 0.3 3.6 
Oil sector  3.7 8.4 14.4 24.8 -3.6 -16.4 -2.7 8.5 2.9 -2.4 
Non-oil sector  4.6 5.2 5.4 4.4 5.3 5.0 4.4 3.3 0.2 3.9 
Population (million)  23.7 24.3 25.0 25.6 26.3 27.0 27.7 28.4 29.1 29.9 
GDP per capita ( USD) 1,228.4  1,330.4  1,402.5  1,208.1  1,239.9  1,298.5  1,405.3  1,374.9  1,379.8  1,516.6  
Inflation (consumer 
prices, annual average, 
December)  2.4 2.1 1.8 2.7 0.9 0.6 1.1 2.5 2.5 2.3 
National accounts at current prices (% of GDP)  
Consumption  82.1 82.2 81.5 83.4 81.3 80.9 79.8 81.0 80.9 79.6 
Public ( State ) 12.2 12.3 12.2 12.3 12.1 11.1 11.1 11.0 11.2 11.1 
Private  69.9 69.8 69.3 71.2 69.2 69.8 68.7 70.0 69.7 68.5 
Gross investment  22.8 23.1 24.1 22.4 22.7 22.9 22.8 23.0 21.8 22.7 
Gross fixed capital 
formation  22.8 22.6 23.7 23.0 22.6 23.0 22.8 23.0 21.7 22.7 
Public ( State ) 4.9 4.9 4.7 4.5 4.8 4.4 4.0 4.0 2.8 3.0 
Private (companies 
and households)  17.8 17.7 19.0 18.6 17.8 18.6 18.8 19.0 18.9 19.7 
Oil sector  3.2 3.5 3.3 2.9 2.0 2.1 2.0 2.0 1.7 2.0 
Non-oil sector  14.6 14.2 15.7 15.7 15.9 16.5 16.8 17.1 17.2 17.7 
Changes in 
inventories  0.0 0.4 0.3 -0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.1 0.2 0.0 
Net exports  -4.9 -5.2 -5.5 -5.8 -4.0 -3.9 -2.6 -3.9 -2.7 -2.3 
 
1 Online  information. Viewed at: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.CD?locations=CM . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1 • Cameroon  
- 74 - 
 
   
2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Exports of 
non-factor goods 
and services  25.4 24.8 24.6 21.8 19.2 18.7 19.1 19.8 15.2 18.0 
Imports of 
non-factor goods 
and services  -30.3 -30.0 -30.1 -27.6 -23.2 -22.6 -21.6 -23.7 -17.9 -20.2 
Sectoral distribution (% of nominal GDP at factor cost)  
Agriculture  14.6 14.8 15.3 16.1 15.6 15.7 15.7 15.8 16.3 16.4 
Food crops  7.5 7.7 7.7 7.8 7.8 7.9 8.2 8.2 8.7 8.4 
Agricultural exports  2.7 2.8 3.0 3.5 3.1 2.9 2.6 2.9 2.8 3.2 
Animal husbandry, 
hunting and trapping  1.6 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.5 
Fisheries  0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 
Forestry and logging  2.4 2.4 2.7 2.9 2.7 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.9 2.9 
Oil 7.8 7.1 7.0 4.6 3.5 3.7 4.6 3.9 2.0 2.9 
Natural gas  0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.5 1.2 1.1 1.7 
Mining products  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
Industry  16.1 16.0 15.5 15.9 16.2 16.5 15.5 15.4 15.4 15.3 
Electricity, gas and water  1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.2 
Construction and public 
works  4.6 4.8 4.9 5.2 5.3 5.6 5.9 6.4 6.7 6.7 
Services  55.4 55.8 55.6 56.6 57.7 56.8 56.2 55.9 56.9 55.7 
Transport and 
communications  8.0 8.2 8.2 8.5 8.9 8.5 8.3 8.2 8.6 8.4 
Trade, hotels and 
restaurants  20.9 20.8 20.8 21.2 21.0 21.2 20.9 21.3 20.7 20.5 
Other tradable services 
and adjustments  15.6 15.9 15.7 15.9 16.8 16.2 16.2 15.8 16.4 15.4 
Non-tradable services  10.8 10.9 10.9 11.0 11.0 10.9 10.8 10.6 11.3 11.4 
Public finances (% of GDP)  
Total revenue  16.4 16.5 16.0 16.8 14.6 15.0 16.0 15.4 13.8 13.9 
Oil revenue  4.7 4.4 3.3 3.0 2.2 1.9 2.3 2.6 1.9 1.9 
Non-oil revenue 
(excluding 
privati zation revenue)  11.7 12.1 12.7 13.8 12.4 13.1 13.7 12.8 11.9 12.0 
Total expenditure  17.2 20.0 19.5 18.7 20.8 20.2 18.7 19.1 17.2 17.4 
Current expenditure  12.2 13.4 12.8 12.7 12.5 12.2 11.9 12.4 12.3 12.6 
Capital expenditure  5.0 6.7 6.8 6.0 8.3 8.1 6.8 6.7 4.8 4.8 
Budgetary  balance, 
commitments basis, 
excluding grants 
(deficit -) -0.8 -3.5 -3.5 -1.8 -6.2 -5.2 -2.7 -3.7 -3.4 -3.4 
Budgetary  balance, 
commitments basis, 
including grants 
(deficit -) -0.4 -3.2 -3.1 -1.8 -6.0 -4.9 -2.3 -3.2 -3.2 -3.0 
External sector            
Real effective exchange 
rate (% change)a -3.8 2.6 0.8 -6.2 2.1 0.8 1.5 -1.1 3.0 0.1 
CFAF per USD (annual 
average)  510.6  493.9  493.8  591.2  592.6  580.7  555.4  585.9  575.6  554.5  
Current account balance 
(% of GDP)  -3.3 -3.5 -4.0 -3.8 -3.2 -2.7 -3.6 -4.3 -3.8 -4.0 
Outstanding external 
debt (% of GDP)  7.4 9.5 14.8 18.7 20.6 24.1 26.6 28.0 33.3 33.6 
Outstanding overall debt 
(including guaranteed 
debt) (% of GDP)  .. .. 20.9 24.9 27.5 33.2 36.6 39.1 45.0 47.9 
External reserves (in  
months of imports of 
good and services)  4.9 4.6 4.3 5.6 4.0 5.1 5.2 4.8 6.2 6.0 
FDI inflows ( USD million )  739.2  567.2  726.5  627.4  663.8  814.0  761.5  1,026.9  675.2  850.0  
% of GDP  2.5 1.8 2.1 2.0 2.0 2.3 2.0 2.6 1.7 1.9 
Inward FDI  stock 
(USD million )  4,193.6  4,972.6  5,042.5  5,137.6  5,602.3  7,237.1  7,652.1  8,538.2  8,931.1  9,781.1  
% of GDP  14.4 15.4 14.4 16.6 17.2 20.7 19.8 21.9 22.3 21.6 
.. Not available.  
a A minus sign indicates a depreciation.  
Note:  The CFA franc used by the CEMAC countries is pegged to the euro at a rate of EUR  1 = 655.96.  
Source:  BEAC . Viewed  at: https://www.beac.i nt/economie -stats/statistiques -economiques /; IMF, 
International Financial Statistics . Viewed at: http://elibrary -data.imf.org/ ; IMF, Regional Economic 
Outlook, October  2019. Viewed at: 
https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/REO/SSA/Issues/2019/10/01/sreo1019 ; UNCTADs tat. 
Viewed  at: http://unctadstat.unctad.org/EN/Index.html ; and data provided by the authorities.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1 • Cameroon  
- 75 - 
 
  1.5.  Cameroon's economic potential is still largely untapped . The coun try is experiencing 
governance problems which are making it less attractive to investment . It was ranked 142nd out of 
180 countries in Transparency International's 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index .2 The reforms 
undertaken during the review period include d establishing alternative mechanisms for settling 
investment disputes, improving the Single Window facility and reducing the minimum capital 
required for starting a business . The business climate reforms have thus far failed either to attract 
significant foreign capital or to encourage companies to leave the informal sector, which would have 
contributed 42 % of GDP in 2020.3 
1.6.  Cameroon falls within the UNDP 's medium human development category with a Human 
Development Index (HDI) of 0.576  (compared to 0.533 i n 2012) , ranking 151st out of 191 countries 
and territories . Life expectancy was 60.8 years in 2020 . Poverty and unemployment levels are still 
high, and significant wealth -distribution disparities persist within the country, mainly due to 
insufficient and non -distributive economic growth, and governance issues . The poverty rate is 37.5 % 
according to the latest figures (2014) .4 The unemployment rate is officially estimated to be 10 %, 
but there is a high rate of  under -employment in the econo my (69 %). Despite the relative political 
and economic stability, Cameroon has been struck by security, humanitarian and economic crises in 
recent years.  
1.7.  As a member of CEMAC, Cameroon shares the same currency, the Central African Financial 
Cooperation f ranc (CFA  franc), with other Member States in a fixed exchange rate regime pegged to 
the euro .5 Together, they have harmonized their monetary and financial systems under the mandate 
of the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) ( Common Report).  
1.8.  Cameroon accep ted Article VIII of the IMF's Articles of Agreement on 1 June 1996. It applies 
the exchange rate regime adopted at the CEMAC level ( Common Report, Section 1). 
1.2  Recent economic developments  
1.9.  Cameroon's GDP growth has remained relatively strong overall since 2012 . Despite these 
positive signs, it has still been below the 5.5 % target set out in the Growth and Employment Strategy 
Paper (GESP) . The country has enjoyed accelerated economic growth, with annual rates rising from 
4.5% in 2012 to 5.7 % in 2015, m ainly due to a significant increase in oil production . Oil revenues 
have helped to boost domestic consumption, particularly household consumption, which is still the 
largest expenditure component (almost 70 % of GDP on average) (Table 1.1), followed by priv ate 
investment and public expenditure.  
1.10.  From 2016 onwards , GDP growth gradually declined , falling  from 5.7 % in 2015 to 3.5 % 
in 2019, with , however,  a slight recovery in 2018  (Table 1.1) . This decrease is due to a drop in oil 
production and related investmen ts. Protracted security crises, most notably the attacks by the 
armed group Boko Haram in the far north and the socio -political unrest in the North -West and 
South -West regions, also affected the economic situation . Activities in the transport, hotel, 
telecommunications and agriculture sectors sharply contracted in the regions affected by the 
violence . The Government initiated a national dialogue in September  2019 with a view to ending the 
socio-political crisis . The authorities indicated that measures were taken in 2019 to declare these 
areas "economically distressed " and thus eligible to receiv e certain benefits . Examples of these 
benefits include tax subsidies to encourage enterprises to invest  in such areas , as part of a 
Presidential Reconstruction and De velopment Plan, which has been allocated C FAF 154 billion.6 The 
slight recovery in 2018 was largely spearheaded by the non -oil sector, including the food industry, 
services and, most notably, construction and public works, driven by the intensive work to prepare 
 
2 Transparency International, Poverty Percept ion Index . Viewed at: 
https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/cameroon . 
3 IMF, Cameroon: 2021 Article IV Consultation . Viewed at: 
https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2022/03/11/Cameroon -2021-Article -IV-Consult ation-and-First-
Reviews -Under -the-Extended -Credit -Facility -514974 . 
4 World Bank, online information, viewed at: 
https://data.worldbank.org/indic ator/SI.POV.NAHC?locations=CM . 
5 EUR 1 = CFAF 655.957 since 1 January 1994.  
6 Decree No. 2019/3178/PM of 2 September 2019 specifying the procedures for implementing 
"economically distressed zone" status and the requireme nts for the related tax benefits outlined in Articles 121 
and 121 bis of the General Tax Code; and Decree No. 2019/3179/PM of 2 September 2019 granting the status 
of "economically distressed zone" to the far -North, North -West and South -West regions.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1 • Cameroon  
- 76 - 
 
  for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which was postponed until 2021, and other major 
infrastructure projects . The 10-year plan (2010 -20 GESP), which is part of the Vision 2035 
document, has led to public investment in the Kribi gas -power station, the Nachtigal and Lom Pangar 
hydroelectric power stations, the CEMAC Transport and Transit Facilitation Project, and t he 
Agriculture Investment and Market Development Project . In particular, this plan aimed to accelerate 
growth to 5.5 % on average per year, to create more formal jobs in order to reduce 
underemployment to 50 % in 2020, and to alleviate poverty, which was exp ected to be reduced to 
28.7% in 2020 . In addition, in June 2017, Cameroon signed a three -year agreement with the IMF 
to "restore fiscal and external sustainability and buttress private sector -led and inclusive growth ".7 
1.11.  The health crisis (COVID -19) in 202 0 caused a significant deterioration in the economic 
situation . As a result, growth slowed sharply (0.3 %) in 2020 . However, economic activity started to 
recover in 2021, when economic growth resumed, buoyed by the non -oil sector . The GDP growth 
rate stood at 3.6 %, which was higher than its 2019 level.  
1.12.  The current growth rate is seemingly not enough for Cameroon to become an upper 
middle -income country by 2035, as planned by the Government in its Vision 2035 document . 
According to the World Bank, in order to  achieve this, Cameroon 's GDP will have to grow at an 
average rate of approximately 8 % per year until 2035 .8 In 2021, the country adopted the 2030 
Cameroon National Development Strategy (NDS30), to serve as a reference framework for its 
development activi ties over the next decade . According to the authorities, it is built upon on the 
lessons learned from implementing the GESP, with a view to achieving the objectives of Vision 2035 . 
The Cameroonian authorities are expecting GDP growth of approximately 6 % under the NDS30.  
1.13.  At a macroeconomic level, the CEMAC countries , including Cameroon,  pursue common 
monetary and foreign exchange policies within the framework of the Central African Monetary Union 
(CAMU ) (Common Report, Section 1). Therefore, within a mone tary union where BEAC is 
implementing a cautious monetary policy and the Member States cannot finance their deficits 
through assistance from the Central Bank, inflation in Cameroon is , to a large extent, sensitive to 
the prices of foodstuffs and petroleum  products , which are generally subject to control  and regulation 
(Section 3) . Therefore, during the review period, inflation remained below the 3 % regional 
convergence criterion, with , however,  rates ranging from 2.7 % (in 2015) to 0.6 % (in 2017 ). 
1.14.  On the fis cal side, total annual receipts (as a percentage of GDP) remained stable from 2012 
to 2015 . In 2016, they fluctuated in accordance with oil revenues, as well as the domestic -industry 
tax base (Table 1.1) . Expenditure (as a proportion of GDP) fluctuated, wi th notable increases in 
2016 and 2017 (over 20 % of GDP) . In addition to the expenditure arising as a result of the various 
security crises, there was also significant public investment expenditure, as set out above . The 
increase in the share of capital exp enditure in the national budget confirmed this trend of 
undertaking major public infrastructure construction works in 2016 and 2017.  
1.15.  Given the pressures on government revenue and the high expenditure levels, the budget 
deficit (including grants), which was  0.4% of GDP in 2012, fluctuated during the review period, 
peaking in 2016 and 2017 (Table 1.1) . The deficit sharply declined to 2.3 % in 2018, thanks to an 
increase in the tax base and fiscal consolidation measures . In 2017, t he Government focused on 
fiscal consolidation as a matter of priority, signing a three -year agreement with the IMF . Measures 
were taken to improve fiscal governance, including increased transparency around the governance 
of customs services and improved cooperation between tax and cust oms administrations .9 The 
authorities also introduced Treasury single accounts (TSA) into the government finances set -up. 
1.16.  In addition to the programme with the IMF, the reforms were also pursued as part and parcel 
of the fiscal discipline established at CEMAC level, through the adoption of the Code of Transparency 
and Good Governance, the budget  laws, general regulations on government accounts, budget 
nomenclature and flow-of-fund tables . This approach aims to modernize national public financial 
 
7 IMF (2018), Cameroon:2018 Article IV Consultation.  International Monetary Fund. Viewed at: 
https://www.imf.org/en/Countries/CMR . 
8 World Bank, Cameroon – Country Economic Mem orandum . Viewed at: 
https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/981281491336365033/pdf/Cameroon -econo mic-memorandum -
markets -public -administration -and-growth.pdf . 
9 Cameroon, Third Review under the Extended Credit Facility Arrangement. Viewed at: 
https://www.imf.org/en/C ountries/CMR . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1 • Cameroon  
- 77 - 
 
  management systems and make them more transparent, and provide greater comparability of public 
financ ial data, meaning that government  economic, fiscal and financial policies can be monitored 
more effectively . As a result, Cameroon adopted Law No. 2018/011 of 1 1 July 2018 on the Code of 
Transparency and Good Governance in Public Financial Management ; and Law No. 2018/012 of 
11 July 2018 on the State 's and other public  bodies ' financial system . The government procurement 
framework was also modernized in order to promote transparency around awarding and performing 
government contracts ( Section 3.3.5) . Technical tools for managing public exp enditure were 
introduced, including technical tools for aligning the expenditure commitment programme with the 
government -contract procurement and performance plan.  
1.17.  The government deficit was contained at around 3 % of GDP from 2019 to 2021, despite the 
challenges faced in mobilizing resources, particularly against the backdrop of the COVID -19 
pandemic, economic restrictions introduced by the authorities, and the measures put in place by the 
authorities to support bu sinesses and households . Events that worsened the government deficit 
increased Cameroon's government debt . However, as a proportion of GDP, the debt is still far below 
the 70 % ceiling set by CEMAC ; it rose to 36.6 % of GDP in 2018 from 20.9 % in 2014 ; and th e 
country 's debtor position has increased since 2019 . There is still a high risk of debt distress , 
according to the IMF, which believes that efforts are needed in order to maintain debt sustainability, 
including by limiting new non -concessional borrowing a nd by reducing subsidies to state -owned 
enterprises through the gradual adjustment of  administered prices.10 
1.18.  Cameroon's current account balance is still negative, as is the goods and services deficit . 
While the trade in goods deficit fluctuated during the review period, the services deficit, which is the 
main contributor to the current account deficit, gradually widened from USD 500 million  in 2012 to 
USD 681.4 million  in 2015 before gradually falling until 2017 . The sharp decline in the current 
account in 2018 was due, in particular, to the pick -up in economic activity, which seemingly enabled 
mass imports of capital goods to resume . In 2019 and 2021, the increased demand for transport 
and travel services widened the services deficit . As a result, the curre nt account deficit increased 
further until 2021.  
Table 1.2 Balance of payments, 2012 -21 
(USD million )  
2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Current account balance  -955.9  -1,128.1  -1,402.0  -1,173.7  -1,037.4  -949.8  -1,409.3  -1,695.1  -1,512.4  -1,795.0  
Foreign trade balance 
(goods)  -274.1  -197.3  -449.4  -372.1  -237.2  -226.8  -533.0  -736.8  -679.4  -523.9  
Exports  5,756.8  6,081.5  6,571.0  5,219.1  4,590.9  4,603.4  5,184.3  5,525.6  4,415.8  6,005.7  
Imports  6,030.9  6,278.9  7,020.5  5,591.2  4,828.1  4,830.2  5,717.4  6,262.4  5,095.1  6,529.6  
Balance of services  -500.4  -620.0  -628.3  -681.7  -591.5  -495.8  -588.4  -617.8  -408.6  -1,054.6  
Credit  1,628.1  1,946.4  2,031.1  1,516.5  1,656.9  1,945.2  2,116.8  2,205.2  1,708.7  1,442.9  
Transport  536.9  567.9  609.5  465.0  484.8  591.8  665.8  674.0  591.5  502.7  
Travel  349.5  576.2  596.2  450.1  505.4  524.8  580.7  653.4  437.0  506.7  
Other services  741.7  802.3  825.3  601.5  666.0  828.5  868.7  876.2  678.5  433.2  
Debit  2,128.5  2,566.4  2,659.4  2,198.2  2,248.4  2,441.0  2,705.2  2,823.0  2,117.3  2,497.5  
Transport  907.2  999.2  1,042.4  906.4  828.6  842.4  989.1  1,063.6  787.7  1,088.9  
Travel  517.6  612.6  630.7  568.5  615.1  635.2  687.6  749.3  553.2  714.5  
Other services  703.8  954.7  986.3  723.3  804.6  963.4  1,028.0  1,009.6  775.9  693.9  
Primary income  -444.8  -615.2  -683.5  -436.9  -556.1  -651.5  -741.4  -843.5  -838.5  -733.2  
Credit  205.7  167.8  162.5  182.3  202.8  194.5  210.5  231.5  162.4  139.8  
Debit  650.4  783.0  846.1  619.2  758.9  845.9  951.9  1,075.0  1,000.9  873.1  
Secondary income  263.3  304.5  359.3  317.0  347.3  424.3  453.5  503.0  414.1  516.7  
Credit  506.2  554.0  640.8  587.1  635.3  702.4  749.2  780.6  656.6  784.9  
Debit  242.8  249.5  281.5  270.1  287.9  278.1  295.7  277.6  242.6  268.2  
Capital account  117.1  97.4 95.4 21.8 98.8 120.5  159.2  263.9  74.0 120.7  
Financial account  -995.9  -1,173.7  -1,388.9  -1,125.9  -922.7  -1,121.3  -1,402.3  -1,494.1  -1,881.5  -1,754.9  
Direct investment  -809.7  -705.0  -737.6  -638.5  -702.8  -792.6  -657.2  -898.9  -590.8  -892.5  
Portfolio investments  1.5 69.8 63.7 -704.5  65.1 -20.5 34.8 -114.0  -35.8 181.9  
Financial derivatives and 
employee stock options  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 -23.0 0.0 -8.9 -8.4 -8.9 0.0 
Other investments  -304.0  -464.3  -840.3  -489.5  992.8  -977.9  -1,184.0  -801.9  -1,159.2  -1,707.5  
Reserve assets  116.3  -74.3 125.2  706.6  -1,254.7  669.7  412.9  329.1  -86.8 663.2  
Errors and omissions  -157.1  -143.1  -82.4 26.0 16.0 -292.0  -152.2  -62.9 -443.1  -80.5 
Note:  2016 is the juncture between  official estimates based on BPM6 and estimates converted by the IMF 
on the basis of  BPM5.  
Source:  IMF, International Financial Statistics . Viewed at: http://elibrary -data.imf.org/ . 
 
10 Cameroon, Third Review under the Extended Credit Facility Arrangement. Viewed at: 
https://www.imf.org/en/Countries/CMR . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1 • Cameroon  
- 78 - 
 
  1.19.  According to the IMF, in the medium term, growth will continue to increase gradually to 4.8 % 
in 2023, and continue over the medium term at an annual average of 5 %. This performance is 
expected to be achieved by implementing the National Development Strategy for 2020 -30 (SND30)  
and large infrastructure projects (in particular, road and energy projects).11 
1.20.  The current account deficit is expected to stabilize at around 3 % of GDP in the medium term, 
with foreign exchange reserves at around five months of imports . These are achievable objectives, 
particularly if the authorities implement export stimulus programmes and seize  the opportunities 
offered by the ongoing regional integration  enhancement process . 
1.3  Developments in trade and investment  
1.3.1   Trends and patterns in merchandise and services trade  
1.21.  Cameroon's trade in goods and services as a proportion of GDP declined steadily from 55.7 % 
in 2012 to 33.1 % in 2020, before starting  to rise again during 2021 (Table 1.1).  
1.22.  The value of exports, which w as relatively stable between 2012 and 2015, despite rising 
significantly in 2013, fell by half in 2016 . This fall was due to lower raw material prices, mainly in 
the oil sector , and led to fuels and mining products accounting for a lesser share of  total exports 
(Table A1.1).  
1.23.  Agricultural products are still a major source of export earnings, with their share in exports 
increasing over the review period, spearheaded by cocoa, coff ee, cotton and wood . The share of 
manufactured goods is still relatively low compared to the other export categories (Chart 1.1 and 
Table A1.1).  
1.24.  Europe remained Cameroon's main export market until 2017, receiving more than half of its 
export flows . The mai n European partners are Spain, the Netherlands, and France . From 2017, the 
Asian market, led by China, became the largest destination for Cameroon's exports . This rise in 
exports has come at the expense of European and African markets, including markets in  
CEMAC  countries (Chart 1.2 and Table A1.2).  
1.25.  In value terms, imports fluctuated slightly, peaking in 2014 . The import share of 
manufactured products, which accounted for 47.2 % of total  imports , rose to over 50 % in 2013, and 
this trend continued almost thro ughout the review period (Chart 1.1 and Table A1.3) . Agricultural 
products, particularly food (rice and wheat), form the second largest import category for Cameroon.  
1.26.  As is the case with exports, Europe and Asia are still Cameroon's main sources of imports . 
Imports from Africa declined throughout the review period (Chart 1.2 and Table A1.3) . Imports from 
Nigeria, which comprise solely crude oil, virtually stopped in 2019, due to the SONARA refinery 
ceasing operations as a result of being destroyed by  a fire.  
1.27.  Imports of goods from other CEMAC countries are still tiny (less than 1 % on average) . These 
figures do not, however, take into account unrecorded trade (for example, cross -border trade or 
smuggling) in the region.  
 
11 IMF, Cameroon: 2021 Article IV Consultation. Viewed at: 
https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2022/03/11/Cameroon -2021-Article -IV-Consultation -and-First-
Reviews -Under -the-Extended -Credit -Facility -514974 . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1 • Cameroon  
- 79 - 
 
  Chart 1.1 Structure of trade in goods, 2012 and 2021  
 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations based on data from the International Trade Centre Trade Map (SITC 
Rev.3).  
2012 2021
(a)    Exports (f.o.b.)
Agriculture
40.0%Cocoa 
beans 
11.3%
Non-coniferous 
wood, sawn or 
chipped
7.1%Non-
coniferous 
wood, in the 
rough
4.1%Cotton 
6.0%Other 
agriculture 
8.5%Manufactured 
products
6.2%
Other
2.7%
Cocoa paste, 
whether or not 
defatted 
3.1%Petroleum oils and 
oils obtained from 
bituminous 
minerals, crude 
40.5%Liquefied natural 
gas
10.6%
Total: USD 4,275.0 million Total: USD 4,319.1 million
(b)    Imports (c.i.f.)
Agriculture  
20.8%Manufactured 
products
47.2%Non-electrical 
machinery
8.7%
Other semi -
manufactures
8.4%
Other 1.6%Chemical 
products
10.5%Other manufactures 
5.3%Electrical 
machinery
4.9%Transport 
equipment
6.5%
Fuels
30.4%Rice 4.7%
Frozen fish
3.7%Wheat and 
meslin, 
unmilled 3.0%
Other agriculture
9.5%Iron and steel
2.9%Agriculture  
23.7%Manufactured 
products
56.5%Non-electrical 
machinery
4.5%
Other semi -
manufactures
11.1%
Other
1.7%
Chemical 
products
14.2%Other 
manufactures 
5.5%Electrical 
machinery
7.5%Transport 
equipment
7.5%
Fuels
18.1%Rice 
5.4%
Frozen fish
3.5%Wheat 
and 
meslin, 
unmilled 
4.7%
Other 
agriculture
10.2%Iron and steel 
6.2%
Total: USD 6,515.1 million Total: USD 6,984.9 millionNon-coniferous wood, 
sawn or chipped
6.5%Manufactured 
products
8.7%
Cotton 3.4%Petroleum oils and 
oils obtained from 
bituminous 
minerals, crude
42.9%Cocoa beans 
9.2%
Agriculture
32.8%Other
15.6%
Non-coniferous 
wood, in the rough
2.8%Other 
agriculture 
10.2%Cocoa paste, 
whether or not 
defatted 
0.7%Liquefied natural 
gas
0.0%WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1 • Cameroon  
- 80 - 
 
  Chart 1.2 Direction of trade in goods, 2012 and 2021  
 
a There was no trade in 2012.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations based on data from the International Trade Centre Trade Map.  
1.28.  Cameroon is a net services importer . Mass service im ports are seemingly following the same 
trajectory as GDP growth, with periods of large deficits that reflect the increased demand for 
transport and travel services, as well as engineering services as part of infrastructure works . Imports 
and exports are st ill heavily dominated by transport, travel and business services (Table 1.3).  
2012 2021
(a)    Exports (f.o.b.)
Africa
10.0%
Other 4.1%EU-27
34.0%Asia
49.2%India 
9.6%
Other Asian 
countries 9.7%China 25.8%
United States
2.6%CEMAC
(WTO Member 
countries)
7.0%Other African 
countries
3.0%
Bangladesh 
4.0%
Total: USD 4,275.0 million Total: USD 4,319.1 million
(b)    Imports (c.i.f.)
EU-27
31.1%China  10.4%Russian 
Federation 
0.5%
Other Asian countries 
4.2%
America
7.7%Asia
23.9%Africa
29.9%
Türkiye 1.9%
Other
5.0%India  4.0%CEMAC
(WTO Member 
countries)
0.6%Other African 
countries
11.6%
Japan 2.4%
Thailand  3.0%Nigeria 17.8%
EU-27
27.7%China  17.0%
Russian 
Federation
6.8%
Other Asian 
countries 
6.5%
America
6.4%Asia
35.3%Africa
11.4%
Other
6.3%Thailand 
2.2%Other African 
countries
9.3%
Ukraine 2.7%CEMAC
(WTO Member 
countries)
1.2%
Japan 2.4%India 7.2%
Türkiye 3.5%aNigeria 
0.8%
Total: USD 6,515.1 million Total: USD 6,984.9 millionAfrica
17.9%
Other 
4.6%Other African 
countries
11.4%
EU-27
52.6%
United States
4.2%CEMAC
(WTO Member 
countries)
6.6%
Asia
20.6%
Bangladesh 0.1%India 2.5%
Other Asian countries
2.8%China 15.3%WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1 • Cameroon  
- 81 - 
 
  Table 1.3 Trade in services, 2012 -21 
(USD million  and %)  
2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Services trade balance 
(USD million ) -500.4  -620.0  -628.3  -681.7  -591.5  -495.8  -588.4  -617.8  -408.6  -1,054.6  
Exports (US D million ) 1,628.1  1,946.4  2,031.1  1,516.5  1,656.9  1,945.2  2,116.8  2,205.2  1,708.7  1,442.9   
(percentage  share)  
Manufacturing services 
on physical inputs 
owned by others  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Maintenance and repair 
services n.i.e.  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 
Transport  33.0 29.2 30.0 30.7 29.3 30.4 31.5 30.6 34.6 34.8 
Travel  21.5 29.6 29.4 29.7 30.5 27.0 27.4 29.6 25.6 35.1 
Other services  45.6 41.2 40.6 39.7 40.2 42.6 41.0 39.7 39.7 30.0 
Construction  0.2 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.5 0.2 0.4 0.6 3.6 
Insurance and 
pension services  3.2 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.2 3.1 2.9 3.8 1.2 
Financial services  1.8 1.6 1.7 1.8 2.3 6.4 6.1 4.9 2.2 2.4 
Charges for the use 
of intellectual 
property n.i.e.  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.1 
Telecommunications, 
computer, and 
information services  5.9 5.4 5.3 6.3 7.2 6.8 6.8 6.3 8.8 4.0 
Other business 
services  24.0 21.0 20.6 17.4 16.7 15.7 14.6 17.0 16.7 13.6 
Personal, cultural 
and recreational 
services  5.5 5.0 4.9 5.6 5.3 4.8 4.5 3.4 2.1 1.2 
Government goods 
and services n.i.e.  5.0 4.4 4.3 4.9 5.0 5.3 5.3 4.6 5.4 3.8 
Imports (US D million ) 2,128.5  2,566.4  2,659.4  2,198.2  2,248.4  2,441.0  2,705.2  2,823.0  2,117.3  2,497.5   
(percentage  share)  
Manufacturing services 
on physical inputs 
owned by others  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Maintenance and repair 
services n.i.e.  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Transport  42.6 38.9 39.2 41.2 36.9 34.5 36.6 37.7 37.2 43.6 
Travel  24.3 23.9 23.7 25.9 27.4 26.0 25.4 26.5 26.1 28.6 
Other services  33.1 37.2 37.1 32.9 35.8 39.5 38.0 35.8 36.6 27.8 
Construction  2.6 2.4 2.4 4.3 7.1 4.3 4.2 4.5 2.0 0.9 
Insurance and 
pension services  5.6 5.0 5.3 5.6 6.2 5.3 5.3 5.0 6.2 5.1 
Financial services  1.6 1.3 1.4 1.6 2.1 1.9 1.7 1.7 1.0 1.0 
Charges for the use 
of intellectual 
property n.i.e.  0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.5 
Telecommunications, 
computer, and 
information services  1.6 1.5 1.5 1.7 2.6 3.1 3.0 3.4 4.8 4.3 
Other business 
services  18.3 24.1 23.5 16.6 15.2 22.3 20.9 18.8 19.9 15.2 
Personal, cultural 
and recreational 
services  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.5 0.4 0.6 0.3 
Government goods 
and services n.i.e.  2.9 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.4 2.4 1.8 2.1 0.5 
Note:  2016 is the juncture between official estimates based on BPM6 and estimates converted by the IMF 
on the basis of BPM5 . 
Source:  IMF, International Financial Statistics . Viewed at: http://elibrary -data.imf.org/ . 
1.3.2   Trends and patterns in FDI  
1.29.  Inflows of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Cameroon are rather volatile and are 
somewhat influenced by anticipated oil exploitation opportunities . During the review period, they 
fluctuated between approximately USD 500 million  and USD 800 million. T hey peaked in 2017 
(USD 1 billion ). The volume of FDI  steadily increased from USD 4.1 billion  in 2012 to USD 9.7 billion  
in 2021 (Table 1.1).  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1 • Cameroon  
- 82 - 
 
  1.30.  The European Union  (particularly France and Germany ) is the main source of FDI into 
Cameroon . Such FDI targets mining and energy production in particular . China has al so established 
itself as a significant source of FDI into Cameroon . In particular, the two countries worked in 
partnership to build sports infrastructure in the run -up to the AFCON and hydroelectric dams 
(Section  1.2). WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 83 - 
  2  TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES  
2.1  General framework  
2.1.  Since Cameroon's last Trade Policy Review, its overall institutional and legal framework has not 
substantially changed. The current Constitution has been in force since 1972, and was amended in 
1996 and in 2008. It stipulates that the Republic of Cameroon is a decentralized unitary State, with 
10 regions each headed by a Governor appointed by the President of the Republic. The 1996 
amendment provided for, inter alia , the creation of regional councils responsible for promoting the 
development of the regions.  In 2019, the regions were established by Law No.  2019/024 of 
24 December  2019 on the General Code for Decentralized Territorial Authorities, while regional 
councils were elected in December  2020. The main objective of the 2008 amendment was to abolish 
the limit on the number of consecutive terms that the President of the Republic may serve.  
2.2.  The Constitution also enshrines the separation of powers between the executive, legislative 
and judicial branches. The President of the Republic is elected by direct un iversal suffrage for a term 
of seven years, which may be renewed without limitation. The next presidential election will be held 
in 2025. The President is the Head of State and holds executive power. In this capacity, he shapes 
national policy and is respo nsible, inter alia , for negotiating and ratifying international treaties and 
agreements, and for enacting laws. He appoints the Prime Minister and, on the latter's 
recommendation, other members of the Government. He is responsible for appointing the member s 
of the Supreme Court and other judicial authorities. The Government is in charge of implementing 
national policy, as defined by the President. The current ministerial structure dates back to 2011.12 
The Ministry of Trade is responsible for defining, impl ementing and evaluating Cameroon's trade 
policy. The Ministry of Finance is responsible, inter alia , for drawing up and implementing fiscal 
policy, including customs policy.  
2.3.  Legislative authority is vested in the bicameral Parliament (a two -chamber body). The National 
Assembly, the current members of which were elected in February  2020, is made up of 180  members 
elected by direct universal suffrage for five years. The Senate, which was established in 2013, is 
made up of 100 members, including 70 elected by direct universal suffrage and 30 appointed by the 
Head of State. The most recent Senate elections were held on 25  March  2018. Laws passed by 
Parliament are forwarded to the President of the Republic who enacts them before they are published 
in the Official  Journal. In certain circumstances, the Government may issue ordinances that are valid 
for a limited period. Legislation is proposed both by the President and the Parliament (Assembly and 
Senate). The areas reserved for Parliament (regarding which the Pres ident must first seek 
Parliament's approval) include citizens' guaranteed rights and basic obligations; the status of an 
individual and the property regime; and the political, administrative and judicial structure.13 
2.4.  Judicial authority is vested in the Sup reme Court, the courts of appeal and the lower courts. 
The Constitutional Council, which was introduced by the 1996 amendments to the Constitution, has 
been operating since 2018, with its members appointed in February of the same year. It is 
responsible fo r ruling on, inter alia , the constitutionality of international laws, treaties and 
agreements; the National Assembly and Senate's domestic laws; and any jurisdictional disputes 
between state institutions, most notably, between the State and the regions, an d between regions. 
The Constitutional Council also ensures that the presidential election, parliamentary elections and 
any referenda are conducted legally. Until it became operational, the Supreme Court carried out 
these tasks.  
2.5.  International treaties and a greements have force of law once signed and ratified by Cameroon, 
subject to their implementation by the other parties. They take precedence over national legal texts. 
Domestically, the Constitution remains the highest legal authority, coming before laws, ordinances, 
decrees and orders. During the review period, Cameroon adopted a number of laws on international 
trade ( Section 3). Commercial litigation between economic operators is heard in the ordinary courts 
should there not be a commercial court. A WTO a greement may be invoked directly before the 
domestic courts.  
 
12 Decree No. 2011/408 of 9 December 2011 on the structure  of the Government.  
13 Office of the President of the Republic, Note on the Parliament. Viewed at: 
https://www.prc.cm/en/Cameroon/institutions/49 -the-preside nt-of-the-national -assembly . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 84 - 
  2.6.  Policies are generally drawn up and implemented through laws, decrees or ordinances. Each 
ministry is responsible for formulating policies in its area of responsibility and drawing up the 
relevan t draft laws. This process takes place in consultation with the private sector and other bodies 
that may be affected by the measures under consideration. The Economic and Social Council is 
normally consulted about all legislative provisions of a fiscal, ec onomic, social or cultural nature, and 
may be involved, at an earlier stage, in their preparation.  
2.2  Trade policy formulation and objectives  
2.7.  The Ministry of Trade is responsible for technical issues relating to formulating and 
implementing trade policy, incl uding WTO -related matters, and all trade agreements. Other 
ministries and government bodies are also involved in formulating and implementing trade policy, 
in particular the Ministry of Finance and the ministries responsible for sectoral matters. The Minis try 
of Trade also seeks, on an ad hoc  basis, the opinion of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mining 
and Crafts (CCIMA) and the Cameroon Employers' Association (GICAM), which primarily serve as 
liaison bodies with the private business community. The bodie s which the Ministry may consult 
include the National Coffee and Cocoa Board, the Union of Cameroon Industrialists, the Cocoa and 
Coffee Interprofessional Committee, and other employers' organizations, consumers' associations 
and professional associations,  as well as the National Federation of Small and Medium -sized 
Enterprises.  
2.8.  Commercial law is to a large extent derived from CEMAC and the rules of the Organization for 
the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) ( Common Report, Sections 2, 3 and 4) . At the 
national level, the creation of commercial companies and their activities are governed by Law 
No. 2015/018 of 21  December  2015 regulating business activities in Cameroon. This law stipulates 
that mobile and street trading activities can only be un dertaken by Cameroonian nationals.  
2.9.  The Cameroonian authorities recognize the challenges faced by their economy, including trade, 
most notably the poor competitiveness of the production sector and weaknesses in production 
factors, such as infrastructure and  energy. In order to address these challenges, the "Cameroon 
Vision 2035" reference paper sets out the pathway for transforming Cameroon into an emerging 
country by 2035. It views trade as an essential tool for developing the country's economy. The  
Growth and Employment Strategy Paper (GESP) is part of this approach and provides the 
medium -term operational framework for such development.  
2.10.  In the strategic papers mentioned, the Government's trade development objectives are to 
ensure regular supplies in the do mestic market while maintaining a healthy competitive 
environment, and to develop high value -added goods and services exports. One of the aims is to 
develop a healthy, competitive and diversified manufacturing sector that can help to invert the 
export stru cture currently dominated by basic commodities. The targets focus on increasing the 
share of manufactures in exports and simultaneously on reducing the share of oil and agricultural 
raw materials.14 
2.11.  As part of its regional integration approach, Cameroon is  seeking to promote trading relations 
within the framework of ECCAS, with CEMAC support, and to boost trade with Nigeria.15 The 
authorities have also stressed that they intend to promote intra -African trade by implementing the 
AfCFTA. A National AfCFTA Imp lementation Strategy has been developed for this purpose.  
2.3  Trade agreements and arrangements  
2.12.  Cameroon is an original Member of the WTO. In addition to the WTO, it belongs to several 
regional trade groupings.  
 
14 Cameroon Vision 2035. Viewed at: http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/cmr145894.pdf . 
15 Growth and Employment Strategy Paper. Viewed at: 
https://www.undp.org/content/dam/cameroon/docs -one-un-cameroun/2017/dsce.pdf . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 85 - 
  2.3.1   WTO  
2.13.  Cameroon is a Member of the WTO16 and gives a t least most -favoured -nation (MFN) treatment 
to all its trading partners. It has not signed any of the plurilateral agreements negotiated within the 
WTO framework; it does, however, have observer status in the Committee responsible for the 
Plurilateral Agr eement on Government Procurement. On 30  November  2018, the country ratified the 
WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, and it has submitted Category A, B and C notifications under the 
Agreement.  
2.14.  Cameroon's Uruguay Round concessions are contained in Schedule  CIII in the case of tariff 
bindings (Chapter III(2)(iii)(c)) and document GATS/SC/15 for specific commitments under the 
General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). Cameroon did not take part in the 
WTO negotiations on basic telecommunications or those on f inancial services.  
2.15.  During the review period, Cameroon continued to benefit from the technical assistance and 
training provided by the WTO. These activities included national seminars, regional courses, 
workshops, and internships for its officials.17 
2.16.  The country is experiencing difficulties in relation to WTO notifications. Since 2013, it has 
submitted notifications pertaining to the Agreements on agriculture, import licensing, trade -related 
investment measures, subsidies and countervailing measures, trade  in services and trade facilitation 
(Common Report, Section 2.3.1).  
2.17.  Cameroon has never been a complainant or respondent in any dispute using the WTO dispute 
settlement mechanism. It was a third party in the dispute concerning the European Community's 
regim e for the importation, sale and distribution of bananas from ACP countries.18 
2.3.2   Regional and preferential agreements  
2.3.2.1   Relations with the European Union  
2.18.  The trading relationship between Cameroon and the European Union (EU) is principally 
governed by the Econom ic Partnership Agreement (EPA). The European Union -Central Africa 
interim  EPA was concluded on 17  December  2007. It was signed by the EU and Cameroon on 
15 January  2009. Cameroon ratified the EPA and notified its decision to the EU on 25  July 2014, and 
the agreement entered into force on 4  August  2014. The European Parliament had already approved 
the Agreement in June  2013. The EU notified this Agreement to the WTO on 24  September  2009 
under Article XXIV:7 of the GATT  1994.19 
2.19.  The EPA provides duty -free and quota -free access to the EU market for exports from 
Cameroon. Reciprocally, most of the customs duties on products originating in the EU and going to 
Cameroon should be lowered or eliminated in accordance with a tariff dismantling schedule. 
However, for 1, 409 lines (14.5 % of all tariff lines), tariff duties will not be lowered or eliminated by 
Cameroon.20 The authorities indicated that Cameroon is currently in the seventh phase of tariff 
dismantling.  
2.20.  Cameroon also retains its preferential access to the EU m arket under the Generalized System 
of Preferences (GSP).  
 
16 The Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO was ratified by Decree No. 5/194 of 
26 September  1995.  
17 The list of technical assistance activities can be viewed at: 
http://gtad.wto.org/ben_count ry.aspx?entityID=64 . 
18 WTO, European Communities - Regime for the Importation, Sale and Distribution of Bananas . Viewed 
at: https://www.wto.or g/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds27_e.htm . 
19 WTO document WT/REG274/N/1 of 28 September 2009, and WTO RTA database. Viewed at: 
http://rtais.wto.org . 
20 WTO document WT/TPR/S/285 of 24 June 2013.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 86 - 
  2.3.2.2   Relations with the United States  
2.21.  Cameroon enjoys preferential access to the United States market under the GSP. In addition, 
since 2  October  2000, the country has also been a beneficiary of the Afric an Growth and 
Opportunity  Act (AGOA). Cameroon has also been eligible for AGOA's special clause on textiles since 
1 March  2002. The authorities indicated that Cameroon's preferential access to the US market was 
suspended in 2019.  
2.22.  In 2018, Cameroon's export s to the United States amounted to approximately 
USD 212 million21, including USD  14.4 million under the GSP and USD  63.3 million under AGOA. 
Goods  exported under AGOA included USD  60.9 million worth of energy products and 
USD 2.2 million worth of agricult ural products. Goods exported under the GSP included agricultural 
products (USD  14.3 million).22 
2.3.3   Other agreements and arrangements  
2.23.  Outside the European Union and the United States, Armenia, Australia, Canada, Japan, 
Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, New Zea land, Norway, the Russian Federation and Switzerland 
grant non -reciprocal preferential tariff treatment to goods originating in Cameroon under the GSP.23 
2.24.  Since 1992, Cameroon has also been party to the Agreement on the Global System of Trade 
Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP). The tariff concessions cover three groups of 
product: chemical fertilizers, alumina and essential oils. These preferences are not currently used. 
Cameroon is also a member of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), and, at 
the continent level, participates in African integration initiatives such as the AfCFTA 
(Common  Report, Section 2.3.2).  
2.4  Investment regime  
2.25.  As part of its efforts to achieve its 2035 development vision, the Government of Camer oon 
has put in place an institutional and legal framework with the aim of promoting foreign and domestic 
investment.  
2.4.1   Institutional and legal framework  
2.26.  Responsibility for investment policy generally rests with the Ministry in charge of industry or 
the Minis tries responsible for the relevant economic sectors (mining, energy or tourism) where 
technical issues are concerned, and with the Ministries responsible for the economy and finances 
where financial issues are concerned.  
2.27.  The Investment Charter sets out the  guiding principles for promoting investment in line with 
the overall development strategy, which seeks to improve growth, create job creation in economic 
sectors and ensure the social welfare of the population.24 It focuses on investment operations 
relating to creation, expansion, replacement, redevelopment and/or changes of activity.  
2.28.  Under the Investment Charter, the State is committed, inter alia , to guaranteeing: economic 
freedoms, in particular the freedom to undertake any production, service or trade activity, 
irrespective of the nationality of the investor; equal treatment in conducting an activity in accordance 
with the principles and requirements of competition law; ownership rights for land, buildings and 
operating equipment, and those relating to movable property, securities, patents and other 
intellectual property items; and the freedom to repatriate foreign capital invested and operating 
profits, as well as savings on salaries paid to expatriates.  
2.29.  Law No.  2013/004 of 18  April 2013 (amended in 2017) sets out incentives for private 
investment in Cameroon, and its adoption constitutes the main change to the investment framework. 
It offers common and specific incentives, including full exemption from cu stoms duties and taxes for 
 
21 United States International Trade Commission. Viewed at: 
https://pubapps2.usitc.gov/africa/total_gsp_agoa_import_supplie rs.jsp . 
22 AGOA, Note on Cameroon. Viewed at: https://agoa.info/profiles/cameroon.html . 
23 WTO, Trade Arrangements. Viewed at: http://ptadb.wto.org/Country.aspx?code=120 . 
24 Law No. 2002/004 of 19 April 2002 introducing an Investment Charter for the Republic of Cameroon.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 87 - 
  imports of equipment for companies that are starting up or expanding, all while clarifying the State's 
commitments vis -à-vis private investors in Cameroon. The procedures for implementing these (tax 
and customs) concessions are s et out in Order No.  00000366/MINFI/SG/DGI/DGD of 
19 November  2013. The benefits under the Private Investment Law are available to a range of 
activities, particularly in the agriculture, tourism and manufacturing sectors, as well as to activities 
that contr ibute to environmental protection.  
2.30.  In order to enjoy the tax and customs concessions, an authorization must be issued by a 
committee established in 2015 by decision of the Minister of Finance and made up of representatives 
of the Directorate -General of Tax es, which serves as the Chair, and the Directorate -General of 
Customs, who are responsible for reporting on the work undertaken. The Committee will have 
15 working days to examine the authorization application submitted through the Single Window, 
starting from the date of its receipt.  
2.31.  Pursuant to Order No.  004263/MINMIDT of 3  July 2014, authorization applications are filed 
against receipt through the Single Window set up within the SME Promotion Agency, for local SMEs.  
2.32.  Authorization applications for foreign  investors and other local investors are made through 
the API Single Window. Order No.  006969/MINMIDT of 19  November  2013 regulates the 
organization and operation of the Single Window established within the Investment Promotion 
Agency (API) for this purpos e. 
2.33.  The API is still the main body responsible for promoting investment and supporting foreign 
companies in their relations with other government institutions. In 2017, Decree No.  2017/127 of 
18 April 2017 provided clarity about its powers and responsibilit ies. The Agency, which comes under 
the technical responsibility of the General Secretariat of the President's Office and under the financial 
responsibility of the Ministry of Finance, is tasked with, inter alia , helping to develop and implement 
Cameroon's investment promotion policy. It also provides, to foreign and local investors, with the 
exception of local small and medium -sized enterprises, the public services available to companies 
that apply for or have obtained concessions under one of the Investmen t Charter regimes, and 
monitors companies benefiting from concessions under this Charter and from the Law establishing 
incentives for private investment.  
2.34.  Tax and customs concessions under Order No.  00000366/MINFI/SG/DGI/DGD cannot be 
cumulated with tax and  customs concessions under contractual regimes; the Mining Code regime; 
the Petroleum Code regime; the Gas Code regime; the reinvestment regime of the General Tax 
Code; the economic regimes of the Customs Code; and any other special regime granting tax and /or 
customs concessions.  
2.35.  Tax and customs concessions are granted to new and existing companies. The substance of 
the concessions depends on their activity phase (start -up phase or operational phase). The 
reductions and exemptions granted in the operational  phase primarily depend on the volume of 
investment that the company is committed to making, as well as one of the following criteria: the 
number of jobs, the volume of exports, the use of domestic natural resources, and the added value 
that the company is  committed to creating.  
2.36.  Under the Law on incentives for private investment in Cameroon, concessions may also be 
granted on the basis of specific activities, including: the financing of sports, cultural or social 
infrastructure; the financing of activities of public interest in rural areas; the recruitment of at least 
five young higher -education graduates per year; the acquisition and on -site installation of specialized 
materials and equipment for treating and purifying solid, liquid or gaseous industrial wa ste in order 
to prevent it from being discharged in the form of effluents, gas or other substances that are harmful 
to health.  
2.37.  Foreign companies incorporated in Cameroon may invest through a public -private partnership 
(PPP) contract under Law No.  2008/009 of 16 July 2008, which establishes the fiscal, financial and 
accounting regime applying to PPP contracts. In this case, all customs duties and taxes, including 
VAT are "borne" by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 88 - 
  2.38.  There are also incentives for setting up in dustrial operations in Cameroon. For this purpose, 
Decree No.  71/DF/95 of 1  March  197125 makes secured land for commercial and industrial activities 
available in Cameroon to investors, business persons, entrepreneurs and developers, and provides 
a package of support services to them.  
2.39.  Cameroon is a member of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes 
(ICSID) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and has signed the Convention 
on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign  Arbitral Awards (the New York Convention).  
2.40.  Through its membership of OHADA, Cameroon also has an arbitration mechanism, the 
Common Court of Justice and Arbitration. In addition, the Cameroon Employers' Association (GICAM) 
has its own arbitration centre.  
2.41.  Cameroon has signed bilateral investment treaties with Germany (1963), Switzerland (1964), 
the Netherlands (1966), the Belgium -Luxembourg Economic Union (1981), Romania (1981), the 
United Kingdom (1985), the United States (1989), Italy (2004) and China (201 4).26 It has also 
signed treaties which are not yet in force with Egypt (2000), Guinea (2001), Mali (2001), Mauritania 
(2001), Mauritius (2001), Morocco (2007) and Türkiye (2012). Two bilateral investment treaties 
signed with Canada (2014) and the Republic  of Korea (2013) entered into force in 2016 and 2018, 
respectively.  
 
25 As amended by Decre e No. 73/483 of 25 August 1973 and Decree No. 80/474 of 5 December 1980 
setting out the industrial development mission.  
26 The years when the treaties came into force are in brackets.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 89 - 
  3  TRADE POLICY AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.1  Measures directly affecting imports  
3.1.1   Customs procedures, valuation, and requirements  
3.1.1.1   Registration  
3.1.  Law No.  2016/004 of 18  April 2016 governing foreign trade in Cameroon, and its implementing 
decree27, govern registration procedures for importers and exporters. According to the legislation, 
import and export activities are open to natural and legal persons of Cameroonian or foreign 
nationality. In general, foreigners (CEMAC nationals or others) with a valid residence and work 
permit can carry out foreign trade activities under the same conditions as nat ionals. The exercise of 
any commercial activity is subject to: registration with the Trade and Personal Property Credit 
Register (RCCM), which concerns all companies, subject to payment of CFAF  41,500 to the Business 
Creation Formality Centre and CFAF  53,000 to the competent Court of First Instance28; registration 
on the "List of importers and exporters" with the Ministry in charge of trade, in exchange for an 
annual contribution of CFAF  15,000 (previously CFAF  10,000) to the Cameroon National Shippers' 
Council (CNCC) and CFAF  15,000 to the department responsible for trade, on behalf of the Treasury. 
Under the Law, foreigners are excluded from the exercise of certain types of commercial activities, 
such as commercial activities carried out on an itinerant ba sis, as well as from the status of 
entrepreneur trader.29 
3.1.1.2   Declaration and customs valuation  
3.2.  Cameroon is a member of the World Customs Organization. It is also a contracting party to the 
International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Cu stoms Procedures 
(Kyoto  Convention). On 30  November  2018, the country ratified the WTO Trade Facilitation 
Agreement and notified the WTO of the list of measures under categories A, B and C of the 
Agreement.  
3.3.  In general, customs procedures are governed by th e CEMAC Customs Code, administered at 
the national level by the Directorate -General of Customs, under the Ministry responsible for finance. 
All imported goods must be the subject of a customs declaration, whatever their value. Cameroon 
requires that custom s declaration formalities be carried out by a customs broker approved by a 
national advisory committee of approved customs brokers chaired by the Director -General of 
Customs. Access to the profession is open to Cameroonian nationals and foreigners. Neverth eless, 
owners of used vehicles, public administrations, and diplomatic missions can make customs 
declarations in their own name and for themselves.  
3.4.  Generally speaking, the main requirements for customs clearance are the final invoice, freight 
invoice, elec tronic cargo tracking note (ECTN) (required since November  2022), insurance 
certificate, bill of lading or air waybill (AWB), and, where appropriate, the import declaration, 
SGS inspection report and duty and tax exemption certificate. An insurance contrac t with a local 
company is compulsory for imports of a value greater than or equal to CFAF  500,000. Other 
documents may be required, where appropriate, for example under specific regulations (certificate 
of origin, sanitary or phytosanitary certificate, fum igation certificate, authorization for temporary 
admission, importer's licence). In 2017, the authorities put online a commercial information portal 
allowing importers to learn about the administrative requirements relating to products imported into 
Camero on.30 
 
27 Decree No.  2017/0523/PM of 7  June 2017.  
28 Single window for foreign tra de, listing in the Trade and Personal Property Credit  
Register. Viewed at: https://www.cameroontradeportal.cm/tradeportal/index.php/fr/procedure -
2/exportation/recherches . 
29 An entrepreneur is defined as an individual who, upon making a simple declaration to the Trade and 
Personal Property Credit Register, as provided for in the Uniform Act (OHADA), engages in a civi l, commercial, 
artisanal or agricultural professional activity and whose annual turnover generated by their sales or service 
activities is less than CFAF 10 million.  
30 GUCE, Trade Information Platform. Viewed at: 
https://www.cameroontradeportal.cm/tradeportal/index.php/fr /. WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 90 - 
  3.5.  Since 2020, Cameroon has been using the Cameroon Customs Information System (CAMCIS) 
for customs declarations. The authorities have stated that these are almost exclusively done 
electronically and that all customs offices are equipped with CAMCIS.  
3.6.  For goods of an emergency nature (medicines, perishable products), and in the context of 
certain investment projects, it is possible to obtain an authorization for direct collection, generally 
subject to posting a bank guarantee.  
3.7.  The 2019 Budget  Law introduc ed authorized economic operator (AEO) status, as well as an 
advance decision system relating to value, origin and tariff classification. In addition, the risk 
management system has been supplemented by the establishment of a green channel, which 
provides f or automatic goods clearance. The blue channel provides for automatic clearance with 
deferred control. The yellow channel provides for the checking of documents for shipments 
presenting a medium level of risk (possibly using a scanner if there are doubts).  Finally, shipments 
presenting the highest levels of risk pass through the red channel, which involves the checking of 
documents with inspection by scanner and, if there are any suspicions, a physical inspection. The 
main factors taken into account in the risk assessment may relate to the nature of the goods, their 
origin, or their destination.  
3.8.  As part of its efforts to facilitate customs procedures and the exchange of data, the 
Cameroonian Government has interconnected the computer systems of each administ ration involved 
in foreign trade on a common electronic platform, the Single Window for Foreign Trade (eGUCE). 
This most notably concerns the relevant services of the Ministries in charge of trade and agriculture, 
the National Coffee and Cocoa Board (ONCC) , customs, customs brokers, banks, shipping agents 
and stevedores. Until 2013, none of these actors were interconnected electronically.  
3.9.  In terms of customs valuation, the provisions of the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation are 
included, unchanged, in the CEMAC Customs Code. However, in practice, some goods are subject to 
administratively determined customs values (Table 3.1) that are updated in principle every 
six months.  
Table 3.1 Administrative customs values for imports, 2019  
Goods  Type of valuation  Amounts  
Used clothing  Minimum value  20-ft. container: CFAF  6,292,000  
40-ft. container: CFAF  12,000,000  
Used tyres  Minimum value  CFAF 3,600/tyre for private vehicles;  
CFAF 30,000/tyre for lorries;  
CFAF 5,400,000 per 20 -ft. container;  
CFAF 10,800,000 per 40 -ft. container (5% wastage 
rate).  
New tyres  Minimum value  CFAF 10,000,000 per 20 -ft. container of tyres for lorries 
and buses;  
CFAF 20,000,000 per 40 -ft. container of  tyres for lorries 
and buses;  
CFAF 9,000,000 per 20 -ft. container of tyres for private 
vehicles;  
CFAF 18,000,000 per 40 -ft. container of tyres for private 
vehicles and light goods vehicles.  
Second -hand goods  Minimum value  CFAF 4,800,000 per 20 -ft. container;  
CFAF 8,400,000 per 40 -ft. container.  
Tiles Minimum value  CFAF 3,200,000 per 20 -ft. container;  
CFAF 3,500,000 per 40 -ft. container.  
Footwear, clothing and  
accessories, handbags,  
socks  Minimum value  CFAF 12,000,000 per 20 -ft. container;  
CFAF 23,400,000 per 40 -ft. container.  
Pasta  Reference value  CFAF 410/kg  
Polypropylene and  
polyethylene bags  Market value  CFAF 1,996/kg  
Kraft paper bags  Market value  CFAF 1,050/kg  
Granulated white sugar  Reference price  CFAF 458,800/tonne  
Sugar in lumps  CFAF 578,000/tonne  
Unrefined granulated sugar  CFAF 422,000/tonne  
Wheat flour  Reference price  CFAF 340,000/tonne  
Reinforcing bars  Reference price  CFAF 230,000/tonne  
Matches  Minimum values  CFAF 15,000/carton of 1,000 boxes  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 91 - 
  Goods  Type of valuation  Amounts  
 CFAF 21,600/cartons of 1,440 boxes  
Frozen fish  Reference value  CFAF 350/kg  
Frozen poultry  Reference value  CFAF 1,000/kg  
Meat and offal  Reference value  CFAF 1,000/kg  
Beer Minimum values  CFAF 6,400/carton of 24 units of 33 cl.  
Vegetable oils  Reference price  CFAF 1,500/kg  
Asian lubricants  Minimum values  CFAF 6,500,000 per 20 -ft. container  
Unrefined salt  Reference price  CFAF 38,000/tonne  
Refined salt  Reference price  CFAF 125,000/tonne  
Fabrics  Reference price  CFAF 2,933/kg, CFAF  4,217/kg, CFAF  2,567/kg,  
CFAF 3,000/kg and CFAF  4,400/kg for cotton fabrics  
 CFAF 2,090/kg or CFAF  3,942/kg for fabrics  
of synthetic fibres  
Biscuits  .. CFAF 700,000/tonne  
Canned goods and sardines  Minimum value  CFAF 1,850/kg  
Black tubes and flat sheets  
in steel  Minimum value  CFAF 14,000,000 per 20 -ft. container  
 CFAF 500,000/tonne for conventional loads  
.. Not available.  
Source:  Cameroonian customs.  
3.10.  Cameroon remains an important transit country. Goods in transit must be covered by a bank 
guarantee equal to the total amount of duties and taxes payable. Customs requires 20  days to 
regularize the bond for a transit operation.  
3.11.  As part of its NEXUS+ geolocation system, Camero on affixes GPS beacons (against payment 
of CFAF  50,000 per lorry) on carriers' vehicles, so as to monitor shipments of goods until they leave 
Cameroonian territory.  
3.12.  Cameroon applies the relevant provisions of the CEMAC Customs Code in customs disputes. 
An independent committee for the settlement of customs disputes was set up in February  2022 to 
replace the arbitration committee chaired by the Director of Customs. According to the authorities, 
currently, an importer wishing to appeal the decision of the com mittee must consult with the 
CEMAC  Council of Ministers.  
3.1.1.3   Preshipment inspection  
3.13.  Since Cameroon's last trade policy review, the Import Verification Programme (IVP) has been 
introduced, under Decree No.  2015/1875/PM of 1  July 2015. It replaces the preshipmen t inspection 
system, notification of which Cameroon provided to the WTO in 200131 as part of its programme for 
guaranteeing customs revenue (PSRD). As part of the IVP, SGS ascertains on arrival the origin, 
value and tariff classification of goods from all sources (including CEMAC member states) with an 
f.o.b. value greater than or equal to CFAF  2 million.  
3.14.  The importer must file an import declaration application with SGS. This request must be 
accompanied by a copy of the pro forma invoice, the purchase order  and the confirmation document 
showing the f.o.b. value. The original and four copies of the import declaration issued by SGS are 
given to the importer or freight forwarder, and inspection orders are issued by SGS in respect of the 
goods subject to inspect ion. After the inspection, SGS issues the Report on Value and Tariff 
Classification (RVC) before the arrival of the goods at the Port of Douala. According to the authorities, 
the RVC is a decision support tool made available to the Customs Administration.  
3.15.  Imports with a value of less than CFAF  2 million, and those of many products, including 
strategic products such as crude oil and equipment necessary for oil exploration and exploitation, 
works of art, and precious stones and metals, are exempt, as are impo rts under the free zone 
regime.  
3.16.  SGS and INTERTEK International have also been implementing, on behalf of ANOR, the 
Preshipment Evaluation of Conformity programme (PECAE) for imported goods since 2016. The main 
 
31 WTO document G/C/W/245/Add.2 of 29  March  2001.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 92 - 
  purpose of PECAE is to certify the quality of imported products, subject to technical regulations, with 
a view to preserving the environment and public health.  
3.17.  Under the IVP and PECAE, an "inspection and control tax" is levied at the rate of 0.95 % of 
the f.o.b. value of imports, with a minimum charge of CFAF  110,000 per delivery or shipment. On 
imports of CFAF  2 million, a 5.5 % charge is levied on a flat rate of CFAF  110,000.  
3.18.  In addition, under the Second -Hand Imported Vehicle Inspection and Verification (CIVIO) 
programme, SGS conducts inspection on ar rival. An inspection fee of CFAF  25,000 is levied per 
vehicle. SGS also carries out the customs valuation of these vehicles. A 30 % reduction is made on 
the taxable value of vehicles not exceeding seven years of age, in order to encourage the 
rejuvenation o f the vehicle fleet. Vehicles in transit do not have to go through the CIVIO procedure.  
3.19.  The Cameroonian Government has also set up a scanning system at the port of Douala, under 
Decision No.  000749 of 30  November  2016 on the use of container scanners in cu stoms clearance 
procedures at the port of Douala. The scanning of goods has also been entrusted to SGS, in efforts 
to strengthen national security.  
3.1.2   Rules of origin  
3.20.  In 2013, Cameroon notified the WTO that it did not apply non -preferential rules of origin.32 It 
indicated, however, that as a member of the CEMAC customs union, it applied the legal instruments 
concerning rules of origin according to the provisions of the latter, for preferential purposes. The 
origin criteria can be consulted in the Common Report  (Section 3.1.2).  
3.21.  The National Committee for the Approval of Industrial Products originating from CEMAC was 
created by Order No.  206/CAB/PM of 23  December  2010. Placed under the authority of the Minister 
in charge of trade, its main mission is to examine a pplications for approval, in accordance with 
CEMAC regulations relating to the free movement of industrial products of community origin. 
Community origin is confirmed by a certificate of origin issued in Cameroon by the Chamber of 
Commerce.  
3.22.  As part of the Interim EPA concluded with the European Union, proof of the originating status 
of goods is demonstrated either by a movement certificate or by a declaration of origin issued by 
the supplier and presented by the exporter of the goods to the competent depart ment. The 
movement certificate is a document proving originating status issued under the EU -Cameroon 
preferential agreement (Eur1 -CMR), while the certificate of origin is valid under the provisions on 
non-preferential origin.  
3.23.  According to the authorities, with regard to the establishment of the African Continental Free 
Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the entry into force on 1  January  2021 of the related preferential tariff, a 
certificate of origin has been introduced covering goods originating from the AfCFTA.33 
3.1.3   Tariffs  
3.1.3.1   Applied MFN tariff  
3.24.  Cameroon applies the CEMAC common external tariff (CET) (Common Report, Section 3) with, 
however, tariff lines whose applied rates differ from the CET. However, the list of exemptions was 
not available. The authorities have indic ated that these exemptions from the CEMAC CET respond to 
social concerns or operator requests.  
3.25.  They further indicated that Ordinances No.  2008/001 and No.  2008/002 of March  2008 and 
the 2009 Budget  Law had suspended customs duties on frozen fish, rice, sal t, wheat and meslin, 
wheat flour and corn cake, and declassified cement and clinker. The 2016 and 2017 Budget  Laws 
reintroduced the CET for fish, rice and meslin, and reclassified cement at the rate of 20 % and clinker 
at the rate of 10 %. 
 
32 WTO document G/RO/N/99 of 18  September  2013.  
33 Decree No.  2019/586 of 30  October 2019 ratifying the Agreement establishing the AfCFTA.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 93 - 
  3.1.3.2   Other import dutie s and taxes  
3.26.  Other import duties and taxes, harmonized at the CEMAC level, are applied to the c.i.f. 
customs value of imported goods. These are the Community Integration Tax (TCI), collected on 
behalf of the CEMAC Secretariat at the rate of 1 % and applicabl e to imports from countries outside 
CEMAC; the ECCAS Community Integration Contribution (CCI) of 0.4 %, applicable to imports from 
countries outside ECCAS; and the 0.05 % OHADA levy (Common Report, Section 3).  
3.27.  In addition, at the national level, a fee for us e of the customs computer system (RUSID), is 
levied on declarations processed electronically, at the rate of 0.45 % of the f.o.b. value.  
3.28.  A "fee on intellectual works" is imposed on electronic media imports (blank CDs, USB keys, 
etc.) at the rate of 5 % of their f.o.b. value., benefitting copyright ( Section 3.3.7).  
3.29.  Under Order No.  00557/MINT of 11  July 2006, as amended and supplemented by Order 
No. 000289/MINT of 5  March  2007, imports entering by sea must be accompanied by an electronic 
cargo tracking note (EC TN), to be made out by the Cameroon National Shippers' Council. The cost 
of issuing this document depends on the port at which the imported goods are loaded (Table 3.3).  
3.30.  The authorities have indicated that the loading of any cargo without a valid ECTN cons titutes 
a violation of the legislation. In this case, an ECTN to ensure compliance is issued by the CNCC in 
Douala.  
Table 3.2 Cost of the electronic cargo tracking note (ECTN), 2022  
 
Africa  Europe  Rest of the world  
Imports  
Bulk and conventional loads  
Rice, wheat, other food 
products  EUR 100 per BL  EUR 100 per BL  EUR 100 per BL  
Containers per group  
of 10 TEU  EUR 55 per BL  EUR 55 per BL  EUR 100 per BL  
Vehicles  EUR 20 per BL  EUR 20 per BL  EUR 100 per BL  
Exports  
 Africa  Rest of the world  
Coffee/cocoa  CFAF 5,000 per BL  CFAF 10,000 per BL  
EUR 100 per portion of 300  tonnes  
EUR 100 par portion of 600  tonnes  
EUR 100 per portion of 700  tonnes  
EUR 90 per BL EUR  100 per portion 
of 300 tonnes  
Other products  CFAF 10,000 per BL  CFAF 15,000 per BL  
Containers per group  
of 10 TEU  CFAF 15,000 per BL  CFAF 20,000 per BL  
Other  CFAF 15,000 per BL  20,000 per BL  
Note:  BL: Bill of lading.  
Source:  Data provided by the authorities.  
3.1.4   Other charges  affecting imports  
3.1.4.1   VAT 
3.31.  VAT is regulated in Cameroon by the 1998 -99 Budget  Law and community provisions, which 
aim at harmonizing the tax base and the rates among CEMAC member States (Common Report).  
3.32.  Similar to locally produced goods and services, imports are subject to a 17.5 % VAT rate, 
supplemented by an additional communal tax ( centime additionnel ) amounting to 10 % of the VAT, 
bringing the total VAT rate (including the communal tax) to 19.25 %, above the range envisaged by 
CEMAC (15 % to 19 %). Expo rts are subject to a zero rate.  
3.33.  The General Tax Code provides the list of goods (imported or locally produced) that are 
exempt from VAT. It mainly includes certain essential food products, agricultural equipment and 
inputs, medicines, and books and newspapers.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 94 - 
  3.34.  Exemption is also granted to inputs and equipment for pharmaceutical industries; leasing 
operations carried out for the acquisition of agricultural, livestock and fishing equipment; and 
domestic gas and materials and equipment for the exploitat ion of solar and wind energy. These 
provisions seem contrary to the CEMAC directive which, among other things, explicitly prohibits the 
waiver of or exemption from VAT within the framework of incentive measures for business creation 
and investment (common report).  
3.1.4.2   Excise duties  
3.35.  The excise duty system is mainly regulated in accordance with the community texts on the 
subject (common report). States are free to set rates with minimums defined by product group.  
3.36.  Six excise duty rates are in force, in accordance with the budget  laws of 2019, 2020, 2021 
and 2022: a "super reduced" rate of 2 %, a "reduced" rate of 5 %, a "medium" rate of 12.5 %, a 
"general" rate of 25 %, a "high" rate of 30 % and a "super high" rate of 50 %. 
3.37.  The super high rate applies to hydroquinone and  imported cosmetic products containing 
hydroquinone. The high rate applies to cigars, cigarettes and other tobacco, pipes and their parts, 
and tobacco and preparations for pipes. The medium rate applies to certain used vehicles specified 
in the Tax Code, s econd -hand motorcycles, all motorcycle parts, hair, wigs, wool, beards, eyebrows, 
eyelashes, locks of hair and other textile materials prepared for the manufacture of wigs or similar 
hair articles, second -hand items and second -hand tyres, programme package s, and digital 
audiovisual content.  
3.38.  The reduced rate applies to games of chance and games designed to entertain not subject to 
the special tax on games of chance and entertainment; cocoa -free sweets; chocolates and other 
processed food with a high cocoa co ntent; motorcycles with a cylinder capacity of 250 cm3 or less; 
certain prepared foodstuffs; ice cream; certain imported corn grits; and imported mayonnaise. The 
super reduced rate applies to the turnover, before tax, of communications, mobile telephony an d 
internet service companies.  
3.39.  The general excise duty rate applies to a list of goods and services annexed to the Tax Code.  
3.40.  The 2019 Budget  Law has also introduced additional excise duties at specific rates on 
beverages, the resources of which are intended  to finance the removal and treatment of waste.  
3.41.  The excise duty regime does not apply uniformly to imported products and local production. 
For certain products, in particular pepper, honey, tea, ginger and wooden products, excise duties 
are only levied on imports.  
3.42.  In general, the excise duty tax base, with regard to the delivery of goods and the provision 
of services in national territory, comprises all sums or values received or to be received against 
delivery. The excise duty tax base with regard to impor ts is established by adding to the customs 
value the amount of the customs duties.  
3.1.4.3   Bindings  
3.43.  Cameroon has only bound 15.2 % of its tariff lines at rates between 50 % and 80 %, with a 
simple average bound rate of 79.9 %. The low proportion of bound tariff lines and the wide gap 
between applied and bound rates do not support the predictability of Cameroon's trade regime.  
3.1.4.4   Other taxes  
3.44.  A prepayment, to be credited against the company tax (IS) due, is levied on imports and 
purchases made by traders from manufacturers,  wholesalers and semi -wholesalers. For persons 
subject to the real regime, the rate is 1 %. For taxpayers under the streamlined regime, the rates of 
prepayment are 5 % of the c.i.f. value of imports, plus duties and taxes (including VAT); and 3 % for 
local pu rchases made by traders from industries, farmers, importers, wholesalers, semi -wholesalers 
or forestry operators.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 95 - 
  3.45.  Operators of service stations and exporters of commodities are subject to the rate of 0.5 %. 
The prepayment rate for transactions carried out w ith companies that do not hold a taxpayer's card 
is 10%. 
3.1.5   Preferences  
3.46.  In principle, Cameroon grants preferences under the CEMAC generalized preferential tariff 
(TPG) (Common Report, Section 3).  
3.1.6   Duty and tax concessions  
3.47.  The regime of duty and tax exemptions and concessions has not changed substantially since 
the last review. Cameroon grants exemptions from customs duties and taxes under the CEMAC 
customs code. The suspensive customs regimes provided for by the Code include: transit; normal 
or special temporar y admission; and customs warehousing. The processing regimes or suspensive 
economic regimes are: inward processing; outward processing; and drawback (Common Report, 
Section 3).  
3.48.  In addition, exemptions from customs duties and taxes are granted to approved c ompanies 
under private investment promotion regimes ( Section 2), and the mining and gas codes ( Section 4), 
foreign companies established in Cameroon investing through a public -private partnership (PPP) 
contract34, and companies admitted to the free zone ( Section 3.2.4).  
3.49.  Imports of crude oil for refining, medicines, materials and medical equipment to be used in 
the fight against HIV/AIDS, and materials imported for the disabled are exempt from customs duties 
and taxes. Imported drugs and inputs for the pharm aceutical industry (under the 2021 Budget  Law), 
as well as imported capital goods for agriculture, livestock and fishing, are also exempt from customs 
duties.  
3.1.7   Import prohibitions and restrictions and import licences  
3.50.  Import prohibition and restriction measu res have not changed significantly since the last 
review.  
3.51.  Cameroon has ratified several conventions allowing the control of imports or exports of certain 
products for environmental, health or safety considerations. At the customs cordon, Cameroon 
applies m easures to control substances that deplete ozone, in accordance with the common 
framework adopted by CEMAC member countries.  
3.52.  Imports of frozen chicken of any origin, non -iodized salt and certain cosmetics, in particular 
lightening products, are prohibited for health reasons. TVs using analogue systems are also 
prohibited because of environmental concerns.  
3.53.  In 2017, Cameroon notified the WTO of its replies to the questionnaire on import licensing 
procedures. According to this notification, Cameroon does not i mplement an import licensing 
regime.35 
3.54.  However, for health or safety reasons, the import of certain products is subject to 
authorization (or a "technical endorsement" or an "import permit", depending on the administration 
concerned) from the appropriate Ministr y (Table 3. 3). 
Table 3.3 Products subject to "technical endorsement" prior to import, 2020  
Tariff heading  Description  Competent administrative service  
Ch. 02  Meat and edible meat offal  MINEPIA  
Ch. 03  Fishery and livestock products  MINEPIA  
2309 9000  Animal feed other than dog or cat food  MINEPIA  
2501 0011  Cooking salt  MINSANTE  
2710 0040  Kerosene  MINEE  
 
34 Law No.  2008/009 of 16 July 2008 determining the fiscal, financial and accounting regime applicable 
to PPP contracts.  
35 WTO document G/LIC/N/3/CMR/ of 10  April 2017.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 96 - 
  Tariff heading  Description  Competent administrative service  
2710 0050  Fuel (petrol and gas)  MINEE  
2903 4100  Trichlorofluoromethane (CFC  11) MINEPDED  
2903 4200  Dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC  12) MINEPDED  
2903 4300  Trichlorotrifluoroethane (CFC  113) MINEPDED  
2903 4400  Chloropentafluoroethane (CFC  115) 
and dichlorotetrafluoroethane  National Ozone Office  
2903 4600  Halon 1211, Halon 1301, Halon 2402  MINEPDED  
2903 1400  Carbon tetrachloride  MINEPDED  
2903 1900  Trichloroethane (methyl, chloroform), 
chlorinated derivatives of saturated acrylic 
hydrocarbons  MINEPDED  
2903 3000  Methyl bromide  MINEPDED  
3003 1000 - 3004 9000  Veterinary pharmaceutical products  MINEPIA  
3003 1000 - 3004 1000  Pharmaceutical products  MINSANTE  
3401 1100  Medicated soap  MINSANTE  
3602 0000  Prepared explosives other than propellant 
powders  MINEE 
3604 1000  Articles for fireworks  MINEE 
3604 9000  Signalling flares and other pyrotechnical 
products  MINEE 
3808  Pesticides  MINAGRI  
7108 1200  Gold in unwrought form, non -monetary  MINEE 
7323 9900  Bottled gas  MINEE 
8525  Transceivers  MINPT  
8527 9000  Other receivers, radio receptors, apparatus 
n.e.s.  MINPT  
9015 8000  Equipment with radio elements  MINEE 
9303 1000  Muzzle -loading firearms  MINAT  
9303 1000  Other sporting, hunting or target shooting 
rifles and shotguns  MINAT  
9303 3000  Other sporting, hunting or target shooting 
rifles and shotguns  MINAT  
9303 2000  Other firearms  MINAT  
9306 1000  Cartridges for pistols  MINAT  
9306 2100  Cartridges for rifles and shotguns  MINAT  
9306 3000  Other cartridges  MINAT  
9306 9000  Other ammunition  MINAT  
Source:  Cameroonian authorities. Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (MINEPIA); 
Ministry  of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development (MINEPDED); 
Ministry  of Agriculture (MINAGRI); Ministry of Health (M INSANTE); Ministry of Water Resources 
and Energy ( MINEE); Ministry of Territorial Administration (MINAT).  
3.1.8   Anti-dumping, countervailing, and safeguard measures  
3.55.  Cameroon did not adopt any contingency trade measures during the review period. Law 
No. 2016/004 of 18  April 2016 governing foreign trade in Cameroon, notified to the WTO in 202236, 
constitutes the legal basis governing contingency trade measures in Cameroon. It defines the 
conditions under which anti -dumping and countervailing duties may be imposed a nd the modalities 
of the trade investigation procedure. In addition, it describes the legal provisions relating to 
safeguard measures.  
3.56.  In 2017, an Anti -Dumping and Subsidies Committee, placed under the Ministry in charge of 
foreign trade, was set up, with the role of investigating and giving its opinion on all questions relating 
to dumping practices, subsidies and imports causing or threatening to cause serious damage to a 
domestic industry.  
3.57.  Actions are under way at the CEMAC level to adopt a harmonized fra mework for anti -dumping, 
countervailing and safeguard measures (Common Report, Section 3.1.6).  
 
36 WTO document G/ADP/N/1/CMR/2 - G/SCM/N/1/CMR/2 - G/SG/N/1/CMR/2 of 18  February  2022.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 97 - 
  3.2  Measures directly affecting exports  
3.2.1   Customs procedures and requirements  
3.58.  The registration formalities required for the import of goods for commercial purposes are  also 
applicable to exports ( Section  3.1.1).  
3.59.  In general, customs formalities are defined by CEMAC community rules. All goods are subject 
to an export customs declaration. Exported goods can only be declared by a customs broker. 
However, oil companies are a llowed to declare their own crude oil exports to customs themselves.  
3.60.  Within the framework of its Sectoral Export Monitoring Programme (PSSE), compulsory 
inspection of exports covers rough wood  and sawn  wood, coffee, cocoa and medicinal plants. 
However, it would seem that, in practice, the inspection of sawn  wood exports to determine the 
value and the species is not effective. With regard to rough wood  (for the determination of species), 
coffee and cocoa (for the determination of their level of quality), the  exporter's broker must submit 
to SGS an export declaration from an approved bank. The export dossier must be submitted to SGS 
at least 72 hours before shipment. SGS is responsible for sending copies of the export declaration 
to the exporter's bank, and to  the administrations concerned (including the customs administration). 
For its inspection and control services, SGS levies, only on rough wood , 0.95 % of the f.o.b. value of 
all shipments over CFAF  500,000. The authorities indicated that inspections of medi cinal plants are 
additionally carried out by the Ministry in charge of forests and wildlife.  
3.2.2   Taxes, charges, and levies  
3.61.  The CEMAC customs regime allows member countries to tax exports.  
3.62.  The authorities have indicated that Cameroon levies an export duty at the rate of 1 % of the 
taxable value on semi -finished products. It maintains an exemption from export duties on bananas, 
manufactured products, raw products of animal and vegetable origin, and mining products which 
have undergone substantial processing. In addition, a rate of 10 % is applied to the taxable value of 
diamonds, gold, rice, crude palm oil, millet, sorghum, gum arabic, kola nuts, and gnetum africanum 
(eru).  
3.63.  A rate of 50 % applies to the value of wood species as rough wood  and 10 % for semi -finished 
wood. Export surcharges would also be levied on certain forest species.  
3.64.  CFAF 75 is levied on each kilogram of exported cocoa and CFAF  50 is levied on each kilogram 
of coffee for the benefit of organizations involved in the sector. A sanitary and veterinary  inspection 
tax (ISV) is levied on the export of certain fish, animals and derived products (Section 3.3.3).  
3.65.  All exported goods are subject to a "computer fee" (RI) which is only due for exports domiciled 
in a computerized customs office. The rate is 0.45 %, which is capped at CFAF  15,000 per declaration.  
3.66.  The GUCE fee (CFAF  12,500 per container and CFAF  16,000 per vehicle) and the electronic 
cargo tracking note fee (Table 3. 2) are also collected on exports.  
3.67.  In general, Cameroon uses market values to calculat e export duties on rough wood . The f.o.b. 
values are determined by an ad hoc  committee set up for this purpose. The values are reviewed 
every six  months. For other products, the export duty is levied on the ex -factory value.  
3.2.3   Export prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing  
3.68.  In principle, the quantitative restrictions (including prohibitions) and controls on exports in 
force stem above all from the treaties to which Cameroon is a party (Basel Convention on the Control 
of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, CITES, or the Chemical 
Weapons Convention, among others).  
3.69.  Order No.  00237/MINIMIDT/CAB of 19  July 2008 prohibits exports of ferrous and non -ferrous 
metal scrap and waste. The export of certain forest specie s as rough wood  is also prohibited. The 
same applies to goods classified as national cultural heritage. In addition, under Law No.  2016/004 WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 98 - 
  of 18 April 2016 governing foreign trade, Cameroon may prohibit certain exports for reasons of local 
market supply. To this end, cement exports have been prohibited since 22  April 2022.  
3.2.4   Export support and promotion  
3.70.  The Cameroonian export promotion policy is implemented under the responsibility of the 
Ministry in charge of trade through its Department of Foreign Trade. T he Chamber of Commerce, 
Industry, Mines and Crafts (CCIMA) is responsible for promoting exports, in particular by 
participating in fairs, international exhibitions and other commercial events, as well as meetings and 
missions of a commercial and economic n ature outside the country.  
3.71.  Exports benefit from the zero -rate VAT regime. In addition, under the CEMAC Customs Code, 
suspension of customs duties is available for export -oriented activities under the inward processing 
regime, as well as for material and eq uipment under temporary admission (Common Report, 
Section  3). The drawback regime allows for the total or partial reimbursement of import duties and 
taxes levied on the inputs contained in the exported goods. Tax benefits linked to exports are granted 
under the free zone regime.  
3.72.  Cameroon has notified the WTO of its Industrial Free Zone (ZFI) programme.37 The ZFI regime 
was, in principle, repealed by the Law on Economic Zones.38 However, in practice, the economic 
zones are slow to materialize, and an "admini strative tolerance" allows the ZFI regime to continue 
to operate.  
3.73.  The National Office for Industrial Free Zones (ONZFI) is responsible for the administration and 
inspection of free zones. It approves applications from companies wishing to set up in a free zone.  
3.74.  Companies benefiting from the ZFI regime can set up in: an industrial free zone (an industrial 
park designated as a free zone); or establish themselves as a special industrial free zone ( point 
franc). Most of the companies admitted under this regime (about 38 in 2022), with the exception of 
three in the MAGZI Bassa free zone39, have been admitted as special industrial free zones.  
3.75.  The ZFI regime seeks to promote investment40, exports, and employment. Companies 
admitted to it are required to produce goo ds or services intended primarily for export. Nevertheless, 
20% of their production can be sold on the domestic market, with the authorization of the Minister 
in charge of industry. Goods exported from ZFIs are exempt from all applicable duties and taxes; 
those exported to Cameroonian customs territory are treated as imported and subject to the duties, 
taxes and procedures in force for this purpose. Sales to other CEMAC countries are considered as 
exports.  
3.76.  The advantages granted to companies benefiting from  the ZFI regime are summarized in 
Box 3.1. 
Box 3.1 Some advantages under the industrial free zone (ZFI) regime  
Customs advantages  
Exemption from all customs duties and taxes and all other direct and/or indirect charges, duties and taxes 
for imports and exports of ZFI companiesa  
 Exemption from import verification programme  
Tax advantages  
Exemption from corporation tax (IS) for 10 years, and then a flat rate of 15%  
Total exemption from all other direct and/or indirect taxes and duties  
Indefinite carry forward of deficits to subsequent years for tax calculation  
 
37 WTO document G/SCM/N/3/CMR - G/SCM/N/16/CMR of 29  November  1996.  
38 Law No.  2013/011 of 16  December  2013 governing economic zones in Cameroon.  
39 Mission Development and Management of Industrial Zones (MAGZI).  
40 Ordinance No.  90/001 of 29  January  1990 establishing the free zone regime, ratified by 
Law No. 90/023 of 10  August  1990; and Order No. 51/MINDIC/IG1 of 28  December  1990 determining the rules 
of implementation of the free zone re gime in Cameroon.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 99 - 
  Exemption from transfer tax on sales of real estate properties and from any tax on currency transfers  
Exemption from taxes, and in particular from turnover tax, for sales by national companies to companies in 
free zones  
Labour regulation  
Automatic obtaining of work permits for foreign employeesb 
Service  benefits  
Right to obtain electricity or water at preferential rates, as well as to benefit from preferential port charges 
for services of the National Ports Authority of Cameroon (ONPC)  
Right to install electro -generating equipment and private telecommu nications networksc 
Other benefits  
The streamlining of administrative procedures (authorization to establish and operate a company in a free 
zone, customs inspection) within the single window framework  
Exemption from all import and export licenses, authorizations and quota limitations  
a With the exception of private vehicles and fuel.  
b However, the workforce of these companies should be at least 80 % Cameroonian, by professional 
category, by no later than the end of the fifth year following their entry into operation.  
c Telecommunications equipment becomes state property.  
Source:  Ordinance No.  90/001 of 29  January  1990.  
3.2.5   Export finance, insurance, and guarantees  
3.77.  Cameroon has not introduced any official mechanisms for export financing, insurance or 
guarantees.  
3.3  Measures affecting production and trade  
3.3.1   Incentives  
3.78.  In 2013, Cameroon notified the WTO, pursuant to Article 25.1 of the Agreement on Subsidies 
and Countervailing Measures, that it was not providing subsidies as defined in the Agreement.41 
3.79.  According to the Investment Charter and the law governing incentives for private investment 
in Cameroon, technical or financial support may be provide d to promote investment, with the aim 
of ensuring sustainable growth and creating employment. Support is given notably to new and 
existing enterprises and for the development of exports ( Section  2.4.2). Other support measures 
are provided to companies appr oved under the Industrial Free Zone regime ( Section  3.2.4) and the 
mining, petroleum and gas codes ( Section  4.2). 
3.3.2   Standards and other technical requirements  
3.80.  The Standards and Quality Agency (ANOR) is responsible for formulating and implementing 
government policy on standards and quality in Cameroon.42 ANOR operates under the technical 
supervision of the Ministry responsible for industry and under the financial supervision of the Ministry 
responsible for finance. Its functions include the development and app roval of standards; the 
certification of conformity with standards; the promotion of standards and quality processes among 
public, semi -public and private sector entities; the monitoring of cooperation with international 
agencies and specialized committees  concerned with standardization and quality; the conduct of 
studies relating to standardization and the development of proposed measures to improve the quality 
of products and services and compliance with standards; and the dissemination of information and  
documentation on standards. ANOR is a member of the African Organisation for Standardization 
 
41 WTO documents G/SCM/N/25/CMR - G/SCM/N/38/CMR - G/SCM/N/48/CMR - G/SCM/N/60/CMR - 
G/SCM/N/71/CMR of 10  July 2013.  
42 Decree No.  2009/296 of 17  September  2009 on the creation, organization and operation of ANOR; 
and Decree No. 2019/143 of 17 March 2019 on the reorganization of ANOR.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 100 - 
  (ARSO), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International 
Electrotechnical Commission, through its National Electrotechnical Committe e. 
3.81.  The existence of ANOR has not yet been notified to the WTO. It replaces the former Standards 
and Quality Division, which itself replaced the Committee for Standardization and Quality, the latter 
having been notified to the WTO in 2006 as Cameroon's nati onal enquiry point for all matters relating 
to sanitary and phytosanitary measures and to technical barriers to trade and as the body dealing 
with notification procedures.43 
3.82.  Law No.  96/11 of 5  August  1996 on standardization continues to govern: the nationa l 
standardization system; the national quality mark; certifications of conformity; the approval of 
testing laboratories; quality control bodies; standardization organizations or offices; and quality 
control. At present, standardization may be initiated by the government, by consumer associations 
or by economic operators (producers). This requires the completion of a "standards -related needs 
form". Upon receipt of these forms, ANOR, which coordinates all activities related to the adoption of 
standards and te chnical regulations, forwards the related documentation to the relevant technical 
committee for the development of a preliminary draft standard.  
3.83.  In 2022, there were 56  such technical committees in place to cover a wide range of fields 
corresponding to ISO provisions. These technical committees are responsible not only for developing 
standards, but also for withdrawing them should the need arise.  
3.84.  According to ANOR's online information, preliminary draft standards are subjected to a public 
inquiry phase of at  least 60 days in duration. They are communicated to the public to elicit comments 
through publication on the ANOR website. Comments received are then referred to a meeting of the 
technical committee concerned for analysis and decisions on which comments t o include. Once the 
normative documents have been validated by the technical committee, the Director -General of ANOR 
approves and publishes them as Cameroonian standards.  
3.85.  A standard may become a technical regulation pursuant to an order from the Minister 
responsible for industry or, where applicable, a joint order with the Minister responsible for the area 
concerned by the standard.  
3.86.  According to the authorities, a total of 2,777 standards, including 290  technical regulations, 
are now in force in Cameroon. T hey pertain above all to food products, water and other beverages, 
jute sacks, bottles of LPG, cement, sheets of aluminium alloy or coated steel, electrical installations, 
gas bottles, reinforcing rods, wire, and welded mesh . However, even when they become  technical 
regulations, many Cameroonian standards are not notified to the WTO . 
3.87.  The metrology system seems relatively undeveloped in Cameroon. Law No.  2004/002 of 
21 April 2004 governing legal metrology in the country sets out the general framework for 
metrological control modalities and corresponding fees. Its effective implementation depends in 
principle on the adoption of regulatory texts, which it would seem have not yet been published.  
3.3.2.1   Labelling, marking and packaging  
3.88.  None of the country's labelling, m arking or packaging practices or requirements have changed 
since the last review.  
3.89.  According to Decree No.  0018/MINDIC/DDI/CML of 21  November  2000, labelling is 
mandatory for imported and local food products. The packaging of all perishables must indicate t he 
expiry date. It is also mandatory to indicate (in French and English) the name of the producer, the 
production date and the national conformity mark.  
3.90.  The labelling for pharmaceutical products must indicate the product's expiry date and 
directions for us e (in French and English). All boxes, cases, crates, and packages must bear marking 
identifying the country of origin.  
 
43 WTO documents G/TBT/ENQ/28 of 27  October  2006; G/SPS/ENQ/20 of 6  October 2006; and 
G/SPS/NNA/9 of 25  January  2006.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 101 - 
  3.91.  Except for beer and wine with less than 13 % alcoholic content, all bottles and other containers 
of alcoholic beverages must be labelled t o show the degree of alcohol. Labels for foreign food 
products must indicate the country of origin and precise addresses for the producer, importer, 
pre-packer or local distributor, in French and/or English.44 
3.92.  The labelling (in French and/or English) of br east milk substitutes is subject to certain specific 
requirements: information must be provided on the necessary precautions to avoid contamination, 
on the minimum age for use of the product and on product storage.  
3.93.  According to Decree No.  98/270 of 3  Septe mber  1998 on labelling of tobacco, it is compulsory 
to pre -label cigarettes to be marketed in Cameroon. This label must specify, inter alia , the country 
of origin and the identification number of the economic operator, and also provide a health warning.  
3.3.2.2   Conformity testing and certification  
3.94.  In principle, ANOR plays the role of an evaluation agency for the conformity of imports and 
local production with standards and technical regulations, issuing conformity certificates permitting 
the national mark to be a pplied to the products concerned. Samples are taken and analysed by a 
laboratory selected by ANOR, with the cost borne by the importer.  
3.95.  Order No.  0014/MINCOMMERCE of 13  June 2006 determines the rules for technical inspection 
of quality and conformity with standards for products for domestic consumption and export. It 
requires every product intended for consumption (whether local or imported) to go through quality 
and conformity controls before being marketed to obtain authorization for delivery for consumpt ion. 
A conformity certificate issued by ANOR, or its duly designated representative, is required prior to 
any customs clearance procedure for products subject to technical regulations and is also required 
throughout the process of release for consumption.  
3.96.  In the case of imports, it is reported that ANOR has established a framework for cooperation 
with bodies responsible for preshipment conformity assessment, such as SGS and INTERTEK, in 
order to develop effective control of conformity before goods are shipp ed from the country of origin.  
3.97.  According to the authorities, Cameroon has not to date signed any mutual recognition 
agreements. The authorities have indicated that such an agreement is now being negotiated between 
ANOR and Nigeria's National Agency for Foo d and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).  
3.3.3   Sanitary and phytosanitary requirements  
3.98.  Cameroon is a member of the International Plant Prevention Convention, the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).  
3.99.  The institu tional and legal framework for sanitary and phytosanitary measures has not 
changed since the last review. According to the authorities, the Director for the regulation and control 
of agricultural inputs and products, within the Ministry of Agricultural and  Rural Development, is the 
authority responsible for the notification of sanitary and phytosanitary measures and acts as the 
national enquiry point for all matters relating to those measures.  
3.100.   The National Phytosanitary Council is responsible, inter alia , for advising the Government in 
this field, commenting on draft legislation or regulations and advising on the implementation of 
phytosanitary policy. The Council meets regularly to examine draft phytosanitary provisions, among 
other matters.  
3.101.   The import and export of plants or plant products are governed mainly by Cameroon's law 
on phytosanitary protection45, but also by decrees establishing the modalities for phytosanitary 
 
44 Decree No.  2005/1928/PM of 3  July 2005 determining the metrological characte ristics for  
pre-packaged or related products and rules for their control.  
45 Law No.  2003/003 of 21  April 2003.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 102 - 
  measures46 and plant quarantine operations47, as well as conditions for the approval a nd control of 
phytosanitary products.48 
3.102.   Under the legislative framework now in force, plant and plant product imports require a 
phytosanitary certificate issued by the plant health authority in their countries of origin. In addition, 
each year the Minister  responsible for agriculture issues a regulatory provision establishing the list 
of plants, plant parts and plant products the import of which into Cameroon is prohibited or 
restricted, depending on their provenance . A permit is required to import the plan ts and plant 
products so listed. A phytosanitary certificate and import permit are issued, at the applicant's 
expense, by the agencies responsible for phytosanitary enforcement (the Ministries responsible for 
agriculture or health ). The fees charged for is suing permits and performing inspections are 
established by a joint order of the Ministers responsible for agriculture and finance. The most recent 
such order was issued in 2019.49 
3.103.   In 2018, the Minister responsible for agriculture took a decision establish ing the modalities 
for the production and certification of certain fruits and vegetables. That decision was apparently 
prompted by recommendations from the European Union following an audit of the official control 
system for plants and plant products origi nating in Cameroon and exported to the European Union. 
Those fruits and vegetables were mangoes, soursop, citrus, chilis, pineapple, sunberry, okok, safou, 
passionfruit, peppers, aubergine, tomatoes, amaranth, cassava leaves, cassemanga and avocados.50 
The resulting ministerial decision was to prohibit the export of these fruits and vegetables without a 
sanitary certificate. The export and import of potatoes to and from the European Union were also 
prohibited. Cameroon has never notified the WTO of its sani tary and phytosanitary measures.  
3.104.   Phytosanitary conformity is verified by laboratories approved by the Minister responsible for 
agriculture. The only such laboratory operating to date has been the laboratory for the diagnostic 
analysis of agricultural produ cts and inputs.  
3.105.    According to Law No.  2000/017 of 19  December  2000 on veterinary and sanitary inspection, 
live animals must be accompanied by an international or national vaccination card. Prior to release 
for consumption, products of animal origin must un dergo veterinary or sanitary inspection to obtain 
a sanitary or veterinary inspection certificate from the Minister responsible for livestock.  
3.106.   The veterinary and sanitary inspection tax (ISV) amounts to 3 % of the value (for fish, 
seafood and raw hides and skins) or 2 % (for tanned hides and skins and other products), or a specific 
rate per head. For imports, the specific rate varies from CFAF  4 per head (for day -old chicks), to 
CFAF 5 for eggs, CFAF  2,000 per head for cattle and CFAF  6,000 per head for wild animals. This tax 
is lower for domestic trade: CFAF  0.5 for eggs, CFAF  1 per head for chicks and CFAF  200 per head 
for cattle.  
3.107.   Cameroon has had a National Biosafety Committee (NABIC) in place since 1997, the mission 
of which is to organize and coordinate a ctivities related to genetically modified organisms (GMOs). 
The country ratified the Cartagena Protocol in February  2003.  
3.108.   Law No.  2003/006 of 21  April 2003 introducing a modern biotechnological safety regime in 
Cameroon, and its implementing Decree No.  2007/0737/PM of 31  May 2007, regulate the 
development, improvement, use (including use in a confined manner), manipulation and 
cross -border movement (including transit) of all GMOs. In terms of biosafety, Cameroon seeks to 
use its legal and regulatory framewo rk to ensure the environmentally risk -free application of modern 
biotechnology to medicine, agriculture and the environment, and to prevent risks to human health 
and modern security.  
3.109.   This legislation provides that the import, sale and confined use of GMOs and their derivative 
products require prior authorization from the Ministry of Environment after an opinion has been 
received from NABIC. Apart from those being tested on cotton, the import of GMOs is currently 
 
46 Decree No.  2005/0770/PM of 6  April 2005.  
47 Decree No.  2005/0771/PM of 6  April 2005.  
48 Decree No.  2005/0772/PM of 6  April 2005.  
49 Joint Order No . 00022/MINADER -MINFI of 4 March 2019.  
50 Decision No.  00976/18/D/MINADER/SG/DRCQ of 20  July 2018.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 103 - 
  prohibited. Imports of plant products require  a "Non -GMO Certificate". In the case of suspected 
fraud, a sample may be taken and analysed before the final decision is made.  
3.3.4   Competition policy and price controls  
3.110.   Competition in Cameroon continues to be governed by Law No.  98/013 of 14  July 1998, in 
conjunction with the relevant community legislation ( Common Report , Section  3.3.2).  
3.111.   According to Cameroonian law, the National Competition Commission (CNC), under the 
Ministry of Trade,  is responsible for seeking out, controlling and, where appropriate, punishing 
anti-competitive practices. It may, on its own initiative, take up matters it considers within its 
competence and also rule on matters brought before it. Violations can be addressed by the CNC only 
if they have occurred within the la st 24 months.  
3.112.   The law most notably prohibits agreements or arrangements regarding prices, or those 
seeking to influence prices or to impede market access or restrict competition, unless the authority 
responsible for competition considers them profitable fo r the economy and conducive to efficiency 
gains that would otherwise not be possible. An enterprise that has a dominant position may not use 
that position to prevent another enterprise from setting up on the market, or to supplant it, put 
pressure on distr ibutors or cause an increase in competitors' production costs. However, no sanctions 
are to be imposed if the anti -competitive practice aims to improve economic efficiency.  
3.113.   Mergers and acquisitions are allowed if they do not reduce competition. Those that do reduce 
competition are nonetheless allowed if the transaction secures efficiency gains (for the national 
economy) that would otherwise not be possible. Mergers and acquisitions that result in an entity 
having a turnover above a threshold pre -established  by the Minister in charge of competition must 
be notified in advance to the CNC.  
3.114.   The Law on Competition applies to both state and private enterprises. It also applies when 
the effects of anti -competitive practices by companies abroad are felt in Cameroon itself, subject to 
agreements and treaties between Cameroon and the host countries of the enterprises concerned.  
3.115.   The Community's regulatory purview with respect to competition relates in principle to 
anti-competitive business practices and state practices affecting trade between member States 
(common report, Section  3.3.3). The regulations on those matters have not yet been implemented, 
however.  
3.116.   According to Law No.  2015/018 of 21  December  2015, which governs commercial activity in 
Cameroon, the prices of g oods and services are generally determined through free competition. The 
Government can, however, make prices subject to approval in the case of "sensitive" goods and 
services (essential goods in particular) or those produced in or provided by sectors wher e monopolies 
exist. The list of goods and services whose prices are subject to such special approval is determined 
by the Minister responsible for trade.  
3.117.   The prices of certain goods can also be fixed following consultations between the authorities 
and oper ators in the sectors concerned.  
3.118.   The products subject to price regulation include sugar, milk, unrefined palm oil, frozen fish, 
wheat flour, maize flour, imported rice, cooking salt, table oils, frozen poultry, imported Portland 
cement, reinforcing rods, me dicines and hospital consumables, and textbooks. Also subject to price 
regulation are social housing, school and university accommodation, water, electricity, household 
gas, services at Cameroon's autonomous ports and their ancillary services, and public t ransport 
(road/rail) ( Section  4). 
3.3.5   State trading, state -owned enterprises and privatization  
3.119.   Cameroon has not made any notifications to the WTO in respect of state trading enterprises 
within the meaning of Article XVII of the GATT.  
3.120.   The State holds shares in a number of enterprises in various sectors of the economy 
(Table  3.4). Such enterprises operate mainly in the agri -food, mining, energy and services sectors.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 104 - 
  3.121.   The semi -public Société camerounaise des dépôts pétroliers  (SCDP ) continues to hold a 
monopoly over the storage of petroleum products, while SONARA holds a monopoly over their 
supply.  
3.122.   Serious and persistent challenges in the management of public enterprises continue to weigh 
heavily on the state budget and contribute t o increasing public debt. In 2019, the IMF reported that 
the financial situation of public enterprises remained difficult.51 Four public enterprises (CAMTEL, 
CAMWATER, CAMAIR -CO and the Port of Douala) are considered to be suffering particular financial 
distress.  
3.123.   In July  2017, two new laws established general regulations for public establishments and 
public enterprises in Cameroon: Laws No.  2017/010 and No.  2017/11, respectively, replacing 
Law No. 99/016 of 22  December  1999 on the general regulations for pu blic establishments and 
public and semi -public sector enterprises. The two laws most notably seek to establish conditions 
regarding the performance and economic viability  of state enterprises and establishments, but also 
cover aspects pertaining to governa nce, budget procedures and control mechanisms.  
Table 3.4 Selection of public or semi -public companies active in international trade  
Company  Principal sector of activity  
Agriculture and agro -industry  
Société de développement du coton (SODECOTON)  Agro-industry (cotton, cottonseed oil)  
Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC)  Agro-industry (bananas, rubber, palm oil)  
Société camerounaise de palmeraies (SOCAPALM)  Palm oil production  
Société sucrière du Cameroun (SOSUCAM)  Production and marketing of sugar  
Compagne industrielle d'exploitation des bois du Cameroun 
(ECAM Placages)  .. 
Société de développement et d'exploitation des productions 
animales (SODEPA)  Livestock products  
Plantations PAM OL Palm oil production and exports  
Société anonyme des brasseries du Cameroun (SABC)  Brewery  
Société industrielle des cacaos (SIC -Cacaos)  Cocoa production  
Société forestière agricole du Cameroun (SAFACAM)  Edible oil production and exports  
Cotonnière industrielle du Cameroun (CICAM)  Textile production  
Société de développement de la cacao culture (SODECAO)  Cocoa production  
Office national du cacao et du café (ONCC)  Coffee and cocoa marketing  
Hévéas du Cameroun (HEVECAM)  Rubber production  
Manufacturing and industry  
Société camerounaise de transformation de l'aluminium 
(SOCATRAL)  Production of metal products  
Société Aluminium de Bassa Alubassa  Aluminium joinery  
Cimenteries du Cameroun (CIMENCAM)  Production and marketing of cement  
Société camerounaise de verrerie (SOCAVER)  Manufacture and marketing of glass bottles  
ENEO -CAMEROON S.A.  Electricity generation and supply  
Electricity Development Corporation (EDC)  Holdings in companies generating or exporting 
electricity  
Kribi Power Development Company  Electricity generation and transmission  
Mekin Hydroelectric Development Cameroun  Electricity generation and marketing  
Société camerounaise de dépôts pétroliers (SCDP)  Storage of hydrocarbons  
Compagnie camerounaise d'aluminium (ALUCAM)  Aluminium production and exports  
Total EP  Exploration and production of hydrocarbons  
Société nationale de raffinage (SONARA)  Petroleum refining  
Mobil Cameroun  Exploration and production of hydrocarbons  
PECTEN Cameroon Company  Explo ration and production of hydrocarbons  
IBC Production, import -export of steel and metals  
Services  
Cameroon Telecommunication (CAMTEL)  Telecommunications  
Aéroports du Cameroun  Airport services  
Cameroon Radio and Television (CRTV)  .. 
Imprimerie nationale (IN)  .. 
Société de presse et d'édition (SOPECAM)  .. 
Cameroon Water Utilities Corporation  Production and distribution of water  
Port autonome de Douala (PAD)  Port services  
Cameroon Airlines Corporation (CAMAIR CO)  Air transport  
Cameroon Postal Services  Postal services  
Cameroon Shipping Lines (CAMSHIP)  Maritime transport  
 
51 IMF, Fourth Review under the Extended Credit Facility Arrangement . Viewed at: 
https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2019/07/24/Cameroon -Fourth -Review -under -the-Extended -
Credit -Facility -Arrangement -and-Requests -for-48525 . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 105 - 
  Company  Principal sector of activity  
Cameroon Shipping Lines Investment Corporation (CIC)  Maritime transport  
Cameroon Oil Transportation Company (COTCO)  Transport of hydrocarbons  
Cameroon Railways Corporation (CAMRAIL)  Railway transport  
Société nationale des eaux du Cameroun (SNEC)  Production and distribution of water  
Cameroon Container Transportation (CAMTAINER)  Container transit and transport  
.. Not available.  
Source:  MINEFI (2007), Agenda 2007 de la Commission technique de privatisation et de liquidations . 
3.124.   The privatization programme seems to have been on hold for over a decade. The 
privatization process is in principle overseen by the Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance. A 
Technical Commission on Privatization and Liquidation (CTPL) and a Privatization Committee are in 
charge of operational aspects.  
3.3.6   Government procurement  
3.125.   Decree No.  2018/366 of 20  June 2018 containing the Governmen t Procurement Code 
regulates the government procurement framework in Cameroon. That decree has since 2018 
replaced Decree No.  2004/275 of 24  September  2004.  
3.126.   The current Code's provisions apply to all government procurement financed or co -financed 
by the st ate budget, even where contracts are awarded by a private company acting on behalf of 
the State or state agencies, for works, supplies and services, quantifiable or otherwise, as well as 
intellectual services. It also applies to procurement contracts betwe en legal persons established 
under public law. In the case of procurement contracts arising from international conventions, 
however, the Code applies only where its provisions are not contrary to those conventions.  
3.127.   The following forms of government procure ment are excluded from the Code's scope of 
application: administrative purchase orders for amounts less than CFAF  5 million, the acquisition or 
rental of real estate, the acquisition of petroleum products for administrative vehicles, procurements 
by public  enterprises and those defined as special by Article 71 of the Code, partnership contracts, 
and works executed entirely under state control. For procurement financed with bilateral or 
multilateral external aid funds, the funding agreements need to stipulat e any rules that may be 
applicable.  
3.128.   The Code establishes the separation of functions for the award, monitoring and regulation 
of public contracts. Preparing the procedure for awarding procurement contracts is the responsibility 
of the contracting authority  (a natural person heading a ministerial department or similar executive 
branch unit of a decentralized territorial authority or public establishment procuring the goods or 
services concerned) or delegated contracting authority. The contracting authority r eports periodically 
to the Ministry of Government Procurement (MINMAP) and the Government Procurement Regulatory 
Agency (ARMP) on the award and execution of the procurement contracts concerned.  
3.129.   Each contracting authority is assisted by a procurement commit tee, responsible among other 
functions for preparing and monitoring the procurement plans, preparing the project documentation 
for consultation with the contracting authority's technical services, receiving the bids and finalizing 
the draft procurement con tracts.  
3.130.   A priori  control of the procedures for awarding government procurement contracts is 
performed by central procurement control boards, which are technical bodies within MINMAP 
composed of agents from several technical and financial offices. Each of t hese boards issues an 
opinion on: the tender documents prepared by the contracting authority concerned; the procedure 
to be followed in awarding procurement contracts; contract award proposals made by the 
procurement committees and validated by the contrac ting authority; draft contracts to be awarded 
following the direct contracting procedure to contractors meeting threshold qualifications, and any 
amendments thereto.  
3.131.   In the case of a favourable opinion, the contracting authority follows the procedure propo sed. 
If a favourable opinion is subject to reservations, the contracting authority is required to correct the 
issues raised in the reservations before proceeding to follow the procedure. In the event of an 
unfavourable opinion, the contracting authority ca nnot proceed under the procedure proposed. The WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 106 - 
  central procurement control boards issue their opinions on the procedures submitted to them within 
a maximum period of 10 business days from the date of their submission, failing which the opinions 
are taken t o be favourable.  
3.132.   In addition to these central procurement control boards, an "independent observer" is 
recruited by the agency responsible for regulating government procurement to verify compliance 
with the rules on transparency and principles of equity fo r procurement processes. Based on reports 
from the independent observer or regulatory agency concerned, the authority responsible for 
government procurement can annul procurement contracts that are awarded in violation of the 
regulations or in a manner tha t is inconsistent with the rules on transparency and equity.  
3.133.   Pursuant to the Code, bidders must be in compliance with the requirements of the tax and 
parafiscal departments. Government procurement must be executed in the light of social, economic 
and envir onmental considerations and so as to promote local employment, decent working conditions 
and, where relevant, the achievement of sustainable development goals.  
3.134.   In terms of procurement methods, invitations to tender remain the default procedure of 
choice. T he tendering method may be open, limited or competitive. Limited tendering is compulsory 
for the procurement of intellectual services. The Code of June  2018 introduced a two -stage bidding 
process, which nevertheless requires prior authorization from MINMAP . When using this method, 
contracting authorities (or delegated ones) base their choice on considerations of performance, 
operating constraints and economic cost. The invitation to tender may be national or international.  
3.135.   All invitations to tender must be published in the government procurement journal. Other 
publication organs and channels can be used, such as radio or press announcements, or posters, 
but only as supplements to publication in the government journal.  
3.136.   A contract for quantifiable works, suppl ies or services is awarded to the bidder who both 
meets the technical and financial qualification criteria and submits the lowest bid (according to the 
evaluation conducted). If the contract is for non -quantifiable services, including intellectual ones, or  
if subjected to competitive bidding, it is awarded to the bidder submitting the offer evaluated as 
best, based on a combination of technical, financial and/or aesthetic criteria.  
3.137.   A national preference margin is allowed when a contract is to be awarded fol lowing an 
international consultation, if stipulated in the invitation to tender and where equivalent bids are 
received. The preference margins remain the same as under the previous Code: 10 % for works 
contracts and 15 % for supplies contracts.  
3.138.   The direct co ntracting method of procurement may exceptionally be used subject to prior 
authorization by MINMAP. According to the Code, this method is permitted only in the case of an 
emergency, of an operator's failure or where requirements can only be satisfied by us ing an 
invention, process or skill under patent, licence or exclusive rights. Direct contracting is also possible 
in the case of contracts for supplies, services or works previously awarded through an invitation to 
tender but still requiring completion. Th e Code provides for other procurement methods as well: 
requests for price quotations and the selection of individual consultants. The total value of direct 
contracting procurement remains high in Cameroon, accounting for 42 % of all procurement in 2018, 
compared to 32 % in 2015.52 
3.139.   Statistics on each procedure for government procurement were not available for the 
purposes of this review.  
3.140.   Ex post  control of government contracts is performed by the Ministry responsible for 
government procurement. Among other thi ngs, this involves verification of the following: the 
signature of contracts; their consistency with tender documents; the decisions awarding the 
contracts and the bids selected; payments made against the amounts invoiced; and contract 
performance.  
 
52 Information reported by the ARMP. Viewed at: 
http://armp.cm/Rapports_situation_generale.php?PHPSESSID=l6l3acsmseorqtl1ofejpo6ss3#tzM52 . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 107 - 
  3.141.   The Gov ernment Procurement Regulatory Agency (ARMP) is responsible for regulating the 
government procurement framework. Its remit includes the definition of procurement training 
policies and strategies; the operation, development and maintenance of the procuremen t 
information system; the performance of independent technical audits and the penalization of any 
irregularities uncovered; and the framing of laws and regulations on government procurement.  
3.142.   Bidders claiming injury are provided recourse to an ARMP complain ts review committee.  
3.143.   Cameroon did not sign the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (AGP) but has been 
an observer to the Agreement since 2001.  
3.3.7   Intellectual property rights  
3.3.7.1   Overview  
3.144.   Cameroon is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and African 
Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI). It has been a contracting party to the Convention on 
Biological Diversity since 11  September  2003 and has in principle applied the Agreement on 
Trade -Related Aspects of Intellectual  Property Rights (TRIPS) since 1  January  2000.  
3.145.   Cameroon notified its legislation on intellectual property rights to the WTO in 200153; the 
TRIPS Council finished examining it in 2003. Cameroon has not, however, notified the WTO of its 
contact point, in acc ordance with Article 69 of the TRIPS Agreement, and has not answered the 
WTO's list of questions on the country's means of enforcing intellectual property rights.  
3.3.7.2   Industrial property  
3.146.   As a member of OAPI, created by the Bangui Agreement, Cameroon has based its intellectual 
property rights regulations on the relevant provisions of that Agreement ( Common Report , 
Section  3). The Directorate of Technological Development and Industrial Property, within the 
Ministry of Mining, Industry and Technological Developmen t (MINMIDT), acts as the national liaison 
structure (SNL) for OAPI. Administrative procedures for registering industrial property titles start 
with an application to the Directorate of Technological Development and Industrial Property.  
3.147.   Statistical data on applications for industrial property titles and registration in Cameroon 
were not available for the purposes of this review.  
3.3.7.3   Copyright and related rights  
3.148.   Copyright and related rights in Cameroon are protected not only under the revised Bangui 
Agreement but  also under national legislation, namely Law No.  2000/011 of 19  December  2000 and 
its implementing regulation.  
3.149.   The regulatory framework for copyright and related rights applies to all Cameroonian literary 
or artistic works (including computer programmes). In the case of works of joint authorship, in order 
to be protected by the law, one of the joint authors must be a Cameroonian. The protection given 
to foreigners is subject to reciprocity. The Law's provisions nevertheless apply to works that are 
entitled to protection under an international treaty to which Cameroon is party.  
3.150.   The Ministry of Culture is responsible for the protection of copyright and related rights, which 
are registered by four companies responsible for the collective management of rights: Société civile 
des droits de la littérature et des arts dramatiques  (SOCILADRA), for literature and the dramatic 
arts (also responsible for computer programmes); Société civile de droit d'auteur et droits voisins 
des arts plastiques et graphiques  (SOCADAP),  for copyright and related rights in the plastic and 
graphic arts; Société civile des arts audiovisuels et photographiques  (SCAAP), for photography and 
audiovisual works; and Société Nationale Camerounaise de l'Art Musical  (SONACAM), for musical 
works. The re is also a collective society for related rights: Société camerounaise des droits voisins  
(SCDV).  
 
53 WTO document  IP/N/1/CMR/1 of 17 May 2004.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 108 - 
  3.3.7.4   Implementation of the legislation  
3.151.   The revised Bangui Agreement contains provisions on the penalties for infringement of 
intellectual property rights, which national authorities are responsible for enforcing. Penalties may 
be imposed only if a complaint is filed by an injured party. However, the CEMAC Customs Code 
prohibits the import of all apparently counterfeit goods, and all foreign products bearing a trad emark, 
a name, sign or indication of any type giving reason to believe that they were produced in or come 
from a State with which an agreement in the field has been signed.  
3.152.   The application of regulations on intellectual property rights has been limited. Bo oks and 
medication; cosmetic, agricultural and textile products; and electrical household appliances have all 
been affected by counterfeiting.  
3.153.   A national brigade for the control and prevention of fraud operates within the Ministry of 
Trade, and a national committee to combat piracy and counterfeiting is reportedly operating within 
the Ministry of Culture.  
3.154.   A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between customs and collective management 
societies for copyright and related rights has instituted a levy applicable to electronic media as a 
"fee on intellectual works", amounting to 5 % of c.i.f. customs value.54 Pursuant to the MoU, customs 
collects the levies on behalf of the collective management societies, with 85 % of the proceeds then 
going to an "extra -budgetary" account, to cover the royalties for copyright and related rights; 10 % 
going to customs, for its operating costs; and 5 % going to Treasury services.  
 
 
54 Decree No.  2001/956.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 109 - 
  4  TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.1  Agriculture, forestry and fisheries  
4.1.1   Overview  
4.1.  Contributing more than  16% to GDP in 2021, and 40 % to earnings from the export of 
Cameroonian goods, agriculture continues to represent a key sector of the country's economy 
(Section  1). Agriculture is also Cameroon's largest employer, accounting for over 60 % of its working 
population.55 The informal sector's share of agricultural production is quite high, accounting for 
nearly all of the value added in food crop production, livestock and fisheries, and close to half of the 
value added in producing cash crops.  
4.2.  The country's principal crops and corresponding production statistics are shown in Table 4.1. 
Agricultural exports include cocoa and coffee, bananas, natural rubber, palm oil, pineapples, cotton 
and sugar. Rice, wheat and sugar are the leading agricultural imports.  
Table 4.1 Principal crops and animal products, 2012 -20 
(Thousands of tonnes)   
2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  
Cassava  4,287  4,596  4,908  5,192  4,899  5,000  5,030  5,676  5,779  
Plantains and other  3,569  3,692  3,854  4,041  3,862  3,919  3,941  4,328  4,493  
Palm oil, nuts  2,500  2,450  2,454  2,771  2,558  2,594  2,641  .. .. 
Maize  1,750  1,647  1,959  2,071  2,164  2,247  2,345  2,217  2,087  
Taro (cocoyam)  1,614  1,551  1,697  1,757  1,804  1,846  1,902  1,755  1,683  
Sorghum  1,200  1,260  1,150  1,221  1,339  1,372  1,416  1,278  1,060  
Bananas  1,471  1,600  1,068  1,083  1,188  1,245  1,203  .. .. 
Sugar, cane  1,200  1,200  1,262  1,281  1,291  1,289  1,287  1,489  1,321  
Tomatoes, fresh  890 876 950 1,021  1,182  1,127  1,068  1,101  1,104  
Fresh vegetables n.e.s.  700 736 759 763 757 763 770   
Groundnuts in the shell  634 636 579 609 748 480 594 725 801 
Yams  538 557 580 602 625 649 675 513 519 
Sweet potatoes  327 349 363 392 440 398 410 525 517 
Dried beans  343 352 342 363 391 412 402 367 369 
Cocoa, beans  269 275 271 275 293 301 308 301 310 
Cottonseed  219 225 223 240 283 249 257 320 336 
Cotton, lint  168 173 179 187 193 198 204 131 141 
Natural rubber  137 156 215 190 185 210 204 .. .. 
Green coffee  38 42 38 35 33 31 33 40 35 
Whole fresh cow's milk  180 185 193 179 173 172 173 .. .. 
Bovine meat  87 92 97 97 89 87 84 .. .. 
Poultry meat  70 72 75 76 76 76 79 .. .. 
Whole fresh goat's milk  50 49 49 51 54 54 54 .. .. 
.. Not available.  
Source:  FAO statistical database. Viewed at: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data ; and 
AGRI-STAT Cameroun  for 2019 and 2020.  
4.3.  Agriculture has played a major role in the fight against poverty and food insecurity. Two  million 
households both live on their own farm production and supply food products to urban markets. 
According to the authorities, 80 % of the country's food requirements are met by domestic 
production.  
4.4.   Cameroonian agriculture has enormous potential, enabling it to contribute effectively to wealth 
creation, employment and food security. It benefits from a climate and natural conditions highly 
favourable to agricultural production. Cameroon also has abundant and still  largely under -exploited 
land resources. Out of its 47  million ha of total land area, 9.2  million ha are suitable for farming. To 
its 7.2  million  ha of arable land must be added close to 2  million ha of pastureland. Only 
1.8 million  ha are effectively bein g cultivated (26 % of the country's cultivable area).  
 
55 African Development Bank, Agricultural Production Support Programme in Cameroon. Viewed at: 
https:/ /www.afdb.org/en/documents/cameroon -agricultural -production -support -program -cameroon -project -
appraisal -report . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 110 - 
  4.5.  Its enormous potential notwithstanding, Cameroonian agriculture continues to be 
disadvantaged by structural weaknesses associated in particular with low farm productivity, difficult 
access to markets and  credit, limited organization among actors, a deteriorating natural environment 
and an underdeveloped legal and regulatory environment.  
4.1.2   Agricultural policy  
4.6.  The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER), the Ministry of Livestock, 
Fisheries an d Animal Industries (MINEPIA), the Ministry of Forests and Fauna (MINFOF) and the 
Ministry of the Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development (MINEPDED) are 
responsible for designing agricultural development programmes – which also encompass  livestock, 
fisheries and forests – in cooperation with farmers' organizations and development partners.  
4.7.  As reflected in such strategic documents as Cameroun Vision  2035 and the Growth and 
Employment Strategy Paper (DSCE), Cameroonian authorities assign a crucial role to agriculture in 
accelerating growth, fighting poverty and creating jobs.  
4.8.  The Rural Sector Development Strategy (SDSR) 2020 -30, the agricultural component of the 
SND 2020-30, represents the central guiding document for government action in th e rural sector. It 
has been aligned with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), as 
part of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), and also incorporates a National 
Agricultural Investment Plan (PNIA). In implement ing the previous rural development strategy, the 
authorities conducted a review of public expenditure in 2014. It revealed a level of underspending 
on agriculture at odds with the country's Maputo commitment56 (approximately 5 % in 2012; 7.7 % 
in 2015; 6.1 % in 2016; 7.1 % in 2017; and 6 % in 2018).  
4.9.  Cameroon's agricultural strategy as described by the SDSR is aimed at: (i)  ensuring food 
security and self -sufficiency for households and the nation; (ii)  contributing to economic growth, and 
particula rly the growth of foreign trade and employment; (iii)  raising the incomes of agricultural 
producers; (iv)  improving living conditions for rural populations; and (v)  ensuring better use and 
sustainable management of natural capital, the basis for agricultur al production.  
4.10.  A National Food Security Programme (PNSA) 2008 -15 was developed in 2007 with the aim of 
fighting hunger and food insecurity by halving the number of malnourished persons by 2015, 
particularly among vulnerable households in rural and peri -urban areas. The PNSA was replaced in 
2017 by the National Programme to Preserve and Strengthen Food Security (PNVRSA), which takes 
a more participatory approach and includes the objective of capacity building for agricultural -sector 
actors.  
4.11.  According to the most recent notification from Cameroon under the Agriculture Agreement, 
the country does not grant domestic support to agricultural producers. Support has been provided, 
however, under the environmental protection programme, through the Ministry of the Env ironment, 
Nature Protection and Sustainable Development.57 
4.12.  Border measures are the main trade policy instruments used by Cameroon in respect of 
agriculture. For reasons of social policy, and to protect certain sectors, several agricultural products 
are sub ject to customs duties at rates differing from those of the CEMAC common external tariff 
(CET). Agricultural products are also subject to sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures.  
4.13.  All agricultural inputs and equipment are exempt from VAT, as are staple goods, some of 
which are agricultural products. Agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides are 
wholly imported. The production, import, export, packaging, stor age and distribution of fertilizers 
are jointly regulated by the Ministries of Agriculture, Trade, Environment and Forestry, and Public 
 
56 In July 2003, at Maputo, Mozambique, during the 2nd Session of the Assembly of the African Union, 
the Union 's member countries agreed to implement the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development 
Programme (CAADP). Using it as a roadmap, the States committed to dedicating 10 % of their public 
expenditure to the agricultural sector and achieving a growth rate in that sector of 6 % per year.  
57 WTO document G/AG/N/CMR/11 of 23  October  2019.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 111 - 
  Health under the law governing the activities of the fertilizers subsector and its various implementing 
texts.58 
4.14.  A prior  declaration is required for the production and import of seeds to ensure that seed 
imports, production and marketing comply with the criteria defined in specifications determined in a 
joint order by the Ministers responsible for agriculture and trade. An advisory opinion from the 
National Council on Seeds and New Plant Varieties is required for matters relating to the production, 
marketing, quality control and certification of seeds and new plant varieties.  
4.1.3   Policy by subsector  
4.1.3.1   Coffee and cocoa  
4.15.  Cocoa and co ffee (Robusta and Arabica) are Cameroon's leading agricultural exports. In 2020, 
total production of cocoa amounted to some 310,000 tonnes, and that of coffee to 35,000 tonnes 
(Table 4.1). The cocoa and coffee subsectors represent about 3 % of national GDP and 15 % of 
primary sector GDP.59 Cocoa is still the largest cash crop, and Cameroon is the world's fifth largest 
cocoa producer. The cocoa subsector employs over 600,000  people.  
4.16.  Cocoa is fermented and dried by producers and then sold in that state to priva te operators. 
The terms of sale are established by the Ministry of Trade by order at the start of each season. About 
90% is exported, the remainder being transformed by local companies into butter, powder and 
chocolate. According to the authorities, the in stallation of new processing capacity has enabled 
Cameroon to process a growing proportion of its cocoa in recent years.  
4.17.  The Cocoa and Coffee Interprofessional Council (CICC), the Cocoa Development Company  
(SODECAO) and the Development Fund for the Cocoa a nd Coffee Subsectors (FODECC) are the main 
organizations involved in these subsectors. They are financed by means of export fees 
(Section  3.2.2).  
4.18.  The CICC, which is a producers association, provides support for producers, organizes 
production through coope rative associations, and provides marketing services. It is not compulsory 
to be a member in order to produce, but membership entitles producers to support. Cocoa producers 
also receive support and guidance from MINADER and SODECAO, a public enterprise. Am ong other 
functions, SODECAO is responsible for the production and distribution of high -yield cocoa seedlings; 
the production of companion seedlings (plantain plants, fruit trees, leguminous plants, etc.); 
technical guidance and training for producers, and  producer organization; the supply of inputs; 
technical advisory assistance for post -harvest operations; and marketing support.  
4.19.  FODECC, funded by export fees and the national budget, was created by Decree No.  2006/085 
of 9 March  2006, as part of a plan to revive the cocoa and coffee subsectors. It seeks to ensure 
financing and the payment of benefits to strengthen and revive these sectors, while supporting 
applied research in these products and promoting the local processing and consumption thereof.  
4.20.  A plan to revive the cocoa and coffee subsectors was adopted in 2014 with a 2020 horizon. 
Cameroon's goals under the plan were to produce 600,000 tonnes of cocoa, 125,000 tonnes of 
Arabica coffee and 35,000 tonnes of Robusta coffee. According to the authorities, these targets were 
not reached, and a new target of 640,000 tonnes of cocoa was set for 2030.  
4.21.  All actors in the cocoa and coffee subsectors play clearly defined roles. Coffee producers, for 
instance, must shell their beans in homogenous batches prior to sa le. Cocoa and coffee are sold at 
prices differentiated by quality and set by an agreement reached between the parties. The mixing 
of species or crops is forbidden. The marketing of green coffee is reserved for producers, producer 
organizations, economic op erators and local roasting plants.  
 
58 Law No.  2003/07 of 10  July 2003 governing the activities of the fertilizer subsector in Cameroon.  
59 Development Fund for the Cocoa and Coffee Subsectors. Viewed at: 
http://www.fodecc.cm/site/?q=fr/content/plan -de-relance -et-de-developpement -des-fifliere -cacao -cafe-au-
cameeroun . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 112 - 
  4.22.  The concession of purchasing zones, allocation of quotas to operators, agreements among 
exporters, manufacturers or collection agents to impose prices on producers, as well as night -time 
or door -to-door purchases are all prohibited. Committees are in place in each locality, under 
CICC supervision, to verify the quality of products and shelling operations. The producer price is 
negotiated and set between the parties on the basis of benchmark prices published by the subsecto r 
information system. Manufacturers, exporters and their collection agents must hold a trader's card 
and certification of their inclusion in the manufacturer or exporter register.  
4.23.  All cocoa and coffee exports must be declared to the ONCC in advance of sale . Processing 
activities are liberalized.  
4.1.3.2   Cotton  
4.24.  Seed cotton is produced almost exclusively by small -scale farmers, numbering about 350,000, 
on fields totalling 200,000  ha. Seed cotton yields fluctuate from year to year depending largely on 
climate. Cotton' s share of total exports of goods rose from 3.4 % in 2012 to 6 % in 2021.  
4.25.  Seed, fertilizer and insecticide are supplied to producers on credit by the Cameroon Cotton 
Development Company (SODECOTON), which is owned in part by the State of Cameroon (59 %), 
together with Geocoton (30 %) and the SMIC ( Société mobilière d'investissement du Cameroun ) 
(11%). Once harvested, seed cotton is wholly purchased from farmers by SODECOTON, which is 
responsible for ginning and processing the seeds to produce oil and oil cakes.  Cotton lint is exported 
or sold by SODECOTON to the Cameroon Cotton Company (CICAM) for cloth production.  
4.26.  SODECOTON sets purchase prices at the start of each season and adjusts them to permit 
performance premiums. A final supplement is paid by the Cameroo n Cotton Producers Organization 
(OPCC) if these purchase prices are exceeded by actual world prices.  
4.27.  A Price Risk Management Fund for Cameroonian Cotton (FGRPC -C) has been in place since 
2014 to guarantee a minimum price for seed cotton in the event of a s harp decline in world market 
prices for cotton lint. It is funded by a countercyclical levy on the purchase price negotiated with 
SODECOTON for seed cotton. The Fund is co -administered by SODECOTON and Cameroon's National 
Confederation of Cotton Producers (CNPC -C). 
4.28.  The CNPC -C is an association of some 250,000 producers organized into joint initiative groups.  
4.1.3.3   Palm oil  
4.29.  Within the palm oil subsector, the review period was marked by the implementation of a 
development strategy for palm oil and hevea and subsidies granted to producers by the Union of 
Palm Oil Operators (UNEXPALM). UNEXPALM also distributed subsidized fertil izer to producers as 
part of a Village Palm Grove Fertilization Support Programme (PAFPV).  
4.30.  Palm oil production comes from three types of plantations: agro -industrial plantations 
(58,860  ha); regulated village plantations (35,000  ha); and traditional villag e plantations 
(100,000  ha). Cameroon's agro -industrial plantations and oil mills belong to four large companies, 
two of which are largely or entirely owned by private interests. The other two are state -owned: the 
Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) and  PAMOL.  
4.31.  Planters in village communities have the choice of either processing their output artisanally 
into unrefined oil or selling it to large companies. Unrefined palm oil is both exported and imported.  
4.32.  The institutions most involved in the subsector's or ganization include the Professional 
Association of Palm Oil Producers, the Association of Oilseed Refiners (ASROC), and the Committee 
for Regulating the Palm Oil Subsector.  
4.1.3.4   Hevea and rubber  
4.33.  Nearly all of the country's harvest of hevea is exported. Rubber e xports accounted for 0.9 % 
of total exports of goods in 2021, compared to 2.5 % in 2012. The hevea subsector is managed by WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 113 - 
  three companies: HEVEACAM, SAFACAM and CDC, the latter being a public enterprise. These 
companies own the plantations and handle the ma rketing.  
4.1.3.5   Bananas  
4.34.  Banana production in Cameroon accounts for a significant share of the country's exports, 
ranking second by that metric after cocoa production.  
4.35.  The subsector faces significant challenges, including demanding market standards for quality, 
sporadic investment programmes owing to treasury difficulties, and unpredictable climate 
conditions, the latter having killed  thousands of banana plants and stoked a security crisis in the 
country's south -west and north -west regions.  
4.36.  The Cameroon Banana Asso ciation (ASSOBACAM) brings together the country's three largest 
producer -exporters: Plantations du Haut Penja  (foreign capital), CDC (state -owned), and 
BOH Plantations (private, Cameroonian capital).  
4.1.3.6   Sugar  
4.37.  In a context of annual demand as high as 300,000 t onnes, the Cameroon Sugar Company 
(SOSUCAM) produced a total of 105,000  tonnes in 2018. The company's average production capacity 
is 130,000  tonnes per year from an agricultural area of about 25,000  ha. 
4.38.  The Common Market Organization for Sugar (OCM -Sucre -CEMAC) set out a coordination 
policy at the CEMAC level to establish common measures for the sugar market in CEMAC member 
countries ( Common Report, Section  4.1.3.2).  
4.39.  According to the authorities, the production of sugar cane and sugar is free and there is n o 
legal monopoly. In addition to SOSUCAM, which is Cameroon's largest sugar company, a number of 
private companies also produce sugar cane and sugar in the country.  
4.40.  Sugar imports are subject to a reference price (Table 3.1) and a 30 % customs duty. If the 
Ministry responsible for trade determines that there is a "shortage" on the market, however, it may 
authorize SOSUCAM and other companies in the subsector to import sugar at the lower tariff of 10 % 
instead of the 30 % CET. 
4.1.3.7   Cereals and other food crops  
4.41.  The pr oduction of food products (rice and maize in particular) has generally been increasing 
(Table 4.1), but not enough to cover domestic requirements. The leading imports of food products 
are rice, wheat and maize. Nearly 90 % of the rice consumed locally is im ported. In the case of 
maize, 15 % of domestic requirements are imported, while requirements for wheat are covered 
entirely by imports. During the review period, Cameroon introduced several strategies to cover 
cereal requirements, with support from partners  such as Japan and the Republic of Korea. According 
to the authorities, the Government established a plan in 2022 to revitalize the production and 
processing of wheat over a five -year period. The Cereal Office is a state agency responsible for the 
storage and distribution of cereal products. It buys and sells cereals on local markets to ensure a 
buffer stock and smooth out sharp and sudden cereal price increases exclusively in northern parts 
of the country. The Cereal Office maintains 44 storage warehouses with capacity for 47,650 tonnes 
of cereals. It is also responsible for distributing food products received as grants by the Government.  
4.42.  In 2011, the Mission to Regularize Supplies of Fast -Moving Consumer Products (MIRAP) was 
established. Its role is to bui ld up stocks of fast -moving consumer products (most notably cereals) 
bought on rural markets and then sold on urban markets at low prices.  
4.1.4   Livestock and animal products  
4.43.  In 2010, a strategy was put in place for the livestock, fisheries and animal industries  
subsectors for the period 2010 -2060, to align MINEPIA's activities with the DSCE. The strategy seeks 
 
60 The preceding version of this strategy covered the period 2002 -10. WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 114 - 
  to improve productivity and competitiveness, and thereby boost production, in the animal product 
subsectors.61 
4.44.  The overall objective is to satisfy the pop ulation's nutritional needs, meet raw material 
requirements in the agro -industry sector and generate surpluses for export. The effort and resources 
dedicated to that objective relate in particular to the intensification of production and improvement 
of pro ductivity and competitiveness in subsectors showing potential for growth and job creation, 
including poultry, pork, and large and small ruminants. The strategy to diversify animal products 
and improve producer earnings includes the promotion of apiculture and shrimp farming.  
4.45.  The strategy for livestock and animal products up to 2020 included a doubling of both the 
number of head and meat production. In the cattle -beef subsector the target for head of cattle was 
1% growth over five years. The target for meat production was an increase from 71,799  tonnes in 
2010 to 89,814  tonnes in 2015 and to 119,341  tonnes in 2020. For the cattle -milk subsector the 
targets were 26 % growth in head of dairy cattle and an increase in productivity per head from 
159 litres/cow/yea r to 240  litres/cow/year (for a lactation period of at least 180  days).  
4.46.  The average customs duty established for meat products was about 20 %, to which must be 
added other import duties and taxes, making meat an expensive product.  
4.1.5   Fisheries and aquaculture  
4.47.  In Cameroon, fishing is an important activity from the socio -economic as well as nutritional 
point of view. It encompasses industrial fishing, artisanal maritime fishing, inland fishing and 
aquaculture. Artisanal maritime fishing and inland fishing are con fined to rural populations, 
employing over 200,000  persons directly and 135,000 indirectly (processors, merchants, 
manufacturers, and vessel repair workers). Annual production statistics were not available for use 
in this review. Exports, confined mainly t o industrially -farmed shrimp, are negligible.  
4.48.  As during the previous review, fishing activities continue to be regulated by the 1994 law on 
the forestry, fauna and fisheries regime.62 That law provides that  any person (natural or legal) 
wishing to exploit fishery resources on an industrial or semi -industrial scale must obtain approval by 
order of the Minister responsible for fisheries. Foreign vessels are authorized to fish in Cameroonian 
territorial waters provided they have a fishing licence issue d by order of that Minister. Foreign vessels 
may obtain such a licence and engage in fishing only if an agreement has been signed between their 
country and Cameroon.  
4.49.  Government action in this sector, as defined by the DSCE and SND, seeks to significantly 
increase national fisheries and aquaculture production, as a contribution to improved food security 
while generating earnings and employment. The government strategy is to remove constraints 
preventing more responsible management of fisheries and the sustai nable development of 
aquaculture. Priority measures to increase, diversify and intensify fisheries production include 
support for the development of industrial fisheries, artisanal maritime fishing, inland fishing and 
aquaculture.  
4.50.   The strategy paper for t he livestock, fisheries and animal industries subsector targeted an 
increase in national fisheries production from 176,000  tonnes to 255,000  tonnes by 2015 and to 
290,000  tonnes by 2020. For aquaculture, the development plan targeted an increase in product ion 
from 1,000  tonnes to 8,000  tonnes by 2015 and to 80,000  tonnes by 2020. The average CET rate 
on fisheries products (WTO definition) is 25.6 % for tariffs ranging between 10 % and 30 %. These 
products have also been subject to additional import levies ( Section 3.1.3).  
4.1.6   Forestry  
4.51.  Cameroon's forest land is immense and extremely diverse, covering an area of 22.5  million  ha 
(about 46 % of national territory) with some 300 marketable species, around 60 of which are 
currently exploited. The areas exploited cover 200 ,000 to 300,000  ha, and the five most extensively 
 
61 Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, strategy paper for the livestock, fisheries and 
animal industries subsector, 2010.  
62 Law No.  94/01 of 20 January  1994 on the forestry, fauna and fisheries regime, and Decree 
No. 95/413 of 20  June 1995 determining certain rules for implementing the fisheries regime.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 115 - 
  marketed species are Ayou, Sapelli, Azobé, Fraké and Iroko. Forestry plays an important role in the 
country's economy, employing 45,000 persons and accounting for around 3 % of GDP. Its share of 
total export s was over 7 % in 2021.  
4.52.  The 1994 law on the forestry, fauna and fisheries regime still governs, inter alia , the granting 
of logging rights, royalties and taxes on forestry activities, and the regime for the export of forest 
products. Other legal texts defin ing criteria for forestry sector activities relate, among other things, 
to environmental protection and sustainable forest management.63 The Ministry of Forests and Fauna 
(MINFOF) is the authority responsible for this subsector. The National Forest Develop ment Agency 
(ANAFOR) is responsible for supporting individuals and communities in the creation of forest 
plantations.  
4.53.  During the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations 
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), th e Government of Cameroon committed to 
reducing its national emissions by 32 % by 2035 from its baseline projected emissions in 2010.  
4.54.  Deforestation and forest degradation rates, quantified as roughly 0.12 % for the 2001 -15 
period, are likely to rise in coming  years, owing to various factors: the expansion of agriculture 
(shifting and permanent cultivation); timber extraction (commercial, charcoal) and infrastructure 
development (transport, housing settlements, private enterprises and public services). Aware of  the 
serious degradation of its forest assets, as well as the fauna living there, Cameroon's Ministry of the 
Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development has been participating since 
January  2011 in the project Reducing Emissions from Defores tation and Forest Degradation 
(REDD+), which also covers sustainable forest management and forest conservation.64 Work on 
Cameroon's national REDD+ strategy for 2019 -25 began in 2014 and continued until 2018.65 Its 
implementation will be nationwide, with r egional -scale programmes and projects (by agro -ecological 
zone, region and commune).  
4.55.  A forestry licence has to be obtained for felling and forest exploitation. It can only be granted 
to natural or legal persons resident in Cameroon and authorized by MINFOF  to exercise the 
profession of forestry operator. Four different types of licence can be issued in Cameroon, the last 
two concerning international operators more specifically:  
• The Personal Felling Authorization, applying to state -owned forests, is given to  
Cameroonian nationals to fell a limited number of trees, the volume of which does not 
exceed 30m³, to meet their own household needs. It lasts for three months and is not 
renewable.  
• The Sale of Standing Volume Permit is an authorization to exploit a speci fied volume of 
standing timber over a maximum of 2,500 hectares. It is valid for up to one year, 
non-renewable, in state -owned forests (restricted to nationals authorized to exercise the 
profession) and up to three years, non -renewable, in the national dom ain. 
• The Exploitation Permit is an authorization to exploit or harvest defined volumes of forest 
products within a given zone. Its maximum duration is one year, non -renewable.  
 
63 The other main legislative texts are Law No.  96/12 of 5  August  1996 containing the framewo rk law on 
environmental management; Decree No.  98/009/PM of 23  January  1998 determining the basis and the criteria 
for payment of duties, royalties and taxes in respect of forestry activities; Decree No.  99/370/PM of 
19 March  1999 on the programme for guar anteeing forestry revenue; Order No.  029/CAB/PM of 9  June 1999 
creating a permanent committee to monitor the implementation of the Yaoundé Declaration resolutions on the 
sustainable management of tropical forests; and Order No.  02936/MINEFI determining sel ection criteria and 
procedures for choosing bidders for forestry rights.  
64 The concept of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) has been 
expanded to include the conservation of forest carbon stocks, sustainable forest manageme nt and the 
enhancement of forest carbon stocks. The combination of the REDD concept with these three additional 
activities is called REDD+.  
65 Ministry of the Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development, national strategy to 
reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, promote sustainable forest management and 
forest conservation and enhance forest carbon stocks (2018).  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 116 - 
  • The Forestry Concession defines a territory covered by a forest exploitation agr eement 
valid for 15 years and renewable. It consists of one or more forest development units 
(UFAs), which are long -term licences covering large areas.  
4.56.  With the exception of personal felling authorizations and some exploitation permits, forestry 
licences a re granted following an invitation to bid issued by an interministerial commission dedicated 
to the issuance of such licences.  
4.57.  The levies paid by forestry enterprises are in principle as follows: a felling tax (2.5 % of the 
value of the cut wood); an annual  forestry royalty (FRA), for sales of cut wood (with a minimum of 
CFAF 2,500/ha); a concessions fee (CFAF  1,000/ha)66; an approval fee (CFAF  15/ha every 
five years); a bond (CFAF  40/ha every five years); a transfer fee (variable rate); and an acreage fee 
(of CFAF  10/ha/year). Production is mainly exported in the form of sawn wood (about 80 %), followed 
by veneer sheets and rough  wood.  
4.58.  In addition to the stumpage fees mentioned above, rough wood  is subject to an export duty 
of 50% of its f.o.b. value, as fixe d semi -annually by the Ministry of Finance based on market values 
(which are themselves generally determined on the basis of global prices). The export duty on sawn 
timber and other primary wood products is 10 % of the value of the corresponding species.  
4.59.  The average tariff on wood industry imports is 22.4 %, with rates varying between 0 % and 
30%, in addition to other duties and import taxes ( Common Report, Section  3). 
4.2  Mining and energy  
4.2.1   Oil and gas products  
4.60.  In 2020, Cameroon had proven hydrocarbon reserves e stimated at 309  million barrels.67 In 
the same year, oil production was estimated at around 26.5  million barrels, compared to 25.9  million 
in 2019, while gas production grew from 78.1  billion cubic feet to 83.2  billion cubic feet over the 
same period.  
4.61.  As a major contributor to government r evenue and exports, hydrocarbons, particularly oil, 
are Cameroon's main source of wealth. Local consumption of petroleum products is subsidized by 
the State. These subsidies represent significant expenditure, especially as a share of GDP.68 
4.62.  Oil sector acti vities can be subdivided into two parts: upstream activities involving exploration 
and production; and downstream activities, involving the refining, import and export of refined 
products and the transportation, storage and distribution of petroleum produc ts. Cameroon joined 
the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in 2005.  
4.2.1.1   Oil 
4.2.1.1.1   Crude oil  
4.63.  There has been a notable change in the legal framework governing the oil sector since 
Cameroon's last trade policy review. A new Petroleum Code was adopted in 201969 to replace the 
provisions of the 1999 Code relating to upstream oil activities. The new Code governs oil contracts 
signed after it was enacted. However, holders of oil contracts entered into under the old Code who 
wish to avail themselves of the provisions of the new Code may renegotiate their contracts. The new 
Code applies only to upstream petroleum activities, which include hydrocarbon prospection, 
exploration and exploitation.  
4.64.  The Petroleum Code provides for concession contracts (linked to res earch permits and, where 
applicable, to operating concessions) and production -sharing contracts replacing exploration 
 
66 Law No.  2000/08 of 30  June 2000, Article  11. 
67 SNH, Rapport annuel 2020 . 
68 Ministry of Water and Energy, Situation énergétique du Cameroun, 2015 . 
69 Law No. 2019/008 of 25 April 2019.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 117 - 
  authorizations, renewable every three years. It authorizes companies to choose either a 
production -sharing or a concession contract.  
4.65.  A con cession contract gives the right to utilize the hydrocarbons extracted within a specified 
perimeter and determines the legal, financial, fiscal and social criteria conferring validity on the 
exploitation authorization, including payment of a royalty (eithe r financial or in kind) in proportion 
to production. The production -sharing contract confers exclusive exploitation rights on its holder for 
a specified service area; output is shared between the holder and the State in accordance with the 
provisions of th e contract. The authorization is valid for 25 years for hydrocarbons and 35 years for 
gaseous hydrocarbons, renewable once for 10 years. The National Hydrocarbons Corporation (SNH), 
a public enterprise, manages the State's shares in various petroleum proje cts, including those 
pertaining to gas.  
4.66.  In addition to the concession contract and the production -sharing contract, the new Petroleum 
Code also introduces a service contract, under which the contract holder manages and finances 
petroleum operations against  remuneration. The new Code introduces a fixed corporate income tax 
rate of 35 % (compared with a variable rate of between 38.5 % and 50 % under the old Code). Oil 
activities are performed by national and foreign companies holding exploration permits and/or 
operating concessions.  
4.67.  The Code provides incentives for investment in the oil sector. These incentives include 
exemption from payment of the signature bonus for certain oil contracts, exemption from payment 
of corporate income tax for a maximum period of fi ve years for liquid hydrocarbons and seven years 
for gaseous hydrocarbons, as well as tax consolidation of research expenditure.  
4.68.  The 1,070 km long Chad -Cameroon oil pipeline links the oilfields at Doba in Chad with 
Cameroon's Atlantic Coast at Kribi. It in cludes three interconnected pumping stations, an optical 
fibre cable, and facilities for offshore oil transfer. The fiscal terms for its operation are set out in the 
hydrocarbons research, exploitation and transport agreement.  
4.2.1.1.2   Refined products  
4.69.  Crude oil re fining is conducted by the National Refining Company (SONARA), which normally 
processes an average of 2  million tonnes of crude oil a year. Most of the crude oil comes from Nigeria 
and Equatorial Guinea, as local crude is too heavy for the equipment. Local  demand for refined 
petroleum products is largely met (up to about 80 %) by SONARA. In June  2019, SONARA suffered 
a fire that destroyed a large part of its Limbe site. Since then, all refined oil consumed is imported.  
4.70.  Imports of products competing with thos e manufactured by SONARA are subject to the prior 
issue of a "shortage certificate " by the Hydrocarbon Price Stabilization Fund (CSPH), which imports 
the remainder of products consumed through a call for tenders.  
4.71.  The import of refined petroleum products i s subject to a range of duties and taxes that the 
Government modifies according to its pricing and consumer subsidies policy. Customs duty, which 
varies from 10 % to a maximum of 20 %, is added to other import duties and taxes, VAT and the 
Special Tax on Pet roleum Products (TSPP).  
4.72.  Together with the SNH, which is also involved in domestic distribution of petroleum products 
(through the TRADEX company), there are a dozen or so other operators in the distribution market, 
although it is dominated by subsidiaries of two large international groups. These groups are members 
of the Association of Petroleum Professionals (GPP), which holds close to 95 % of the market share. 
Sales prices are set by the Hydrocarbon Price Stabilization Fund (CSPH) and approved by the Minis try 
responsible for trade. Oil prices at the pump are set in accordance with an equalization system.  
4.73.  Storage services are provided by the Cameroon Oil Depot Company (SCDP), in which the 
State holds a 51 % stake. The SCDP also coordinates supply to the vario us depots, ensures provision 
to distributors, and provides the infrastructure needed to hold security stocks.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 118 - 
  4.2.1.2   Gas 
4.74.  While the upstream gas sector is still governed by the 1999 Petroleum Code ( Section  4.2.1.1), 
since 2012 the downstream sector has been govern ed by a new instrument, Law No.  2012/006 of 
19 April 2012 establishing the Gas Code. This Law governs the transportation, distribution, 
processing, storage, import, export and sale of natural gas and its products in Cameroonian territory. 
Any natural or le gal person residing in Cameroon, whether Cameroonian or foreign, subject to 
Cameroonian private or public law, may apply to the Ministry responsible for energy for an 
authorization to operate in the gas sector. Gas transport and distribution concessions ar e awarded 
through a bidding procedure. They may exceptionally be awarded following a spontaneous bid. The 
Minister responsible for energy grants concessions for a renewable period of 35 years.  
4.75.  The 2012 Gas Code also regulates the award of the licences requ ired to process, store, import 
or export gas. During the first 10 years of exploitation, persons transporting, distributing, storing or 
processing gas are exempt from customs duties, taxes and levies on imports of capital goods 
intended for and used for th ese activities. They may also benefit from accelerated amortization. The 
Minister responsible for energy approves contracts between transporters and distributors and 
"eligible clients" on the same terms. These clients are defined by decree as persons whose  annual 
consumption exceeds 3  million m3 and who may therefore enter into contracts to buy gas with a 
producer, transporter or distributor.  
4.76.  A law on the recovery of gases associated with oil production was passed in December  201170, 
with the aim of creatin g an enabling contractual and fiscal environment for the recovery and 
marketing of gases released or flared during oil production.  
4.77.  Proven reserves of natural gas are estimated at 169.84  billion m3.71 Although the gas fields 
had long remained unexploited, i n 2006 a gas exploitation unit began operations under a 25 -year 
production -sharing contract signed between the State (through the SNH) and Perenco. The SNH and 
its partner Perenco, members of the Sanaga South Association, have brought the natural gas 
reser ves of the Sanaga South field onstream, supplying the 216  MW Kribi thermal power plant. Gas 
deliveries to the power plant have been managed by the SNH since 2013, via a pipeline built and 
operated by Perenco. The Kribi power station supplies the southern i nterconnected grid, which serves 
the Centre, South, Littoral, South West, North West and West regions.  
4.78.  In addition, Cameroon has been exporting natural gas since 2018 through the SNH and its 
partners Perenco and Golar. Gas from the Sanaga South field is li quefied at a floating plant, Hilli 
Episeyo, off the coast of Kribi. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) production amounts to 1.2  million tonnes 
per year.  
4.2.2   Mining products  
4.79.  Cameroon has major deposits of iron ore, bauxite, diamonds, limestone, rutile and cobalt 
nickel. However, despite the existence of these deposits, mining has yet to play a significant role in 
development. The contribution of the mining sector (excluding oil) to GDP is still marginal (less 
than 1%).72 Under its long -term development stra tegy (Vision 2035), Cameroon intends to become 
an emerging economy with a strong industrial and mining sector.  
4.80.  Five mining licences are currently in force: the Mbalam iron project operated by CamIron, the 
Nkamoun nickel -cobalt project near Lomie, owned by Geovic, the Adamaoua bauxite project (at 
Minim -Martap and Ngaoundal) operated by Cameroon Alumina, and the Mobilon diamond project 
developed by Cameroon & Korean Mining. There are two licences for nickel -cobalt and diamonds and 
three for limestone and marb le.73 
4.81.  The development of Cameroon's mining potential is recognized by the Government as one of 
the key drivers of the country's economic growth. The Ministry of Mines, Industry and Technological 
Development is responsible for implementing the Government's policy in these areas. In 2020, the 
 
70 Law No. 2011/025 of 14 December 2011 on the recovery of associated gases.  
71 SNH. Viewed at: http://www.snh.cm/images/publications/Plaquette_SNH_2019_Fran%C3  per 
centA7ais.pdf . 
72 MINMIDT. Viewed at: https://www.minmidt.cm/strategie -ministerielle /. 
73 MINMIDT. Viewed at: https://www.minmidt.cm/precasem -2/. WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 119 - 
  country set up the National Mining Corporation to promote mining exploration and manage the 
State's interests in the mining sector.  
4.82.  The Government had noteworthy ambitions for the mining sector during the period under 
review. In 2016, a new Mining Code was enacted so that the sector could serve as a driver of 
sustainable economic development.74 It has set up a "local content" value enhancement system and 
created a special local capacity development account to maximize the  impact of mining projects on 
Cameroon's economic, social, cultural, industrial and technological development.  
4.83.  The Mining Code also lays down rules for the sustainable use of resources. It requires mining 
operators to comply with the principles of the EITI  and the Kimberl ey Process (KP).  
4.84.  Mining legislation covers all deposits of mineral substances not classified as quarries75, with 
the exception of those containing liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons, and any locations where mineral 
substances are extracted by m eans of either opencast or underground mining, as well as facilities 
and fixed or mobile equipment used for mining. The Code covers prospection, exploration, 
exploitation, possession, movement and processing in respect of mineral or fossil substances. It 
differentiates between small -scale and industrial mining operations.  
4.85.  The small -scale prospection and exploitation of mineral substances, including their marketing, 
are reserved for Cameroonian nationals. Industrial activities, including the exploitation of geothermal 
deposits and spring and mineral waters are open to all Cameroonian or foreign natural persons, 
provided that they hold a mining permit and that they establish a company under Cameroonian law 
to operate. Permits are granted preferentially to appl icants who undertake to recruit and train 
Cameroonian workers.  
4.86.  Mining permits either grant authorization for small -scale operations or allow exploration or 
exploitation activities; they are renewable in both cases. Applications for exploitation permits mus t 
be accompanied by a feasibility study containing a draft mining agreement between the State and 
the permit applicant. The agreement lays down the legal, financial, fiscal and social prerequisites for 
the validity of the mining permit; it may supplement t he provisions of the Mining Code but may not 
derogate from them. The agreement is valid for the entire period of exploitation, as appropriate. The 
granting of an exploitation permit may involve the State holding up to a 10 % stake in the operating 
company, although the nature and conditions of such an arrangement are set out in the agreement.  
4.87.  Holders of mining exploitation permits pay fixed charges for the permit itself; royalties based 
on the surface area being worked; an extraction tax, at a rate determine d by the type of substances 
being mined, e.g., whether ductile (clays, shingle, laterites, pozzolanas and sands) or hard; and an 
ad valorem  tax. 
4.88.  Under the Mining Code, holders of exploration permits benefit from the temporary admission 
regime for materials to be used in exploration activities and for professional equipment, machinery, 
apparatus, worksite vehicles, spares and replacement parts. The materials and replacement parts 
needed to maintain professional materials and equipment in good workin g order, together with 
specific lubricants needed for the functioning of exploration materials and equipment, are exempt 
from customs duties.  
4.89.  Imports of mining products are low (less than 2 % on average over the review period). The 
import of mining substanc es is subject to customs duties, the average rate of which is 11.2 %, with 
a minimum of 5 % and a maximum of 30 %, in addition to other import duties and taxes ( Common 
Report, Section 3).  
4.2.3   Electricity  
4.90.  Thanks to its abundant water resources, Cameroon has immens e potential for hydropower, 
estimated at 20,000 MW. Electric energy is currently produced by three hydroelectric dams with a 
total installed capacity of 722 MW, and one thermal power plant with a capacity of 205 MW. Installed 
capacity is 1,360 MW (998 for the main electricity operator Eneo and 362 for independent 
 
74 Law No. 2016/17 of 14 December 2016.  
75 The Code provides a list of substanc es governed by quarrying legislation.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 120 - 
  producers). In 2014, 57.56 % of total energy production was derived from hydroelectricity, 21.6 % 
from publicly -owned thermal power, 20.79 % from thermal self -generation and 0.06 % from 
renewable energ ies. 
4.91.  Under -exploitation of the country's electrical potential frequently leads to power cuts, 
affecting the productivity of businesses, with obvious implications for economic growth. The 
electricity access rate was around 65 % in 2021.  
4.92.  Cameroon's energy pol icy stems from Vision 2035 and the Growth and Employment Strategy 
Paper (DSCE  2010-20) and is implemented through sectoral planning documents: the Electricity 
Sector Development Plan up to 2035; the strategy to promote access to and use of domestic gas in 
Cameroon; the Rural Electrification Master Plan; and the Three -Year Emergency Plan (2015 -17). Its 
aims include ensuring an adequate, efficient, reliable and clean energy supply; developing and 
guaranteeing access to modern energy services over the long ter m; and leveraging energy to 
promote the competitiveness of Cameroon's industries.  
4.93.  Activities in the electricity sector are regulated by Law No.  2011/022 of 14  December  2011 
governing the electricity sector in Cameroon. Cameroonian legislation does not incl ude any specific 
restrictions on market access or national treatment for foreign companies. However, transport and 
distribution remain a monopoly and the electricity grid is still managed by a public corporation.  
4.94.  Under the legislation, electricity generati on is open to competition. The independent 
production of electricity; the sale of very high -, high - and medium -voltage electricity; and the import 
and export of electricity are all subject to licensing. The Electricity Sector Regulatory Agency (ARSEL) 
receives and processes applications for the relevant licenses, after which it transmits them to the 
Minister responsible for energy. Independent power producers generate electricity and sell their 
energy to the state -owned company Eneo.  
4.95.  ARSEL is responsible fo r, inter alia , ensuring the technical and economic regulation of the 
sector, encouraging competition, promoting investment, reviewing prices and protecting consumer 
rights. The Rural Electrification Agency (AER) is responsible for promoting rural electrifi cation.  
4.96.  Since 2014, Energy of Cameroon S.A. (Eneo Cameroon S.A.) replaced AES -SONEL as manager 
of the production and distribution of electrical energy in Cameroon. Eneo, a semi -public company 
with 51 % of its capital held by the Actis group, 44 % by the Stat e of Cameroon and 5 % by employees, 
is affiliated to the State of Cameroon by a 20 -year framework concession contract which was set to 
expire on 17  July 2021. The contract was recently extended for a further 10 years from 18  July 2021 
by decision of the Pre sident of the Republic. To encourage the entry of new operators into electricity 
generation, Eneo's installed capacity has been capped at 1,000 MW. The generation facilities consist 
of a total of 39 power plants, 13 of which are interconnected and 26 isola ted thermal. 73 % of Eneo's 
production is hydroelectric. Eneo's generating facilities contribute 72 % to Cameroon's energy mix.  
4.97.  Cameroon's largest independent power producer is Globeleq Africa, owned by a consortium 
of Norwegian investment fund Norfund and B ritish finance institution the CDC Group. Globeleq Africa 
holds majority stakes in DPDC and KPDC, which respectively manage the Dibamba oil -fired power 
station and the Kribi gas -fired power station (216 MW, currently being expanded to 330 MW) in the 
South region. In addition to Globeleq Africa, British independent producer Aggreko also operates in 
Cameroon. It operates a 10 MW power plant in Maroua. In addition, in 2023, the Nachtigal Hydro 
Power Company (NHPC) plans to complete the Nachtigal hydroelectric power station, which will have 
a capacity of 420 MW, more than 30 % of the country's current installed capacity.  
4.98.  By law, the transmission and distribution of electricity are subject to a concession system. 
Operators engaged in activities relating to transmi ssion network management, transmission and 
distribution are selected by invitation to tender.  
4.99.  Eneo's concession contract for the transmission of electricity and management of the 
electricity transmission network ended on 31  December  2018. It was replaced b y a new player, the 
National Electricity Transmission Company (SONATREL). However, Eneo retains a monopoly on 
distribution. The price per kWh of electricity, excluding tax, is fixed by decision of ARSEL, the 
representative of the State, in consultation wit h Eneo. In general, the price depends both on the 
voltage level and on the consumption time bands.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 121 - 
  4.100.   The Electricity Development Corporation (EDC), created on 29  November  2006, is 
responsible for managing public assets in the electricity sector on behalf of the State.  
4.3  Manufacturing  
4.101.   Manufacturing makes a substantial contribution to Cameroon's GDP (Table 1.1). 
Manufacturing activities are based principally on the processing of domestically -sourced commodities 
(oil refining and agro -industrial activities), although the non -ferrous metal (aluminium) sector relies 
chiefly on imported raw materials. Other manufactures include cotton; paints and varnishes; 
perfumes, eau de toilettes and cosmetics; soaps and detergents; and cement. Exports of 
manufac tured goods account for less than 10 % of annual exports of goods (Table A1.1).  
4.102.   The main trade measures applied to the manufacturing sector are customs duties averaging 
17.9% and ranging from 0 % to 30%. In some cases, this duty structure increases the cost of inputs 
and adds to the high cost of production factors, placing a significant burden on the competitiveness 
of local businesses. This is why most companies negotiate substantial exemptions from duties and 
taxes on their inputs and equipment. Exports of manufactured goods are generally exempt from exit 
duties ( Section 3.2.2).  
4.103.   The forward -looking Vision 2035 and DSCE documents aim to make industrial development 
the driving force behind the country's development. They have defined their objectives as the 
emergence of a competitive manufacturing sector to support growth, employment, exports and 
integration into the global economy. This industrial expansion will be based on the development of 
infrastructure, the reduction of factor costs and the promotion of n ew financing methods. In 2010, 
Cameroon issued a policy statement on the development of industry, mining and technological 
development, with a view to tackling sectoral challenges, particularly in the area of manufacturing, 
which the authorities see as a m eans of diversifying the national economy. It covered the period 
from 2011 to 2015.  
4.104.   The country's fishery and agricultural wealth provide the food industry with a variety of 
inputs. However, there are relatively few food industries in Cameroon. The main fo od products 
manufactured include milk, sugar (by SOSUCAM), crude and refined palm oil, cocoa -based 
preparations and soups. The beverages subsector is also significant in terms of value added. The 
principal products, also exported and imported, are beer, ae rated beverages and mineral waters. 
Sugar is one of the products for which prices are subject to approval. Sugar imports vary according 
to local production.  
4.105.   The basic metallurgical industry is represented by ALUCAM, which processes alumina, mainly 
imported  from Guinea, into aluminium before it is exported. ALUCAM is partly owned by the 
international group Rio Tinto Alcan (RTA) (46.7 %), the Cameroonian Government (46.7 %), the 
French Development Agency (AFD) (5.6 %) and its employees (1.1 %). Through its subsid iaries, 
ALUCAM also produces aluminium roofing sheets and tableware.  
4.106.   In the textile sector, the CICAM Group remains the leader. It has three industrial production 
sites and a distribution network for the local market.  
4.107.   The cement market is still dominated b y mainly foreign -owned production units (Nigeria, 
Morocco and Türkiye).  
4.4  Services  
4.4.1   Telecommunications services  
4.4.1.1   Market overview  
4.108.   Table 4.2 below describes the main telecommunications indicators for Cameroon and 
compares them with continental and global average s. WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 122 - 
  Table 4.2 Key telecommunications indicators, 2022  
Key indicators  Cameroon  Africa  World  
Fixed lines (per 100 inhabitants)  4.0 1.0 12.0 
Mobile subscribers (per 100 inhabitants)  84.0 83.0 106.0  
High speed network (per 100 inhabitants)  17.7 24.8 61.9 
3G coverage (% of the population)  79.0 90.0 95 
LTEa/WiMAXb coverage (% of the population)  13 41 88 
Individuals using Internet (%)  38 30 60 
Households with a computer (%)  18 8.9 47.1 
Households with Internet access (%)  22 19.4 54.7 
International bandwidth per Internet user (kbits/s)  2.7 11.2 76.6 
Fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 inhabitants)  2.72 0.6 15.89  
Fixed broadband subscriptions by speed band (% distribution)  
from 256 kbit/s to 2Mbit/s  47.0 38.7 4.2 
from 2 to 10 Mbit/s  30.1 37.2 13.2 
greater than or equal to 10 Mbit/s  22.9 24.1 82.6 
a Long-term evolution.  
b Worldwide interoperability for microwave access.  
Note:  Figures in italics are ITU estimates.  
Source:  International Telecommunication Union (ITU). ITU Global Connectivity Report 2022; ITU World 
Telecommunication Development Report and databases, 2022; Observatoire annuel 2020 du marché 
des communications électr oniques , 2020. Viewed at: https://datahub.itu.int/data /. 
4.109.   Cameroon has four telephone operators: MTN Cameroon, a subsidiary of a South African 
group (48.7 % of the mobile market in January  2022); Orange Cameroon, a subsidiary of 
Orange  France (38.2 % of the market at the same da te); VIETTEL, which operates under the 
Nexttel  brand, a subsidiary of a Vietnamese mobile operator (11.4 % of the market) – VIETTEL 
obtained the country's third licence in 2012 and launched its services in 2014; and CAMTEL, the 
state-owned incumbent operato r which, under its "Blue" brand, offers 2G, 3G and 4G services and 
has 356,000  registered subscribers as of June  2022 (1.7 % of the market).  
4.110.   CAMTEL is a publicly owned landline operator; it was reorganized by Decree No.  2019/263 
of 28 May 2019. On 4  March  2020, the State awarded it three concessions relating to:  
• the establishment and operation of an electronic communications transmission network;  
• the establishment and operation of a fixed nationwide electronic communications network 
open to the public; and  
• the establishment and operation of a mobile nationwide electronic communications 
network open to the public.  
4.111.   In 2020, at least 84.2 % of households had a mobile subscription, with a marked disparity 
between urban and rural areas.  
4.112.   Only one Mobile Virtual Netw ork Operator operates in Cameroon: YooMee Mobile 
Cameroun  S.A. (100 % Cameroonian -owned), which has joined forces with CAMTEL.  
4.113.   Mobile broadband services began in 2015 following the entry into operation of VIETTEL and 
the renewal of the licences of MTN and Orange, which authorized these two operators to provide 3G 
and LTE services and to roll out fibre -optic networks. VIETTEL launc hed 3G services in 2014, Orange 
launched 3G services in 2015 and MTN set up an LTE network in the same year.  
4.114.   Cameroon Telecommunications, or CAMTEL, the state -owned incumbent operator, is the 
main provider of fixed telephone lines using a combination of co pper, optical fibre and wireless local 
loop. The total number of active subscriptions to services provided by CAMTEL's wired and wireless 
networks stands at 814,114 (June  2022). CAMTEL also offers fixed broadband services via ADSL and 
CDMA EV/DO 100 fixed wireless. Other Internet service providers offer WiMAX and fixed wireless 
LTE services.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 123 - 
  4.115.   Cameroon has a national fibre -optic network of more than 12,000 km, forming the backbone 
of the inter -city fibre -optic network deployed in the country's 10 regions, ser ving 52 out of 58 
administrative departments and 209 out of 360 districts, with links to neighbouring countries such 
as Chad, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic (CAR) and Nigeria. Cameroon's digital 
development ambitions are to reach the ta rget of more than 20,000 km of fibre -optic cable.  
4.116.   Cameroon currently has four fibre -optic submarine cable landing points in service:  
• the SAT3/WASC (South Atlantic 3/West Africa Submarine) in Douala, with a capacity of 
36.645 Gbps, commissioned on 18  Februa ry 2002;  
• the WACS (West Africa Cable System) in Limbe with a capacity of 57.7 Gbps, 
commissioned on 1  July 2015;  
• the NCSCS (Nigeria to Cameroon Submarine Cable System) in Kribi, an extension of Main 
One in Kribi with a capacity of 40 Gbps between Kribi and  Lagos and 10 Gbps, between 
Lagos and Portugal, commissioned on 25  January  2016; and  
• the SAIL (South Atlantic Inter Link) cable in Kribi, linking Cameroon to Brazil, with a 
capacity of 1.4 Tbps, commissioned in December  2018 (expandable to 32 Tbps).  
4.4.1.2   Teleco mmunications policy  
4.117.   The regulatory framework for the telecommunications sector in Cameroon did not undergo 
any major changes during the review period. The institutional framework has not changed: the 
Ministry of Post and Telecommunications is the main gove rnment body responsible for information 
technology in the country. These responsibilities include the development of the information and 
communication technology (ICT) sectoral strategy. The most recent strategy was completed in 2015 
and entailed building and updating the regulatory and institutional framework; increasing the 
quantity, availability and accessibility of ICT services; and increasing the use of ICT by industry.  
4.118.   In 2016, the Government adopted the "Digital Cameroon 2020" strategic plan for the 
development of the digital economy, which is based on three main pillars: supply, demand, 
governance and training. This strategic plan comprises eight key areas:  
• developing broadband infrastructure;  
• increasing the production and supply of digital content;  
• ensuring the digital transformation of government and business;  
• promoting digital literacy through the widespread use of ICT in society;  
• building digital confidence;  
• developing a local digital industry and encouraging research and innovation;  
• developing hu man capital and digital leadership; and  
• improving governance and institutional support.  
4.119.   Cameroon also adopted the National Development Strategy 2020 -30 (NDS30), which is the 
new reference framework and is based on four main pillars that will serve as a ref erence point for 
its actions: structural transformation of the economy; development of human capital and well -being; 
promotion of employment and economic integration; and governance, decentralization and strategic 
management of the State.  
4.120.   A National Agency  for Information and Communication Technologies (ANTIC) is responsible 
for promoting ICT, managing domain names and cybersecurity. Its organization and operation are 
laid down in Decree No.  2012/180 of 10  April 2012 on the organization and functioning of t he WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 124 - 
  National Agency for Information and Communication Technologies. Following the passing of Law 
No. 2010/012 of 21  December  2010 on cybersecurity and cybercrime and Law No.  2010/013 of 
21 December  2010 governing electronic communications in Cameroon, as we ll as Decree 
No. 2019/150 of 22  March  2019 on the organization and functioning of this agency, ANTIC was 
charged, inter alia , with regulating electronic security activities, promoting ICT, regulating the 
Internet in Cameroon and spectrum management, in col laboration with the Telecommunications 
Regulatory Board (ART). ANTIC has legal personality and financial autonomy and is under the 
authority of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications.  
4.121.   The Telecommunications Regulatory Board (ART) was created in 1998. Its powers were 
extended by Law No.  2015/006 of 20  April 2015 governing electronic communications, which 
amends and supplements certain provisions of Law No.  2010/013 of 21  December  2010, and Decree 
No. 2020/727 of 3  December  2020 on the reorganization and  operation of ART, which makes it a 
special public establishment with legal personality and financial autonomy. ART regulates, controls 
and monitors the activities of operators (including network operators) and providers of electronic 
communications servic es, on behalf of the State.  
4.122.   The principal laws on telecommunications are Law No.  2010/013 of 13  December  2010 
governing electronic communications and Law No.  2010/012 of 21  December  2010 on cybersecurity 
and cybercrime.  
4.123.   Other important instruments govern t he sector, including two recent laws.  
4.124.   Law No.  2015/006 of 20  April 2015 amends and supplements certain provisions of Law 
No. 2010/013 of 21  December  2010 governing electronic communications in Cameroon. It seeks to: 
(i) promote the harmonious and balanced development of electronic communications networks and 
services, with a view to ensuring the contribution of this sector to the development of the national 
economy, and to satisfying the multiple needs of users and the population; (ii)  set the terms and 
conditions for the establishment and operation of networks and the provision of electronic 
communications services in compliance with the requirements of national defence and public 
security; and (iii)  encourage and promote the participation of the private se ctor in the development 
of electronic communications in a competitive environment.  
4.125.   Law No.  2015/007 of 20  April 2015 governs audiovisual activity in Cameroon. It seeks to: 
(i) define the legal regimes governing audiovisual activities; (ii)  determine the ri ghts and obligations 
of operators in the audiovisual sector; and (iii)  lay down the terms and conditions for the provision 
of audiovisual services. The Ministry of Communication is now responsible for issuing authorizations 
for the creation and opening of audiovisual companies. The use of frequencies by audiovisual 
companies is conditional on obtaining an operating licence, depending on the case. This licence is 
used to apply to the Telecommunications Regulatory Board for a frequency assignment agreement, 
which is an authorization issued to the licensee to use certain frequencies. The implementing 
instruments for the law governing audiovisual activity in Cameroon, in particular those laying down 
the procedures for setting up and operating companies and for p aying entry fees in this sector, are 
pending signature. In the absence of these implementing texts, operators rely on administrative 
tolerance.  
4.126.   Between 2017 and 2022, three implementing decrees were issued: Decree No.  2019/150 of 
22 March  2019 on the organ ization and functioning of ANTIC; Decree No.  2020/721 of 
3 December  2020 on the reorganization and functioning of ART, amending Decree No.  2012/203 of 
20 April 2012; and Decree No.  2017/2580/PM of 6  April 2017 laying down terms and conditions for 
the estab lishment or operation of electronic communications networks and the provision of electronic 
communications services subject to the authorization regime. The latter provides a general reminder 
that the performance of activities relating to the establishment  and operation of electronic 
communications networks and the provision of electronic communications services is subject only to 
the prior granting of a concession, licence or approval. Licences and approvals are issued solely by 
the Ministry responsible fo r telecommunications, while concessions are issued in conjunction with 
the Minister responsible for finance and approved by the President of the Republic.  
4.127.   The following types of service are fully liberalized: cable television; data; global mobile 
personal communications by fixed or mobile satellite; and Internet services and paging. International WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 125 - 
  mobile communications (3G and 4G) and international gateways a re subject to full competition. Most 
concession operators have their own international gateway.  
4.128.   The following services are still monopolies: domestic long -distance fixed lines; fixed satellite 
services; fixed wireless broadband; international long -distance  fixed lines; leased lines; wireless 
local loop; local fixed lines; and digital subscriber lines. Regulations (Law No.  11 2015/006 of 
20 April 2015 amending and supplementing certain provisions of Law No.  11 2010/013 of 
21 December  2010 governing electroni c communications in Cameroon) have already liberalized this 
market segment. Operators wishing to offer these services have only to apply for the necessary 
authorizations.  
4.129.   Universal service, within the meaning of the law, is defined as the minimum set of de fined 
services of good quality that is accessible to the entire population under affordable tariff conditions 
irrespective of geographical location. Universal access policies seek to promote the installation of 
public payphones and public telecentres in re mote villages or low -income urban areas.  
4.130.   In order to finance universal service and the development of the telecommunications and 
ICT sector, Law No.  11 2015/006 of 20  April 2015 establishes a special telecommunications fund, 
the resources of which are deri ved inter alia  from the following:  
• annual contributions from operators of electronic communications services, amounting to 
3% of their turnover excluding tax;  
• government subsidies;  
• income from the production and publication of the universal subscriber dire ctory; 
ART budget surpluses;  
• the proportion of entry and renewal fees generated by the sale and renewal of licences;  
• gifts and legacies.  
4.131.   The resources of the special telecommunications fund are recovered by ART.  
4.4.2   Postal and express services  
4.132.   The regulatory f ramework for postal services in Cameroon evolved during the period under 
review with the enactment of Law No.  2020/004 of 23  April 2020 governing postal activity in 
Cameroon. This text provides for the "creation, organization and operation of a postal acti vities 
regulatory agency", to regulate, control and monitor the activities of postal operators and service 
providers on behalf of the State. This body must also ensure that the principle of equal treatment of 
users is respected in all postal undertakings a nd that a universal postal service is provided 
throughout the country.  
4.133.   The law establishes three operating regimes for postal networks and services: concessions, 
licences and declarations.  
4.134.   The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications is responsible both for  the general policy of 
the sector, including its development through a special allocation account for the development of 
postal activity (CAS -Poste), and for regulatory functions, through its Directorate for the Regulation 
and Control of Postal Activities (DRP).  
4.135.   Pending the establishment of a postal regulatory authority, the Ministry of Post and 
Telecommunications, through the DRP, is responsible for regulating the market. The DRP grants 
licences to operators for the partial delegation of exclusive rights a nd monitors compliance with 
licensing conditions.  
4.136.   A postal market regularization operation, launched in April  2019 to bring operators operating 
outside the regulatory framework into compliance with current legislation, increased the number of 
compliant pri vate postal operators from 11 to 36 (including 34 postal couriers and 2  postal money 
transfer operators) by December  2022.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 126 - 
  Table 4.3 Private postal operators in Cameroon, 2022  
No. Name of operator  Category  Head office  Type of business  
2 AMOUR MEZAM  2 Bamenda  Postal messaging  
3 APM 1 Douala  Postal messaging  
4 AVENIR VOYAGES  2 Koutaba  Postal messaging  
5 BINAM S.A.  2 Yaoundé  Postal messaging  
6 BOLLORE T&L  1 Douala  Postal messaging  
7 BUCA  VOYAGES  2 Sangmelima  Postal messaging  
8 CDV SARL  2 Douala  Postal messaging  
9 CITY MESSENGERS  2 Douala  Postal messaging  
10 DANAY EXPRESS  2 Yagoua  Postal messaging  
11 DHL 1 Douala  Postal messaging  
12 EMI MONEY  1 Yaoundé  Postal funds transfer  
13 ESICO  1 Douala  Postal messaging  
14 EXPRESS EXCHANGE  1 Douala  Postal funds transfer  
15 FINEXSCAM  2 Yaoundé  Postal messaging  
16 FLEXI LOGISTICS  1 Douala  Postal messaging  
17 GHF SARL  2 Yaoundé  Postal messaging  
18 GARANTI EXPRESS COMPANY  2 Douala  Postal messaging  
19 GENERAL EXPRESS VOYAGES  2 Mbouda  Postal messaging  
20 GLOBEX C. SARL  1 Douala  Postal messaging  
21 GF International  2 Yaoundé  Postal messaging  
22 KINGSLEY INT.  2 Yaoundé  Postal messaging  
23 MOGHAMO EXPRESS  2 Bamenda  Postal messaging  
24 M.T.A TXL  1 Yaoundé  Postal messaging  
25 MVILA VOYAGES SARL  2 Yaoundé  Postal messaging  
26 OVERLINE T&L  2 Bertoua  Postal messaging  
27 PRINCESSE VOYAGES  2 Douala  Postal messaging  
28 SATIT Sari  2 Douala  Postal messaging  
29 SMS 2 Yagoua  Postal messaging  
30 SOCOOPTRANSCAM  2 Yaoundé  Postal messaging  
31 SOLEX  1 Yaoundé  Postal messaging  
32 SUD D ÉPÊCHE 2 Yaoundé  Postal messaging  
33 TOURISTIQUE CCE  2 Yaoundé  Postal messaging  
34 TRÉSOR VOYAGES  2 Bafoussam  Postal messaging  
Note:  Category 1 indicates international coverage and Category 2 national coverage.  
Source:  Information provided by the authorities.  
4.137.   Licences are subject to a postal fee, for which Decree No.  2005/07006/PM of 21  March  2005 
lays down rates and calculation and collection procedures. The decree sets the following admission 
fee rates:  
• postal messaging: Category 1 (international) 45  million; Category 2 (national) 35  million;  
• postal fund transfer: Category 1 (international) 75  million; Category 2 (na tional) 
40 million; The term of the licence is ten years, renewable under Decree 
No. 2010/2429/PM of 12  August  2019.  
4.138.   In addition, proportional duties, set at a rate of 5 % of turnover, excluding tax, are applied 
under Law No.  2020/004 of 23  April 2020.  
4.139.   Within the meaning of Law No.  2020/004 of 23  April 2020, the universal postal service is 
the set of basic postal services that the State guarantees to all sections of the population, on a 
permanent and regular basis, in accordance with specific quality standar ds and at the lowest cost, 
throughout the national territory, at the access points of the operator in charge of universal service.  
4.140.   In return for its universal postal service obligations, the State granted the designated postal 
operator (CAMPOST) a residual  monopoly known as reserve services. Reserve services include the WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 127 - 
  collection, sorting, routing and distribution of national and international items of correspondence, 
for ordinary mail weighing up to 500 grams and national express mail weighing up to 100 g rams.  
4.141.   Private postal operators may participate in providing these services, provided that they sign 
an agreement with the designated operator. The agreement is for a period of one year, renewable 
by tacit agreement.  
4.142.   A special allocation account for the dev elopment of the postal sector (CAS -Poste) was 
created by Budget  Law No.  2019/023 of 24  December  2019 for the 2020 financial year. It is funded 
by levies on private operators for the performance of the activities entrusted to them, the fixed and 
proportiona l entry fees described above, and the fee for examining approval applications, which is 
CFAF 200,000.  
4.143.   In addition to this revenue, CAS -Poste is also funded by the telecommunications sector's 
contribution to the postal sector, levies on fees for non -bank mo ney transfer transactions carried 
out by banks and micro -finance institutions through partnerships signed with international 
integrators (Western Union, Money Gram, Ria, Small World), and levies on email and SMS turnover.  
4.4.3   Transport services  
4.4.3.1   Air transport s ervices  
4.144.   Tables 4.4 and 4.5 below provide details of air passenger traffic from 2015 to 2021 and 
freight traffic from 2014 to 2017 only, as no subsequent data is publicly available.  
Table 4.4 Air passenger traffic trends, selected indicators, 2015 -21 
(Number of passengers)  
2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
267,208  343,592  236,000  265,136  83,882  40,884  177,992  
Source:  International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) . 
Table 4.5 Air freight traffic trends, 2014 -17 
(Tonnes)  
2014  2015  2016  2017  
10,131  14,115  13,476  9,831  
Source:  Aéroports du Cameroun (ADC).  
4.145.   Passenger traffic fell over the period as a whole, with a very sharp drop due to the COVID -19 
pandemic, but climbed back towards previous levels as of 2021. There is no clear trend in freight 
traffic and its instability is probably linked to the vagaries of the oil industry, which makes frequent 
use of air transport for its  precision parts.  
4.146.   Air transport policy is the responsibility of the Ministry of Transport, which has delegated 
some of its powers to the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA). The CCAA is most notably 
responsible for safety and security -related matters,  and issues landing and overflight authorizations. 
It fixes and collects taxes on aircraft and passengers (for 2018, CFAF  15,000 per aircraft and 
CFAF 10,000 per passenger). Aéroports du Cameroun  (ADC), a semi -public company that is 60 % 
owned by the Govern ment of Cameroon, is responsible for the management, development and 
maintenance of airport infrastructure for seven airports, including four international airports. The 
other airports are managed by the CCAA. ADC's remit also includes a monopoly on the pr ovision of 
ground handling services. The pan -African Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and 
Madagascar (ASECNA) provides air navigation and meteorological services for the three international 
airports in Douala, Yaoundé and Garoua. ADC provides these services at other airports.  
4.147.   Cameroon has just one national airline, Camair -Co. Founded in 1971 as Camair and renamed 
Camair -Co in 2011, it underwent a lengthy restructuring, suspending its international routes and 
some of its domestic routes in the p rocess. Thanks to a financial rescue plan in 2019, it was able to 
resume its domestic routes and gradually extend its network to neighbouring countries. However, 
the restructuring process is by no means complete.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 128 - 
  4.148.   Out of 67 bilateral air agreements in force , only 15 are operational (with Belgium, Congo, 
Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Luxembourg, Morocco, Nigeria, 
the Central African Republic, Rwanda, Togo and Türkiye); they are implemented by an airline from 
the partner cou ntry. According to the authorities, all the agreements signed with African countries 
that are signatories of the Yamoussoukro Decision76 conform to that declaration, which liberalizes 
intra-African air traffic.77 The authorities further state that the othe r operational agreements are 
restrictive in nature.  
4.149.   One of the major developments during the review period was the lifting of the requirement 
for companies from partner countries to touch down twice at Yaoundé and Douala.  
4.4.3.2   Maritime transport and port servic es 
4.150.   Table 4.6 shows container port traffic in Cameroon from 2015 to 202 0, while Table 4.7 shows 
trends in all traffic, including liquid bulk oil traffic, from 2011 to 2017 only, as no data is publicly 
available for the subsequent period.  
Table 4.6 Container traffic, 2015 -20 
2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  
379,915  370,000  386,367  387,600  370,685  366,667  
Source:  UNCTAD.  
Table 4.7 Cameroon port traffic trends, 2011 -17 
Type of traffic  2011  2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  
Long haul  8,568,798  9,556,136  10,504,668  10,791,717  11,212,407  11,042,894  11,756,695  
Local  54,799  61,860  59,612  60846  89,694  79,887  40,207  
Total  8,623,597  9,617,996  10,564,280  10,852,563  11,302,101  11,122,781  11,796,902  
No. of ships  2,405  3,287  3,617  2,526  3,053  3,188  3,132  
No. of ships by type  
Cargo  317 276 346 326 410 350  
Banana carriers  97 102 103 103 85 86  
Oil tankers  93 121 128 137 133 129  
Chemical tankers  0 0 0 15 10 9  
Mineral tankers  40 110 60 71 7 31  
Gas tankers  36 49 54 51 39 24  
Edible oil tankers  0 0 0 51    
Container ships  393 331 344 291 281 294  
Roll-on/roll -off ships  95 81 80 84 89 82  
Various  0 0 0 23 102 132  
Total  1,071  1,070  1,115  1,152  1,156  1,137  1,135  
Source:  Autonomous Port of Douala (PAD) . 
4.151.   Cameroon has four ports: Douala, Kribi, Limbe and Tiko.  
4.152.   Douala is the main port, handling 95 % of the country's traffic. It is also the main port for 
foreign trade with Cameroon's landlocked neighbours: the Central African Republic, Chad and the 
northern region of the Republic of the Congo. It is located 50 kilometres upstream from the 
Wouri  River, which requires constant dredging and limits the size of ships that can call in at the port. 
A new quay dedic ated to clinker traffic was created during the review period thanks to a 
public -private partnership (PPP), while two other quays, one also dedicated to clinker traffic and the 
other to gas traffic, were rehabilitated. There are plans to construct a new PPP  bulk terminal at an 
estimated cost of CFAF  150 billion.  
4.153.   The 15 -year concession for the container terminal awarded to Douala International Terminal 
(DIT, a joint venture between French company Bolloré and Danish company Maersk) in 2005 has 
expired. The sel ection process for the new operator is under way. TIL, a subsidiary of 
Swiss  shipowner MSC, has been selected as the provisional winning bidder. The port's Container 
Terminal Authority (RTC) is managing the terminal pending the outcome of legal proceedings  
launched by the parties involved over the award of the concession. The port's 2050 development 
 
76 Morocco is not a signatory to this Decision . 
77 For more information on the Yamoussoukro Decision , see WTO document S/C/W/270/Add.2, 
28 September  2007, p . 165 et seq . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 129 - 
  plan envisages the creation of a second container terminal, which could be managed by another 
operator.  
4.154.   Stevedoring, handling (excluding containers) and consignment activities at the Port of 
Douala are open to competition. By decision of the Douala Autonomous Port Authority in 
December  2018, the port authority is responsible for dredging.  
4.155.   A new container terminal opened in Kribi in March  2018. With a draug ht of 16 metres, it is 
the only deep -water port in Cameroon. It is therefore suited to the new generation of trans -oceanic 
container ships and is set to become Cameroon's second main port. The concession for this terminal 
was awarded in 2015 to the company  Kribi Container Terminal (KCT), a partnership between the 
French groups Bolloré and CMA -CGM, the Chinese company China Harbour Engineering Corporation 
and private Cameroonian investors. A second terminal expansion phase is planned, which will be 
financed by the EXIM Bank of the People's Republic of China.  
4.156.   A shipyard in Limbe specializing in the maintenance and repair of oil rigs ("oil yard"), a 
project more than 15 years in the making, was finalized during the period under review with the 
help of multilate ral donors.  
4.157.   In 2021, Cameroon had a national flag fleet of 98 vessels over 100 gross tonnes with a total 
carrying capacity of 2,750 million deadweight tonnes (DWT), i.e. 0.13% of global capacity. The bulk 
of the fleet's tonnage comes from oil tankers ( 1,727 million  DWT) and the UNCTAD category "other 
types of ships" (neither oil tankers, nor bulk carriers, nor container ships, nor general cargo, 
773,300 DWT). In addition, Cameroon has 4 36,000 DWT, i.e. 0.02 % of the world fleet flying flags 
other than its national flag.  
4.4.3.3   Land transport  
4.4.3.3.1   Road transport  
4.158.   Cameroon's road network consists of 121,000 kilometres of roads and tracks, of which only 
7,260 are paved; about half of the paved roads have deteriorated. As a result, the network is 
struggling to co pe with the increase in road traffic, which is growing by around 7 % a year.78 
4.159.   The road transport sector is highly fragmented. Firms with one to three vehicles and a fleet 
of older trucks together account for 82 % of employment.79 
4.160.   There were no significant d evelopments in the regulatory and institutional framework for 
road transport during the period under review. It is still organized around the Land Freight 
Management Office (BGFT) and is based on approvals for carriers, a ban on cabotage by transport 
compa nies not registered in Cameroon, 55 %-45% traffic distribution ratios with Chad and CAR and 
informal arrangements with other neighbouring countries.  
4.161.   Although direct data on domestic and international traffic is lacking, a number of indirect 
indicators sugge st that road freight and passenger transport activities surged during the period 
under review.  
4.162.   Firstly, the total fleet of vehicles weighing more than one tonne, which largely consists of 
buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles, had almost quadrupled by 20 17, as shown in Table  4.8. 
No information was publicly available for the subsequent period.  
Table 4.8 Total number of vehicles registered by tonnage, 2014 -17 
Line labels  2014  2015  2016  2017  Total  
Other   104    
One tonne  43 25 36 29 116 
Below one tonne  75,649  82,109  87,827  79,523  280,740  
 
78 World Bank, Cameroon – Systematic Country Diagno stic: An Update, July 2022, viewed at: 
https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/document s-
reports/documentdetail/446021657067054458/cameroon -systematic -country -diagnostic -an-update . 
79 Ibid. WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 130 - 
  Line labels  2014  2015  2016  2017  Total  
Above one tonne  13,881  15,371  13,857  12,827  48,546  
Total  89,573  97,609  101,720  92,379  381,281  
Note:  Vehicles include buses, vans, lorries, agricultural machinery, public works machinery, special 
machinery, minibuses, motorbikes, semi -trailers, road tractors, tricycles, commercial vehicles and 
passenger cars.  
Source:  Ministry of Transport . 
4.163.   Secondly, as Table 4.9 shows, the number of different types of tran sport licences and 
authorizations also increased threefold up to 2017 and sometimes more for certain sub -categories 
of authorizations.  
Table 4.9 Total number of blue cards and licences by category, 2014 -17  
Line labels  2014  2015  2016  2017  Total  
Blue cards  25,865  18,396  13,676  10,259  62,348  
Other  349 257 157 124 802 
Transport of goods  15,720  10,430  6,607  4,684  35,009  
Intercity passenger transport  2,754  1,912  1,593  1,260  6,733  
Urban passenger transport  7,042  5,797  5,319  4,191  19,804  
Transport licence  7,323  7,140  6,680  5,071  23,178  
Total  33,188  25,536  20,356  15,330  94,410  
Note:  Vehicles include buses, vans, lorries, agricultural machinery, public works machinery, special 
machinery, minibuses, motorbikes, semi -trailers, road tractors, tricycles, commercial vehicles and 
passenger cars.  
Source:  Ministry of Transport . 
4.164.   Lastly, with regard to international road transport, as shown in Table 4.10 below, traffic on 
the transit corridors linki ng Cameroon to its neighbours is on the increase overall, even if it is 
decreasing slightly for certain destinations and is subject to fairly wide annual variations. This upward 
trend is more marked for the number of vehicle movements than for the tonnage transported.  
Table 4.10 Annual change in traffic on transit corridors, 2012 -17 
 2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  
CAMEROON -CAR 
Annual tonnage  357,122  308,664  421,409  442,839  679,941  607,255  
Annual vehicle movements  17,177  12,728  14,783  15,069  23,353  22,642  
CAMEROON -CHAD  
Annual tonnage  678,255  724,293  903,734  709,613  911,028  600,080  
Annual vehicle movements  27,875  34,463  36,162  28,392  36,453  21,086  
CAMEROON -CONGO  
Annual tonnage  317,460  349,094  272,384  221,633  237,780  280,141  
Annual vehicle movements  12,177  13,214  10,096  9,674  9,674  11,334  
CAMEROON -GABON  
Annual tonnage  5,915  9,062  16,733  11,683  17,006  15,851  
Annual vehicle movements  1,174  1,727  2,551  2,410  2,393  2,794  
CAMEROON -EQUATORIAL GUINEA  
Annual tonnage  6,645  6,911  3,507  3,465  3,219  4,603  
Annual vehicle movements  768 819 378 218 368 3,943  
TOTAL        
Annual tonnage  1,365,397  1,398,024  1,617,667  1,389,236  1,848,974  1,507,930  
Annual vehicle movements  59,171  62,951  63,970  55,763  72,241  61,799  
Note:  These include the transit of goods via Cameroon, and imports and exports from CAR, Chad, Congo, 
Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, respectively.  
Source:  BGFT.  
4.4.3.3.2   Railway transport services  
4.165.   Cameroon's rail network is made up of three lines: Transcam I: Douala -Yaoundé (262  km); 
Transcam II: Yaoundé -Ngaoundéré (662 km) and the Western line which has two sections 
Douala -Mbanga (74 km) and Mbanga -Kumba (27 km). During the period under review, sig nificant 
investments were made on this network, including the rehabilitation of 175 kilometres of track WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 131 - 
  (Batchenga -Nkaa section) co -financed by the Cameroonian government and the World Bank, the 
construction of level crossings in Douala and Yaoundé, plus t he renewal of rolling stock.  
4.166.   At government level, rail sector activities are monitored by the Directorate of Rail Transport 
(DTF) at the Ministry of Transport. The network remains the property of the Cameroonian State. The 
network operator is Camrail, a pr ivate company with a concession for the entire network, granted 
in 1999 for 20 years and extended in 2005 for a further 30 years. The main shareholder is the French 
transport company Bolloré, which holds 77 %, with the Cameroonian state holding 13.5 %. 
4.167.   Table  4.11 below shows the main economic indicators for the sector from 2011 to 2017 only, 
as no data is publicly available for the subsequent period.  
Table 4.11 Overall traffic trends in the rail sector, 2011 -17 
 2011  2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  
Tonnes of goods per year  (millions)  1.5 1.6 1.7 1.7 2 2 1 
Passengers per year (in  millions)  1.5 1.5 1.4 1.6 2 2 0.9 
Locomotives  57 57 60 60 56 59 51 
Passenger coaches  63 63 63 103 103 63 33 
Carriages  1,184  1,173  1,224  1,234  1,234  1,234  1,233  
Seat kilometres offered (in  millions)  0.6 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.2 
Source:  CAMRAIL.  
4.168.   After a period of fairly strong growth from 2011 to 2016 in both passenger and goods traffic, 
there was a sharp drop in traffic in 2017, due in part to a serious accident that led to the suspension 
of some passenger traffic.  
4.4.4   Tourism services  
4.169.   Table  4.12 below shows the main indicators for the Cameroonian tourism sector from 2014 
to 2021.  
Table 4.12 Main economic indicators for the Cameroonian tourism sector, 2014 -21 
 
2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Inbound tourism       
   
Arrivals (thousands)a         
By region (total)  434 452 484 554 546 460 147 .. 
Africa  211 192 219 208 238 205 91 .. 
Americas  21 27 27 39 33 25 6 .. 
East Asia and Pacific  21 22 24 23 27 25 6 .. 
Europe  151 167 166 203 186 160 36 .. 
Middle East  8 15 21 45 32 10 3 .. 
By main purpose of journey          
Personal reasons          
Business and professional reasons          
By mode of transport (total)  822 897 994 1081  997 1021  .. .. 
Air 244 308 401 464 475 489 .. .. 
Sea 24 27 30 28 17 19 .. .. 
Land (road)  554 563 564 589 506 513 .. .. 
Accommodation (thousands)          
Hotels and similar establishments          
Guests  434 452 484 554 546 460 147 .. 
Nights  833 1,045  1,158  1,204  1,150  1,111  324 .. 
Tourism spending  (USD  million)  629 476 508 544 633 681 437 508 
Travel  595 450 505 525 581 653 4,357  507 
Passenger transport  34 26 3 19 52 28 .. 1 
Tourism industries          
Number of establishments  2,000  2,092  2,252  2,213  2,275  2,382  2,547  .. 
Number of rooms  31,485  32,710  35,686  34,745  37,807  39,190  42,219  .. 
Number of bed places  33,096  34,414  37,712  36,887  40,001  41,067  44,354  .. 
Occupancy rate by room (%)  28.49  28.1 26.9 31.31  29.04  29.52  11.02  .. 
Average length of stay  1.62 1.63 1.65 1.86 1.87 1.9 1.47 .. 
.. Not available.  
a Overnight visitors (tourists) by air.  
Source:  World tourism statistics, UN/WTO.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 132 - 
  4.170.   As the table shows, there were between 400,000 and 500,000  inbound tourists during the 
period, before a sharp decline during the COVID -19 pandemic. African tourists (most likely from 
neighbouring countries, as illustrated by the prepond erance of arrivals by land) make up the largest 
contingent, followed by European tourists. Tourism spending was fairly stable during the period. The 
number of establishments and hotel capacity in terms of both rooms and beds increased during the 
period, bu t the occupancy rates remained low, particularly during COVID -19. 
4.171.   The Ministry of Tourism sets the sector policy, and the basic regulatory framework was 
renewed by Law No.  2016/006 of 18  April 2016.  
4.172.   Article 6 of this law affords any natural and legal person, regardless of nationality subject to 
fulfilment of the requirements of professionalism recognized by international rules and standards, 
the freedom to practice tourism and recreational activities throughout the territory.  
4.173.   However, Article 7 of the law requires that an authorization, approval or licence, as 
applicable, be obtained before a commercial and industrial recreational or tourism activity is carried 
out. 
4.174.   The authorization regime applies to the following: the construction, transformation and 
extension of a tourism establishment or of a recreational facility; the operation of a tourism 
establishment providing lodging services (hotels, furnished apartments and motels) or food and 
beverage serving services; the operation of a recreational facilit y; and the organization of 
recreational or vacation activities. Recreation facilitator or tourist guide activities fall under the 
approval regime. Lastly, the operation of a travel and accommodation organization structure falls 
under the licence regime.  
4.175.   According to the law, the procedures for issuing these three types of authorization are 
determined by regulation. The different types of authorization are individual, but can be transferred 
subject to prior approval from the tourism administration.  
4.4.5   Financial  services  
4.4.5.1   Insurance services  
4.176.   Tables 4.13 and 4.14 below list, from largest to smallest, the life and non -life insurance 
companies operating in Cameroon, their turnover and their market share, for 2021 and 2022.  
Table 4.13 Turnover and market share of non -life insurance companies operating in 
Cameroon, 2021 -22 
(Thousands)  
Companies  Turnover  
2022a Turnover  
2021  Trend 
2021 -22b Share 
2022  CFAF  USD CFAF  USD 
AXA Assurance  22,374,888  36,471  21,528,222  37,244  3.93%  8.84%  
Activa Assurance  18,524,770  30,195  17,246,525  29,837  7.41%  7.32%  
Chanas Assurances  18,020,594  29,373  16,251,189  28,115  10.89%  7.12%  
SAAR Assurances  17,012,014  27,730  15,060,018  26,054  12.96%  6.72%  
Allianz Cameroon  12,382,839  20,184  10,622,795  18,377  16.57%  4.89%  
NSIA Cameroon  11,154,034  18,181  11,107,233  19,216  0.42%  4.41%  
Garantie Mutuelle 
des Cadres - GMC 10,471,894  17,069  10,586,698  18,315  -1.08%  4.14%  
SANLAM Cameroon  10,012,168  16,320  8,821,449  15,261  13.50%  3.96%  
Atlantique 
Assurance  9,496,842  15,480  8,189,073  14,167  15.97%  3.75%  
Prudential Beneficial 
General Insurance  8,284,578  13,504  5,472,173  9,467  51.39%  3.27%  
Zenithe Insurance  6,858,762  11,180  7,681,084  13,288  -10.71%  2.71%  
SUNU  Insurance  4,781,312  7,793  3,938,826  6,814  21.39%  1.89%  
Assurances 
Générales du 
Cameroun - AGC 4,511,530  7,354  3,886,347  6,723  16.09%  1.78%  
Area Assurances  3,745,384  6,105  4,666,181  8,073  -19.73%  1.48%  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 133 - 
  Companies  Turnover  
2022a Turnover  
2021  Trend 
2021 -22b Share 
2022  CFAF  USD CFAF  USD 
Royal Onyx 
Insurance  3,049,681  4,971  2,654,543  4,592  14.89%  1.21%  
PRO ASSUR 
Assurances  2,971,788  4,844  2,563,217  4,434  15.94%  1.17%  
Compagnie 
Professionnelle 
d'Assurance - CPA 2,371,709  3,866  2,284,566  3,952  3.81%  0.94%  
Total non -life 166,024,787  270,620  152,560,139  263,929  8.83%  65.60%  
Overall total  253,102,146  412,556  229,833,107  397,611  10.12%  100%  
a Provisional figures.  
b Growth rate in CFAF.  
Source:  Cameroonian Association of Insurance Companies (ASAC).  
Table 4.14 Turnover and market share of life insurance companies operating in 
Cameroon, 2021 -22 
(Thousands)  
Companies  Turnover  
2022a Turnover  
2021  Trend 
2021 -22b Share 
2022  
CFAF  USD CFAF  USD 
Allianz Vie  25,427,071  41,446  20,940,905  36,228  21.42%  10.05%  
Prudential 
Beneficial Life  20,324,534  33,129  17,643,583  30,523  15.20%  8.03%  
ACTIVA Vie  9,518,921  15,516  8,588,578  14,858  10.83%  3.76%  
SUNU Assurances 
Vie 8,081,755  13,173  8,234,731  14,246  -1.86%  3.19%  
WAFA  
ASSURANCE Vie  6,230,017  10,155  6,204,426  10,734  0.41%  2.46%  
SAAR Vie  6,060,564  9,879  4,431,689  7,667  36.76%  2.39%  
SONAM Vie  3,258,775  5,312  3,889,458  6,729  -16.22%  1.29%  
SANLAM Vie  3,203,681  5,222  3,625,828  6,272  -11.64%  1.26%  
NSIA Vie  2,926,747  4,770  2,181,913  3,775  34.14%  1.16%  
ACAM Vie  2,045,294  3,334  1,531,857  2,650  33.52%  0.81%  
Overall total  253,102,146  412,556  229,833,107  397,611  10.12%  100%  
a Provisional figures.  
b Growth rate in CFAF.  
 Rate of exchange as at 31 December  2022: CFAF  1 = USD  0.00163; as at 31  December  2021: 
CFAF 1 = USD  0.00173.  
Source:  Cameroonian Association of Insurance Companies (ASAC).  
4.177.   The Inter -African Conference on Insurance Markets (CIMA), a pan -African body formed of 
WAMU and CEMAC member States, is responsible for regulating the sector. The structure of and 
recent changes in this regulation are described in the common report.  
4.4.5.2   Banking services  
4.178.   4.148. The Cameroonian banking system comprises 16  commercial banks with assets 
equivalent to 27 % of the country's GDP for 2019. It is highly concentrated, with the three largest 
banks holding 44 % of sector assets.  
4.179.   Cameroon also has a large microfinance sector consisting of 419  institutions, with 
approximately CFAF  480 billion in deposits, even though this system is plagued by quality issues 
with poor product diversification, a large proportion of non -performing loans (NPLs) and high 
transaction costs that are passed on to consumers. The sector is dominated by the Cameroon 
Cooperative Credit Unio n League (CamCCUL) network, which accounts for close to 52 % of the total 
balance sheet of microcredit institutions.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 134 - 
  4.180.   The sector is also composed of non -bank finance companies focused on insurance, leasing, 
factoring and real estate loans, accounting for 6 % of financial sector assets.80 
4.181.   According to the World Bank, the financial sector remains sound with acceptable capital 
adequacy ratios and has proven resilient despite the challenges posed by the COVID -19 pandemic. 
Nevertheless, the proportion of NPLs is st ill high at 16.8 %. The IMF's assessment of the recent 
developments in the stability of the Cameroonian financial system is largely in line with that of the 
World Bank, with minor differences. The IMF states as follows:  
"Overdue loans are particularly high for private firms, rising significantly for both private 
and individual firms. Bank profitability moderately declined in June  2021 relative to 
June 2020, despite the forbearance on NPLs, which reduced provisioning needs given 
broadly stable coverage ratios . However, aggregate capital, liquidity, and fixed asset 
ratios improved moderately, but may worsen when forbearance measures expire and 
credit risk increases. NPLs rose strongly in the Hotels and Commerce and Transportation 
and Telecom sectors, sectors ex posed to the pandemic where NPLs were already high 
at the start of the pandemic. Sovereign -bank linkages have intensified as Cameroon is 
the reference debt issuer for the CEMAC regional market."  
4.182.   Table 4.15 shows the main indicators for the sector in 2021, while Table  4.16 shows how 
financial soundness indicators changed over the entire period from 2016 to 2022.  
Table 4.15 Main indicators for the Cameroonian banking sector, 2021  Number of 
banks  
Banking 
concentra t
ion 
(3 largest 
banks)  
Domestic 
credit (% 
of GDP), 
2020  
Annual 
credit 
growth  
(%) 
Loan -to-d
eposit 
ratio (%)  
Financial 
soundness 
indicators: 
date of 
latest data 
available  Indic.1  
Ratio of 
capital to 
risk-weighted 
assets (%)  Indic.2  
Return on 
equity 
(%) Indic . 3 
Non-performin
g loans  
(% of total 
loans)  
12 49 15 -2 83 2nd quarter 2021  14 22 13 
Source:  European Investment Bank, "Finance in Africa: Navigating the Financial Landscape in Turbulent 
Times", October  2022.  
Table 4.16 Financial  soundness indicators, 2016 -21 (Q2)  
(%) 
 Cameroon  CEMAC average  
 
2016  
2017  
2018  
2019  
2020  
2021 
Q1 
2021 
Q2 
2018  
2022  
Capital adequacy  
Ratio of total regulatory capital to 
risk-weighted assetsa,b 9.1 9.7 10.8 10.7 13.8 12.8 13.9 15.0 13.2 
Ratio of total capital (net value) to 
assets  7.5 7.8 8.7 8.9 9.9 9.8 9.7 10.9 12.4 
Asset quality  
Ratio of NPLs to total loans  10.7 10.8 12.4 12.8 13.4 13.7 14.2 17.0 18.2 
Ratio of NPLs net of provisions to 
capital  12.1 6.0 7.6 7.0 8.2 9.2 6.7 33.5 31.5 
Earnings and profitability  
Ratio of net income to average 
equity (return on equity)  20.6 27.9 22.4 24.7 19.5 .. 18.7 18.5 13.0 
Ratio of net income to average 
assets (return on assets)c 1.6 2.2 1.9 2.1 1.9 .. 1.8 2.0 1.6 
Ratio of non -interest expenses to 
gross income  89.6 88.2 87.3 96.5 89.1 .. 83.3 .. .. 
 
80 The source of the information in the first four paragraphs is the World Bank (Cameroon  – Systematic 
Country Diagnostic: An Update, July  2022), viewed at: 
https://documents.worldbank. org/en/publication/documents -
reports/documentdetail/446021657067054458/cameroon -systematic -country -diagnostic -an-update . WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 135 - 
   Cameroon  CEMAC average  
 
2016  
2017  
2018  
2019  
2020  
2021 
Q1 
2021 
Q2 
2018  
2022  
Liquidity  
Ratio of liquid assets to total assets  23.2 24.2 26.4 25.9 30.1 27.8 29.9 26.5 27.7 
Ratio of liquid assets to short -term 
liabilities  148.7  149.3  162.4  161.9  182.4  177.9  187.3  162.1  167.2  
.. Not available.  
a Profits for the current fiscal year are excluded from the capital requirements definition in accordance 
with the Basel I Accord guidelines. The general provisions are included in "Tier 2" supplementary 
capital up to a maximum equal to 1.25 % of risk -weighted assets. The capital requirement is the sum 
of ("Tier 1") core capital and of ("Tier 1") minimum core and ("Tier 2") supplementary capital.  
b Risk-weighted assets are estimated based on t he following weighting: 0 % for liquid reserves in 
domestic currency and for central bank claims and 100 % for all other assets.  
c Ratio of post -tax earnings to average total assets at the start and end of the period.  
Source:  Cameroonian authorities; BEAC.  
4.183.   The regulatory framework applicable to the sector falls under community jurisdiction. Its 
structure and recent developments are described in the common report.  
4.184.   Worth noting, however, is that the Cameroonian Parliament passed Law No.  2022/006 
governing bank secrecy in Cameroon, enacted on 27  April 2022. The new law, which replaces a 
2003 law, contains four innovations, namely the addition of new terminology in the definitions 
section, the expansion of persons authorized to request information, a clarification  regarding acts 
giving rise to the unenforceability of banking secrecy and the imposition of stricter sanctions on 
infringing parties.  
4.4.5.3   Financial market services  
4.185.   With the merger in July  2019 of the former Douala Stock Exchange  (DSX) and the former 
Central African Regional Stock Exchange of Libreville in Gabon under the name Central African 
Regional Stock Exchange (BVMAC), Cameroon is now home to all financial market activities for the 
CEMAC zone. The regulation and activities of this market are desc ribed in the common report.  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 136 - 
  5  APPENDIX TABLES  
Table A1. 1 Structure of exports, 2012 -21 
(USD million and %)  
2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
World  
(USD million)  4,275.0  4,520.9  5,159.5  4,052.6  2,130.5  3,264.2  3,804.8  4,083.8  3,155.1  4,319.1  
 
(Percentage share)  
Total primary products  90.5 90.5 92.1 92.9 90.1 92.2 93.8 93.7 93.1 93.8 
Agriculture  32.8 32.5 31.8 42.9 75.2 43.1 39.9 36.8 44.3 40.0 
Food products  17.1 16.6 17.5 26.0 45.1 21.8 19.6 19.8 23.9 21.4 
0721 - Cocoa beans, 
whole or broken, raw 
or roasted  9.2 10.0 10.9 18.9 31.4 12.3 11.1 12.1 13.6 11.3 
0723 - Cocoa paste, 
whether or not 
defatted  0.7 1.2 1.2 1.3 2.8 2.2 1.9 1.8 2.8 3.1 
0724 - Cocoa butter, 
fat and oil 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.8 1.7 1.4 1.3 1.4 2.0 1.8 
0573 - Bananas, 
including plantains, 
fresh or dried  1.8 1.8 1.5 1.6 3.1 1.9 1.6 1.0 1.4 1.2 
0711 - Coffee, 
whether or not 
roasted or 
decaffeinated, coffee 
husks and skins  2.0 0.9 1.2 1.3 2.3 1.3 0.9 0.6 0.9 0.5 
Agricultural raw 
materials  15.7 15.9 14.3 16.9 30.0 21.3 20.2 17.0 20.4 18.6 
2484 - Wood of 
non-coniferous 
species, sawn or 
chipped lengthwise, 
sliced or rotary -cut 6.5 6.1 5.8 6.9 13.4 8.0 7.5 7.0 8.7 7.1 
2631 - Cotton, not 
carded or combed  3.4 3.8 3.1 4.1 6.9 5.0 5.5 5.4 6.2 6.0 
2475 -Wood of 
non-coniferous 
species, in the rough 
or roughly squared  2.8 3.2 3.4 4.3 7.1 6.0 5.7 3,6 4.1 4.1 
2312 - Natural 
rubber  2.5 2.4 1.6 1.4 2.1 1.8 1.1 0.7 0.9 0.9 
Extractive industries  57.7 58.0 60.3 50.0 15.0 49.0 54.0 56.9 48.8 53.7 
Ores and other minerals  0.6 0.3 0.8 1.0 1.4 1.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 
Non-ferrous metals  1.6 1.8 3.2 3.5 5.8 4.5 3.6 2.8 3.3 2.0 
6841 - Aluminium 
and aluminium 
alloys, unwrought  1.2 1.4 2.9 3.2 5.2 4.0 3.2 2.4 2.8 1.6 
Fuels  55.5 55.9 56.3 45.4 7.7 43.4 50.3 54.0 45.5 51.7 
3330 - Petroleum 
oils and oils obtained 
from bituminous 
minerals, crude  42.9 48.8 47.9 40.1 0.0 39.3 40.8 41.8 35.3 40.5 
3431 - Liquified 
natural gas  00 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.9 10.9 0.0 10.6 
Manufactures  8.7 9.3 7.8 7.1 9.8 7.7 6.1 6.2 6.9 6.2 
Iron and steel  0.9 0.7 0.7 0.8 1.1 0.6 0.6 0.7 1.1 1.0 
6762 - Other bars 
and rods of iron or 
steel, not further 
worked than forged, 
hot-rolled, hot -
drawn or hot -
extruded,  0.7 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.8 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.8 0.6 
Chemicals  3.0 2.5 1.9 1.9 3.1 2.1 1.9 1.8 2.2 1.6 
5541 - Soap  1.0 1.5 1.1 1.1 1.9 1.6 1.3 1.2 1.4 1.1 
Other semi -manufactures  2.4 2.9 2.0 1.9 3.3 2.7 2.3 2.0 2.4 2.1 
6341 - Veneer 
sheets and sheets 
for plywood and 
other sawn wood  0.4 0.8 0.6 0.8 1.7 1.2 1.1 1.0 1.0 0.9 
Transport machinery and 
material  1.7 2.7 2.3 1.8 1.2 1.3 0.8 1.1 0.5 1.1 
Power -generating 
machinery  00 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 
Other non -electrical 
machinery  1.2 1.4 1.9 1.2 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.5 0.3 0.6 WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 137 - 
   
2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Office machines and 
telecommunications 
equipment  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.0 
Other electrical 
machinery  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Automotive products  0.2 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.3 
Other transport 
equipment  0.2 1.0 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
Textiles  0.2 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.1 
Clothing  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Other consumer goods  0.6 0.5 0.8 0.6 0.9 0.7 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.4 
Others  0.8 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data from the International Trade Centre Trade Map (SITC, 
Rev.3).  
  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 138 - 
  Table A1. 2 Destination of exports, 2012 -21 
(USD million and %)   
2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
World (USD million)  4,275.0  4,520.9  5,159.5  4,052.6  2,130.5  3,264.2  3,804.8  4,083.8  3,155.1  4,319.1   
(Percentage share)  
America s 4.9 3.7 3.3 3.0 4.8 2.4 3.1 7.1 6.5 4.5 
United States  4.2 2.9 3.2 2.1 4.5 2.2 2.8 5.9 2.9 2.6 
Other - America s 0.7 0.7 0.1 0.9 0.3 0.2 0.2 1.3 3.6 1.9 
Canada  0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 3.2 1.7 
Europe  56.0 66.9 52.4 49.3 55.7 56.2 44.9 42.6 39.1 35.5 
EU-27 52.6 62.6 46.8 45.0 53.2 54.1 43.4 41.1 35.2 34.0 
Netherlands  11.3 10.5 10.4 16.3 21.4 9.6 9.7 12.9 9.3 12.4 
Italy 5.2 2.8 9.1 4.6 7.8 13.9 13.7 12.2 10.0 7.1 
Spain  11.2 12.8 16.7 5.2 3.2 9.0 5.9 7.0 6.8 6.1 
Belgium  2.7 3.2 2.9 4.8 9.3 5.4 3.6 2.7 3.4 3.6 
France  8.7 4.8 4.4 5.2 7.7 1.5 7.0 3.1 3.8 3.0 
Germany  0.8 1.4 0.4 0.9 2.0 1.2 2.0 1.2 1.2 1.2 
EFTA 0.3 1.8 0.8 1.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.7 0.0 
Other  - Europe  3.1 2.5 4.7 2.9 2.4 2.1 1.6 1.5 2.2 1.4 
Commonwealth of 
Independent States 
(CIS)a 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Africa  17.9 13.2 12.9 12.2 17.1 11.9 9.6 9.2 9.9 10.0 
Chad  1.8 2.3 2.3 2.8 4.3 2.1 2.6 2.8 3.8 3.8 
Central African 
Republic  0.8 0.3 0.6 0.7 1.8 1.3 1.5 1.7 1.2 1.3 
Gabon  1.9 1.2 1.1 1.3 1.9 1.7 1.2 1.0 1.2 1.1 
Nigeria  3.5 1.8 2.1 1.0 1.9 1.2 0.9 1.1 0.9 0.8 
Middle East  0.4 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.9 0.6 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.8 
Asia 20.6 15.3 30.5 34.9 21.4 28.8 41.8 40.5 43.4 49.2 
China  15.3 5.8 14.7 12.5 7.1 12.1 24.8 18.4 21.5 25.8 
Japan  0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.1 0.0 
Other - Asia 5.3 9.5 15.7 22.4 14.3 16.7 17.0 21.5 21.8 23.3 
India  2.5 5.7 9.8 15.6 1.1 6.9 5.5 11.0 4.0 9.6 
Bangladesh  0.1 0.2 0.8 1.8 2.3 2.5 3.3 3.0 3.9 4.0 
Viet Nam  0.9 1.3 1.6 2.2 3.9 3.1 3.1 2.3 2.8 2.2 
Korea, Republic of  0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 1.8 2.1 
Malaysia  1.2 1.6 1.6 1.8 4.9 2.4 3.0 2.6 4.2 2.0 
Other  0.1 0.5 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Memo:            
CEMAC (WTO  Members ) 6.6 5.1 5.2 6.0 9.7 6.2 6.1 6.2 7.0 7.0 
EU-28 54.5 64.4 51.1 47.4 54.3 54.8 44.1 42.1 35.7 34.5 
a Commonwealth of Independent States, including certain associate and former member States.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data from the International Trade Centre Trade Map . 
  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 139 - 
  Table A1. 3 Structure of imports, 2012 -21 
(USD million and %)   
2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
World (USD million)  6,515.1  6,657.2  7,561.1  6,036.8  4,898.9  5,183.6  6,133.6  6,582.7  5,605.9  6,984.9   
(Percentage share)  
Total primary products  52.7 48.8 48.5 44.0 36.7 41.0 46.2 49.7 46.4 43.4 
Agriculture  20.8 23.8 18.7 21.4 23.7 24.5 21.7 21.8 24.3 23.7 
Food products  19.4 22.3 17.4 19.9 21.9 22.8 20.0 20.4 22.6 22.3 
0423 - Rice, semi -
milled, whether or not 
polished, glazed, 
parboiled or 
converted  4.7 6.2 3.7 5.1 4.9 6.1 4.2 6.0 5.0 5.4 
0412 - Other wheat 
(including spelt) and 
meslin, not milled  3.0 1.9 2.4 2.8 3.1 3.4 3.4 3.6 4.3 4.7 
0342 - Fish, frozen  3.7 4.2 3.9 4.7 5.7 3.8 4.5 3.4 4.2 3.5 
4222 - Palm oil and 
its fractions  0.9 0.8 0.9 0.2 0.6 1.0 0.7 0.6 0.7 1.2 
0989 - Food 
preparation, n.e.s.  0.8 0.9 0.9 1.2 1.3 1.3 0.9 1.1 1.2 1.1 
Agricultural raw 
materials  1.4 1.5 1.3 1.5 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.4 1.7 1.4 
2690 - Worn clothing 
and other worn textile 
articles, rags  1.2 1.3 1.0 1.2 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.0 1.3 1.0 
Extractive industries  31.9 25.1 29.8 22.6 13.0 16.5 24.4 27.9 22.1 19.7 
Ores and other minerals  1.2 1.3 1.3 1.9 1.6 1.8 2.4 1.4 1.2 1.3 
Non-ferrous metals  0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 
Fuels  30.4 23.5 28.0 20.2 10.9 14.3 21.6 26.2 20.6 18.1 
334 - Petroleum oils 
and oils obtained from 
bituminous minerals 
(other than crude)  8.7 6.7 7.3 6.0 4.4 8.4 13.9 18.8 19.0 15.9 
3425 - Butanes, 
liquefied  0.9 1.0 1.1 0.7 0.9 1.0 1.3 0.9 0.6 1.3 
Manufactures  47.2 50.7 51.4 55.9 63.1 58.9 53.8 49.9 53.5 56.5 
Iron and steel  2.9 3.4 3.2 4.3 4.7 3.8 4.3 3.1 5.8 6.2 
6726 - Iron or non-
alloy steel; semi -
finished products 
thereof  0.2 0.2 0.2 0.6 1.0 1.0 0.9 0.6 1.7 2.0 
Chemicals  10.5 10.9 10.3 12.4 12.8 13.6 13.2 11.9 14.6 14.2 
5429 – Medicaments, 
n.e.s.  2.0 2.0 2.4 2.7 2.6 3.0 2.9 2.5 3.1 3.6 
Other semi-manufactures  8.4 9.4 8.9 10.0 11.1 12.0 9.3 10.8 10.8 11.1 
6612 - Portland 
cement, aluminous 
cement, slag cement, 
supersulphate  cement 
and similar hydraulic 
cements, whether or 
not coloured  2.1 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.9 3.7 2.6 2.8 2.6 2.9 
6624 - Non-refractory 
ceramic bricks, tiles, 
pipes and similar 
products  0.6 0.7 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.3 0.8 1.6 1.5 1.2 
6911 - Iron or steel 
structures  0.3 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.8 1.0 0.6 1.1 0.8 1.0 
6996 - Articles of iron 
or steel, n.e.s.  0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.9 
Machinery and transport 
equipment  20.1 21.6 23.9 22.4 27.9 23.6 21.1 18.4 16.5 19.5 
Power -generating 
machinery  1.4 0.9 1.0 1.6 1.6 0.9 0.7 0.7 0.8 1.0 
Other non -electrical 
machinery  7.3 8.1 8.2 7.0 7.5 8.6 7.1 6.5 6.0 6.6 
Agricultural machines 
and tractors  0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 
Office machines & 
telecommunication 
equipment  2.7 3.6 4.2 3.3 7.5 3.4 4.2 2.8 2.1 1.8 
Other electrical 
machinery  2.2 2.7 2.6 2.7 3.3 3.2 2.7 2.7 2.8 2.7 
Automotive products  5.1 5.1 5.1 6.0 6.7 6.0 5.0 4.4 3.6 5.8 
7812 - Motor vehicles 
for the transport of 
persons, n.e.s.  2.3 2.2 2.1 2.4 3.0 2.4 1.8 1.7 1.7 2.4 WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 140 - 
   
2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
7821 - Motor vehicles 
for the transport of 
goods  1.5 1.6 1.4 1.6 1.9 1.9 1.5 1.3 0.8 1.6 
Other transport 
equipment  1.4 1.2 2.9 1.8 1.3 1.6 1.4 1.3 1.1 1.7 
Textiles  0.8 0.7 0.7 1.7 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 0.8 
Clothing  0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 
Other consumer goods  4.1 4.4 4.0 4.8 5.1 4.5 4.5 4.3 4.4 4.4 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data from the International Trade Centre Trade Map (SITC, 
Rev.3).  
  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
- 141 - 
  Table A1. 4 Origin of imports, 2012 -21 
(USD million and %)   
2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
World  6,515.1  6,657.2  7,561.1  6,036.8  4,898.9  5,183.6  6,133.6  6,582.7  5,605.9  6,984.9   
(Percentage share)  
America s 7.7 9.0 7.6 8.3 8.1 9.4 8.3 6.2 7.9 6.4 
United States  3.5 3.9 3.5 3.7 3.6 3.5 3.9 2.6 4.4 2.8 
Other - America s 4.2 5.1 4.2 4.6 4.5 5.9 4.5 3.6 3.5 3.5 
Europe  36.2 33.4 28.6 30.0 34.7 34.6 34.5 35.4 40.8 36.0 
EU-27 31.1 29.5 25.4 26.7 30.8 31.0 28.3 28.9 30.5 27.7 
France  11.9 12.3 10.2 10.5 12.1 10.0 8.4 8.5 9.5 9.3 
Belgium  3.1 2.1 1.8 1.8 2.0 2.5 3.1 5.7 5.6 3.8 
Germany  2.9 3.8 3.4 3.6 4.0 3.8 3.0 2.6 2.9 3.1 
Netherlands  4.1 2.8 2.2 1.7 1.9 2.3 4.8 3.5 3.0 2.8 
Spain  1.9 2.2 2.2 2.4 3.9 4.2 2.5 2.6 2.6 2.7 
Italy 3.2 2.3 1.8 2.1 2.4 2.6 2.6 2.3 2.6 2.5 
EFTA 0.9 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.9 2.9 1.2 
Other - Europe  4.2 3.3 2.7 2.9 3.2 2.8 5.4 5.6 7.4 7.1 
Türkiye  1.9 1.5 1.3 1.6 1.7 1.6 2.1 3.1 4.0 3.5 
Ukraine  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 2.7 
Commonwealth of 
Independent States 
(CIS)a 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.6 1.6 2.6 2.8 2.2 3.1 6.8 
Russian Federation  0.5 0.5 0.4 0.6 1.5 2.6 2.8 2.2 3.0 6.8 
Africa  29.9 25.9 30.6 25.5 17.5 18.1 19.1 22.7 13.8 11.4 
Nigeria  17.8 13.8 17.9 12.1 4.6 4.9 5.6 6.3 0.9 0.8 
Equatorial Guinea  1.6 2.0 1.7 1.2 1.1 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.4 1.3 
Middle East  1.5 1.3 1.2 1.5 1.4 1.8 2.1 2.0 3.0 4.0 
United Arab Emirates  0.6 0.7 0.8 1.1 0.9 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.8 2.0 
Asia 23.9 29.9 31.2 34.0 36.7 33.5 33.1 31.4 31.4 35.3 
China  10.4 14.2 18.0 19.4 21.4 17.2 18.5 16.1 17.5 17.0 
Japan  2.4 2.3 2.2 2.6 3.2 2.4 1.9 1.8 1.7 2.4 
Other - Asia 11.1 13.4 11.0 12.0 12.2 13.9 12.7 13.5 12.2 15.9 
India  4.0 5.0 2.9 3.6 3.2 3.6 3.4 3.2 5.0 7.2 
Thailand  3.0 2.9 3.6 4.0 4.5 5.7 4.2 4.8 2.9 2.2 
Korea, Republic of  0.6 0.6 0.5 0.9 0.6 0.5 1.6 1.6 0.7 2.1 
Singapore  0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.5 0.2 0.3 0.9 2.0 
Other  0.3 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 
Memo:            
CEMAC (WTO  Members ) 0.6 0.9 0.7 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.8 0.8 0.8 1.2 
EU-28 33.4 31.3 26.8 27.9 32.2 32.2 30.4 30.3 32.0 28.7 
a Commonwealth of Independent States, including certain associate and former member States.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data from the International Trade Centre Trade Map.   
  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
 
- 142 - Table A4. 1 Air transport agreements concluded by Cameroon with third countries  
Third countries  Initial phase  
Status  Scope  Yamassoukro 
Declaration  Comments 
(Operators)  
Date of initialling  Date of signing  
Algeria  16/10/1974   
Not implemented  Liberalized  Full   
Angola   
23/03/1995  Implemented  Liberalized  Full   
Austria  22/10/2014   
Implemented  Restrictive  Not applicable    
Belgium   
25/11/1971  Implemented  Restrictive  Not applicable  Brussels Airlines  
Benin  15/10/1982  08/08/2008  Not implemented  Liberalized  Full   
Brazil  19/01/2006   
Implemented  Restrictive  Not applicable    
Burkina Faso  23/11/2001  15/05/2003  Not implemented  Liberalized  Full   
Burundi   
24/03/1977  Not implemented  Liberalized  Full   
Canada  07/12/2016   
Not implemented  Restrictive  Not applicable    
Central African 
Republic   
30/10/1971  Not implemented  Liberalized  Full KARINOU  Airlines  
Chad  
25/05/1973  Implemented  Liberalized  Full   
China  19/08/2009  21/04/2011  Not implemented  Restrictive  Not applicable    
Congo   
26/08/1982  Implemented  Liberalized  Full Trans Air Congo  
Côte d'Ivoire  23/02/1973   
Implemented  Liberalized  Full Air Côte D'Ivoire  
Democratic Republic 
of the Congo   
29/06/1973  Implemented  Liberalized  Full   
Egypt   
03/06/1966  Not implemented  Liberalized  Full   
Equatorial Guinea   
14/01/1974  Implemented  Liberalized  Full CEIBA International 
Cronos Airlines  
Ethiopia   
03/08/1973  Implemented  Liberalized  Full Ethiopian Airlines  
France  21/02/1974  19/07/1974  Implemented  Restrictive  Full Air France KLM  
Gabon   
16/05/1972  Implemented  Liberalized  Full SOLENTA AVIATION  
Gambia  05/04/2007   
Implemented  Liberalized  Full   
Ghana   
06/08/1976  Not implemented  Liberalized  Full   
Guinea  30/11/2006   
Not implemented  Liberalized  Full   
Guyana  13/12/2018   
Not implemented  Restrictive  Not applicable    
Iceland  22/10/2015   
Not implemented    Not applicable    
India 22/10/2011   
Not implemented  Restrictive  Not applicable    
Israel  14/06/1962  09/08/1963  Not implemented  Restrictive  Not applicable    
Italy 13/07/1968  13/05/1981  Not implemented  Restrictive  Not applicable    
Jordan  06/12/2017   
Not implemented        
Kenya   
07/08/1976  Implemented  Liberalized  Full Kenya Airways  
Liberia   
03/05/1977  Not implemented  Restrictive  Full   
Libya  30/08/2005  29/03/2006  Not implemented  Liberalized  Full   
Luxembourg  20/11/2014  20/01/2016  Not implemented  Restrictive  Not applicable  CARGO LUX Airlines  
Madagascar  25/02/2003   
Not implemented  Liberalized  Full   
Malawi  21/08/1991   
Not implemented  Restrictive  Full   
Mali  
17/03/1964  Not implemented  Liberalized  Full   
Morocco  23/02/2005  24/01/2007  Implemented  Restrictive  Partial  Royal Air Maroc   
  WT/TPR/S/445 /Rev.1  • Cameroon  
 
- 143 - Third countries  Initial phase  
Status  Scope  Yamassoukro 
Declaration  Comments 
(Operators)  
Date of initialling  Date of signing  
Namibia  15/04/1991   
Not implemented  Liberalized  Full   
Netherlands   
07/09/1971  Not implemented  Restrictive  Not applicable    
Niger  21/11/2002   
Not implemented  Liberalized  Full   
Nigeria  04/07/2003  11/10/2011  Implemented  Liberalized  Full ALLIED Air  
Portugal  05/12/2016   
Not implemented  Liberalized  Not applicable    
Qatar  19/10/2011   
Not implemented  Restrictive  Not applicable  Most recent MoU 
signed on 
08/12/2016  
Russian Federation   
11/11/1979  Not implemented  Restrictive  Not applicable    
Rwanda  18/07/1983  07/06/1984  Implemented  Liberalized  Full RWANDAIR  
Sao Tom e and 
Principe   
20/01/1978  Not implemented  Liberalized  Full   
Saudi Arabia, 
Kingdom of  18/11/2014  07/03/2017  Not implemented  Restrictive  Not applicable    
Senegal  30/05/1973  13/07/1973  Implemented  Liberalized  Full   
Seychelles  07/12/2016   
Not implemented  Liberalized  Full   
Sierra Leone   
28/08/1978  Not implemented  Liberalized  Full   
Singapore  19/11/2014   
Not implemented    Not applicable    
South Africa  24/11/1992   
Implemented  Liberalized  Full   
Spain  05/08/2004   
Not implemented  Restrictive  Not applicable    
Sudan  20/12/2006   
Not implemented  Liberalized  Full   
Switzerland   
11/11/1968  Not implemented  Restrictive  Not applicable    
Tanzania  08/08/1991   
Not implemented  Restrictive  Partial    
Togo 28/03/1977   
Implemented  Liberalized  Full Asky Airlines  
Tunisia  11/04/2004  10/05/2006  Not implemented  Liberalized  Full   
Türkiye  26/04/2007  19/10/2012  Implemented  Restrictive  Not applicable  Turkish Airlines  
United Arab Emirates  24/01/2000   
Not implemented  Liberalized/  Not applicable    
United Kingdom of 
Great Britain and 
Northern Ireland   
11/09/1981  Not implemented  Restrictive  Not applicable    
United States of 
America   
16/02/2006  Not implemented  Liberalized  Not applicable    
Viet Nam  20/10/2015   Not implemented    Partial    
Zambia  16/08/1991   Not implemented  Restrictive      
Zimbabwe  09/04/1991   Not implemented  Liberalized  Full   
Source:  Information provided by the authorities.