RESTRICTED  
  
WT/ACC/LBR/13/Rev.2  
 
16 July 2015  
(15-3669)  Page: 1/9  
 Working Party on the Accession of Liberia  Original: English  
 
  
ACCESSION OF LIBERIA 
LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLAN 
Revision 
 
The following submission, dated 16 July 2015, is  being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the Republic of Liberia.  
   
 
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  WT/ACC/LBR/13/Rev.2  
 
- 2 - PART I – PENDING BILL S/DRAFT REGULATIONS 
Subject Legislation/Regulation Competent 
Authority  Expected date of 
adoption/enactment Status Expected date of 
implementation Translation/Copy 
submitted to 
Working Party 
Economic Policies 
Monetary and fiscal policy Competition Law 
 Ministry of Commerce 
and Industry Legislative seating of 
2015 Draft completed 
awaiting submission for enactment into law July 2015 WT/ACC/LBR/10 
 
Policies Affecting Trade in Goods  
Horizontal Foreign Trade Law Ministry of Commerce 
and Industry Legislative seating of 
2015 Draft completed 
awaiting submission for enactment into law July 2015 WT/ACC/LBR/10  
 
Horizontal Customs Code 
 Liberia Revenue 
Authority (LRA) Legislative seating of 
2015 At the Legislature for 
enactment July 2015 WT/ACC/LBR/10 
WT/ACC/LBR/17 
Trading Rights Regulation on Fees for 
Business Registration Ministry of Finance 
and Development Planning, and Ministry of Commerce and Industry  July 2015 Draft completed December 2015 WT/ACC/LBR/17 
Pre-shipment 
(Revision) Agreement between the 
Liberia Government and the 
pre-shipment inspection company on the Inspection fees Liberia Revenue 
Authority (LRA) July 2015  The current agreement 
between the pre-
shipment inspection company and Government of Liberia would expire in July 2015 July 2015  
Trade-related 
investment measures Special Economic Zones Act Ministry of 
Commerce/National Investment Commission  Legislative seating of 
2015 Draft completed  July  2015 WT/ACC/LBR/15  
  WT/ACC/LBR/13/Rev.2  
 
- 3 - Subject Legislation/Regulation Competent 
Authority  Expected date of 
adoption/enactment Status Expected date of 
implementation Translation/Copy 
submitted to 
Working Party 
Trade-related Intellectual Property Regime An Act to Repeal An Act 
Adopting a New Copyright Law of the Republic of Liberia Approved 23 July 1997; and the Industrial Property Act of Liberia Approved 20 March 2003 constituting Title 24 of the Liberian Code of Law Revised, and to enact in their stead a new Title 24 to be known as the Liberia Intellectual Property Act, 
2014.  Ministry of Commerce 
and Industry Legislative seating of 
2015 At the National 
Legislature for enactment July 2015 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
State ownership, 
privatization and state-trading entities An Act to Establish Liberia 
Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) LACRA Legislative seating of 
2018 Stakeholders’ 
consultation underway for the development of the law December 2018 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Ordinary Customs 
Duties Law on 3-year migration 
programme to the CET Liberia Revenue 
Authority  Legislative seating of July 
2015  Being drafted for 
Legislature approval  December 2018  
Taxes on goods and 
services Law on Value added tax 
(VAT) Ministry of Finance/ 
Liberia Revenue Authority Legislative seating of 
2017 Stakeholders’ 
consultation underway for the development of the law December 2017  WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Trade Remedies Adoption of ECOWAS 
Regulation Relating to Safeguards Measures Liberia Revenue 
Authority July 2015 Will be in force when 
the CET is legislated into law by the National Legislature  July 2015  
Adoption of ECOWAS 
Regulation relating to Imposition of Countervailing 
Duties Liberia Revenue 
Authority July 2015 Will be in force when 
the CET is legislated into law by the National Legislature  July 2015  
Adoption of ECOWAS 
Regulation relating to Defence Measures to be 
Imposed on Imports which 
are Dumped from Non-Member States Liberia Revenue 
Authority July 2015 Will be in force when 
the CET is legislated into law by the 
National Legislature  July 2015   
  WT/ACC/LBR/13/Rev.2  
 
- 4 - Subject Legislation/Regulation Competent 
Authority  Expected date of 
adoption/enactment Status Expected date of 
implementation Translation/Copy 
submitted to 
Working Party 
TBT/SPS Law on Technical Barriers to 
Trade (including enquiry points, establishment of national treatment and MFN in the application of measures, publication of laws, regulations)
  Ministry of Commerce 
and Industry Legislative seating of 
2015 Draft undergoing 
stakeholders review   October 2015 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Law on Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures (including enquiry points, establishment of national treatment and MFN in the application of measures, publication of laws, regulations) Ministry of Agriculture Legislative seating of 
2015 Draft undergoing 
stakeholders review  October 2015  WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Veterinary and Animal 
Disease Law Ministry of Agriculture Legislative seating of 
2017 Draft undergoing 
stakeholders review August 2017 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Liberia National Livestock 
Policy  Ministry of Agriculture  July 2015 Draft completed, 
validated awaiting Cabinet approval December 2015 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Regulation Establishing an 
Enquiry and Notification Point for Technical Regulations Ministry of Commerce 
and Industry July 2015 Draft completed October 2015 WT/ACC/LBR/17 
Standard Body Regulation Ministry of Commerce 
and Industry November 2015  Draft undergoing 
stakeholders review December 2015  WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Regulation Establishing an 
Enquiry and Notification Authority for Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Ministry of Agriculture July 2015 Draft completed October 2015 WT/ACC/LBR/17 
Policies Affecting Trade in Services  
Telecommunication 
services Supplementary Act to the 
Telecommunications Act of 2007  Liberia 
Telecommunication Authority Legislative seating of 
2016 Drafted, pending 
Executive Mansion submission to the Legislature for enactment 1 July 2016 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Professional services Liberia Institute of Tax 
Practitioners Act Liberia Institute of Tax 
Practitioners Legislative seating of 
2016 At the National 
Legislature, pending enactment  1 July 2016 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
  
  WT/ACC/LBR/13/Rev.2  
 
- 5 - PART II – COMPLETED LEGISLATION/REGULATIONS 
Subject Legislation/Regulation Competent 
Authority Date of 
adoption/enactment Status Date of 
implementation Translation/Copy 
submitted to 
Working Party 
Monetary and fiscal policy Financial Institution Act 
 Central Bank of 
Liberia 18 March 1999 In force 30 April 1999 WT/ACC/LBR/5 
 
Act Creating the Central Bank of Liberia 
 Central Bank of 
Liberia 18 March 1999 In force 20 October 1999 WT/ACC/LBR/5 
 
Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended in 2011 Ministry of 
Finance 15 December 2000 In force 
(except the amended/repealed portions which are now captured in the Consolidated Tax 
Amendment, 
right below) August 2002 WT/ACC/LBR/5 
Consolidated Tax Amendment of the 
Revenue Code of 2000 Ministry of 
Finance 14 September 2009 In force November 2011 WT/ACC/LBR/5 
 
Regulation No. CBL/RSD/004/2013 Concerning AML/CFT Regulations for Financial Institutions in Liberia Central Bank of 
Liberia 29 July 2013 In force 29 July 2013 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
SOEs Public Finance Management Act of 
2009  26 August 2009 In force 2 September 2009 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Framework for 
Making and Enforcing Policies Constitution of Liberia  6 January 1986 In force 6 January 1986 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Local Government Law  10 May 1972 In force 10 May 1972 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Public Authorities Law  9 July 1975 In force 9 July 1975 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Commercial  General Business Law; Chapter 1- 
Weights and Measures 
 Ministry of 
Commerce and Industry 27 June 1973 In force 8 September 1978  
WT/ACC/LBR/15 
General Business Law: Chapter 2- Monopolies and Restraint of Trade 
 Ministry of 
Commerce and Industry 27 June 1973 In force 8 September 1978 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
General Business: Chapter 4- Law 
Business Registration 
 Ministry of 
Commerce and Industry 27 June 1973 In force 8 September 1978 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
An Act Amending the General 
Business Law, Title 14 of the Liberia Code of Law Revised by adding thereto Chapter 13 to facilitate the use of Electronic Transaction for Commercial and other purposes Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs 8 January 2001 In force 19 June 2002 WT/ACC/LBR/15   
  WT/ACC/LBR/13/Rev.2  
 
- 6 - Subject Legislation/Regulation Competent 
Authority Date of 
adoption/enactment Status Date of 
implementation Translation/Copy 
submitted to 
Working Party 
An Act to Amend the Associations Law Ministry Of 
Foreign Affairs 19 May 1976 In force 3 January 1977 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
 
Liberian Commercial Code of 2010 Central Bank of 
Liberia 29 September 2010 In force 7 October 2010 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Labour Law Ministry of 
Commerce and Industry 17 March 1981 In force 17 March 1981 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Import Prohibitions Regulation of the Ministry of Finance 
No. 16.14263-2/MOF/R/BCE/14 of April 2014 on Punitive Tax on Used Vehicles Ministry of 
Finance 15 April 2013 In force 15 April 2013 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Ministry of Commer ce and Industry's 
Administrative Notice MCI/No.008/05/2013 on the Updated List of Specific Products and Commodities Requiring Import Permit Declarations (IPDs) Ministry of 
Commerce and Industry 12 June 2013 In force 12 June 2013 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Tariff Exemptions Presidential Executive Order No. 64 of 
2014 Suspending Tariff on Agricultural Equipment, Live Animals for Breeding, 
and Agricultural Seeds Ministry of 
Agriculture 25 April 2014 Expired 25 April 2014 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
  
Executive Order No. 61 of 2014 on Extension of Executive Order No. 45 "Suspension of Tariff in Rice" Ministry of 
Agriculture 26 April 2014 Expired 26 April 2014 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
  
Trade Remedies Regulation No.5.1204-1/MOF/R/01 
APRIL 2009 on the Surtax on Flour   
 Liberia Revenue 
Authority 8 April 2009  In force  8 April 2009 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Export Regulations Administrati ve Notice of the Ministry 
of Commerce and Industry MCI/No.006/06/2012 on the List of Specific Products and Commodities Export Permit Declaration (EPDs) Applies to Ministry of 
Commerce and Industry 25 June 2012 In force 26 June 2012 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Presidential Executive Order No. 3 of 
2006 "On Government Revenues and Obligations" Liberia Revenue 
Authority 31 March 2006 In force 31 March 2006 WT/ACC/LBR/15  
  WT/ACC/LBR/13/Rev.2  
 
- 7 - Subject Legislation/Regulation Competent 
Authority Date of 
adoption/enactment Status Date of 
implementation Translation/Copy 
submitted to 
Working Party 
Government Procurement Public Procurement and Concessions 
Act of 2005, as Amended in 2010  16 September 2010 In force 18 September 2010 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Small Business Empowerm ent Act Ministry of 
Commerce and Industry 22 December 2014 In force 22 December 2014 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Professional Services Medi cines and Health Products 
Regulatory Authority Act (LMHRA) LMHRA 29 September 2010 In force 30 September 2010 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Liberia Institute of  Certified Public 
Accountant (LICPA) Act of 2010 LICPA 5 April 2011 In force 3 June 2011 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Liberia Certified Public Accountant 
Regulation No. 2 (Hiring and Working with Foreign Firms) LICPA 18 December 2014 In force 18 December 2014 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Judiciary Law Judiciary 10 May 1972 In force 20 June 1972 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Executive Law Ministry of Public 
Works 11 May 1972 In force 9 June 1972 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Intellectual Property  Copy right Act Liberia Copyright 
Office 23 July 1997 In force 30 July 1997 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Industrial Property Act Industrial 
Property Office 26 November 2002 In force 30 April 2003 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Telecommunication Telecommunications Act of 2007 LTA 4 April 2007 
 In force 2 July 2007 
 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Licensing and Authorization 
Regulation (Regulation 0001) LTA 10 April 2008 In force 10 April 2008  
Agriculture Agricultur e Law Ministry of 
Agriculture 23 March 1966 In force 5 April 1966 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
General Business Law: Chapter 9- 
Control of Crop Exportation Ministry of 
Commerce 27 June 1973 In force  8 September 1978 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Fishery Natural Resources Law Ministry of 
Agriculture / 
Bureau of Fisheries 28 February 1957 In force 5 March 1957 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
SPS Environmental Protection and 
Management Law Environmental 
Protection Agency 26 November 2002  In force 30 April 2003 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Public Health Law Ministry of 
Health and 
Social Welfare March 1975 In force March 1975 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Transit National Transit Authority Act  24 Ma rch 2009 In force 24 March 2009 WT/ACC/LBR/15  
  WT/ACC/LBR/13/Rev.2  
 
- 8 -  
PART III: REGIONAL AGREEMENTS AND REGULATIONS 
Subject Agreement / Regulation Body responsible 
for drafting the 
domestic 
legislation on 
adoption Date of signing / 
adoption of 
domestic 
legislation Status Date of 
implementation 
of domestic 
legislation Translation / Copy 
submitted to the 
Working Party 
Ordinary Customs Duties EC OWAS Common External Tariff 
(CET) Liberia Revenue 
Authority 1 July 2015 Being submitted to 
the National Legislature, along with a staging plan which starts in July 2015 30 July 2018 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
ECOWAS Regulation on 
Supplementary Protection Measures Liberia Revenue 
Authority 1 July 2015 Will be in force when 
the CET is legislated into law by the National Legislature  30 July 2015 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Rules of Origin ECOWAS Regulation on Rules of 
Origin  Liberia Revenue 
Authority 1 July 2015 Will be in force when 
the CET is legislated into law by the National Legislature  30 July 2015 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Internal Taxation Directive C/DIR.2/06/09 of 27 May 
2009 "On the Harmonization of the ECOWAS Member States' Legislations on Excise Duties" Liberia Revenue 
Authority 1 July 2015 Will be in force when 
the CET is legislated into law by the National Legislature 30 July 2015 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
 
Trade Remedies ECOWAS Regulation C/REG.4/06/13 
relating to Safeguards Measures Liberia Revenue 
Authority 1 July 2015 Will be in force when 
the CET is legislated into law by the National Legislature  30 July 2015 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
ECOWAS Regulation 
C/REG.05/06/13 relating to Imposition of Countervailing Duties Liberia Revenue 
Authority 1 July 2015 Will be in force when 
the CET is legislated into law by the National Legislature  30 July 2015 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
ECOWAS Regulation C/REG.6/06/13 
relating to Defence Measures to be Imposed on Imports which are Dumped from Non-Member States Liberia Revenue 
Authority 1 July 2015 Will be in force when 
the CET is legislated into law by the National Legislature  30 July 2015 WT/ACC/LBR/15  
  WT/ACC/LBR/13/Rev.2  
 
- 9 - Subject Agreement / Regulation Body responsible 
for drafting the 
domestic 
legislation on 
adoption Date of signing / 
adoption of 
domestic 
legislation Status Date of 
implementation 
of domestic 
legislation Translation / Copy 
submitted to the 
Working Party 
Telecommunication  Ad option of the ECOWAS 
Supplementary Acts Relating to ICT Liberia 
Telecommunication Authority Legislative seating 
of 2016 Draft is going 
through stakeholders validation Legislative seating 
of 2016 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Protection of New Plant 
Varieties Draft African Regional Intellectual 
Property Organization (ARIPO) Legal Framework for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants Ministry of 
Commerce and Industry 7 July 2015 Legal Framework to 
be signed at the ARIPO Diplomatic Conference in Arusha, Tanzania Legislative seating 
of 2016 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
  
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