WT/TPR/M/362  
2 February 2018  
(18-0741) Page: 1/58 
Trade Policy Review Body  
25 and 27 October 2017   
 
  
TRADE POLICY REVIEW  
THE MEMBER COUNTRIES OF THE WEST AFRICAN ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION (WAEMU)   
MINUTES OF THE MEETING  
Chairperson: H.E. Mr Juan Carlos Gonza lez (Colombia)  
CONTENTS  
 
1  INTRODUCTORY REMARKS  BY THE CHAIRPERSON  ................................ .......................  2 
2  OPENING STATEMENT BY  THE SPOKESPERSON OF THE DELEGATIONS OF THE 
WAEMU MEMBER COUNTRI ES ................................ ................................ ...........................  4 
3  STATEMENT BY THE DIS CUSSANT  ................................ ................................ ................  8 
4  STATEMENTS BY MEMBER S ................................ ................................ ........................  11 
5  REPLIES BY THE SPOKES PERSON OF THE DELEGA TIONS OF THE WAEMU 
MEMBER COUNTRIES AND  ADDITIONAL COMMENTS  ................................ ......................  35 
6  CONCLUDING REMARKS B Y THE CHAIRPERSON  ................................ .........................  57 
 
 
Note: Advance written questions and additional questions by WTO Members, and the replies 
provided by the WAEMU member countries  are reproduced in document WT/TPR/M/ 362/Add.1  and 
will be available online at http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp_rep_e.htm.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  1  INTRODUCTORY REMARKS  BY THE CHAIRPERSON  
1.1.  The first joint Trade Policy Review of the member countries of the West African Economic and 
Monetary Union (WAEMU) was held on 25 and 27 October 2017. The Chairperson, H.E. Mr. Juan 
Carlos Gonzalez (Colombia) welcomed the delegations of the eight WAEMU me mber countries 
headed by : H.E. Mr. Lazare Maurice Sehoueto, Minister of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (Benin);  
H.E. Mr. Stéphane Wenceslas Sanou , Minister of Trade, Industry and Handicrafts (Burkina Faso); 
H.E. Mr. Souleymane Diarrassouba , Minister of Tr ade, Handi crafts and SMEs Promotion 
(Côte  d'Ivoire); Mr. Abbas Djaló, Director -General of Promot ion of Entrepreneurship 
(Guinea -Bissau); Mr. Modibo Keita, Director -General of Trade and Comp etition, Trade Ministry 
(Mali); H.E. Mr. Sadou -Seydou , Minister of Trade and Promotion  of the Private Sector (Niger); 
H.E. Mr. Alioune Sarr, Minister of Trade, Consumption, Inf ormal Sector and SMEs (Senegal); 
H.E. Mrs. Essossima Legzim -Balouki , Minister of Trade and Private Sector Promotion (Togo) ; and 
the discussant, Amb assador Mr. Didier Chambovey (Switzerland ). Members were advised by the 
WAEMU Mem ber countries that Minister Sarr  would act as their spokesperson in his current 
capacity of the Chair of the Council of Ministers of WAEMU.  
1.2.  The Chairperson also welcome d the delegation of the  WAEMU Commission headed by 
Mr. Ibrahima Dieme , Commissioner in charge of the Regional Market, Trade, Competition and 
Cooperation. As Members recalled , during the TPR meeting on Jamaica held in September, 
Members had expressed no obje ction to the partic ipation of the WAEMU Commission as observer  in 
the review of its member States. The WAEMU Commission had played a very important role in 
assisting in the preparation for this T PR through the drafting of the G overnments ' report on behalf 
of its member States and its direct involvement in all the preparatory activities.  
1.3.  The Chairperson recalled the purpose of the Trade Policy Reviews and the main elements of 
the procedures for the meeting. The report by the WAEMU member  countries was co ntained in 
document WT/TPR/G/362  and that of the  WTO Secretariat in WT/TPR/S/362 . 
1.4.  Questions by the following delegations had been submitted in writing before the deadline: 
Canada; China; Argentina; Japan; Brazil; Australia; Norway; European Union; and the 
United States . The following delegations had submitted written questions after the deadline: 
Thailand; Singapore; and Turkey . 
1.5.  This TPR had provide d Members with a very good and interesting opportunity to better 
understand the recent evolution and perspectives of the eight WAEMU countries from the 
assessment of both their regional and national regimes. At the same time, it had been a bit of a 
challenging exerc ise for all Members . Prior to this TPR, some of the countries had been  first 
reviewed separately, and then in groups of two or three. However, this was the first time that the 
eight WAEMU countries had been  reviewed jointly. The Chairperson was certain tha t all Members 
would appreciate the efforts that had been  undertaken by the WAEMU countries under review, as 
well as by the Secretariat, to provide the comprehensive and detailed information that would allow 
Members to conduct a successful joint TPR.  
1.6.  The W AEMU countries had actively participate d in the multilateral trading system. Along with 
their long tradition of regional integration, they had remain ed open to trade with third countries. 
Indeed, extra community trad e in goods and services had accounted  for nearly 90% of WA EMU's 
total trade, and had continued  to grow at a faster pace than intra -regional trade.  
1.7.  All WAEMU member States, with the exception of Côte d 'Ivoire, are Least Developed 
Countries (LDCs). So far, Côte d 'Ivoire, Ma li, Niger, Senegal and T ogo had  ratified the WTO Trade 
Facilitation Agreement. The Chairperson was sure that Members would  join him in congratulating 
them for having notified their instruments of acceptance, while encouraging the others to follow 
suit.  
1.8.  The eight WAEMU countries were endowed with vast agricultural potential and immense 
reserves of mineral resources which largely dominate d their economies. Indeed, as noted in the 
Secretariat report, despite the adoption of diversification strategies and openness of their 
investment  regimes, most of the WAEMU economies had remain ed narrow based. This was 
explained by sup ply-side constraints, including  inadequate infrastructure, expensive and unstable WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  supply of electricity, high costs to accessing finance, and challenges in the implem entation of 
development strategies.  
1.9.  According to the Secret ariat report, the countries had  overall recorded mixed macroeconomic 
performance over the period under r eview. In general, inflation had  remained low and within the 
threshold set by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO). However, GDP growth had  
generally been modest in a context of depressed international prices of commodities and volatile 
performance of agriculture. In their wri tten questions, Members were interested in knowing the 
steps taken by WAEMU countries to diversify their economies and ensure their resilience.  
1.10.   During the previous individual or grouped reviews, Members had noted that some rates of 
the Common External Tari ff (CET) had exceeded the levels bound individually by most WAEMU 
countries. Members learnt through this joint Review that the CET of the Economic Community of 
West African States (ECOWAS) had  replaced that of WAEMU, all WAEMU States being members of 
ECOWA S.  
1.11.   As highlighted by the Secretariat report, several challenges remain ed to the full 
establishment of WAEMU customs un ion. In fact, the ECOWAS CET had  introduced a  fifth band of 
35%, and this had  led to an average tariff rate of 12.3%, slightly up from 12 .1% under the f ormer 
regime. The fifth band had  increased the number of lines on which the CET rates exceed ed the 
bound levels for all WAEMU member States except for Guinea -Bissau and Togo. Furthermore, 
although other duties and charges were bound at zero by most of the countries, numerous duties 
and levies continue d to be collected on imports  and two new o ptional supplementary taxes had  
been introduced to allow ECOWAS member States to adjust over a transition period.  
1.12.    As underlined by the Secretariat repor t, a number of areas were harmonized at the regional 
level. These include d business regulations under the Organization for the Harmonization of 
Business Law in Africa (OHADA), and the customs regime, including tariffs. However, trade 
procedures and documen tation, other non -tariff measures, and export measures, among others, 
continue d to be regulated at national levels, which might  result in complex and trade distorting 
regimes. Some Members in their advance written questions had inquired about such national  
regulations and practices.  
1.13.   The Secretariat report noted  that regional s trategies had  also been adopted for almost all 
economic  sectors. However, it underlined  that, except for financial services, the ir actual 
implementation remained  a challenge. Therefore , sectoral assistance by the governments in, inter 
alia, training, resea rch and development remained  country -specific. With the exception of 
Côte d'Ivoire, the share of manufacturing in the econ omies of WAEMU countries had remained  low. 
Supply -side constra ints were argued to be  some of the main impediments to the industrial 
development of the region.  
1.14.   The Chairperson was  sure that this Review would  provide Members wit h a good opportunity 
to discuss  in greater detail, issues of interest to them and of systemic importance to the 
multilateral trading system. He looked  forward to their active engagement in thi s TPR.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  2  OPENING STATEMENT BY  THE SPOKESPERSON OF THE DELEGATIONS OF THE W AEMU 
MEMBER COUNTRIES (H.E. MR ALIOUNE SAR R) 
2.1.  It is my honour today, 25  October  2017, in my capacity as the Ministerial spokesperson 
appointed by the WAEMU member States, and on behalf of my colleagues from Benin, 
Burkina  Faso, Côte  d'Ivoire, Guinea -Bissau, Mali, Niger and Togo,  to make the opening statement 
at the opening session of the Trade Policy Review of the eight WAEMU member countries, all of 
which are WTO Members.  
2.2.  On this occasion I would like in particular to express the gratitude of the eight  States and 
the WAEMU Commi ssion to Mr  Roberto  Azevêdo, the Director -General of the WTO, and 
the WTO Secretariat – specifically the Trade Policy Review Division, for their unstinting efforts and 
help in preparing and holding this meeting.  
2.3.  I would also like to thank His Excellency Mr  Didier  Chambovey, Swiss Ambassador to 
the World  Trade  Organization, for agreeing to take on the role of discussant for the common 
review of the eight  WAEMU member States, and Switzerland whose Ambassadors have invariably 
agreed to play this important role , including for the common trade policy reviews in 2010 for 
Benin, Burkina  Faso and Mali, and in 2012 for Côte  d'Ivoire, Guinea -Bissau and Togo.  
2.4.  Lastly, my thanks go to all WTO Members for their clear interest in us, not least through their 
involvement at this meeting and the germane observations made on the documents circulated to 
them. We welcome the large attendance at this meeting today.  
2.5.   "Eight countries, one common destiny" is the slogan of the West African Economic and 
Monetary  Union. The fact that t he WAEMU countries are all gathered here for the review of their 
trade policies at the WTO is a first for our Union.  
2.6.  This approach reflects the high degree of complementarity across the WAEMU States and 
their conviction that "moving forward together" is li kely to increase the impact of this exercise. The 
process should not only help our States to participate productively in world trade but also 
contribute to stronger regional integration.  
2.7.  The WAEMU area has been a customs union since 2000 and the member Sta tes share a 
common currency, the CFA franc.  
2.8.  Since its establishment in 1994, WAEMU has made some important reforms whose 
implementation has significantly boosted the regional integration process. The harmonization of 
law, the unification of internal market s and the delivery of common sectoral policies have 
encouraged economic growth and development.  
2.9.  Global economic growth has remained steady at around 3% in recent years but 
the WAEMU  members have performed more strongly with average growth of 6%, higher tha n the 
average figure of 1.5% for sub -Saharan Africa. Côte  d'Ivoire stands out with minimum growth 
rates of 8% since 2011 and the prospect of growth in double figures for the coming years. Inflation 
within the Union is low, and is less than the community ta rget of 3%. The strong economic 
environment reflects the fact that there is a regional market in goods and services and a regional 
financial market.  
2.10.   The WAEMU member States recognize that the trade policy review mechanism is an 
important tool that promotes  the transparency, predictability and the effectiveness of the 
multilateral trading system.  
2.11.   To that end, all member States are implementing national development plans where 
agriculture, services, mines and industry by and large figure highly in improving p eople's living 
conditions.  
2.12.   In most States, agriculture is the primary source of income and the main activity for the 
majority of rural households. In 2016 agriculture accounted for between 15% and 45% of GDP 
(in Senegal and Guinea -Bissau, respectively). Th e WAEMU area includes:  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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   the world's No.1 producer of cocoa;  
 the world's No.1 producer of cashew nuts;  
 Africa's No.1 producer of cotton;  
 Africa's No.3 producer of coffee.  
2.13.   The WAEMU member States are also producers of banana, palm oil, pineapple, rubber, 
shea butter, groundnuts, sesame, mango, onion, and others.  
2.14.   Mining is booming. Our countries have relatively large deposits of oil, gas, uranium, gold, 
phosphates, zinc, diamond, manganese, iron, etc. The bulk of these resources are exported. We 
also recognize that extractive industry is poorly integrated into the national economies and does 
not always have the anticipated knock -on effects.  
2.15.   Extractive industry should be the primary generator of value added, yet contributes only 
around 20% of GDP. Despite this, t he WAEMU member States have enormous industrial potential 
that is just waiting to be unleashed. Growth clusters have been under development in all 
eight States for three  years to build processing capacity for goods, especially agricultural products.  
2.16.   Like m ining, the highly diversified services sector is growing and modernizing. The 
telecommunications market is expanding and offers significant potential for growth. The number of 
Internet users has increased by a factor of 5 and the number of mobiles by a fac tor of 20 in the 
course of the last ten years. Fibre -optic technology is being increasingly used in networks, with a 
corresponding improvement in the service provided.  
2.17.   The Union has potential for diversified tourism and a wealth of resources to that end: f orest, 
desert, sea, rivers, animal reserves and parks, natural landscapes, and communities with strong 
cultural identities. The challenge is to continue to modernize services and increase security.  
2.18.   In terms of transport, the capitals in the WAEMU area are served by airlines the most 
important of which are Air  Côte d'Ivoire, ASKY International and Air Burkina. Airports are being 
upgraded in all member States, especially at Dakar, Lomé, Bamako, Abidjan and Cotonou.  
2.19.   The Union has five maritime ports and dry po rts for goods transport and is developing road 
and rail infrastructure to improve the links between coastal countries and the hinterland.  
2.20.   Significant challenges still lie ahead in rail transport. Only a few capitals have rail links: 
Bamako -Dakar (1,287 km) , and Abidjan -Ouagadougou (1,150 km). Two major rail projects will 
improve movement throughout the WAEMU area.  
2.21.   Access to energy, especially electricity, is also an area of difficulty. The high cost of 
electricity is hampering development of the industrial base. That is why building up energy 
capacity in all member States is a priority that calls for support from technical and financial 
partners.  
2.22.   Several trade reforms have been introduced since the previous reviews of the 
WAEMU  States' trade policies.  
2.23.   As you  know, the aim of the WAEMU member States' common trade policy, established 
in 1994, is to establish an environment of dynamic economic growth by building a competitive, 
open and investor -friendly common market.  
2.24.   The overall objective is to "create among th e member States a common market based on 
the free movement of persons, goods, services and capital and the right of establishment of 
self-employed persons or of employees […]".  
2.25.   The significant developments to mention in this review include the introduction  of a new 
common external tariff (CET) on 1  January  2015. The CET applies in all ECOWAS member States.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  2.26.   The implementation of measures in support of the CET is under way. The simplification of 
procedures for trade -related transactions, the introduction of s ingle windows and ASYCUDA  World, 
and the reduction in the number of documents required for trade operations are all examples of 
specific initiatives to facilitate and promote trade.  
2.27.   Where services are concerned, the States have signed 27  undertakings, incl uding 8 in the 
tourism sector, four in transport, and three in the professional business services, cultural services 
and financial services sectors respectively.  
2.28.   All trade -reforming initiatives also aim to boost the level of intra -community trade. Over the  
last five years, intra -regional trade has on average accounted for 14% of all exports and 9% of all 
imports. In 2016, the WAEMU member States' imports and exports of goods and services were 
worth US$62  billion. Although significant, these figures should b e higher.  
2.29.   The difficulties lie primarily in weak infrastructure, the cost of the energy involved in 
product processing and the noted shortcomings in trade facilitation.  
2.30.   This leads on to the matter of the financial resources available for community and nati onal 
projects. National budgets are essentially funded by taxation, and especially by customs duties. I 
can nonetheless assure you that revenue from customs duties is less significant than might be 
imagined. According to the Union's 2016 trade monitoring r eport, the share of tariff revenue in 
total fiscal revenue is less than 20%.  
2.31.   The dependence of the Union's economies on customs revenue should fall over the next few 
years as a result in particular of the fiscal transition programme.  
2.32.   Generally, structural reforms at the fiscal level are under way to achieve a more pronounced 
shift towards domestic taxation.  
2.33.   As I said before, all of the States are implementing development programmes in an avowed 
spirit of transparency and good governance. The WAEMU States ne ed support to pursue these 
efforts to overhaul and diversify their economic structure.  
2.34.   We therefore expect significant support from technical and financial partners in 
implementing structural projects that can substantially improve people's living conditio ns. The 
circumstances are promising. Since 2012, all member States have climbed up the 
World  Bank's  Doing Business  rankings.  
2.35.   As you know, implementation of the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation requires 
WTO Members to undertake further commitments and ma ke greater investments. In the context of 
Aid for Trade the WAEMU countries, the majority of which are least developed countries (LDCs), 
clearly need significant levels of specific support to enable them to improve the value chains in 
their production syst ems and strengthen their economic and transport infrastructure. In 
cooperation with the International Trade Centre (ITC), WAEMU has accordingly launched an 
important project called the "Trade Competitiveness and Regional Integration Support Project 
(PACCIR )" at a total cost of €11  million, which received a subsidy of €3  million in the first phase 
from the European  Union. We take this opportunity to thank the European  Union for its continued 
support for the WAEMU's regional integration process, and to call o n all financial partners to 
contribute to raising the remaining €8  million needed to complete the funding for the project.  
2.36.   Looking ahead to the Eleventh WTO Ministerial Conference in Buenos  Aires, the member 
States are convinced that significant progress t owards the conclusion of the Doha Development 
Agenda would provide further opportunities for trade, investment and employment, while also 
strengthening the multilateral system.  
2.37.   For that reason, the WAEMU member States call on all WTO Members to exercise gr eater 
flexibility to ensure an outcome that takes full account of the development dimension, especially in 
agriculture, including cotton and fisheries subsidies. Progress on proposals for special and 
differential treatment would also send a strong signal f rom all WTO Members to our countries.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  2.38.   Our countries believe that regional integration and multilateralism can be achieved under 
the leadership of our Heads of State. The challenges of development and security facing our States 
do not in any way call into q uestion the commitments that they have already entered into or will 
be called upon to make. WTO Members have assuredly had the opportunity to appreciate the work 
that has been done since the previous trade policy reviews. That work will continue in order t o 
bring our policies into line with our commitments.  
2.39.   In closing, I should like to express sincere thanks on behalf of our respective Governments 
and the WAEMU Commission to the various bilateral and multilateral partners for their continued 
technical and f inancial assistance.  
2.40.   I also thank the WTO Secretariat and the staff in the Trade Policy Review Division for their 
technical expertise in preparing this group review. Thank you for your kind attention.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  3  STATEMENT BY THE DIS CUSSANT  
3.1.  It gives me great pleasure  to act as the discussant today for the trade policy review of the 
member States of the West African Economic and Monetary Union. At first I felt daunted by the 
magnitude of the task. It is a challenge indeed to grasp and present eight countries' economic and 
trade policies succinctly. And each of those eight countries has its own unique features. 
Fortunately, the analysis has been greatly facilitated by the common policies introduced by the 
WAEMU  member States, and that shared body of policy will be the ce ntral thread of my 
presentation.  
3.2.  The WAEMU member States have staked their development on economic integration and 
open trade practices. In times like these when multilateralism is going through stormy waters, we 
have heard a strong message today. The mess age, Minister, as you said, is "Eight countries, one 
common destiny". WAEMU has expressed the intention of establishing a harmonized economic 
area providing for the free movement of persons, capital, goods and services. The Union is also 
seeking to step up  trade cooperation with third countries. For example, the 
WAEMU  member  States are all members of the African Union, which itself has its sights set on a 
project to establish a continent -wide free -trade zone. The WAEMU countries are also members of 
the Econ omic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).1 As a result, the WAEMU Commission 
worked with the ECOWAS Commission to negotiate an Economic Partnership Agreement with the 
European  Union. That agreement is still in the process of ratification. In addition  to its preferential 
relationship with the European Union, WAEMU is currently negotiating trade agreements with the 
United  States, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt and Lebanon. This is , of course , a very ambitious 
agenda.  
3.3.  In less than 20  years, the Union has made significant progress in economic integration. 
In December  2001, the member States agreed to establish a common agricultural policy (PAU). 
In 2005, the Union adopted a common environmental improvement policy (PCAE). Work was also 
done to enhance th e business climate by implementing some of the Acts of the Organization for 
the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA). The Union's other significant achievements 
include the adoption of a convergence, stability, growth and solidarity pact. The pa ct establishes 
convergence criteria to address the budget deficit, inflation, domestic and external debt 
outstanding and fiscal pressure, and others. The Union has also introduced a common external 
tariff for close to 6,000 tariff lines, a matter to which I shall return.  
3.4.  These achievements as a whole led the IMF to classify the WAEMU as the most advanced of 
all regional groups in Africa in terms of integration.  
3.5.  During the period under review, average economic growth in the Union rose to close to 6% 
with a m aximum of 9.3% for Côte  d'Ivoire and a minimum of 4.6% for Niger. At 6%, this average 
growth rate is higher than world growth, reflecting WAEMU's economic buoyancy and potential. 
That potential is supported by the Union's strategic geographical position an d a young workforce. 
The prudent monetary policy of the Central Bank of West African States and the pegging of 
the CFA franc to the euro have restricted average annual inflation to 3%, as you noted, Minister, in 
your introductory remarks. Control over infl ation has in turn helped to establish a relatively stable 
macroeconomic framework. All the WAEMU countries have worked hard to develop their 
infrastructure and institutions, modernize tax administration and computerize procedures.  
3.6.  Efforts to step up region al cooperation within the Union are all the more important given that 
the WAEMU member States are exposed to major challenges.  
3.7.  The Union has to address humanitarian, political and climate -related challenges. Each of 
the WAEMU  States has a relatively low hu man development index, with five out of ten people 
living below the poverty line. Access to drinking water, medical care, electricity and education are 
not guaranteed in all regions. Moreover, some countries face political instability that makes for an 
uncertain climate that is not conducive to investment. As economic activity focuses for the most 
part on agricultural production, the vagaries of climate have a direct impact on the 
Union's  economic development.  
                                                
1 ECOWAS: Benin, Burkina  Faso, Cabo  Verde, Côte  d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, 
Guinea -Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra  Leone and Togo.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  3.8.  In addition to these challenges, the member Sta tes are exposed to structural and cyclical 
economic difficulties. For example, the impact of structural reforms and development programmes 
is limited by the relative importance of the informal economy. Development programmes have also 
involved a significan t rise in investment expenditure and imports, thus increasing the public debt, 
which accounts for around 45% of WAEMU's nominal GDP. However, as an average this figure 
masks significant disparities across the member States. In that connection it would be t imely, as 
the IMF has recommended, to introduce a common fiscal consolidation programme and a common 
budget area. Together, these two instruments would improve regional construction and economic 
integration within WAEMU.  
3.9.  Trade between the member States of the Union is relatively low, a point already raised by the 
previous speakers. Extra -community trade accounts for the bulk of the total figure. Some 92% of 
imports originate outside the community and 87% of exports are intended for extra -community 
countries . Moreover, the lack of export diversification makes the Union particularly vulnerable to 
exogenous economic shocks.  
3.10.   Consequently, intra -community trade currently accounts for less than 15% of all trade in the 
area. Thanks to work already done, including t he establishment of a single window for the entire 
zone, trade has been increasing since 2013, a commendable change. However it is still low 
compared to other economic unions. Against that background, the establishment of a regional 
trade development progr amme and the introduction of a free circulation regime within the zone 
are welcome. In future, these instruments will promote trade between the countries of the Union 
and the diversification of their economies.  
3.11.   Nevertheless, more effort will have to be put  into reducing the myriad other taxes that 
hamper trade and incentivize tax fraud. For example, exports are subject to many non -harmonized 
levies. WAEMU's common external tariff comprises five  bands. The various rates exceed the WTO 
bindings for several li nes in all countries except Guinea -Bissau and Togo. Moreover, the  WAEMU 
common external tariff provides for an import adjustment tax (TAI), a supplementary protection 
tax, a community solidarity levy of 1% and a statistical tax of 1%. Finally, each member State 
applies other forms of non -harmonized levies.  
3.12.   The complexity of the tariff and customs regime is not conducive to the development of 
trade. Furthermore, it has helped to fuel the informal sector and smuggling. Against that 
background, work to simplif y and harmonize levies of all kinds in compliance with the tariff 
bindings listed at the WTO would bring real benefits. This should be facilitated by the expected fall 
in budgetary dependence on tariff revenue to which you referred, Minister, in your openi ng 
statement.  
3.13.   I shall now turn to investment policy. Inflows of foreign direct investment have been 
relatively volatile. Although foreign direct investment rose between 2005 and 2011, it has been 
falling ever since. This pattern is the result in part of th e decline in commodity prices and the 
security problems to which some member States are exposed. Drawing up a community 
investment code would make for greater transparency and predictability, two of the factors that 
investors hold dear, and which are neces sary for businesses to succeed.  
3.14.   The Union's trading activities are dominated by agriculture, which presents significant 
potential for economic development. For example, the Union is the top producer of cocoa and 
cashew nuts. Its agricultural policy has als o identified five priority subsectors, namely rice, cattle, 
poultry farming, maize and cotton, that can help to improve the competitiveness of agriculture. 
Despite the introduction of a common agricultural policy however, the production subsidies regime, 
including for unprocessed agricultural products, has not been harmonized. The diversity in these 
support measures leads to distortions of competition that could be prevented by harmonizing the 
subsidy regimes. Finally, some WAEMU countries ban intra -communi ty imports of meat products. 
The ban is probably the result of the weak, or non -existent capacity to check compliance with 
sanitary and phytosanitary requirements in some member States. Harmonization of sanitary and 
phytosanitary measures, which has been u nder way since 1997, should go some way to remedying 
that situation. It would be to the benefit of all parties for this process to conclude promptly.  
3.15.   The Union's second sector of activity is extractive industry. Each of the member States has 
significant mi neral and hydrocarbon wealth: there are oil deposits in Niger, Côte  d'Ivoire and WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  Senegal; gold mines in Burkina  Faso and Mali; diamond mines in Côte  d'Ivoire; and phosphate 
deposits in Togo, Senegal, Burkina  Faso and Mali. However, the member States have n o control 
over the management of small mining operations, a fact that has negative consequences for the 
living conditions of the local population and the environment. The aim of the community mining 
code review, which began in 2017, is specifically to reso lve that issue.  
3.16.   With regard to trade in services, I would like to refer to the electricity and transport sectors. 
The member States are in the grips of an energy crisis that is affecting the competitiveness of 
most industries. Moreover, the relatively small national electricity markets hamper private 
investment. Several solutions have been proposed to reduce the energy deficit, including a 
regional plan for managing electricity consumption and an Energy Development Fund (FDE).2 It is 
important that thes e two major projects are delivered.  
3.17.   Most merchandise is transported within WAEMU by road. Greater effort should be made to 
increase road security and diversify the infrastructure required for the transport of goods. Stepping 
up intra -community trade will c ontinue to prove difficult until such time as their modes of transport 
are more secure and a common transport policy is in place.  
3.18.   I shall close where I should perhaps have begun, namely with relations between WAEMU 
and the WTO. The WAEMU member States are all founding Members of the WTO. Apart from 
Guinea -Bissau and Niger, which are deemed to be inactive Members, they all receive technical 
assistance from the WTO. While aware of the constraints upon the members of the Union, I would 
like to encourage them t o update their WTO notifications in the interest of transparency and 
predictability. I also call upon the three member States3 that have not yet ratified the Agreement 
on Trade Facilitation to do so. Finally, I note that in their report the WAEMU member St ates stated 
that they "share the view that the removal of tariff and non -tariff barriers will help them to make 
the most of trade opportunities […] and raise their standard of living". This view augurs well for 
steps taken within the WTO by the WAEMU count ries. 
3.19.   Thank you for your kind attention.  
                                                
2 In May  2017 the CFAF  250 billion initially in the fund had been spent.  
3 Benin, Burkina  Faso and Guinea -Bissau.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  4  STATEMENTS BY MEMBER S 
CANADA  
4.1.  Canada welcomes the distinguished delegations from the eight countries of the 
West African  Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), which for the first time are participating as 
a group in this review of their trade policies. We thank the Governments of Benin, Burkina  Faso, 
Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea -Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo, as well as the WTO  Secretariat, for 
their detailed reports on the current trading and economic environment of  these growing markets 
and thank them for their replies to our written questions.  
4.2.  We note that the WAEMU member States have performed strongly: average growth was 
6.4% – higher than the average for sub -Saharan Africa. Some countries such as Côte  d'Ivoire a nd 
Senegal, two of the largest economies in the community, have stood out from the others with 
growth rates of over 6.5% in the last two years, and forecasts of between 6.8% and 7.6% for the 
coming years.  
4.3.  Bilateral trade in goods between Canada and the WAE MU members rose by 24% in  2016 
compared to the prior year. Moreover, Canada has signed Foreign Investment Promotion and 
Protection Agreements (FIPAs) with several WAEMU countries, including Benin, Côte  d'Ivoire, 
Senegal, Mali and Burkina  Faso. Canada welco mes agreements of this kind that can help to 
encourage Canadian businesses to participate in a number of WAEMU markets.  
4.4.  We wish to commend Côte d'Ivoire for the economic and social progress made since the crisis 
came to an end. This environment also augurs  well for increased trade between our two countries 
and for Côte  d'Ivoire's neighbours.  
4.5.  Progress has also been made by all member States in improving the regulatory framework 
governing the financial sector, even though a few challenges remain, particularly  with regard to 
public debt, which is still on the rise. As far as the business climate is concerned, although it varies 
hugely from one country to another, Canada welcomes the adoption by the WAEMU countries last 
year of a record number of reforms to impr ove the business climate for entrepreneurs.  
4.6.  In this connection, Canada congratulates Niger, which, according to the World Bank's latest 
Doing  Business report, ranks as the region's top reformer, having implemented six reforms. We 
also welcome the reforms made by Côte  d'Ivoire, Senegal and Togo.  
4.7.  Moreover, we note that Benin, Burkina  Faso and Mali have also facilitated the resolution of 
insolvency by introducing a new conciliation procedure for businesses in financial difficulty.  
4.8.  Unfortunately some States, s uch as Guinea -Bissau, still rank in the lowest quartile of the 
Doing  Business  rankings. We hope that the necessary reforms will be implemented to improve the 
business climate.  
4.9.  I will now outline the trade aspects of concern to us in this region. While reco gnizing the 
efforts made by the member States to facilitate a business -friendly climate, we are of the view 
that a stable, predictable and secure environment is crucial to attracting and holding onto 
investment in various sectors.  
4.10.   We encourage the member S tates to pursue mutually beneficial dialogue with Canadian 
companies as has been the case with mining companies in Burkina  Faso, which have become the 
country's top foreign investors. The practices advocated by Canada are those of a private sector 
opting f or the principles of good governance and social responsibility, and we would like to 
continue collaborating with you in this field.  
4.11.   Economic diversification is another challenge facing WAEMU. It is our view that in order to 
succeed, the WAEMU countries sho uld continue to develop their human capital in order to respond 
more effectively to labour market needs. Doing Business 2017  includes a category on gender 
equality, including in relation to starting a business, transferring property and enforcing contracts . 
Six economies have made it more difficult for women to go into business. The chief social WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  challenge for the WAEMU countries is therefore to significantly reduce inequality by finding a 
means of better redistributing the fruits of their growth to the most  vulnerable.  
4.12.   In that regard, I would like to point out that Canada is proud of its new, feminist 
international aid policy that focuses on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. 
When women and girls are given equal opportunities to succeed,  economic growth follows. At the 
institutional and policy levels, subregional economic integration could be more effective and the 
administrative barriers to a common economic area should be reduced.  
4.13.   Finally, the lack of infrastructure in some WAEMU countr ies is still hampering their domestic 
trade, to say nothing of trade between the member countries. We therefore hope that the 
initiatives put forward by the WAEMU countries to help develop infrastructure can be financed and 
implemented efficiently.  
4.14.   In clos ing we wish the WAEMU delegation every success in this trade policy review and in 
the reforming work that is under way. We shall follow with interest your ongoing integration into 
the global trading system.  
CHINA  
4.15.   Africa is the continent that has more devel oping countries than any other, and has 
distinguished itself as an economic bright spot in recent years. WAEMU 's vibrant process of 
industrialization and urbanization has injected fresh dynamism into global economic growth. China 
noted that WAEMU governmen ts have formulated ambitious economic, industrial and infrastructure 
development plans, For instance, as the reports by the Secretariat and WAEMU governments point 
out, the Investment Codes of WAEMU members are in general liberal and provide foreign invest ors 
the usual guarantees, perform strongly in the primary sector, as well as have broadly stable 
macroeconomic framework.  
4.16.   Although a series of measures that WAEMU has taken to improve its business environment, 
China notes that there is still work to be don e, for instance, the absence or deficiencies of SPS 
control capacity or the lack of correct means of operation, overreliance on aid -for-trade as an 
important means of reducing poverty, etc. Since WAEMU is one of the world 's most promising 
regions in terms of development potential, China encourages WAEMU to turn its potential into 
development strengths, form diversified and multi -layered trade and economic system, improve 
business and investment environment, and do a better job in the fields of modern agricu lture, 
green development, poverty reduction and people 's welfare.  
4.17.   At present, the situation facing the world economy is both complex and fluid. Economic 
recovery is elusive and trade growth remains sluggish. All Members are faced with pressure on 
economic development. At the same time, however, Members are working closer than ever. As an 
African proverb goes, "if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together. "  
4.18.   Though geographically far apart, China as the biggest developing country, and  WAEMU 
enjoy a profound relationship of exchanges and a friendship that has stood the test of time. 
Today 's WAEMU is brimming with vigour  and vitality, and business cooperation between our two 
sides has reached an unprecedented level. China has become one of WAEMU 's principal 
cooperation partners in such areas as trade, investment, and infrastructural development. We will 
continue to give firm support to WAEMU 's economic growth in more diversified forms, bringing 
more tangible benefits to the Chinese and Af rican people.  
4.19.   The WTO launched the Doha Round in 2001 and identified development as the core of the 
negotiation agenda for the first time. WAEMU consists of one developing member State and seven 
LDCs. WAEMU members are highly commended for their efforts to  ensure that the concerns of 
developing and the least developed members are reflected in the DDA negotiations, and their 
dedication to pushing forward the multilateral trading system to play a more important role in the 
promotion of free and open trade. Ch ina is always ready to join hands with WAEMU members, 
safeguard a multilateral trading system that is open, transparent, inclusive and non -
discriminatory, and drive the multilateral trading system to better respond to the demands of the 
developing and leas t developed community.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  4.20.   In conclusion, we would like to thank the WAEMU delegation for their responses to China 's 
questions, which we will study carefully. We wish the WAEMU delegation every success in this TPR.  
ARGENTINA  
4.21.   Argentina congratulates the African  Members on the objectives they have set under the 
WAEMU Treaty, which unquestionably enhance the multilateral trading system.  
4.22.   We welcome the economic performance of the last five years, which shows average annual 
economic growth of 6%, macroeconomic stabi lity and the success in constraining inflation below 
the 3% average figure.  
4.23.   We would like to highlight the Union's vast agricultural, fisheries and mining resources. The 
investments made under the national agricultural development programmes, the adoption of 
directives under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Programme, and the customization of 
the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative by Members with mining resources all represent 
significant progress in restructuring the Union.  
4.24.   The Argentin e Republic has submitted questions to WAEMU on matters such as goods in 
transit, customs classification, certificates of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures and 
permits for the import of plants and products of plant origin. We thank WAEMU in advanc e for its 
replies, which we shall study in detail.  
4.25.   To conclude, we reiterate how much we appreciate this renewed opportunity to exchange 
information and comments on WAEMU's trade policies and practices and would like to draw 
attention, once again, to the i mportance of this exercise in transparency  from every point of view. 
We wish the WAEMU authorities a successful conclusion to this review.  
JAPAN  
4.26.   Japan would like to start by expressing its appreciation for WAEMU 's strong economic 
growth in 2016. According to the report made by WAEMU, its members ' average economic growth 
this year is estimated at 6.8% compared to 6.6% in 2015, which is higher than the average for 
sub-Saharan  Africa.  
4.27.   We understand that this is proof of WAEMU 's macroeconomic stability, monetar y discipline 
and, to a certain extent, the budgetary discipline adopted by the members.  
4.28.   Furthermore, Japan notes that the economic growth of WAEMU largely depends on the 
primary sector, which is expected to contribute around 31% of the union 's GDP in 2016.  
4.29.   We appreciate that the primary sector grew by close to 5% between 2015 and 2016, and we 
also expect WAEMU to accelerate its industrial diversification to promote the stabilization of its 
economy.  
4.30.   Moreover, Japan recognized that five of the member states h ave ratified the Trade 
Facilitation Agreement, and that the WAEMU Commission has introduced a regional trade 
programme, which has also assisted members.  
4.31.   We welcome these efforts towards trade facilitation, which we believe will accelerate the 
process of in volving SMEs in global value chains.  
4.32.   Now, I would like to touch upon some specific points that have come to our attention 
through reports from our overseas diplomatic establishments.  
4.33.   Regarding the Republic of Senegal, the government of Senegal is now estab lishing the 
"Dakar integrated special economic zone " in Jamnazio. Since last December, improvements to 
basic infrastructure have been progressing in this area, which will be composed of several 
elements, including an industrial park and commercial faciliti es. WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  4.34.   Furthermore, a preferential system in the area would grant tax exemptions for raw 
materials, customs duties, and profits. The system would also allow businesses to freely perform 
transactions with foreign currencies.  
4.35.   We expect these efforts to contribu te to the acceleration of economic growth and free trade 
in Senegal.  
4.36.   Regarding the Republic of Cote d 'Ivoire, we commend the G overnment of Cote d 'Ivoire for 
investigating and confiscating commodities with false geographical indications.  
4.37.   On the other hand, we have received reports that duties were imposed only on certain 
specific companies even though many other companies were in the same situation. Therefore , we 
encourage Cote d 'Ivoire to correct unfavourable  treatment that has a negative impact on fair 
competition.  
4.38.   Regarding the Republic of Benin, we welcome the country 's efforts to assure a stable 
transport route through ordering the removal of those illegally occupying routes and to strengthen 
border securi ty to prevent illegal import of fuel since President Patrice Talon was inaugurated in 
April 2016. We appreciate the positive impact of these measures.  
4.39.   In conclusion, I would like to say that WAEMU is an important partner for Japan. In the 6th 
meeting of TI CAD (Tokyo International Conference on African Development) which was held in 
2016, Japan announced plans to invest in infrastructure for "Economic Diversification and 
Industrialization " in Africa. We would like to express our strong wish to continue coope ration 
between WAEMU and Japan.  
4.40.   We wish WAEMU a successful and productive TPR.  
BRAZIL  
4.41.   Brazil is pleased to take part in the first Trade Policy Review of West African Economic and 
Monetary Union. Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d 'Ivoire, Guinea -Bissau, Mali, Nige r, Senegal and Togo 
are all founding members of the WTO, and strong supporters of the multilateral trading system.  
4.42.   In the period under review, WAEMU S tates have maintained macroeconomic stability and 
achieved remarkable economic growth. The Union members h ave grown approximately 5% a year 
between 2009 and 2016.  
4.43.   In terms of the trade regime, we noted that, since the transition of WAEMU members to the 
ECOWAS common external tariff, the average tariff protection has increased. For agricultural 
products, the av erage increased from 14.6% to 15.5%. In the case of sugar, a product of special 
interest to Brazil, the tariff rate increased by more than one percentage point, to 13.5%.  
4.44.   Also, according to the S ecretariat 's report, a large number of the applied rates exceed  the 
bound rates. It would be appreciated if the WAEMU members could provide clarification on this 
issue.  
4.45.   Brazil bilateral relat ions with WAEMU countries cover  many areas, all of which are very 
important to us. Cultural and human ties with some of t hese Members are particularly close.  
4.46.   Frequent political and technical missions among our countries continue to strengthen 
relations among our countries. Brazil 's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aloysio Nunes Ferreira, was in 
Benin and Côte d 'Ivoire less than two weeks ago, on the 13th and 14th of October.  
4.47.   Technical cooperation between Brazil and the region has been a solid aspect of our 
relationship. The main project under way, concerning several WAEMU countries, is the Cotton -4 + 
Togo project, which has been developed by the Brazilian Cooperation Agency in partnership with 
the Brazilian Agricultural Research Service, EMBRAPA. The establishment of the Cotton -4 Research 
Center in Mali and the increase in cotton productivity in B enin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Togo - and also 
in Chad, whic h is the only non -WAEMU member - are two concrete results of this project.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  4.48.   The Managing Committee of the Cotton 4+Togo proj ect will meet on 11 -15 December  in 
Ouagadougou , to consider next steps and potential new initiatives. Among the se initiatives, the 
Brazilian Cooperation Agency is looking for partners, in Brazil, that could assist in the 
implementation of two projects of interest to Mali and Benin.  
4.49.   Cooperation in bioenergy is also relevant, with Brazilian experts carrying out feas ibility 
studies regarding the potential for producing biofuels in West Africa, particularly in Benin, Burkina 
Faso, Côte d 'Ivoire, Mali, Niger e Togo.  
4.50.   On trade, we have observed a fall of more than 50% in our exports to WAEMU´s members 
over the last seven  years. Brazilian exports consist mainly of refined sugar and poultry, whereas 
our imports are basically cotton and cashew nuts. We look forward to working with our WAEMU 
partners in order to explore the potential for expanding and diversifying these trade  flows.  
4.51.   We have submitted questions to the WAEMU countries and we are thankful for the replies 
provided, that will be carefully reviewed in our capital.  
4.52.   Let me conclude by wishing the WAEMU countries a very successful Trade Policy Review.  
AUSTRALIA  
4.53.   Trade between Australia and WAEMU member S tates is modest and is based largely on 
investment by Australian mining and mining services companies. There is potential for this 
economic relationship to grow through increased investment by Australian mining companies  and 
enhanced economic links in the agriculture and education sectors.  
4.54.   We note that the WAEMU region has experienced strong economic growth in recent years, 
and encourage member states to continue to improve coordination of national trade and monetary  
policies, including by harmoniz ation of the export regime, and to undertake structural reform in 
order to secure sustained growth into the future. We are encouraged by the planned reforms 
outlined in the WAEMU review report, such as the introduction of a reg ime of free movement of 
goods. We urge WAEMU member states to continue with these efforts in order to secure the critical 
benefits of international trade and cooperation.  
4.55.   We commend WAEMU member states for their strong support for and compliance with the 
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). Australia is a key contributor to EITI, which 
promotes open and transparent management of natural resources. We note the Secretariat 's 
observation that there remains significant potential for mining activi ty to provide economic and 
community benefits for WAEMU member s. Open trade and international cooperation will be critical 
to ensuring the mining sector delivers economic and developmental dividends.  
4.56.   To attract and capture the benefits of further foreign i nvestment in the mining sector, 
Australia encourages WAEMU member S tates to streamline and harmonise taxati on rules. 
Certainty and harmoniz ation around taxation rates and regimes will increase mining companies ' 
confidence to invest in mining operations wit hin the WAEMU. Non -tariff barriers, such as 
procedural and logistical barriers, and security issues can also act to increase the cost and  
difficulty of doing business. We welcome and support  the objective of WAEMU member S tates to 
enhance their participati on in the multilateral trading system through th e WAEMU delegation to the 
WTO. We also take the opportunity to congratulate Côte d 'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo on 
their ratification of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, and encourage Benin, Bur kina Faso and 
Guinea -Bissau to ratify this agreement as a sign of WAEMU 's collective commitment to the 
multilateral trading system.  
4.57.   Australia wishes WAEMU  a successful and constructive Trade Policy R eview. We look forward 
to continuing to grow our trade an d investment relations.   
NORWAY  
4.58.   Norway attaches great priority to trade as a tool for development, which is why the 
Norwegian GSP scheme grants duty and quota free access to all products from LDCs. We 
encourage those WAEMU countries that have not yet prov ided the necessary documents to benefit WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  from our GSP system to do so. There is still potential for growth in our bilateral trade with the 
WAEMU countries. Norwegian companies and institutions are showing an interest in the WAEMU 
countries, a trend that we hope will continue.  
4.59.   The members of WAEMU have faced serious political challenges during the last decade. In 
recent years, developments have been positive. Increased intraregional trade and macroeconomic 
stability will no doubt contribute to a further conso lidation of political stability in the region.  
4.60.   We applaud that the S ecretariat has produced a report on the West African Economic and 
Monetary Union, while also reporting on the individual members. Although harmonization varies 
and integration takes time, it is important that the developments of the union as a whole, as well 
as developments of the individual countries are reviewed in tandem.  
4.61.   The process of preparing the TPR brings together all relevant trade -related institutions 
within a country. This provi des a good basis for further refining the M ember 's trade policy and 
strategy and implementing necessary reform. For the 7 LDC members of WAEMU, the TPR 
presumably draws upon their current Diagnostic Trade Integration Studies (DTIS) funded by the 
Enhanced I ntegrated Framework or trade strategies developed as a result of such DTIS. We would 
be interested in knowing if this is the case, and also how instrumental the EIF National 
Implementation Units were in the coordination and work on the TPR. This informatio n can also help 
us assess to which degree Technical Assistance and Capacity Building to increase LDCs ' 
participation in trade actually work.  
4.62.   Norway welcomes the coastal WAEMU S tates' engagement in the fisheries subsidies 
negotiations, and especially Senega l's very active and constructive participation as focal point for 
the LDCs. We hope this both continues and increases. Western Africa 's development of its fisheries 
is important. Expanding and improving fisheries management need to be a priority. The 
FAO/N orwegian research ship (HnoMS) Fridtjof Nansen has been sailing down the western coast of 
Africa since May this year, assessing among other things pelagic stocks and ecosystems and 
training local experts in fisheries management.  
4.63.   With their small M issions i n Geneva, the WAEMU countries have managed to remain as 
active as possible in the WTO. We look forward to continue engaging with the WAEMU delegations 
in the coming months, not least in the field of fisheries subsidies in order to achieve our joint 
objecti ve; namely to implement SDG 14.6 in the WTO.  
4.64.   Norway looks forward to a constructive exchange of views on all aspects of the WAEMU 
countries ' trade policies over these two days.  
EUROPEAN  UNION   
4.65.   The European Union welcomes the economic integration of the WAEMU countries. Through 
their membership of an integrated regional framework, the WAEMU member countries will be more 
attractive to investors and thereby increase their competitiveness, however there is still a long 
road ahead and this review should provi de some guidance that the countries concerned may wish 
to discuss.  
4.66.   The EU notes that since 2010 overall economic growth in the region has been lower than 
that for the group of least developed African countries, to which all WAEMU countries except 
Côte d'Ivoire belong. The growth forecast could be improved, particularly by establishing active 
socio-economic development policies, strengthening good governance, and combating fraud and 
corruption. The EU notes the measures taken by some of the countries to dive rsify their economies 
but is of the view that efforts made hitherto are inadequate and require improvement. The  EU 
urges the countries to continue with their reforms.  
4.67.   The EU continues to be the WAEMU member countries' chief trading partner and their 
leadin g investor. All the LDCs (not Côte  d'Ivoire) enjoy duty - and quota -free access to 
the EU market under the "Everything but Arms" scheme.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  4.68.   In December  2014, the eight WAEMU countries signed an Economic Partnership Agreement 
(EPA) with the EU. In anticipation of the adoption of the regional EPA by all West African countries, 
Côte d'Ivoire signed an interim EPA that entered into force on 3  September  2016.  
4.69.   The EU is also contributing development aid to support the EPAs: under 
the 11th European  Development Fund 20 14-2020, €575  million have been allocated to the 
West Africa region to back regional economic integration and trade development. The EU also 
recently announced an external plan for investment in Africa totalling €3.35  billion that will 
develop innovative g uarantees to stimulate private investment of up to €44  billion.  
4.70.   The EU also supports the WAEMU member countries through Aid for Trade in a variety of 
fields ranging from port infrastructure to trade policies, agricultural value chains and fiscal 
transition . 
4.71.   Where trade facilitation is concerned, the EU welcomes the ratification of the Agreement by 
Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo, and the notification of commitments by Côte  d'Ivoire 
and Senegal. The EU calls upon the other members of the regiona l organization that have not done 
so, such as Benin, Burkina  Faso and Guinea -Bissau, to ratify the Agreement and to work on 
preparing their Category  B and C commitments.  
4.72.   In order to improve the business climate and attract investment, the EU calls on the W AEMU 
members to strengthen their regional integration by harmonizing trade procedures, reforming the 
ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) and to expedite the fiscal transition to reduce taxes 
on trade in goods. Moreover, the EU is of the view that sim plification and transparency of import 
and export procedures in some of the countries would reduce the additional costs of trade that 
were noted several times by the Secretariat in its report.  
4.73.   A new regional framework will not be enough, however. In order for businesses, especially 
small and medium -sized African businesses, to be able to benefit from an integrated regional 
market, it is crucial that the WAEMU member States also undertake ambitious domestic reforms to 
thoroughly and sustainably improve the b usiness climate.  
4.74.   The EU notes that the trade statistics for some WAEMU countries, especially Benin and Togo, 
are not in line with the EU statistics produced by Eurostat. In order to increase statistical 
transparency as an information and decision -making to ol, the EU encourages those countries to 
account better for their transit trade.  
4.75.   Turning to intellectual property rights, the EU encourages Côte  d'Ivoire, Guinea -Bissau and 
Niger to ratify the Protocol amending the TRIPS Agreement, the aim of which is to f acilitate access 
to essential medicines.  
4.76.   The EU has submitted around 100  questions to WAEMU and its eight  member countries. We 
are particularly interested in work towards regional economic integration and reforms to improve 
the business climate: the EU wou ld like to know how much progress has been made in 
implementing the ECOWAS common external tariff (CET) and in harmonizing customs procedures.  
4.77.   On behalf of the EU, I welcome this constructive exchange of views and wish WAEMU and its 
member countries every success throughout this review of their trade policies.  
UNITED  STATES  
4.78.   U.S. two way trade with the WAEMU countries totalled  US$2.4 billion in 2016, with the U.S. 
principally importing agricultural products and minerals and primarily exporting moto r vehicles , oil 
and machinery. U.S. foreign direct investment in the region totals about US$145 million.  
4.79.   WAEMU member countries , almost all of which are least -developed countries, face a  number 
of economic challenges.  Yet, we are encouraged to see the degree to whic h they have embraced 
efforts at regional economic integration and harmonization, both among themselves and as 
members of the Economic Community of West African States, of which they are all members. The 
strength of engagement by the WAEMU member countries demonstrates the importance and WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  benefits of achieving greater s cale through such cooperation. Our companies have indicated that 
such initiatives make the region a more attractive place to invest and do business.  
4.80.   One of the factors affecting the ease of doi ng business is the cost and degree of certainty in 
moving  goods in and out of a country.  We note that most of the WAEMU members have only 
bound a low percentage of the tariff lines in the WTO, which contributes to an enviro nment of 
business uncertainty. And as the Secretariat has noted, all but two of the countries are applying 
customs duties that exceed their bound  rates. Similarly, most of the governments are applying 
other duties and charges in co ntravention of their bindings. We look to the G overnments to 
remedy this situation and suggest that WAEMU engage the WTO Secretar iat for assistance, as 
needed. We also look forward to details on how the WAEMU countries will implement the Kigali 
Decision, and encourage the use of non -trade measures to  fund African  Union activities.  It is the 
view of the United States that excessive reliance on imports as a source of government and 
administrative revenue can choke off trade, investment, and development.  
4.81.   We are pleased to see that most of the WAEMU members have ratified the WTO Trade 
Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and woul d encourage the rest to do so. The WAEMU G overnments 
have long recognized the importance of cooperation and coordination between their customs 
authorities, but they have nevertheless  faced challen ges in that area.  Implementation of the TFA 
should help in that regard.  We do note that only three of the G overnments have made Category A 
notifications to date, and none have made  Category B or C notifications.  Given the benefits that 
will flow from fully  implementing the TFA, we recommend this as an area of focused effort.  
4.82.   A core principle of the WTO is transparency, and the fulfilment of its various notification 
requireme nts is critical in that regard.  The WAEMU countries ' performance with respect to 
notifications needs significant improvement, as has been recognized by the WAEMU countries.  
4.83.   Nowhere is transparency more important for engendering public confidence in proper 
governance than with resp ect to government procurement. We are pleased to see that 
Côte d'Ivoire is considering observer status to the WTO Agreement o n Government Procurement 
(GPA).  Observer status provides greater engagement opportunities with GPA members without 
requiring  the taking on of obligations. We would encourage all WAEMU member s to consider 
requesting GPA observer status. They have already sent an important signal in this area with the 
establishment of the Regional Government Procuremen t Observatory earlier this year . An entity 
designed to independently monitor and evaluate nati onal government procurement systems in the 
WAEMU, the observatory represents a great step towards adhering to WTO standards of 
transparency and due process.   
4.84.   We recognize the WAEMU 's ongoing efforts to establish consistent national sanitary and 
phytosanit ary legislative t exts, measures, and practices. This is an area re quiring more focused 
attention.  The Secretariat report notes the absence or deficiency of SPS control cap acity in most 
WAEMU countries. The introduction of modern risk management approaches would lead to 
significant improvements in the WAEMU countries ' handling of SPS matters. We call upon WAEMU 
countries to more fully abide by their notification obligations under the WTO SPS Agreement, and 
we note that notifications of the outright import ba ns by some WAEMU countries on products such 
as meat and poultry must be accompanied by an explanation for the measure in accordance with 
Article 7 of the WTO SPS Agreement.  
4.85.   We are pl eased to see that WAEMU member S tates have referenced the importance of th e 
protection of intellectual property rights as part of the Common Trade Policy of the Union, and that 
they have devoted considerable effort over time to harmonizing and updating their intellectual 
property protection regimes to better conform to WTO  TRIPS  Agreement requirements. We n ote 
that while all eight WAEMU G overnments have signed the Bangui Agreement 2015, only one has 
ratified its signature to date. We would recommend that the other WAEMU G overnments create a 
timeline for securing the ratification of the agreement.  
4.86.   While the WAEMU countries generally maintain open markets for service providers, they 
have undertaken few secto ral commitments under the GATS.  Such commitments send a positive 
signal to potential investors in a range of sectors which enh ance competitiveness, so the 
governments may wish to consider undertaking them.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  4.87.   In closing, we w ish to again thank the WAEMU G overnments and the Secretariat for their 
work on this review. An eight -country review is inherently challenging; yet, it permits a  
comprehensive per spective on the efforts of the G overnments to develop common approaches to 
policy matters on a regional basis. Although we have highlighted several areas of concern and 
matters meriting greater focus, we do wish to recognize the WAEMU cou ntries for the progress 
they have made through working together to advance trade policy reform.  
THAILAND  
4.88.   Thailand has a combined trade of US $1.15 billion with the eight WAEMU members. Although 
we are not a major trade partner with the region, we hope to continue the good relations and look 
forward to future trade growths.  
4.89.   We believe there are many positives to take from this review based on the Government and 
Secretariat reports, such as efforts in various issues including SPS, technical regulations, gene rally 
open investment regime, and performance in the services sector to name a few.  
4.90.   In this regard, we would just like to highlight a few issues of our interest that we believe 
WAEMU members can improve to further foster trade performance, such as the harm onization of 
trade procedures, the transition to ECOWAS Central External Tariffs (CET), and the community 
levies in ECOWAS and WAEMU.  
4.91.   We commend WAEMU members in their trade facilitation efforts with 5 out of 8 Members 
having ratified the WTO Agreement in Trade Facilitation and Customs electronic windows being 
established in Benin, Côte d 'Ivoire, Senegal and Togo.  
4.92.   However, despite its status as a customs union, WAEMU member States ' trade procedures 
have yet to be harmonized, resulting in varying procedures between Members and altogether high 
trade costs. In the World Bank 's Doing Business 2017 report, WAEMU members were ranked 
between 146 -172 out of 190 countries in import and expor t costs. In this regard, we believe 
WAEMU members can reap greater benefits from trade by speeding up the harmonization of trade 
procedures in the Union.  
4.93.   On the transition to ECOWAS Central External Tariffs (CET), we note with concern that the 
transition f rom WAEMU to ECOWAS CET has resulted in average tariffs raised by 
0.2 percentage -points. The transition has mainly impacted tariffs on agriculture products, products 
derived from animals, and sugar, while also resulting in increased tariff escalations. Fur thermore, 
with the exception of Guinea -Bissau and Togo, the ECOWAS CET rates have contained numerous 
tariff lines that exceed the WTO bound rates.  
4.94.   On Community levies, we also noted from the report that the 0.5% community levy (PC) is 
imposed on all import s into ECOWAS, and an additional community solidarity levy (PCS) of 1% is 
levied by WAEMU members on all imports from non -ECOWAS countries for a 5 -year transitional 
period to finance the respective communities. However, Thailand is of the view that there a re 
alternative means to fund ECOWAS and WAEMU respectively.  
4.95.   In this review, Thailand submitted several questions to WAEMU members and we look 
forward to the replies, for which we will study carefully with great interest.  
4.96.   In conclusion, Thailand would like to thank all WAEMU member States for their presentation 
and wish them every success in this Trade Policy Review.  
SINGAPORE  
4.97.   Singapore enjoys friendly relations with the WAEMU member countries.  Our bilateral trade 
stood at approximately US$245 million last y ear, which shows that distance and size is not a 
barrier to buil ding economic and trade links. We are confident that bilateral trade will continue to 
grow as WAEMU m embers become more integrated into th e multilateral trading system. We have 
also signed Bil ateral Investment Treaties with Côte d 'Ivoire and Burkina Faso, and look forward to 
their ratification, which will further enhance our bilateral economic relations.   WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  4.98.   We commend WAEMU for its efforts to impose monetary and budgetary discipline that has 
enabled its Members to stay resilient in the face of global commodity price shocks, and for 
committing to regional integration and harmonisation, within both WAEMU and the larger ECOWAS 
grouping.  
4.99.   We encourage those WAEMU m embers that have not yet done so to ratify the Trade 
Facilitation Agreement and the Protocol Amending the TRIPS Agreement, and commend those who 
have do ne so. We also encourage WAEMU m embers to stay up -to-date with their notification 
obligations, whether individually or collec tively. We also  hope all WAEMU m embers will consider 
the benefits of adopting an electronic single window system for streamlining and easing customs 
procedures. This will help to facilitate trade and investment flows, and promote greater 
connectivity.  
4.100.   Singapore stands r eady to partner with the WAEMU member c ountries to improve and 
enhance the multilateral trading system, and work towards a su ccessful MC11 in Buenos Aires. We 
wish the group a very successful TPR.  
INDIA  
4.101.   Except for Cote d 'Ivoire , the seven -member countries of the Union are LDCs. The eight 
countries with a total population of 19 million spread over a large region of 3.5 million square kms 
have a combined GDP of around €97 billion in 2017. Since 2010 , all member S tates have achieved 
fairly modest economic growth and their trade has grown vigorously totalling to € 40 billion with 
rest of the world. The challenges for the member S tates of the Union include addressing poverty, 
socio-economic challenges, fiscal deficit s, diversification of economies, infrastructure needs, 
integration within the Union and promoting investment and growth. Flow of FDI in the Union has 
also been modest and still remains behind the bank loans an d other development assistance. We 
commend the member S tates for taking several measures to address these challenges which 
include efforts for convergence of economic performance  and policies, addressing macro economic 
challenges, tax reforms, simplification of procedures and promoting polic ies for inve stment and 
growth. All member S tates have also drawn comprehensive National Development Plans for socio 
and economic development.  
4.102.   India shares warm, cordial and close relations with all the member countrie s of the Union. 
Let me briefly touch upon India 's economic and trade relations with the member S tates.  
 The bilateral trade between Cote d 'Ivoire and India stood at US$875 million in 2016.  Indian 
companies are also investing in Cote d 'Ivoire in the area of minerals, mining, hydrocarbons 
exploration and agr iculture.  
 India's trade with Senegal has been growing at a healthy rate and stood at US$ 953 million 
in 2016 -17. Investments of Indian companies in Senegal including in the areas of chemicals, 
transportation, automobiles and power is also growing.  
 India's trade with Togo stood at US$ 455 million in 2016 -17; with Burk ina Faso the trade 
stood at US$ 371 millio n in 2016 -17; with Benin at US$ 241 million in 2016 -17; With 
Guinea -Bissau at US$ 238 million in 2016 -17; with Mali at US$207 million in 2016 -17 and 
with Nig er at US$ 81 million in 2016 -17. 
4.103.   There is immense potential to promote trade and investment ties between India and all the 
member countries of the Union in various sectors including automobiles, metals, pharmaceuticals, 
textiles, bulk minerals and ores, pet roleum products, chemicals and plastics, machinery. Indian 
companies are also collaborating in various services like telecommunications, banking and 
information technology with companies in the regio n. The presence and investments of Indian 
companies in WA EMU countries are also growing.  
4.104.   There are regular political and business to business exchanges between India and the 
countries in the Union.  During the third India -Africa Summit , our Prime Minister announced a 
comprehensive development assistance plan for all the African countries over the ne xt five years 
which include US$10 billion in LOCs; US$ 600 mill ion as grant assistance and US$ 100 million 
through India -Africa Development Assistance Fund.  India has extended lines of credit to member WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  countries of the Un ion for projects in areas of infrastructure development, agriculture, irrigation, 
transport, health, pow er and Information Technology. While due to time constraint I am not 
enumerating the details, through the techno -economic approach for Africa -India move ment 
(Team -9), India is also assisting nine West African countries by offering soft credit for various 
development projects. For capacity building in human resources, India has announced 
50,000  scholarships in the next five years under various programmes i ncluding for students and 
professionals under the India Technical and Ec onomic Cooperation Programme.  
4.105.   India has also always been a supporter of special dispensation for LDCs and provides 
98.2% tariff lines as duty free or preferential access to LDCs with a pplicable tarif f on all cotton 
lines at zero. In addition, we are implementing a major tech nical assistance programme in 
7 African countries,  including the C4 for the last 5 years to improve the productivity of both the 
agriculture and textile part of the cotton value chain.  We have also provided one of the most 
liberal packages for services waiver, including complete waiver of visa fees.  
4.106.   To conclude, the member S tates in the Union are blessed with immense natural resources 
including minerals and agricultur e and have tre mendous potential for growth. W e look forward to 
working closely with the member countries of the Union for further expanding our bilateral trade 
and investment ties  for mutual benefit.  We wish the delegations of the member countries of the 
Union a  productive and successful TPR.  
INDONESIA  
4.107.   Indonesia applauds  the eight economically -rich members of the WAEMU, for the progress 
in harmonizing trade rules amongst them. And in putting in place, the required economic 
infrastructure, towards a more ope n market economy.  
4.108.   WAEMU 's success, in keeping low the average rate of inflation since 2009, is a tribute to 
the sound macro management of the economy, achieved through prudent monetary policy, and 
through establishing a good system of distribution, for sta ple consumer goods. Another measure of 
good progress is the trade performance of the union: despite the global economic slowdown during 
the review period, member States of the WAEMU traded vigorously with the world. And amongst 
their trading partners, is I ndonesia.  
4.109.   In the last five years, in the period 2012 to 2016, WAEMU countries and Indonesia have 
been enjoying a good trading relationship. Average yearly trade reached US$78.5 million, with an 
average yearly trade growth of 16.05%.  
4.110.   In terms of Indonesian export performance, it becomes more apparent that WAEMU 
countries are important to Indonesia; as average yearly Indonesian export to the WAEMU – during 
the same 2012 to 2016 time period – reached US$48.7 million, with an average yearly Indonesian 
export gr owth reaching 17.9%.  
4.111.   In terms of bilateral trade relations with individual WAEMU members, the average yearly 
growth of trade reached a notable figure of 62.16% with Mali; 42.92% with Cote d 'Ivoire; and 
34.39% with Senegal. While the average yearly growth of Indonesian exports reached a notable 
figure of 76.8% with Niger; 53.07% with Benin;  and 34.15% with Guinea -Bissau . 
4.112.   These trade figures, are encouraging to Indonesia, as Indonesia looks further to deepening 
trade relations with the African continent – and especially, with member countries of the WAEMU.  
4.113.   With that, Indonesia wishes much success, to the delegation of the WAEMU, in this first 
TPR. 
CHAD  
4.114.   The Chadian delegation commends the permanent representatives of the WAEMU member 
countries to Geneva and th eir teams for their decisive role in safeguarding and consolidating the 
multilateral trading system.  
4.115.   Chad has profound ties of friendship and fellowship with each of the WAEMU countries.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  4.116.   Chad greatly appreciates the WTO's commitment to supporting the WAEMU  
members'  efforts to integrate their economies more effectively into the multilateral trading 
system. Such integration is necessary to establish conditions that are conducive to the 
development of trade and investment in the subregion, and to ensure sustai nable development.  
4.117.   We welcome the fact that we both belong to the Organization for the Harmonization of 
Business Law in Africa (OHADA), which allows investors and our economic operators to pursue 
their activities within a harmonized legal framework for bus iness. The impetus this provides will 
further strengthen the investment codes of WAEMU members, which in general are liberal, without 
any significant restrictions on foreign presence, and afford the usual guarantees to foreign 
investors. Nevertheless, we e ncourage the WAEMU countries to make rapid headway towards a 
community investment code in order to build on the work they are continuing to do to harmonize 
their trade policies and establish a genuinely common market.  
4.118.   In this connection, simplification of the export and import process, which all operators 
regard as a priority, continues to be important. The efforts made by the WAEMU member States in 
relation to compliance with multilateral customs valuation provisions and pilot projects to interlink 
customs  posts are to be welcomed.  
4.119.   Chad commends the WAEMU countries' view of multilateral trade rules, their determination 
to meet notification requirements, and their commitment to fulfilling their WTO obligations.  
4.120.   The work that they need to do to renegotiate th eir bound tariffs in order to make their 
taxation systems consistent with their multilateral commitments, to harmonize national legislative 
texts, and to introduce sanitary and phytosanitary measures and practices are but a few examples 
of cases where the support of technical and financial partners is required.  
4.121.   The availability of secure and inexpensive energy remains the major barrier to the 
industrialization and diversification of the WAEMU economies. We therefore welcome 
the West African Power Pool (WAPP ), which aims to connect electricity supplies across the 
ECOWAS  countries. However, significant support in this field remains vital in order to ensure 
sustainable development.  
4.122.   It should be noted that despite inadequate infrastructure and poor access to fin ance, the 
WAEMU countries have made enormous efforts to strengthen the legal and institutional 
frameworks for coherent and sound policy -making and to diversify export markets and products. 
All this contributes to more transparent and predictable trade regi mes and ultimately a more 
transparent multilateral trading system.  
4.123.   Chad welcomes the considerable progress made by the WAEMU countries in the areas of 
macroeconomic convergence and trade monitoring, the establishment of the customs union, and 
the harmoniza tion of sectoral policies. Chad would encourage them to move further in that 
direction.  
4.124.   The WAEMU member countries have huge natural, mineral, agricultural and fisheries 
resources, a young population, and a vast territory measuring 3.5  million  km2, and thus have 
extraordinary potential to attract and benefit from investment.  
4.125.   Chad regards the WAEMU member countries as important partners with which it would like 
to further develop its trade relations. For several years now, Chad has been developing fruitfu l 
partnerships with the WAEMU countries, especially in the fields of agriculture, transport and 
human and institutional capacity building.  
4.126.   My delegation welcomes the major efforts made by the WAEMU members to establish 
significant, inclusive momentum for t rade and the multilateral trading system. We would 
encourage the continuation of these efforts and wish all WAEMU member countries every success 
in their trade policy review.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  MOROCCO  
4.127.   As an African country, Morocco has the great pleasure of taking part tod ay in 
the WAEMU  trade policy review which, I am sure, is an opportunity for Members to learn about the 
economic and trade reforms introduced by the Union.  
4.128.   Since its establishment, WAEMU, which includes some of the founding countries of the 
WTO, has made no teworthy progress.  
4.129.   The share of total trade (intra - and extra -community) in goods and services in 
WAEMU's  GDP rose by seven percentage points between 2009 and 2016 to reach 70.4%.  
4.130.   Investment in the Union benefits from a harmonized framework for business la w, while its 
member States' investment codes are generally liberal and provide the usual guarantees to foreign 
investors.  
4.131.   The members of the Union are engaged in a process of economic convergence and 
legislative reform.  
4.132.   The Union's trade policies have had a very positive impact on global trade. This is 
demonstrated by the Union members' own trade performance, which rose sharply between 2010 
and 2015 despite the slowdown in the global economy.  
4.133.   Morocco welcomes the WAEMU member States' approach, which builds upon regional 
integration in order to stimulate growth. Indeed, the progress that the Union has made is based on 
the audacious, sustainable, positive impetus given by its members at national level against an 
international and regional background that harbo urs myriad challenges.  
4.134.   The discussions under way as we approach MC11 are an opportunity to support this model 
of regional integration and openness through positions that are fair and mutually supportive.  
4.135.   Morocco, which is developing strong ties of cooperat ion and investment in the various 
economic and trade sectors of all the WEAMU countries, has for decades encouraged its operators 
to invest in this West African region and encourages other Members to do the same in order to 
expose their operators to the va st potential of the region and the investment opportunities it 
offers, especially as a result of the liberalization of several sectors, including banking, insurance 
and telecommunications.  
4.136.   Morocco wishes the WAEMU member States every success.  
CONGO  
4.137.   Like the countries making up the WAEMU economic area, Congo is a member of 
the Central  African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), an organization that brings 
together Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Central  African  Republic and Chad.  
4.138.   The histor y and geography of our economic communities compel our populations to live 
side by side and to engage in many different forms of exchange. Hence the need to further 
increase trade cooperation has led to determined efforts on the part of our respective gove rnments 
in recent years to create conditions conducive to our populations' well -being and to achieve 
acceptable levels of economic and social development.  
4.139.   With this in mind, our respective economic communities are involved at continental level in 
negotiati ons to establish a Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) and share the same outlook in 
WTO negotiations to contribute to "the 2063 Agenda, The Africa We Want", which essentially refers 
to the industrialization, structural transformation and economic diversifi cation of the continent.  
4.140.   Congo appreciates its relationships with all the WAEMU countries and the commercial and 
economic cooperation between us is an example of growing South -South cooperation.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  4.141.   The relationships between Congo and each of the WAEMU member countries contribute to 
social and economic development leading to conditions that are conducive to the well -being of our 
respective populations.  
4.142.   The Congolese delegation is pleased to note that in 2016 the WAEMU area recorded 
estimated growth of 6.8% comp ared to 6.6% in 2015, and strong economic performance with 
average growth of 6% – higher than the average figure of 1.5% for sub -Saharan Africa over the 
same period.  
4.143.   In a similar vein, we note that the zone's macroeconomic framework is generally stable, 
monetary policy is managed independently by the community Central Bank, and inflation is under 
control throughout the zone at below 3%, in conformity with the WAEMU area convergence 
criteria.  
4.144.   The Congolese delegation welcomes the multifaceted reforms made by  the WAEMU 
members in areas such as competition, investment, transport and customs administration, which 
contribute to economic liberalization and the emergence of a buoyant private sector.  
4.145.   We are pleased that the WAEMU member States have reiterated their commitment to the 
multilateral trading system and recognize the importance of the negotiations taking place within 
the WTO towards a conclusion of the Doha Development Round.  
4.146.   Ratification of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation (ATF) by five of the 
eight WAEMU member countries confirms that commitment. Therefore we encourage the other 
three countries to ratify in order to create a regional synergy for the implementation of 
the Regional Trade Facilitation Programme.  
4.147.   Lastly, Congo shares the enthusiasm of the WAEMU States' Governments about the role 
played by the WTO and the Doha Development Agenda in the trade negotiations with a view to 
achieving a balanced outcome that takes full account of the expectations of developing countries 
and especially the least de veloped countries.  
4.148.   We wish the WAEMU member States every success in this review and in implementing the 
resulting recommendations.  
GABON  
4.149.   The Gabonese delegation is pleased to note the efforts made by the WAEMU  member 
countries to enhance the competitivenes s of economic and financial activity in their area; to 
establish a common market providing for the free movement of persons, goods, services and 
capital as well as the right of establishment; and to establish and coordinate national sectoral 
policies by ta king joint action.  
4.150.   The countries recorded growth averaging 5% over the period 2009 -2015 – higher than the 
average for sub -Saharan Africa and the franc zone.  
4.151.   Gabon welcomes the many reforms undertaken by the WAEMU member countries to 
improve the business cl imate, such as the introduction of single windows to reduce import and 
export turnaround times; the reduction in the number of documents required for import or export; 
improved management; easing of the transit rules for trucks; the simplification of inspe ction report 
procedures; and the reduction in the number of checkpoints.  
4.152.   Gabon appreciates the excellent political, economic, trade and cultural relationships it has 
with the various WAEMU member countries.  
4.153.   WAEMU and the Economic Community of Central Afric an States (ECCAS), to which Gabon 
belongs, offer a highly diversified intra -regional basket of exports. Average trade flows between 
our two communities have generated further intra -regional trade, and the stable exchange rates 
that come with sharing a sing le currency have allowed the countries of both communities to 
enhance regional trade.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  4.154.   Finally, my delegation wishes WAEMU every success in its review.  
THE SEPARATE  CUSTOMS  TERRITORY  OF TAIWAN,  PENGHU,  KINMEN  AND  MATSU  
4.155.   We are very pleased to learn t hat the economies of the WAEMU m ember States are 
growing, on average, at a rate of 6%, which is much higher than the growth rate of sub -Sahara 
Africa (at 1.5%), and that inflation has been held below 3% as well. At the same time, however, 
the social indicators hig hlight the on -going need for improving the welfare and living conditions of 
the people. In 2016, five out of every ten people were living below the poverty line. It seems to 
us, in our experience, that this is a typical scenario where Aid -for-Trade could m ake an important 
contribution to reducing poverty.  
4.156.   Just to expand on this point, if we take, for example, Burkina Faso, one of the Members of 
the WAEMU. This is a landlocked Sub -Saharan country with a limited amount of natural resources. 
The economy is he avily reliant on agriculture, with almost 80 % of the active population employed 
in this sector. Cotton is its most important cash crop, while gold exports have been g aining ground 
in recent years.  
4.157.   The opening up of new mines, coupled with a slight rebound  in gold and cotton prices, plus 
rising grain production, paved the way for an acceleration in the rate of real economic growth, to 
5.9% in 2016 - well above the 4 % of 2015, and close to the average of 6 percent poste d during 
the 2003 -2013 period.  
4.158.   Despite  its lack of natural resources and the increased threa t of terrorist attacks, 
Burkina  Faso still managed to continue improving its external debt position in 2016, finishing the 
year with a current account deficit of 6.8 % of GDP, compared to 8 % in 2015. Ext ernal support and 
the resumption of foreign direct investments, especially in the mining sector, helped to narrow the 
external deficit.  
4.159.   Bilateral relations between Burkina Faso and the Separate Custom Territory of Taiwan, 
Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, have for  long been very close and mutually constructive, and I would 
like to take this opportunity to reaffirm the friendship that exists between us. We are currently 
implementing 12 technical assistance programmes in Burkina Faso, in the areas of agriculture, 
vocational training and medical support. The level of cooperation between us in these sectors is 
deep and strong. We would also encourage Burkina Faso to diversify its export products, maintain 
its open trade regime and continue to develop its trade and inve stment policies in the future.  
4.160.   The total value of two -way trade between us and the WAEMU members combined was 
around US$68 million dollars in 2016. We are convinced that through greater economic 
cooperation, the potential exists for generating much more bilateral trade and economic growth in 
WAEMU members in the future. Combined with the right social policies, this is the way to provide a 
firm basis for accelerating people 's living standards and  welfare which we care so much.  
4.161.   Finally, I  wish the WAEMU and  its member S tates a very successful Trade Policy Review.  
CAMBODIA  ON BEHALF  OF THE LDC GROUP  
4.162.   We note that the Union consists of eight member States. Côte d 'Ivoire is classified as a 
developing country while the other seven States, Benin, Burkina Faso, Gui nea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, 
Senegal and Togo are all LDCs. The Union demonstrated during their review period from 2010 to 
2015 a solid economic growth dynamic. Together they had an average growth rate of 5%, which is 
significantly higher than the average grow th achieved by the sub -Saharan African area  during the 
same period.  
4.163.   This relatively good economic performance of the Union economies can be explained in 
particular by the existence of a stable macroeconomic framework, with a monetary policy directed 
indepe ndently, and a controlled level of inflation  below 3% in all member States.  
4.164.   In addition, member States of the Union have implemented national development 
programmes, particularly in favour of the agricultural sector, thus contributing by a high level of 
investment to their positive economic performance. Thus, we note that the added value of the WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  primary sector grew significantly, and to date, in 2016, agricultural activity contributes around 
31% of the Union 's GDP. When it comes to the secondary sector, it h as also been dynamic, with 
continuing construction of basic infrastructure and the boom in the extractive industries. The 
sector now accounts for 24.2% of GDP. The Union has also seen the boom of its tertiary sector, led 
by trade, transport, financial serv ices and telecommunications. This sector now accounts for 
45.2% of its GDP.  
4.165.   Despite this good performance achieved over the period, member States of the Union are 
still seeking to accentuate their progress, aware of the many challenges they still face, in order to 
offer their population better living conditions, and so to reach a real level of economic and social 
development, less dependent on single cash crops or mineral resource extraction. The clearly 
stated objectives by the member States of the Union a re the same as those of al LDCs, that is to 
say industrialization, structural transformation and diversification.  
4.166.   In this sense, the Union has undertaken major reforms related to trade policy, including 
trade facilitation, regional road transport and trans it facilitation. There is the issue of strengthening 
the intra -community trade, with the development of regional value chains, more generally as part 
of the implementation of the future continental free trade area. The member States of the Union 
also inten d to interconnect their customs computer systems, and envisages the free and effective 
movement of services within the Union area.  
4.167.   All these initiatives are also waiting for support from the work done and agreements 
reached multilaterally at the WTO. Thus,  beyond results achieved in favour of the LDCs, as the last 
Ministerial Conferences in Bali and Nairobi, member States of the Union, as for all LDCs, may wish 
WTO Members, especially the developed countries, to take measures to implement decisions in 
favou r of LDCs, for the purpose of achieving a fairer, balanced and equitable multilateral trading 
system that addresses in particular LDCs concerns, regarding key areas such as agriculture, DFQF, 
rules of origin, services, special and differential treatment, a nd other subjects.  
4.168.   Finally, the member States of the Union, especially the seven LDCs, may wish for WTO and 
its Members to provide the necessary technical assistance for managing the rules of the 
multilateral trading system, building capacity in areas such  as SPS, TBT, or for the implementation 
of the Trade Facilitation Agreement provisions. Different areas require special attention from the 
WTO and its Members in terms of technical assistance to LDCs.  
4.169.   On behalf of the LDC Group, Cambodia wishes the member States of the Union every 
success in their initiatives, as well as a successful review.  
PAKISTAN  
4.170.   WAEMU 's eight member States as a whole have a GDP of around €97 billion. The total 
population, numbering 119 million in 2017, is spread over a region of 3.5 mi llion square km. The 
simultaneous existence of WAEMU and ECOWAS, each with its own Commission, has meant that 
there is a certain degree of overlap.  
4.171.   Member States have immense natural resources, including minerals, and vast agricultural 
potential. Gold is mined in Burkina Faso and Mali, for which it is the most important export. Niger 
is one of the world 's leading producers and exporters of uranium, as is Togo for phosphates. 
Although all eight States  have agricultural potential, Cô te d'Ivoire reaps the gre atest benefit. Its 
agricultural strategy has enabled it to diversify production and become one of the foremost 
producers and exporters of several agricultural products such as cocoa, coffee and cashew nuts. 
For Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali, cotton is a maj or export, as are fish and shellfish for Senegal, 
while Guinea -Bissau relies on its exports of cashew nuts.  
4.172.   Over the period 2009 -2015, WAEMU 's annual economic growth wa s an average of 5%, 
driven by C ôte d'Ivoire, which accounts for over one third of the Un ion's GDP. Furthermore, 
WAEMU 's macroeconomic stability, achieved as a result of monetary discipline and, to a certain 
extent, the budgetary discipline imposed by membership of such a Union, has enabled it to absorb 
the shocks caused by sharp fluctuations in global prices for the raw materials exported.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  4.173.   The share of total trade in goods and services in WAEMU 's GDP rose by seven percentage 
points between  2009 and 2016 to reach 70.4%. D espite this, over 90% of the Union 's trade in 
goods takes place outside th e community, with the European Union (EU), Switzerland, China and 
India as the major partners.  
4.174.   Pakistan has noted that i nvestment in the Union has the advantage of a legal framework 
for business law that has been harmonized. The Investment Codes of WAEMU members are 
generally liberal, with no important restrictions on foreign presence, and provide foreign investors 
with the usual guarantees. However, problems of electricity supply and its high cost are one of the 
major obstacles to investment within the Un ion. 
4.175.   Pakistan is pleased to note that by May 2017, all WAEMU member States, except for Benin, 
Burkina Faso and Guinea -Bissau, had ratified the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation.  
4.176.   Pakistan is concerned that the protection of intellectual property rights (I PRs) remains a 
challenge, even though all WAEMU member States h ave signed the Bangui Agreement  whose 
uniform provisions are essentially consistent with the WTO 's TRIPS Agreement. By May 2017, 
Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea -Bissau and Niger had still not accepted th e Protocol of Amendment to the 
TRIPS Agreement, ratified on 23 January 2017, and is intended to facilitate access to essential 
medicines.  
4.177.   The fisheries sector plays a key role in the economies of all member States both as regards 
revenue and food security,  even though it is more important in countries such as Senegal and 
Guinea -Bissau. In general, fisherie s do not appear to receive any G overnment support.  
4.178.   It is wor th mentioning that except for Cô te d'Ivoire, which is relatively more industrialized, 
the man ufacturing sector in WAEMU 's other member States is little developed, with a few light 
industries. The availability of secure, clean and inexpensive energy remains the major handicap for 
industrialization and diversification of WAEMU 's economies. Electric power within the Union is 
essentially of thermal origin, even though there is only very limited production of hy drocarbons in 
the Union. Only Cô te d'Ivoire and, since 2011, Niger, produce crude petroleum.  
4.179.   Pakistan appreciates that Services are increasingl y playing a predominant role in the 
economies of WAEMU member States. The areas which have recorded the best performances 
include mobile financial services, telecommunications and business services, following the 
installation of fiber optics. A liberal tra de policy towards foreign suppliers of services has helped to 
achieve this, promoting competition and partnerships in several member States.  
4.180.   The regional transport facilitation program launched by the WAEMU Commission in 2009 
should help encourage the ent ry of new operators and thus allow costs to fall and improve the 
security and reliability of transport services. Banking and insurance in member States are also 
open to foreign presence, which is substantial.  
4.181.   We are very appreciative of the WAEMU states, also b eing part of the ECOWAS, for 
co-hosting with Nigeria, a High -Level Policy and Private Sector Trade and Investment Facilitation 
Partnership Forum for Development Investment in Abuja, Nigeria, in conjunction with FIFD on the 
2nd and 3rd of November thi s year. We are also appreciative of the C4 efforts on limiting domestic 
support for cotton, and hope that these efforts bear fruit.   
4.182.   In the end, we wish WAEMU States a very successful and a fruitful TPR.  
HAITI 
4.183.   The Haitian delegation applauds all the work done to ratify the Agreement on 
Trade  Facilitation (TFA) by some of the members of the West African Economic and 
Monetary  Union (WAEMU).  
4.184.   As trade and investment are fundamental aspects of economic growth for developing 
States and LDCs, the Haitian delegati on encourages WAEMU members to continue with their 
reforms in order to reassure potential investors that would like to become established there and 
attract greater investment.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  4.185.   The Haitian delegation welcomes the role played by the WAEMU countries in making  
themselves available to participate in the activities of the various bodies of this Organization and 
for the solidarity that they demonstrate at every opportunity.  
4.186.   The Haitian delegation also supports the statements made by the Least Developed 
Countries ( LDC) Group and the ACP Group of States as part of this trade policy review.  
4.187.   My delegation takes this opportunity to wish the delegations of the WAEMU member 
countries every success in this exercise.  
RWANDA  ON BEHALF  OF THE AFRICAN  GROUP  
4.188.   It is a great honou r to make this statement on behalf of the African Group on the occasion 
of the WAEMU trade policy review in view of the ties of friendship that bind us together and our 
sound diplomatic relations. It is also the forum for pooling experience – an ongoing ex ercise that 
benefits our continent.  
4.189.   The WAEMU members form an economic, cultural and social area that has a long, shared 
history of integration. Founded in January  1994, WAEMU is a commendable model of integration, 
despite the fact that improvements in cer tain fields would contribute to a greater number of better 
outcomes, something that we would all like to see.  
4.190.   We welcome the objectives set for the WAEMU area, which include (i)  greater 
competitiveness of member States' economic and financial activities; a nd (ii)  the establishment 
and coordination of national sectoral policies.  
4.191.   We are pleased to note that the macroeconomic framework is generally stable: at less 
than 3%, inflation is under control in all States; and economic growth averages 6%, although 
Côte d'Ivoire stands out with its average growth rate of 8%.  
4.192.   Nonetheless, the WAEMU report states that "almost five out of every ten people [are] living 
below the poverty line", that in 2016 the primary sector contributed around 31% of GDP, and the 
tertiary se ctor around 45%. The Secretariat report concurs: "the majority of the population is 
essentially involved in agriculture, including raising livestock". It goes on to say that except for 
Côte d'Ivoire, the manufacturing sector in WAEMU's other member States is not very developed, 
with a few light industries. Against that background, exports are clearly dominated by unprocessed 
raw materials; there are low levels of intra -community trade and a considerable trade deficit.  
4.193.   Such are the features that typify LDCs and African countries more generally.  
4.194.   This is no accident. It is unquestionably the outcome of a number of endogenous factors, 
although exogenous factors also play a major part. In this instance, policies imposed from the 
outside such as the structural adjustment policies of the 1980s and 1990 s, and some of the 
WTO Agreements, have played a negative role in these countries' development, and continue to do 
so. Where the WTO Agreements are concerned more specifically, the Agriculture Agreement allows 
rich countries to provide unlimited subsidies to their farmers and to impose unfair and 
unacceptable competition on African farmers over an extensive range of products to devastating 
effect on the continent and, more especially, on the region of concern here today. 
The cotton  initiative introduced at the WTO in 2003 which hitherto has produced no tangible 
outcome  is evidence of the need to change the WTO rules and agreements to give 
the Organization a human face. It is against that backdrop that in the run -up to 
the Eleventh  Ministerial Conference, the  African Group is asking rich countries to abolish all 
imbalances/inequalities/asymmetries contained within the Agriculture Agreement, in particular 
the Aggregate Measurement of Support (AMS), through disciplines that include a ban on the 
concentration of subsidies for specific products. On cotton specifically, the African  Group 
unreservedly supports the position adopted by the C4 to eliminate all cotton trade -distorting 
measures. The African Group welcomes the commitment of all the delegations of 
the WAEMU  member States in the negotiations to safeguard the interests of their countries and 
the continent.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  4.195.   It should thus be noted that all of us (as the African Group) share the same outlook in the 
negotiations with a view to contributing to "the 2063 Agenda, Th e Africa We Want", especially 
when it comes to upholding measures on industrialization, structural transformation and economic 
diversification.  
4.196.   This leads me on to WAEMU's trade policies and practices and its bilateral agreements 
considering its still fled gling level of industrialization. The Secretariat report states that the 
average WAEMU CET is 12.1% and that in most cases the applied rates exceed the bound rates, 
especially when the various additional arrangements are taken into account. One thing is fo r 
certain: the average rate of the CET is relatively low given the level of development of the 
countries concerned, and especially given their still fragile level of industrialization. These are 
supplemented by very low bindings. All of this is relevant to  the exogenous factors that we 
referred to previously. The Secretariat report notes that some WAEMU members have reserved the 
right to renegotiate their bound tariffs pursuant to Article  XXVIII and we hope that when the time 
comes the outcome will be in th eir favour because they deserve it.  
4.197.   It should be noted that the 500 -year history of development shows that no country has 
been able to develop without industrializing. We also know that trade and industrial policies have 
played a major role in the industri al development of countries that are currently wealthy. 
Unfortunately, over time, those same countries have not encouraged the emergence of similar 
policies in our States, whether under policies imposed at national or regional level or under 
the WTO Agreem ents that they drew up during the GATT period when they took pains to prevent 
"newcomers" from benefiting under the policies that they themselves had exploited extensively 
during their own development process, such as those concerning industrial subsidies,  local inputs, 
and safeguards for fledgling industries. Moreover, for some years now we have witnessed a trend 
towards agreements whose impact requires close monitoring, namely the Economic Partnership 
Agreements (EPAs) between the European Union and the A CP countries, which include 
WAEMU  members. Free trade agreements of this kind between developed countries and LDCs are 
a particular source of concern as they liberalize almost all industrial tariffs with no effective 
safeguards. Regular monitoring should b e carried out on the impact of EPAs on agriculture and 
industry. We recommend that our States' trade policies include a chapter to that end.  
4.198.   In that connection , I would like to draw your attention to the UNIDO 2016 report which, 
backed by a definitive anal ysis, illustrates the dangers of premature deindustrialization of the kind 
that (almost) the whole of Africa faces. Premature deindustrialization is defined as a steady fall in 
the contribution of manufacturing to GDP and employment in a country that has n ever actually 
industrialized. Its opposite is mature deindustrialization as experienced by most developed 
countries (the normal course of development). One of the serious consequences of premature 
deindustrialization as experienced by our countries is that  it "smothers economic development 
potential by limiting the application of technology to production and generating low productivity 
and informal services activities – while mature deindustrialization often leads to dynamic high -tech 
services".  
4.199.   In view of this we welcome the national development plans of the countries concerned, 
including: (i) Benin Revealed; (ii) Côte  d'Ivoire's National Development Plan 2016 -2020; 
(iii) Mali's  Strategic Framework for Economic Recovery and Sustainable Development; (iv)  Niger's 
Economic and Social Development Plan (PDES); and (v) Senegal's Emerging Senegal Plan. In our 
view these policies and programmes will contribute to the industrialization, structural 
transformation and economic diversification of these countries.  
4.200.   Aid fo r Trade for these countries and any other support such as technology transfer and 
technical assistance should be provided by the partners and the WTO in order to encourage the 
emergence of a sound technological and industrial base. Above all, some multilat eral trading rules 
should be relaxed (e.g. as requested by the G -90 under special and differential treatment); and 
others should be completely overhauled, such as the Agreement on Agriculture, to establish an 
international environment conducive to both agr icultural development and the development of a 
sound industrial base in Africa.  
4.201.   The development of poor countries is not a zero -sum game but a win -win situation.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  GUINEA 
4.202.   The report by the WAEMU Governments underscores the progress made by the 
eight countri es with a view to the first common review of their trade policies. 
The Republic  of Guinea is confident that this review reflects the national policy strategies of 
the WAEMU members, in compliance with their WTO commitments.  
4.203.   Geography, history, cultural pro ximity, economic interests, and trade links closely bind 
WAEMU and the Republic of Guinea to each other. Guinea has borders with several 
WAEMU  countries, namely Senegal, Guinea -Bissau, Mali and Côte  d'Ivoire.  
4.204.   Where trade is concerned, apart from exports of  mining products from Guinea to the major 
international markets, Guinea's trading partners are its immediate neighbours, which are 
WAEMU  members. The WAEMU CET is applied by Guinea as a member of ECOWAS.  
4.205.   Despite a depressed international economic environme nt, the outcomes of WAEMU 
macroeconomic policies are, on the whole, relatively promising: the growth rate is 6% and 
inflation is under control.  
4.206.   The encouraging sectoral policy reforms instigated by the WAEMU countries are also to be 
commended. Economic int egration is a vital necessity for each of the countries in the West  African 
subregion and the WAEMU area. The integration process involving the free movement of persons 
and goods and the right of establishment is well under way in the WAEMU and ECOWAS memb er 
countries.  
4.207.   The movement of goods and persons within WAEMU and ECOWAS has been in effect for 
several years. Guinea notes and welcomes measures that have facilitated the movement of natural 
persons on the basis of a common passport and even national ident ity cards in the 
ECOWAS  countries.  
4.208.   As a result of the ECOWAS and WAEMU CET, our countries can now trade with each other. 
WAEMU reform in matters involving taxation, customs, trade, road transport infrastructure and 
business restructuring is moving ahead.  
4.209.   Most WAEMU countries and Guinea are members of subregional and continental integration 
organizations. These include the Organization for the Development of the Senegal River, 
the Organization for the Development of the River Gambia, ECOWAS and the African Union.  
4.210.   The establishment of a second West African  monetary zone (WAMZ ) is under way. 
The WAMZ covers  The Gambia, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra  Leone and Guinea. The long -term objective 
is to merge the WAMZ and WAEMU to establish one West African monetary zone.  
4.211.   I shall close by congratulating the WAEMU countries for the efforts they have made since 
the individual reviews of their policies in previous years.  
GHANA  
4.212.   Ghana is delighted to participate in this meeting, to peer review our West African 
neighbours and in taking stock of their economic and trade reforms.  
4.213.   Ghana has long enjoyed amicable relationship with all WAEMU countries which predates 
Ghana 's independence and shares borders with three of the WAEMU countr ies namely: Togo to the 
east, Cô te d'Ivoire to the west and Burkina Faso to the north, and has long standing historical and 
cultural ties with these neighbours that were only broken or weakened by colonial rule.  
4.214.   Ghana has bilateral trade relations with all eight countries. Trade between Ghana and 
WAEMU cou ntries h as been growing steadily with Cô te d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso having significant 
share of that trade. Indeed since 2011, Ghana 's exports to Burkina Faso have surpassed that of 
Nigeria which used to be the leading destination of Ghana 's exports in th e sub -region.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  4.215.   The landlocked member S tates also have sizeable transit trade going through the port of 
Tema in Ghana which peaked during the post -election conflict in Cô te d'Ivoire. With the 
introduction of paperless clearance at Ghana 's ports which has red uced the cost and time for 
clearance, we are confident that transit trade will grow even more.  
4.216.   It is commendable that while world economic growth has been around 3% over the last 
five years, the WAEMU member States, most of which a LDCs, have performed wel l with average 
growth of 6%, which is higher than the average for sub -Saharan Africa (1.5%). This could not 
have been achieved without the contribution of Côte d 'Ivoire w hich, since the end of the 
post-election crisis of 2011, has stood out from the rest o f WAEMU with growth rates of at least 
8% and growing.  
4.217.   Services have played increasingly predominant role in the economies of WAEMU member 
States. Especially in mobile financial services, telecommunications and business services, following 
the installation of fibre optics. But the recent amalgamations and takeovers in the 
telecommunication sector, by increasing its concentration, could slow down this subsector 's 
performance.  
4.218.   Like Ghana, m ember States of WAEMU have immense natural resources, including 
mineral s, and vast agricultural potential. As indicated in the Secretariat report, Gold is mined in 
Burkina Faso and Mali, as the most important export; Niger is one of the world 's leading producers 
and exporters of uranium, and Togo for phosphates. For Benin, Bu rkina Faso and Mali, cotton is a 
major export, as are fish and shellfish for Senegal, while Guinea -Bissau relies on its exports of 
cashew nuts. Although all eight States have agricultural potential, these resources have not so far 
yielded the needed benefi ts for the national economy or the people. It is only Côte d 'Ivoire that 
reaps the greatest benefit because of its strategy to diversify production and become one of the 
foremost producers and exporters of several agricultural products such as cocoa, coffe e and 
cashew nuts.  
4.219.   Member States must therefore aim to diversify their economies rather than continue to 
concentrate too heavily on single cash crops (cotton, coffee, cocoa, etc.) and mineral resources 
(gold, petroleum, uranium, phosphate, etc.), which ma kes them vulnerable and increases their 
exposure to turbulence in the global economy.  
4.220.   Between Ghana and Cô te d'Ivoire, 60% of the world 's finest cocoa is produced and 
exported. It is for this reason that the two countries in a recent meeting of the Preside nts agreed 
that they must necessarily have some control in the determination of the price of cocoa and cocoa 
products which  are crucial to our economies.  
4.221.   Despite the efforts of Member S tates at removing barriers to trade among themselves, 
there still exist  a number of tariff and non -tariff barriers the removal of which could help these 
countries and the ECOWAS as a whole make the most of trade opportunities, increase trade, 
particularly intra -regional trade, and raise the living standard of the people.  
4.222.   It is commendable that WAEMU member States have made significant contribution to the 
sub-regional group, the ECOWAS, and we encourage them to continue in that regard.  
4.223.   As fou nding Members of the WTO, most S tates have demonstrated commitment to the 
multilatera l trading system by their visibility and active participation in negotiations in Geneva. A 
majority of them have also ratified the trade facilitation agreement and we encourage the rest to 
so as soon as convenient.  
4.224.   Ghana wishes WAEMU Membe r countries a suc cessful first Trade Policy R eview as a group.  
DEMOCRATIC  REPUBLIC  OF THE CONGO  
4.225.   The WAEMU is an area of fellow nations with which the Democratic Republic of the Congo 
has friendly ties and excellent diplomatic and economic relations.  
4.226.   I extend heartfelt congratulations to each member State, whose laudable efforts have 
helped to build a dynamic community that is full of hope and a source of pride to its citizens who, WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  as a result of regional integration, can now move from one territory to  another within the 
community without any form of administrative formality requiring them to obtain entry visas or 
residence permits ahead of time.  
4.227.   Turning to the review, the note on the title page of the Secretariat report tells us that this 
is the first trade policy review of the West African Economic and Monetary Union. This means that 
this regional entity has attained the degree of maturity that allows it to be the subject of a review 
and we are delighted to take part in this exercise.  
4.228.   We look forward t o learning more from both the discussant, His Excellency 
Ambassador  Didier  Chambovey, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the WTO, to whom 
we express our congratulations and extend a welcome, and from the various speakers.  
4.229.   I also take this opportuni ty to welcome the interest shown by all WAEMU member States in 
our multilateral Organization, as evidenced by their active and regular participation in its 
proceedings.  
4.230.   We note that only one member of the community is classified as a developing country, 
whereas the other seven fall within the least developed countries (LDC) category. Despite the 
difficulties caused by the high cost of trade transactions, the high cost of transport and the high 
cost of materials, we congratulate all these member States for e very reform they have embarked 
upon in order to attain an acceptable level of development.  
4.231.   The Secretariat report also informs us that the soil in the WAEMU community has 
enormous agricultural potential and that the subsoil holds significant mineral resour ces which 
despite efforts hitherto have yielded little benefit to the national economies and the people who 
live in the mining areas. This is the case despite the macroeconomic stability that has resulted 
from the monetary and budgetary discipline imposed by membership of the Union. It has 
nonetheless provided a cushion against shocks caused by volatility in world prices of commodity 
exports.  
4.232.   The Secretariat report tells us that the share of overall intra - and extra -community trade in 
goods and services in WAEMU GDP increased by more than 70% during the review period. In value 
terms, however, intra -community trade rose at a slower pace, reflecting the extent of informal 
trade, which to some extent distorts the statistics by under -estimating intra -community t rade. 
4.233.   We welcome the reforms undertaken and the harmonization of reforms concerning the 
documentation of goods imports and exports.  
4.234.   Before closing we wish WAEMU every success in its trade policy review and a bright future 
to all members of the community.  
UNIDO  (OBSERVER ) 
4.235.   UNIDO welcomes the opportunity to participate as an observer in this review of 
the WAEMU countries' trade policies. I should first of all like to join the other speakers in 
congratulating:  
 His Excellency  Mr Alioune  Sarr and the WAEMU deleg ation for the clarity of their report and 
their insightful presentation;  
 His Excellency  Mr Chambovey for his perceptive observations;  
 the Secretariat of the World Trade Organization for the quality of its report.  
4.236.   The history of UNIDO's technical cooperatio n with the WAEMU countries in the field of 
trade capacity building goes back several years. The first regional programme on quality 
infrastructure, financed by the European Union, began in 2001 and we are currently supporting 
the WAEMU countries in the thi rd phase of a programme that has since been extended to all 
ECOWAS members.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  4.237.   The cooperation has proved most successful in terms of quality policy, promoting quality to 
businesses, quality infrastructure and conformity assessment. We have noted 
the WTO Secretariat's remarks and the specific technical assistance needs outlined in 
the WAEMU  report. The ongoing programme, which will end in December  2018, will satisfy these 
concerns in part. I understand that the quality component of the future regional competit iveness 
programme has just been approved, and that UNIDO has been retained as the implementing 
agency. There will therefore be good opportunities to conduct in -depth work on the quality 
agenda.  
4.238.   Aside from cooperation in trade capacity building, UNIDO is wo rking with 
the WAEMU  member countries to upgrade businesses, promote investment and develop SMEs with 
a view to diversifying the economy and raising manufacturing value added.  
4.239.   The development of a sound industrial base will benefit all production sectors g iven the 
upstream and downstream links between manufacturing and other sectors of production. Industrial 
development will help the countries in the subregion to become more fully integrated in the 
multilateral trading system. It would appear that in contra st to its two predecessors, 
the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (2016 -2025), adopted by resolution of the 
United Nations General Assembly, is harnessing significant international cooperation to support the 
industrialization agenda. The Afric an Union Commission, the regional economic communities, 
UNIDO, the Economic Commission for Africa, and the African Development Bank together with 
other financial institutions such as the World Bank and the European Investment Bank, are 
determined to suppor t African countries in this endeavour as recently confirmed at a high -level 
meeting in the margins of the UN General Assembly. I would therefore like to close these remarks 
by stating the hope that UNIDO will soon be able to work more closely with you in a chieving this 
objective.  
4.240.   Thank you for your attention.  
H.E.  MR. ALIOUNE  SARR  (SPOKESPERSON  OF THE DELEGATIONS  OF THE WAEMU  MEMBER  
COUNTRIES)  
4.241.   Once again, I would like to thank the Members of the World Trade Organization and the 
Observer for their interest i n this trade policy review of the West African Economic and Monetary 
Union countries. My thanks are also due to you, Mr  Chairman, for the professionalism and 
leadership you have displayed in conducting these proceedings, and to His Excellency 
Mr Didier  Chambovey, our discussant, who has described the economy of our region and some of 
the challenges that the WAEMU countries will have to address.  
4.242.   On behalf of my colleagues, I would like to reiterate two WAEMU commitments that reflect 
the will of our peoples a nd our Heads of State. The first is the commitment to subregional 
integration: our economies have no choice but to broaden subregional integration. The second is 
to multilateralism.  
4.243.   Some speakers noted a short time ago that ECOWAS has started to use biomet ric identity 
cards. Today, Senegal's identity cards are biometric ECOWAS area cards, reflecting the reality of 
free movement of persons and goods within our Union.  
4.244.   The member countries also welcome the words of encouragement and the solutions 
recommended t his morning in the matters of achieving better regional integration, diversifying our 
economy, harmonizing our sectoral policies, simplifying procedures and reducing the costs of trade 
regionally and with WTO Members.  
4.245.   On behalf of my colleagues I would lik e to thank all speakers who have added to our 
knowledge; naturally, their observations will be taken into account at the highest level. We thank 
Members for their oral questions this morning, to which we shall reply at the session of 
27 November, in additi on to the written responses already sent. On 27  November my fellow 
Ministers here today will address this august assembly as appropriate, and will provide greater 
detail.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  4.246.   On behalf of my colleagues and the entire delegation of the WAEMU member countries, 
thank you for taking an active part in this common review; we are available to everyone for 
discussion of matters within the framework of this review and beyond it.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  5  REPLIES BY THE SPOKESPERSON OF THE DELEGATIONS OF THE W AEMU MEMBER 
COUNTRIES AND ADDITIONA L COMMENTS  
5.1.  It is a real pleasure for me to take the floor for the second time as spokesperson for 
the Ministers of Benin, Burkina  Faso, Côte  d'Ivoire, Guinea -Bissau, Mali, Niger and Togo, and in my 
personal capacity, to reply to the questions and concerns raised by Members at the first common 
trade policy review of the eight WAEMU member countries.  
5.2.  On behalf of the individual member countries and the Commission of the West African 
Economic and Monetary Union, I wish to thank all Members that submitted quest ions and made 
suggestions as to how the West African Economic and Monetary  Union countries can become more 
fully integrated in the multilateral trading system.  
5.3.  I note that around 200  questions were submitted, reflecting our partners' strong interest in 
trade development and the well -being of our countries' populations.  
5.4.  Before I reply to the concerns raised, I note that all statements made at in the session of 
25 October  2017 welcomed the Union's economic performance and its other work at sectoral level.  
5.5.  I would also like to inform you that details of the replies have been forwarded in writing to 
the WTO Secretariat. We are willing to expand upon them if necessary. I can reaffirm to you the 
importance of the technical assistance supplied under the Enhanced  Integrated Framework, which 
takes into account the regional dimension. The experts from the Enhanced Integrated Framework 
and the Hub and Spokes Programme were actively involved in the preparation of this review.  
5.6.  My statement this morning will focus on th ree main thrusts, namely the economic 
environment, trade policy, and sectoral policies.  
5.7.  As I said in my statement of 25  October  2017, under the WAEMU Treaty our Heads of State 
provided clear guidelines to "create between the member States a common market b ased on the 
free movement of persons, goods, services and capital". All efforts focus on attaining the objective 
of integration.  
5.8.  On the economic environment , as you noted, the WAEMU member States have 
experienced buoyant economic activity with average grow th in excess of 6%. In that connection, 
Members noted the efforts made within the Union to deliver the budgetary and monetary discipline 
necessary for macroeconomic stability.  
5.9.  Members noted that economic performance could be better if economic and especial ly 
transport infrastructure were better; if our economies were more diversified; if commodities and 
mining products were substantially processed; and if the cost of energy were lower.  
5.10.   The WAEMU member States are aware of these points. Indeed, all member St ates are 
implementing development programmes in order to overcome these shortcomings in the short and 
medium terms. In their statements my colleagues will comment further on the main programmes 
implemented in their own countries.  
5.11.   I nonetheless wish to remi nd you of a few of the national and regional initiatives that 
underpin the member States' current performance.  
5.12.   As part of its work to promote the private sector the Union has taken measures chiefly in 
relation to investment, taxation, competition, governme nt procurement and public -private 
partnerships.  
5.13.   In addition to the reforms already delivered under the Organization for the Harmonization of 
Business Law in Africa (OHADA), the WAEMU States intend to introduce a regional initiative to 
improve the business climate (IRCA).  
5.14.   Moreover, a community investment code is being drafted with a view to harmonizing 
regulations at State level.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  5.15.   Where taxation is concerned, since 2006 the member States have been implementing a 
regional fiscal transition programme that aims to shift the focus of taxation away from customs 
duties towards domestic taxation. Modernization of tax administration, broadening of the tax base 
and combating fraud all help to improve domestic revenue collection.  
5.16.   As regards market regulation, efforts ma de to apply the competition rules help to increase 
the transparency of trade practices and reform the business climate.  
5.17.   In government procurement, since 2004 the WAEMU has had community regulations on the 
procedures for the award, performance, regulation a nd control of government procurement and 
public service concession contracts.  
5.18.   For public -private partnership (PPP) contracts, all member States have adopted laws 
establishing the legal framework for this particular type of contract in order to put conditio ns in 
place to promote the expansion of this alternative method of investment financing. There are also 
plans to introduce a regional legal and institutional framework for public -private partnerships.  
5.19.   Where trade policies and practices are concerned , you d rew our attention to the 
effects of the implementation of the ECOWAS CET, which call into question our commitments in 
respect of tariff bindings. We are working regionally towards launching a renegotiation of the 
bound rates over the three -year period 2018 -2020.  
5.20.   We have noted the observations on other taxes and charges levied at the border and plan to 
discuss them.  
5.21.   With regard to community levies, which are low, I can assure you that they contribute 
towards funding for integration projects. A study is under  way with a view to proposing alternative 
sources of Union finance.  
5.22.   On support for the implementation of the new common external tariff (CET), a joint 
committee has been established to ensure that it is managed in a transparent fashion and that 
trade docum ents are harmonized.  
5.23.   On trade facilitation, it should be noted that significant progress has been made and that 
work on the ratification processes continues.  
5.24.   On notification of Category  A, B and C measures, we can reassure Members that our 
countries will t ake steps to comply with their commitments. In addition, the Union is implementing 
a regional trade facilitation programme.  
5.25.   With regard to customs modernization, the WAEMU and ECOWAS Commissions have drawn 
up a draft community customs code, which will be a dopted shortly.  
5.26.   The new code incorporates progress made at international level, encompassing the 
provisions of the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) and the Agreement on Trade Facilitation. 
Customs systems interconnection projects are being developed with the  support of partners such 
as Japan and UNCTAD.  
5.27.   By way of remedies I can assure you that our countries are doing everything to comply with 
the provisions on trade defence measures provided for in the WTO Agreements.  
5.28.   The taxes and prohibitions on exports in force in some member States concern a very small 
number of products and their chief purpose is to protect the environment.  
5.29.   Some Members were concerned about the issue of mutual recognition in relation to technical 
regulations and accreditation, and about s anitary and phytosanitary legislation.  
5.30.   On this point I would like to stress that where accreditation is concerned, our area has 
established the West African Accreditation System. Its role is to pave the way for recognition of 
the competence of structures f or conformity assessment, namely inspection facilities, analysis and 
testing laboratories, and certification bodies.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  5.31.   Regarding sanitary and phytosanitary legislation, the impetus for regional harmonization has 
led to the adoption of regulations. Harmonizat ion of phytosanitary certificates is scheduled to begin 
in 2018 for the WAEMU member States.  
5.32.   Under sectoral policies , it would be impossible for me to give an exhaustive picture in just 
one morning of the efforts made and the possible outlook as a result.  
5.33.   Consequently I shall outline the thrust of our actions in agriculture, mining and energy.  
5.34.   In agriculture you raised the questions of increased production and local processing.  
5.35.   National initiatives under way, especially with regard to water management and t he 
implementation of the Union Agricultural policy (PAU), make it possible to improve the productivity 
of systems of production, and to phase in security of tenure in rural areas together with a stronger 
institutional framework.  
5.36.   On fisheries development, a  regional fisheries development programme is being 
implemented and has enabled a regional strategy for the negotiation of fisheries agreements to be 
drawn up.  
5.37.   In mining, a new community mining code is in process of adoption. National initiatives have 
been drafted such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and others on the promotion 
of local processing.  
5.38.   For energy, supply is improving through interlinkages and the promotion of renewables. 
Capacity building is under way in all member States.  
5.39.   In air transport, appropriate solutions are planned to open up the territory of the Union by 
developing a safe, orderly, efficient and less costly air transport system.  
5.40.   As you will no doubt have noticed, the process of integration within WAEMU is well under  
way and is continuing. WAEMU's achievements are shared with ECOWAS in order to broaden the 
opportunities to improve the well -being of the people of West Africa. To that end the WAEMU and 
ECOWAS  Commissions work together in an ongoing effort to build syner gies. 
5.41.   I should also like to note that the WAEMU countries are willing to share their experiences 
with other economic groupings that are under construction, particularly at continental level.  
5.42.   The relevance of all the questions submitted clearly illustrates the importance of the action 
that the WAEMU member States must take not only in order to comply with their 
WTO commitments, but most importantly, in order to improve their people's living standards, 
particularly those of women and children.  
5.43.   In concluding t his common trade policy review, I would like to call on the WTO Members and 
Secretariat to provide technical and financial assistance in capacity building through mechanisms 
such as Aid for Trade, in order to enable us to play a more extensive part in the multilateral 
trading system.  
5.44.   The WAEMU member States also urge all WTO Members to continue their work and expedite 
the multilateral trade negotiations so that by the Eleventh Ministerial Conference, it is possible to 
achieve outcomes that encourage poverty  reduction, job creation, structural transformation, 
industrialization and diversification of the Union's economies.  
5.45.   In this connection we urge all WTO Members to respond appropriately to requests relating to 
the substantial reduction and eventual abolitio n of domestic support that distorts international 
trade in agricultural products, especially in the cotton sector; and to fisheries subsidies and special 
and differential treatment.  
5.46.   In closing, on behalf of our respective Governments and the WAEMU Commissi on, I would 
once again like to thank the WTO Members and Secretariat for their most valuable contribution to WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  this first common trade policy review of Benin, Burkina  Faso, Côte  d'Ivoire, Guinea -Bissau, Mali, 
Niger, Senegal, and Togo. Thank you for your kind  attention.  
H.E.  MR. ELOI  LAOUROU  (BENIN) 
5.47.   Mr Chairman, I should like to begin by conveying to you and to all participants in this first 
common trade policy review of the WAEMU member States, the apologies of the Beninese Minister 
for Industry, Trade and Cr afts who because of time constraints, has returned to Benin. He has 
asked me to deliver the following message on behalf of the Beninese delegation.  
5.48.   The delegation of Benin endorses the statements made on Wednesday 25  October and this 
morning on behalf of t he eight  WAEMU member States on the occasion of the first common trade 
policy review of the member States.  
5.49.   It fully supports the message relayed on behalf of us all by His Excellency Mr  Alioune  Sarr, 
the Minister responsible for Trade of the Republic of Se negal.  
5.50.   Additionally on behalf of the Beninese Government led by the President of the Republic, 
His Excellency  Mr Patrice  Guillaume  Athanase  Talon, I should like to confirm Benin's commitment 
to promote and enhance multilateral trade cooperation, especially  under the aegis of 
the World  Trade Organization.  
5.51.   The Government of Benin adheres to the key principles of the WTO's work, namely 
transparency, predictability and equity, and is committed to work to ensure that all decisions 
continue to be taken by consens us. 
5.52.   I would like to join with Minister  Sarr of Senegal, who, at the opening session of the 
common trade policy review of the eight WAEMU States expressed his thanks on our behalf to the 
Director -General and the Secretariat of the WTO, in particular the Tra de Policy Review Division, 
which has historically supported and helped Members in this exercise.  
5.53.   In particular, my thanks go to His Excellency Ambassador Didier  Chambovey, 
Permanent  Representative of Switzerland to the WTO, for being so generous with his t ime and 
agreeing to be our discussant.  
5.54.   I must also express the thanks of the Beninese Government to all WTO Members who put 
written questions to the WAEMU Commission. The observations and concerns raised are evidence 
of the interest in the place and role o f the WAEMU countries, including Benin, in international 
trade.  
5.55.   Benin, a West African country, is a member of WAEMU and has a lengthy border with 
Nigeria and the hinterland countries. Because of its geographical position, it acts as a buffer 
through the dy namic and varied trade flows it has with Nigeria, other neighbouring countries, and 
the hinterland.  
5.56.   The budgetary deviations and shortfalls that arose at end -2015 and the beginning of 2016, 
aggravated by the subregion's economic circumstances, led to a det erioration in the 
macroeconomic situation of the Republic of Benin.  
5.57.   In March  2016 the election of a new President of the Republic, who had campaigned for a 
clean break with past policies, paved the way for unprecedented reforms to encourage inclusive, 
sustainable growth.  
5.58.   In confirmation of this, I would like to quote the President of the Republic of Benin who, in 
his message launching the Government Action Programme (PAG) 2016 -2021, "Benin Revealed", 
recalled that "Benin's strategic location in West Afr ica, its human capital, its political stability, its 
potential and its heritage are indisputable advantages. It is now time to make them more widely 
known and to capitalize upon them".  
5.59.   That outlook was confirmed in the statement issued at the end of an Int ernational Monetary 
Fund visit to Cotonou from 7 -14 June 2017 which noted that  "[t]he economy grew by 4% in real WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  terms in  2016, overcoming the low -growth environment that resulted from negative spillovers 
from Nigeria. Inflation turned negative in 2016 ( -0.8%), reflecting a bumper cotton harvest and 
low oil prices. The fiscal deficit narrowed in 2016, thanks to the authorities' strong measures to 
contain expenditure. Prospects for 2017 and the medium term are favorable and largely dependent 
on a sustained i mplementation of the Government's Action Program […], 2016 -2021 and the 
recovery of the Nigerian economy. For 2016 -2019, the budget program foresees an average deficit 
(including grants) of 4.6% of GDP consistent with the sustainability of the budget and t he debt. 
The medium -term macroeconomic framework foresees a shrinkage of the deficit to 1.9% of GDP 
in 2019, well below the West African Economic and Monetary Union convergence criterion of 3% of 
GDP".  
5.60.   The statement clearly illustrates the benefits of the new policy delivered by 
the Government  of Benin with the recent support of the IMF through the Extended Credit Facility 
(ECF) of 7  April 2017. The many measures taken by the Government in order to preserve 
macroeconomic and financial stability and raise st andards of living include laws to improve the 
collection of domestic revenues and improve the quality of expenditure in order to provide room 
for budgetary manoeuvring in favour of social expenditure and investment in infrastructure while 
safeguarding debt  viability; linking up the computer systems of the tax and customs 
administrations to improve their efficiency, the coordination between them, and revenue 
collection; and reforms to establish an environment that is conducive to Benin becoming more 
firmly i ntegrated in world trade, including:  
 the Law containing the Land and State Property Code;  
 the Law of 2016 on Public -Private Partnerships (PPP);  
 the Law on the organization of competition, reinforcing the Law laying down 
the Legal  Framework for Public -Private Partnerships; and  
 the new Labour Code introducing greater flexibility into relations between employers and 
employees.  
5.61.   The Law on the AGOA, which aims to encourage the development of trade and increased 
economic cooperation between the United States and the eligible countries of sub -Saharan Africa, 
including Benin, is the object of special attention. Measures have been taken to encourage and 
facilitate access to the US market for Beninese businesses that exploit a few niches in this huge 
market.  
5.62.   As a memb er of the OHADA, Benin has:  
 an efficient, credible and dynamic legal and judicial framework. There are plans to recruit 
and build the capacity of judges and judicial personnel;  
 operational commercial courts; and  
 an arbitration and mediation centre.  
5.63.   Additio nally, Cotonou Port, the lungs of Benin's economic and commercial activity, is 
working towards becoming a strategic transit port for the hinterland by continuing to improve the 
services it provides and introducing simplified procedures that will provide us ers with transparency 
in port operations. The most important measures taken can be summarized as follows:  
 the establishment of a single window for external trade operations;  
 the establishment of a control centre for computerized management of tractor -trailers; and  
 the modernization of container terminals.  
5.64.   Benin has also made the strategic choice to use new information and communications 
technologies, with functional digital applications to stimulate and amplify work performance and 
increase competitiveness.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  5.65.   I shall close my statement by renewing Benin's commitment to work towards developing 
global trade based on the WTO's guiding principles.  
5.66.   The WAEMU member States, including Benin, urge WTO Members to work towards securing 
tangible and measurable outcomes i n agriculture, cotton and fisheries, all of them strategic sectors 
in the economies of these countries, and in the other issues under negotiation, including special 
and differential treatment for developing countries and LDCs, the category into which seven  of the 
eight WAEMU countries fall.  
5.67.   The Government of Benin urges the technical and financial partners to pursue and increase 
their support for activities to promote trade and sustainable and inclusive economic development 
in the WAEMU countries.  
5.68.   Finally, I call on the technical and financial partners to support the implementation of 
the Cotton Roadmap programme, which is a structured example of an initiative to improve value 
chains in cotton production and processing.  
H.E.  MR. STEPHANE  WENCESLAS  SANOU  (BURKINA  FASO)  
5.69.   First of all, I must express the thanks and gratitude of the people of Burkina  Faso and of 
His Excellency Mr  Roch Marc Christian  Kabore, the President of Burkina  Faso, for your clear 
interest in our country, as evidenced by your presence here th is morning.  
5.70.   Burkina  Faso is a landlocked least developed country (LDC) in the heart of West Africa that 
has borders with six countries. Its economy is based mainly on crop farming, livestock raising and 
gold production, making its performance heavily depen dent on the vagaries of the weather and the 
international prices of gold and cotton, the latter being its primary cash crop. The Burkina 
economy's vulnerability to external shocks is further exacerbated by its heavy reliance on 
hydrocarbons, all of which a re imported, as the main energy source. Gross national income (GNI) 
per capita was about €554 equivalent in 2015.  
5.71.   Burkina  Faso faces many development constraints, both domestic and external. Private 
sector development is still hampered by factors such as p oor road and transport infrastructure, the 
high costs of factors of production, and a scarcity of finance and electricity, and the threat of 
terrorism.  
5.72.   The macroeconomic and structural reforms implemented include efforts to broaden the tax 
base and raise a wareness of fiscal responsibility among economic operators, together with efforts 
to modernize the tax and customs administrations. We have also succeeded in fostering financial 
sector development, making it easier to start a business – a process that now takes 24  days, and 
reducing the capital requirement for limited liability companies to €7.6. We have also succeeded in 
granting construction permits and transferring property within fairly reasonable time limits and in 
so doing have achieved positive outco mes for the business climate. Efforts have also been made to 
restructure and upgrade State -owned enterprises in difficulty.  
5.73.   The Government has adopted the National Economic and Social Development Programme 
(PNDES), which serves as the current reference poi nt both for overall policies and strategies and 
for local and sectoral development policies: for example, it led to the adoption of the PPP texts.  
5.74.   The overall objective of Burkina  Faso's trade policy is to create an environment conducive to 
the development  of exports, imports and investment with a view to achieving sustained economic 
growth and alleviating poverty while generating decent jobs.  
5.75.   The Sectoral Policy for Industry, Trade and Crafts (POSICA) running until 2020, determines 
the priority sectors und er the National Export Promotion Strategy (SNE). The SNE has identified 
six promising subsectors, all of which are in the agricultural sector and the focus of promotional 
activities.  
5.76.   Burkina  Faso is party to several trade agreements. The country became a G ATT contracting 
party in 1963 and a founding Member of the WTO on 3  June 1995. It is also a founding member of 
the African Union, ECOWAS and WAEMU. In the ECOWAS framework (plus Mauritania), WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  Burkina  Faso took part in the negotiations on an Economic Partner ship Agreement with 
the European Union.  
5.77.   As an LDC, Burkina  Faso enjoys preferential access to more developed country markets 
through non -reciprocal preferences accorded by, among others, the European  Union under the 
"Everything But Arms" initiative, the Un ited States under the AGOA, and under 
the Generalized  System of Preferences of other countries. Burkina  Faso's products enjoy free 
access to the markets of the other ECOWAS countries.  
5.78.   Exports are generally free of all duties and taxes and are not subject t o VAT. The exceptions 
include trade in certain live animals and raw hides and skins, which are subject to a "livestock 
subsector contribution". Burkina  Faso also imposes a tax on each  export certificate for works of 
art, which goes to the National Cultural  Promotion Fund.  
5.79.   Law No.  011-2007/AN of 24  May 2007 governs standardization, certification, accreditation 
and quality promotion in Burkina  Faso; it defines the categories of standards, together with 
procedures for their drafting, approval and implementatio n. Recent developments include the 
revision of the 2012 "National Quality Policy" in 2016 in order to reduce duplication of effort across 
import quality inspection bodies. Craft trades are flourishing and there is a Chamber of Craft 
Trades led by 75 electe d members.  
5.80.   A new competition law was adopted in May  2017 and it applies to all production, distribution 
or services activities, including those conducted by legal persons governed by public law. There is 
also the Framework Law on the promotion of SMEs/SMIs  adopted in April  2017.  
5.81.   Burkina  Faso has extensive mineral reserves, particularly of gold, phosphate, magnesium, 
zinc, lead, silver, iron, nickel and cobalt.  
5.82.   The tertiary sector's contribution to GDP is of the order of 44%, with commerce as the 
principal a ctivity. Burkina  Faso is traditionally a net importer of services, and the deficit in the 
balance of trade in services has widened considerably since 2009.  
5.83.   Burkina  Faso is committed to complying with the multilateral and community trade rules 
because it is  confident that trade is a powerful driver and catalyst for economic growth and 
development in our countries.  
5.84.   Burkina  Faso acceded to the Agreement on Trade Facilitation in December  2013. 
In June 2014 it adopted its report on priority needs, and its Nation al Committee on Trade 
Facilitation was established in March  2017. The process of ratification was delayed because of the 
socio-political situation in our country in October  2014 and 2015. However, the process has now 
resumed and the instrument of ratificat ion will be deposited at the WTO by end -November  2017. I 
also have the pleasure of informing you that on Thursday 26  October the National Assembly 
adopted the law on trade facilitation agreements.  
5.85.   As regards implementation of the CET, Burkina  Faso is worki ng alongside other 
WAEMU/ECOWAS countries to renegotiate the tariff bindings in order to bring them into line with 
its WTO commitments. Our spokesperson referred to this and I can confirm it.  
5.86.   By way of Aid for Trade, the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF)  played a technical and 
financial part in activities to draw up the WAEMU and the Burkina  Faso reports. 
The Diagnostic  Trade Integration Study (DTIS) was the benchmark for the country report and at 
this point I should like to request funding for another pr oject to ensure the sustainability of the 
outcomes already attained under the EIF, in particular those that relate to the promotion of 
promising sectors with a view to integrating them more fully into world value chains.  
5.87.   As the Eleventh WTO Ministerial Con ference approaches, I wish to recall that Burkina  Faso is 
of the view that only significant progress towards the conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda 
will provide more opportunities for trade, investment and employment, while enhancing the 
multilatera l system. As the leading producer of cotton, Burkina  Faso hopes that the C4 proposal 
meets with a favourable response at MC11.  
5.88.   On behalf of Burkina  Faso I therefore urge Members to be flexible in order to reach 
conclusive, tangible outcomes at the Conferen ce, and especially in the following areas:  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  5.89.   Agriculture, in all three pillars:  
 cotton;  
 public stockholding for food security purposes; and  
 special and differential treatment (S&D).  
5.90.   Thank you for your attention.  
H.E.  MR. SOULEYMANE  DIARRASSOUBA  (CÔTE  D'IVOIRE)  
5.91.   First I would like to convey the fraternal greetings of His  Excellency  Mr Alassane  Ouattara, 
the President of the Republic of Côte  d'Ivoire.  
5.92.   For many reasons, the delegation of Côte  d'Ivoire is pleased to take part in this 
first common trade policy  review of the eight WAEMU countries.  
5.93.   My delegation commends the conduct of this WTO exercise in transparency, a quality much 
prized in our Organization.  
5.94.   In that regard I would like to thank you for the efficient way in which you are conducting 
these proce edings.  
5.95.   Côte d'Ivoire, which is now experiencing its third trade policy review, although this latest 
one is in group format, is pleased to have had the opportunity to outline its economic 
environment, trade and investment regimes, measures linked to its tr ade policy and practices, and 
its sectoral policies in the Secretariat and Government reports.  
5.96.   Côte d'Ivoire's interest in this review, which all the WAEMU members are pleased to have, 
lies in its role as an audit of our integration and our national trade regime.  
5.97.   It has also enabled us to inform all Members of our country's strong performance, which has 
underpinned the positive economic trends in the region as a whole.  
5.98.   Given that Côte  d'Ivoire's GDP accounted for 36% of WAEMU's GDP in 2016, the country's 
economic growth has been remarkable indeed: driven by the buoyant sectors of agriculture, 
industry and services, it has exceeded 9% every year since its previous trade policy review 
in 2012.  
5.99.   Côte d'Ivoire has a transparent investment regime that guarantees i nvestors' rights and 
confers several privileges upon them.  
5.100.   It is clear from both reports that Côte  d'Ivoire is firmly committed to economic 
restructuring, institutional and administrative reform and modernization of industrial, port and 
airport infrastruct ure with a view to becoming an emerging country by 2020.  
5.101.   The spirit of the reforms lies in privatization; the liberalization of services sectors; the 
acceleration of the move to digitalize various administrative and financial procedures; the 
simplification  of significant numbers of customs procedures through the establishment of various 
single windows including the single window for foreign trade (GUCE); the use of electronic 
payment for some taxes; and today's dominance of mobile money transactions, which 
in Côte d'Ivoire average €23  million worth per day.  
5.102.   The country has begun major infrastructure work to enlarge and modernize our two ports 
of Abidjan and San  Pedro and develop the extensive Atlantic coastline. We should also note that 
under the Treaty of F riendship and Cooperation (TAC) with the Republic of Burkina  Faso, 
Côte d'Ivoire has already finished work on the Abidjan -Yamoussoukro motorway, has recently 
embarked on works for the Yamoussoukro -Tiebissou stretch and is preparing to begin works on WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  the Bo uaké and Korhogo stretch. Our country has one airline, Air Côte  d'Ivoire, which serves 
around ten African countries.  
5.103.   Côte d'Ivoire is also investing to increase its energy production capacity from 2,000  MW to 
4,000  MW by 2020.  
5.104.   Industrialization and diversi fication of the economy, which are at the heart of the 
Government's development strategy, are set out in a regulatory framework under various plans, 
including the US$60  billion National Development Programme (PND) 2016 -2020. As a result, 
despite the 40% dr op in cocoa prices last year, the projections for 2017 are for a growth rate 
of 8.3%, an inflation rate that remains under control below the community target of 3%, and a 
budget deficit of 4.5% that will revert to the 3% target in 2019.  
5.105.   Côte d'Ivoire is a signatory to several double taxation agreements. Having notified 
the WTO of its ratification of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation, it is preparing to notify its 
Category  B and C measures.  
5.106.   Côte d'Ivoire adheres to the economic and social aims adopted upon  independence in  1960 
that typically incorporate outward -oriented economic and social openness.  
5.107.   Côte d'Ivoire complies with its international commitments and intends to renegotiate its 
tariff concessions pursuant to Article  XXVIII of the GATT, as stated in  WTO document  G/MA/337 of 
31 August  2017.  
5.108.   At this point, I wish to request our economic and financial partners to afford Côte  d'Ivoire 
treatment similar to that extended to the least developed countries in view of the difficulties that 
my country has recently experienced. This could not only fast -track coherence of economic activity 
in Côte  d'Ivoire but would also and primarily support more balanced development across the 
region as a whole, given the driving role that the Ivorian economy plays in the subregion. 
Côte d'Ivoire continues to be an impo rtant player in African integration in all the regional economic 
communities established in various countries in the region: the Council of the Entente, WAEMU, 
and ECOWAS.  
5.109.   In closing I would like to express my delegation's gratitude and appreciation to the  team in 
the Secretariat who drew up the reports with great professionalism and objectiveness.  
5.110.   I would like to thank and congratulate the discussant, His Excellency Mr  Didier  Chambovey, 
the Ambassador of Switzerland to the WTO, for the quality of his prese ntation, his candid analysis 
and his highly germane recommendations.  
5.111.   I welcome the spirit of friendliness, solidarity and cooperation that has always permeated 
our Union, including throughout this review process, and in that regard I would like to express my 
appreciation to my colleagues, who made every effort to rally our national experts in this noble 
cause.  
5.112.   I also commend Mr  Ibrahima Dieme, the WAEMU Commissioner, and his team for their 
excellent work, not forgetting our various Missions at Geneva, espec ially the Heads of Mission, who 
made suitable arrangements to ensure that this review runs smoothly.  
5.113.   Finally, on behalf of the Government led by Prime  Minister  Amadou Gon Coulibaly, my 
delegation and myself, I sincerely thank all participants and particula rly the representatives of 
Members who submitted written or oral questions directly or indirectly. As our spokesperson said, 
we have given outline replies to your various concerns. However I reiterate that our team is 
available to provide further clarifica tion in respect of other concerns if necessary.  
5.114.   To flesh out the schematic replies given in my statement, I would like to expand on the 
concerns expressed by some Members, especially the United States and the European Union.  
5.115.   On the United States' concerns about the listing of applied tariffs that exceed the bound 
rates, this matter will be fully resolved as part of the renegotiation of our tariff concessions 
pursuant to the provisions of Article  XXVIII of the GATT, as stated in WTO document G/MA/337 of WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  31 August  2017. We are in breach on close to 880  tariff lines; our experts are working alongside 
ECOWAS on the renegotiations planned in that regard.  
5.116.   In relation to the source or method of financing for African Union actions, following 
the Kigali Decision I ho pe I can reassure the US by stating that the Government has decided to act 
on an MFN basis by allocating a share of the lawful customs levies to the fund. This will not lead to 
any rise in the cumulative rate of applied duties, as can be checked and found in practice.  
5.117.   In relation to the European Union's concerns, namely the reduction in the time to process a 
file from 90  days to 45  days, the shift to paperless certificates of origin (a pilot project between 
Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal), and the electronic tra nsmission of documents to the 
WAEMU  Commission: Côte  d'Ivoire is firmly committed to a making the bulk of import and export 
documents paperless. The pilot project between Côte  d'Ivoire and Senegal concerning certificates 
of origin is part of that process. The process itself is at a very advanced stage and will be 
implemented in the very near future.  
5.118.   Thank you for your kind attention.  
H.E.  MR. SADOU -SEYDOU  (NIGER)  
5.119.   Mr Chairman, allow me to perform the pleasant duty of bringing warm greetings from 
His Excellen cy Mr  Issoufou Mahamadou, the President of the Republic, Head of State, and of 
the Government of Niger, to the Director -General of the World Trade Organization, 
Mr Roberto  Azevêdo.  
5.120.   The delegation of the Republic of Niger that I have the honour to lead expr esses its sincere 
thanks to this august assembly, in particular to His Excellency Mr  Juan Carlos Gonzalez, 
the Chairman of the Review Body, and to His Excellency Mr  Didier  Chambovey, the discussant, for 
their succinct analyses of our Union's situation.  
5.121.   I must also thank the WTO Secretariat for making the appropriate arrangements to ensure 
the smooth running of this very instructive and highly pertinent exercise.  
5.122.   It is my pleasure to thank the WAEMU Commission and the representatives of 
the WAEMU  member Stat es in Geneva for the tremendous work they are doing.  
5.123.   Thanks also to my fellow Minister Alioune  Sarr, the Senegalese Minister responsible for 
trade and spokesperson for the WAEMU member States. We very much appreciate how well he has 
performed the task entr usted to him. Minister, we all decided to come to Geneva to support you 
even though your knowledge of the structure of our economies and the Organization to which we 
all belong makes you more than capable of defending the interests of the countries in our Union on 
your own.  
5.124.   I have closely followed the statements of the distinguished representatives of 
WTO Members.  
5.125.   Niger notes with satisfaction the positive messages that have emerged typically expressing 
willingness to join efforts to support the policies an d reforms under way and to ensure that 
the WTO continues to be a meaningful forum for multilateral trade negotiations.  
5.126.   I reaffirm my Government's commitment to that end, and now wish to highlight some of 
the actions implemented by Niger.  
5.127.   In terms of econom ic approach and vision: Niger has adopted the Economic and Social 
Development Plan 2017 -2021. It sets out Niger's aims in the fields of development, well -being of 
the population, and poverty reduction in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.  
5.128.   Where l egal and institutional reform is concerned our objective is for modern trade and 
flourishing investment to harness the potential for growth that is both inclusive and better 
distributed. The Government will continue with the drive to improve the business c limate and 
reduce the cost of trade.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  5.129.   The tariff regime: like a number of other WAEMU countries, in December  2014, Niger 
reserved the right to renegotiate its tariff concessions pursuant to the provisions of Article  XXVIII 
of the GATT. With its status as a landlocked LDC in mind, Niger is careful to accommodate those of 
its trading partners grappling with climate -related events and insecurity.  
5.130.   Trade facilitation: Niger was the first country to notify its instruments of acceptance of 
the Protocol. Niger is of  the view that the implementation of this Agreement could help not only to 
boost intra -community trade but also to promote integration into international trade. 
The Government of Niger is undertaking a vast road and rail infrastructure programme.  
5.131.   Sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade: shortcomings have 
been noted despite the Government's capacity -building efforts in this area.  
5.132.   Where sectoral policies are concerned, the Niger Government is updating all sectoral 
policies in confo rmity with the Economic and Social Development Plan (PDES) which, in the aim of 
greater consistency, is the sole frame of reference.  
5.133.   I am delighted to note the technical assistance received by Niger in the form of capacity 
building provided by the WTO and the Enhanced Integrated Framework. We welcome this initiative 
on the part of the Enhanced Integrated Framework, as the sectoral projects known as Tier  2 
projects make it an important tool for poverty reduction. We hope that this assistance will continue 
and be stepped up for the sake of our population's well -being.  
5.134.   Thank you.  
MR. MODIBO  KEITA  (MALI)  
5.135.   It is my honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Minister for Trade of Mali, who is 
unable to attend.  
5.136.   Mali is very pleased to participate in this first common review of the WAEMU member 
States' trade policies, reflecting the commitment of each and every one of us to integrate further.  
5.137.   Mali endorses the statement delivered by the Senegalese Minister responsible for trade on 
behalf of the eight WAEMU countries, which covered the bulk of my country's concerns.  
5.138.   The Malian delegation thanks you, Mr  Chairman, for your able stewardship of these 
proceedings and welcomes the discussant's detailed report and the wealth of relevant information 
it contains, whic h have contributed to a proper understanding of the aspects highlighted during 
this review.  
5.139.   The Malian delegation expresses its gratitude to the WTO Secretariat, particularly 
the Trade Policy Review Division, for their availability and support throughout t his process, which 
ends today and moves on to a follow -up stage that is just as important for trade development in 
our countries and for the regional integration process.  
5.140.   Mali takes this opportunity to thank the WTO Secretariat, which today, 27  October  2017, 
will circulate the notification of its Category A, B and C measures by way of a request for technical 
assistance under the Agreement on Trade Facilitation. Made on 25  January  2017, the notification 
experienced some publication difficulties at the WTO wh ich have now been overcome.  
5.141.   In this connection, we would like once again to request trade -related technical assistance 
to implement the WTO Agreements and to mobilize resources with a view to implementing 
the Category  C measures under the Agreement on Trad e Facilitation.  
5.142.   As a result of this review, the WAEMU countries will have to start addressing the reforms 
needed to establish a framework conducive to trade development. To that end we would like to 
request technical assistance from the Trade Policy Review  Body now on the organization of trade 
policy reviews regionally and nationally.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  5.143.   As the coordinator of the C4 countries, Mali thanks all its partners for their involvement in 
finding a fair and balanced solution to the African cotton issue at the WTO.  
5.144.   Pursuant to the declaration made by our Ministers at Cotonou on 21  April 2017, Mali 
supports the remarks by Burkina  Faso on securing an outcome at MC11.  
5.145.   In closing I should like to express my sincere thanks and the profound gratitude of 
the High Authorities of  the Republic of Mali to everyone who has taken part in this common review.  
5.146.   Thank you.  
H.E.  MR.YACKOLEY  KOKOU  JOHNSON  (TOGO)  
5.147.   Her Excellency the Minister for Trade and Private Sector Promotion of Togo would have 
liked to attend and make this statement but b ecause of other engagements has had to give me 
the honour of representing her and conveying her apologies to you.  
5.148.   I shall therefore take the floor on her behalf and welcome you to this final session of the 
common trade policy review.  
5.149.   Togo is pleased to be here alongside the other countries at this important economic and 
trade -related event.  
5.150.   I should like to express the deep gratitude of His Excellency 
Mr Faure  Essozimna  Gnasingbé, the President of the Togolese Republic, and the thanks of the 
Togolese Govern ment, to the WTO and all the technical and financial partners here today for their 
contribution to development work in Togo.  
5.151.   I would also like to thank the Swiss authorities and the WTO officials for the facilities 
provided to the Togolese delegation to en able it to participate effectively in this historic event.  
5.152.   My thanks and congratulations go also to the organizers and all those who were willing to 
contribute in one way or another to the smooth running of this review, in particular you, 
Mr Chairman, and Mr Didier  Chambovey, the discussant.  
5.153.   I cannot move on to the main body of my speech without congratulating the WAEMU 
officials for this laudable initiative for a common review that allows our various countries to 
combine their efforts to attain subregional  integration objectives.  
5.154.   The trade policy review of the eight WAEMU member countries affords me the pleasant 
opportunity of outlining the investment potential and the ongoing reform endeavours of 
the Togolese Government to provide its people with greater w ell-being.  
5.155.   Togo has:  
 two international airports, at Lomé and Niamtougou;  
 a fully digital telecommunications network; and  
 a modern deep -water free port with huge potential.  
5.156.   The agricultural sector continues to drive economic growth. The fertile soils in all  regions of 
the country offer an opportunity to develop agricultural projects.  
5.157.   Information and communications technologies offer major opportunities for investment.  
5.158.   The rehabilitation of Togo's railways will promote delivery of plans for a dry port in the 
north.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  5.159.   Togo has significant potential for tourism, which is one of the country's chief sources of 
foreign currency revenue. There are also opportunities in the construction of hotel complexes, 
holiday villages and leisure parks.  
5.160.   Additionally, Togo has cult ural sites on the UNESCO world heritage list such as 
Koutammakou; slavery -related sites to be incorporated into UNESCO's "The Slave Route" project; 
and natural sites such as waterfalls, national parks, grottoes, beaches, lakes and picturesque 
landscapes th at are highly attractive to tourists.  
5.161.   The business climate is improving all the time and offers investors:  
 facilities to set up a business in 24  hours at cost -effective prices averaging CFAF  30,000 
(around €40), with very streamlined procedures;  
 instrument s to guarantee (protect) and promote investment;  
 the single window for foreign trade (GUCE), which reduces the turnaround time and the 
costs involved in goods import and export transactions for operators at airports, ports and 
land customs points; and  
 a court of arbitration that operates pursuant to the OHADA rules.  
5.162.   The rate of school enrolment in Togo is 73%, one of the highest in Africa. In terms of 
vocational training, the country has several specialist schools that provide training for a skilled 
workfor ce. 
5.163.   The National Apprenticeship, Training and Professional Development Fund provides 
financial support to businesses to improve staff skills. Freedom of recruitment is ensured under a 
labour code, which provides for flexibility in recruitment.  
5.164.   Work to resh ape the macroeconomic framework has led to the country regaining the 
confidence of donors, all of whom are now ready to support the Government in the process of 
economic development and poverty reduction.  
5.165.   Thanks to significant reforms to develop a liberal economy, diversify its production sector 
and put in place a more attractive business climate, Togo has much to offer potential investors.  
5.166.   Under the WAEMU Trade Competitiveness and Regional Integration Support Project 
(PACCIR) financed by the European Union , Togo has received aid for a feasibility study on 
establishing an export and investment promotion agency. The study concluded at 
end-September  2017 and will be validated over the coming days by all players concerned.  
5.167.   Togo ratified the Agreement on Trade F acilitation on 1  October  2015 and received support 
from WAEMU to establish its national committee. In order to ensure proper implementation of the 
Agreement, several working sessions involving the national stakeholders were held with the help of 
the Intern ational Trade Centre (ITC) and the World Bank, leading to finalization of work to classify 
measures in Categories A, B and C. The three categories of measure will be notified together over 
the coming weeks.  
5.168.   It should be noted that since 2008 Togo has been a recipient of the WTO's Enhanced 
Integrated Framework technical assistance programme. The programme has made it possible to 
build on the technical and financial capacities of producers of various products all over the national 
territory, for example young  people and women working in the production, processing and 
marketing of soya at national and international level. This is an opportunity for me to thank all 
players in the Enhanced Integrated Framework, and particularly the various programme donors. I 
call upon them to further increase their aid so that trade can genuinely become a key factor in 
growth and poverty reduction in Togo.  
5.169.   Our thanks also go to all Members for the work they have done during this review. Togo 
undertakes to pay careful attention to  all the recommendations made in the course of this review WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  with a view to implementing them, confident that they will definitely help the country to face the 
challenges presented by its increased participation in the multilateral trading system.  
5.170.   In closing , I renew our appeal to all Members of the WTO and donors to provide further 
and more extensive support for Togo to achieve emerging economy status by 2030.  
5.171.   Thank you.  
MR. ABBAS  DJALÓ  (GUINEA -BISSAU ) 
5.172.   On behalf of the Minister for Trade and Business Promotion of Guinea -Bissau, I take this 
opportunity to extend greetings to everyone attending this hugely important event for WAEMU, an 
organization of which Guinea -Bissau is a member.  
5.173.   We congratulate the Minister for Trade, the Informal Sector, Consumptio n, 
the Promotion  of Local Products and SMEs of the Republic of Senegal, 
His Excellency  Mr Alioune  Sarr, for his articulate and pragmatic address in his capacity as 
spokesperson for the WAEMU member States.  
5.174.   In view of the various concerns raised by Members in their statements on the first day, we 
wish to explain and draw your attention to the following points.  
5.175.   In Guinea -Bissau, the delay in the ratification of the protocols to the Agreement on Trade 
Facilitation, TRIPS and the Revised Bangui Agreement in 201 5 despite the Government's tabling 
documents to that end, is due to the fact that the National People's Assembly (ANP) has not sat in 
plenary for over a year owing to political reasons that we hope will soon be overcome.  
5.176.   We would like to stress that the re cently updated recommendations set out in 
the DTIS II Action Matrix contributed greatly to preparations for the national trade policy review of 
Guinea -Bissau thanks to the active involvement of UNMO EIF, a project within the Ministry of 
Trade.  
5.177.   In terms of accreditation, Guinea -Bissau has identified the need to implement a 
capacity -building programme and accordingly requests support to that end.  
5.178.   Speaking on behalf of Guinea -Bissau's Minister responsible for trade, we want to retain our 
strong commitment to c ontinue working together with WAEMU and the WTO in order to overcome 
trade -related constraints and challenges.  
5.179.   On behalf of the Minister for Trade and Business Promotion of Guinea -Bissau, we thank the 
WAEMU Commission, the WTO Secretariat and its Trade Pol icy Review Division for providing us 
with all necessary support during the various preparatory stages of the trade policy review 
process.  
5.180.   Thank you.  
CHAIRPERSON   
5.181.   First of all, I would like to thank you, Minister Sarr,  and all the delegations for the very 
complete and interesting interventions this morning. As the Minister has mentioned , we have a 
request through him for the WAEMU Commission to intervene at this point as Observer 
Organization to refer to some of the specific questions and matter that were ad dressed to the 
Union. I hope this request is agreeable to Members.  
MR. IBRAHIMA  DIEME  (WAEMU  COMMISSION ) 
5.182.   Thank you, Mr  Chairman, for giving me the floor as an Observer.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  5.183.   On behalf of the President of the WAEMU Commission, I extend my cordial greetings to you 
and thank you for your interest in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) at this 
common review of its member States' trade policies.  
5.184.   Before delivering my statement I would like to direct my sincere thanks to 
the WTO Secretariat in genera l and to the Trade Policy Review Division in particular: they have 
spared no effort to support us throughout what I would describe as this difficult but necessary 
process.  
5.185.   My thanks go also to you, Mr  Chairman, for conducting these proceedings flawlessly.  
5.186.   Finally I would like to thank all WTO Members for their interest in the Union, especially 
through their involvement in this meeting and the pertinent observations they have made on the 
documents brought before them. The remarks made by the various delegati ons during this session 
have received the full attention of our delegation. I must also address my thanks to the 
discussant, whose perceptive analysis has served to enrich debate during this common review.  
5.187.   Today's group review of trade policies makes sense  because the eight States concerned 
are members of WAEMU, which aims to become a forum for balanced and harmonious 
development. As a result the States involved are bound by a common trade policy, an approach 
that not only ensures that they will participate  productively in world trade but that will also 
strengthen regional integration and make our common market more effective.  
5.188.   Since its establishment in 1994, WAEMU has implemented important reforms that have 
contributed greatly to strengthening the regional integration process in West Africa.  
5.189.   Aimed predominantly at harmonizing legislation, unifying internal markets and 
implementing common sectoral policies in key sectors of the economy, these reforms are 
beginning to produce results.  
5.190.   While world economic grow th has been around 3% over the last five years, 
the WAEMU  member States have performed well, recording average growth of 6%, which is higher 
than the average for sub -Saharan Africa.  
5.191.   As noted in the Secretariat report, inflation is under control at below 3%  in all member 
States, in conformity with the WAEMU convergence criteria. The macroeconomic framework is 
broadly stable and monetary policy is directed independently by the Central Bank of 
West African  States (BCEAO).  
5.192.   We nonetheless acknowledge that despit e these efforts a great deal remains to be done. 
Accordingly, for the Commission and the WAEMU member States, the trade policy review process 
is a key tool for evaluating the common trade policy and identifying the major actions that need to 
be implemented  in order to derive full benefit from the policy and make it a genuine means of 
leveraging economic and social development in our States.  
5.193.   We therefore note the observations and recommendations made by the delegates and we 
undertake to examine them in minut e detail so that they can be taken into account as we 
reinvigorate our policies and programmes.  
5.194.   Several delegations have also expressed concerns about the implementation of the 
ECOWAS common external tariff and its impact on the tariff commitments of the W AEMU member 
States. Implementation of a new trade regime is inexorably leading us toward renegotiation of our 
States' schedules of tariff concessions and we would like the support of all WTO Members in 
bringing that process to a successful conclusion.  
5.195.   Finally, owing to the level of development of our member States, all of which with the 
exception of Côte  d'Ivoire are least developed countries, I shall close my remarks by reiterating 
the need for our partners to increase their support and technical assistanc e to enable our member 
States to successfully implement the reforms arising from this review. In our view, that is the cost 
of ensuring greater involvement of our States in the multilateral trading system.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  5.196.   Before closing, I would like to reassure WTO Members that the WAEMU Commission will 
support its member States in their ongoing work to comply with their commitments under 
the WTO Agreements.  
5.197.   Thank you for your kind attention.  
DISCUSSANT  
5.198.   I think we can say that the WAEMU trade policy review has run sm oothly. The countries 
under review have had a unique opportunity to address their trade policies and discuss them with 
the other WTO Members with the support of high -quality documentation.  
5.199.   Such opportunities are uncommon. It is unusual in the heat of the a ction to be able to stop 
for a few moments, step back from all the trade policies and view them as a broad, coherent 
project encompassing many measures. This process of reflection on major issues is a key moment 
in policy action.  
5.200.   I am sure that our deliber ations this week have been the source of valuable lessons for the 
countries under review. Minister Alioune  Sarr's statement this morning is evidence enough of this. 
It also illustrates the commitment of the member States to tackle what are in some cases ma jor 
challenges together. Minister, you have provided some helpful details on future Union policy 
approaches, based among other things on the debates we have had and the comments made by 
the member States.  
5.201.   We should also thank the WAEMU member countries for  their individual statements 
providing more information on their development policies and the priorities of their trade policies.  
5.202.   We have also noted the call for technical and financial assistance in capacity building and 
we hope that donors will be sensit ive to it.  
5.203.   The many, ambitious reforms implemented by the member States of the Union in order to 
industrialize and diversify their economies have been welcomed. The relative macroeconomic 
stability and prudent monetary policy of the Union have also been no ted. They are welcome 
stabilizers.  
5.204.   The Union's wealth of natural resources and raw materials, and its agricultural potential are 
also viewed as major assets for its economic development.  
5.205.   We have also learned that foreign businesses are genuinely interested  in investing in 
the Union. This readiness should be encouraged so that the assets of the WAEMU countries can be 
exploited to the full. This involves improving the framework conditions, notably by drawing up a 
community investment code.  
5.206.   That being said, se veral delegations have drawn attention to the high number and complex 
nature of customs procedures and tariff measures. Their complexity hampers trade both in the 
internal market (intra -community trade) and with external partners (trade between the Union a nd 
its third -country partners). Simplifying the levy structures would generate considerable efficiency 
gains. The regional fiscal transition programme that aims to shift the focus of taxation away from 
customs duties towards domestic taxation, as referred to by Minister  Alioune  Sarr, is in that vein.  
5.207.   The member States have all noted that the Union, as confirmed by the Commission, is 
working regionally towards launching a renegotiation of bound rates over 
the three -year period  2018-2020 and we have heard the  Commission's call for cooperation from 
WTO Members interested in participating in negotiations on the Union's bound rates.  
5.208.   We have also learned from the statements made that foreign businesses are genuinely 
interested in investing in the Union. This readi ness should be encouraged so that the assets of 
the WAEMU countries can be exploited to the full. This involves improving the framework 
conditions, notably by drawing up a community investment code. Perhaps this is not the easiest of 
tasks but it could cer tainly have a significant impact, particularly in increasing 
WAEMU's  attractiveness to foreign investment.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  5.209.   The member States' commitment to multilateralism has also been recognized. Within 
the WTO, some WAEMU countries have become closely involved in the t alks on issues such as 
fisheries, cotton (a matter that the C4 hold dear, a supremely critical matter that has been under 
discussion for many years at the WTO and one in which the WAEMU countries would like to make a 
breakthrough) and development, which ha s also been discussed at the WTO and is a matter of 
utmost concern to the WAEMU countries. Moreover, emphasis has been laid on the fact that the 
member States could make greater use of the services provided by the WTO Secretariat, especially 
in relation to  procedures and notifications. The WTO Secretariat is willing to help Members to fulfil 
obligations that are perhaps more mundane in nature, namely actions that do not directly involve 
policy making and formulation but rather information on policy implemen tation that should be 
communicated to the international community through the notifications system. The procedures 
are sometimes complex and the assistance that the Secretariat can provide in this area is 
invaluable and there should be no hesitation in tak ing it up.  
5.210.   Some member States of the Union (Côte  d'Ivoire, Guinea -Bissau and Niger) have not yet 
ratified the Protocol amending the TRIPS Agreement, the aim of which is to facilitate access to 
essential medicines. These countries are potential beneficiarie s of the arrangements introduced 
under the Protocol. It would be appropriate for them to complete the procedures necessary to 
ratify it.  
5.211.   Finally, the work done to enhance the Union's regional economic integration has also been 
remarked upon. There have bee n some major achievements and they are worthy of recognition. 
We can only encourage the members of the Union to continue on this path under the slogan that 
you declared, Minister, in your opening statement on the first day of this review: "Eight  countries,  
one common destiny".  
5.212.   Thank you for your attention.  
EUROPEAN  UNION   
5.213.   On this second day of the WAEMU member countries' trade policy review,  I should like to 
extend the European Union's sincere thanks to WAEMU and its member States for their detailed 
responses to our many questions, which reflect the EU's patent interest in this region in terms of 
trade and development.  
5.214.   In that connection, and  without wishing to create any controversy, I would like to express 
my surprise at one point in the statement made by my Rwandan colleague on behalf of 
the African  Group concerning the Economic Partnership Agreement currently undergoing the 
process of adop tion between the EU and West Africa. The Agreement, as my Rwandan colleague is 
well aware since his country signed the East African Community/EU EPA in September  2016, is 
much more than a mere trade agreement. The industrial aspect, support for value chain s, 
infrastructure development and Aid for Trade are key elements set out in the chapter on 
development in the Agreement. A number of asymmetrical measures in favour of 
the WAEMU  countries were also jointly negotiated with the West African side (safeguard m easures, 
rules of origin). The Agreement is therefore in our view one that will promote industrialization of 
the region.  
5.215.   This EPA Agreement is one of the most innovative because it provides for our contributing 
to funding a Competitiveness Observatory that  will independently monitor the Agreement's 
implementation. I shall stop there but am willing to furnish additional information to 
the African  Group if it so wishes, through bilateral channels.  
5.216.   Returning to the questions raised by the EU, we would like to request clarification on some 
of the points that seem important to us.  
5.217.   On the trade liberalization scheme, we would like WAEMU to expand on the planned 
reforms to improve the scheme's operation.  
5.218.   On the implementation of the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitat ion, the EU would like to 
know more about the intentions of Benin, Mali, Niger and Togo. I have noted the remarks made 
today in that regard.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  5.219.   In relation to the fiscal transition, we would like to WAEMU to give us more details 
regarding its role in the spec ific fiscal harmonization measures it intends to take to improve the 
collection of domestic revenue.  
5.220.   Concerning the renegotiation of bound tariffs, I have also noted the remarks made today 
and we would like further details on the timescale within which the  renegotiation is likely to begin 
at regional level, if we have correctly understood that the regional level is indeed the level 
envisaged for the renegotiation.  
5.221.   More generally, I note that a number of questions raised by the EU have not yet received a 
reply, doubtless because of time constraints because this exercise is a genuine challenge. We 
would therefore be grateful if some of the WAEMU member countries could return to the questions 
that we raised in writing and forwarded to the Secretariat.  
5.222.   In closin g, in view of the interest that this review has excited among WTO Members and 
the quality of the discussion based on the WTO and WAEMU reports, we would like to know 
whether WAEMU plans to request a follow -up seminar, given that the WTO holds such seminars  on 
request with some countries, subject to available resources. Considering that this review covers 
eight countries compared to the smaller format of previous occasions, we are of the view that this 
would be appropriate.  
5.223.   My thanks to you and all the deleg ations that have worked so hard to make these two  days 
a success. I hope your day continues to be a pleasant one.  
UNITED  STATES  
5.224.   On behalf of the United States, I would like to thank the members of WAEMU for their 
efforts that they have invested in preparin g for and carrying out this review. We also appreciate 
the work of the Secretariat in preparing the reports that have made this review possible.  
5.225.   We certainly recognize the challenges faced by such a large group of members undergoing 
a collective review of their trade policies and want to commend them for their efforts in this review 
and for the presentations provided which provided us with useful information and in valuable 
context for their regional efforts  aimed at economic development.  
5.226.   The large number of  questions from Members highlights the keen interest we have in 
trade -related developments in the region. In particular, we appreciate the remarks this morning 
acknowledging our and other Members ' interest in gaining further clarity on WAEMU tariff binding s 
and other duties and charges.  
5.227.   The United States again welcomes the encouraging updates that you have provided on 
implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement and, in particular, your emphasis on a regional 
approach to implementation.  
5.228.   We encourage all WAEMU members to make full use of the Trade Facilitation Committee to 
share with the WTO Membership your work plans and assistance needs as articulated in your TFA 
notifications and we look forward to the active engagement of WAEMU members in this new 
Committee.  
5.229.   With regard to advance written questions, we have submitted a number of questions and 
appreciated the responses that we have received prior to the review. We note that for many 
questions we have not yet received responses from all WAEMU members.  We look forward to full 
responses to all our questions in the near future.  
5.230.   We have submitted some additional questions this morning in writing. Some of these are 
new questions, others are repeat questions which were not fully answered by WAEMU members 
under review. In particular, we would like to, once again, note the importance that we attach to 
WAEMU members ' full responses to our questions on the tariff binding questions and other duties 
and charges.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  5.231.   There was some additional information presented in the individual presentations this 
morning and we welcome those statements. We look forward to full and complete responses within 
the time -frames set out for this review.  
5.232.   In conclusion, we again express our appreciation for all the hard work that WAEMU 
membe rs have put into this review and we congratulate you on a successful Trade Policy Review.  
CHINA  
5.233.   Like other Members, China attaches great importance to this TPR of WAEMU and we 
appreciated the replies to China 's advance written questions. We have submitted several follow -up 
questions regarding investment related issues and infrastructure, construction, etc. We expect the 
replies in due time.  
5.234.   China looks forward to our continued interaction and cooperation with WAEMU and hopes 
that WAEMU  can bring into play its advantages  and achieve inclusive and a sustainable 
development.  
5.235.   Once again, we would like to express our sincere appreciation for the efforts made by 
WAEMU delegation for this important exercise and congratulate WAEMU again for its successful 
first Trade Policy Review.  
PERU  
5.236.   The Peruvian delegation welcomes the delegations of the WAEMU member countries, 
particularly Their Excellencies the Heads of Delegation. We thank the Chairman of this Body; 
the Discussant, H.E.  the Ambassador of Switzerland; and the M embers under review at this 
meeting for all their work, especially their excellent statements.  
5.237.   This review has reminded us that Peru shares some of the advantages and challenges 
faced by the WAEMU members. We are producers of minerals, a considerable share  of our 
economy is informal and generally we are facing problems associated with achieving development.  
5.238.   Peru accordingly welcomes the political and economic efforts of the WAEMU members to 
tackle these challenges; in particular we note the high level of in tegration among 
the WAEMU  countries and the ensuing results in terms of harmonization of many policies, including 
in some very complex areas such as phytosanitary measures.  
5.239.   Peru has always been in favour of regional integration; it notes this significant e xample 
and wishes the WAEMU members every success in their work to achieve integration, which will 
undoubtedly give them greater clout in negotiations and other actions on the international, 
regional and domestic stages.  
5.240.   A few years ago, together with memb ers of the Pacific Alliance, Peru established a 
permanent diplomatic presence in West Africa. We hope that that presence will soon grow and lead 
to greater political, economic and trade cooperation with the WAEMU member countries.  
5.241.   Finally, we note the strong statements on the future of the negotiations within this 
Organization and we hope to work with you to ensure that they will pave the way for the 
development of all Members, especially those of us still grappling with the social and economic 
problems  that typically affect developing countries.  
CHAD  
5.242.   An economy enjoys a good business climate when it is economically and politically stable. 
It must also have an efficient, transparent, effective regulatory system with infrastructure that 
facilitates the pursuit of economic activity.  
5.243.   This review of the WAEMU member countries is in that vein. It will also contribute to the 
attainment of the United Nations Development Goals 2030 and those of the African Union's 
2063 Agenda.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  5.244.   From our standpoint, this review w ill unquestionably further enhance the considerable 
progress made in economic and macroeconomic convergence, trade monitoring, establishment of 
the customs union, and harmonization of sectoral policies of the WAEMU countries.  
5.245.   The Chadian delegation endorse s the recommendations that will lead to greater 
competitiveness of the community economies through the development of infrastructure and a 
more coordinated approach to promoting entrepreneurship.  
5.246.   We hope that this review of the WAEMU member countries has m oved discussions forward 
on actions that need to be implemented collectively in order to achieve sustainable growth and 
shared prosperity.  
5.247.   In that regard, investment in physical and human capital will be vital. Finally, 
the Chadian  delegation reiterates it s call to the community of technical and financial partners to 
support the WAEMU countries to that end.  
INTERNATIONAL  TRADE  CENTRE  (ITC) 
5.248.   The International Trade Centre (ITC) congratulates the Commission of the West African 
Economic and Monetary Union (WAEM U) and all its member countries on the success of this trade 
policy review, the first of its kind at this forum.  
5.249.   We also congratulate His Excellency Mr  Alioune  Sarr, the Minister for Trade of Senegal, for 
his deft chairmanship of this review on behalf of h is peers, emphasizing the challenges as well as 
the opportunities in store for the WAEMU subregion if it is to pursue its drive for deeper regional 
integration.  
5.250.   We present our compliments to Commissioner  Dieme and his delegation and to all the 
representati ves of the member States who have travelled to Geneva. On behalf of 
the Executive  Director of the International Trade Centre, we would like to thank 
the World  Trade  Organization (WTO) for the calibre of its analysis: it has given us a comprehensive 
overvie w of the trade environment in the eight WAEMU countries against the backdrop of the new 
issues relating to trade facilitation and the development of value chains that generate income and 
jobs for West African people.  
5.251.   As you undoubtedly know, regional integ ration is one of the ITC's priority areas. On the 
strength of its relations with the regional economic communities and subregional economic and 
monetary integration organizations such as WAEMU, the International Trade Centre has developed 
skills, products and services to boost intra - and inter -regional trade.  
5.252.   I would like to applaud the dynamism of the WAEMU Commission: it is a long -standing 
strategic partner – a credible, performing partner focused on achieving tangible outcomes for the 
people in its area who seek access to sustainable economic opportunities that hold the promise of 
jobs and well -being.  
5.253.   This is precisely the aim of the partnership between the WAEMU Commission and 
the International Trade Centre. The partnership was renewed and enhanced in Ma rch 2015 on the 
basis of the policy lines referred to by Minister Sarr in his opening address.  
5.254.   With financial support from the European Union, to which we extend our sincere thanks, 
the Trade Competitiveness and Regional Integration Support Project (PACCIR /UEOMA) was 
developed and is currently being implemented (balance of the 10th EDF). The aim of this 
programme is to consolidate the various trade facilitation and business climate enhancement 
projects referred to in the trade policy review while emphasizin g institution building and boosting 
the competitiveness of priority export sectors which are key to the emergence of a buoyant 
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  5.255.   To date, the PACCIR/UEMOA, which ha s an overall allocation of €11  million, has managed 
to mobilize €3  million under the 10th EDF and in ten  months has achieved the following:  
1. Establishment of a regional alert mechanism on non -tariff measures;  
2. design of an economic intelligence website to pr omote products "Made in UEMOA";  
3. dissemination of alternative means of settling trade disputes (arbitration and mediation) for 
the private sector in the subregion;  
4. consolidation of the process of drawing up the trade surveillance report;  
5. establishment of a regional network of bodies to promote trade and investment, chaired by 
Côte d'Ivoire;  
6. preparation of two opportunity studies with a view to establishing bodies to promote trade 
and investment in Guinea -Bissau and Togo;  
7. organization of a subregional packaging fair in Ouagadougou under way as we speak; and  
8. two studies, one on establishing a regional stock exchange for WAEMU food products and 
one on attaching bar codes to products marketed in WAEMU.  
5.256.   Another €8  million must still be raised if we are to a chieve all the anticipated outcomes 
and meet the needs identified by the beneficiaries. We therefore take this opportunity to call on 
the good will of the technical and financial partners in attendance here to help us raise the balance 
so that the WAEMU su bregion can again show by example that regional integration is a factor in 
social cohesion, cooperation and growth for sub -Saharan Africa.  
5.257.   The final positive point to be recalled is that, using WAEMU's own resources, the ITC is 
currently developing a guide  on how to penetrate the US market under the AGOA scheme and, 
with a view to publicizing and extending it, is collecting good practice developed around the 
growing and marketing of tomato in the Senegal River Basin.  
5.258.   Obviously all these outcomes could only be achieved thanks to the WAEMU Commission's 
dynamism, which is largely due to the calibre and professionalism of its teams, especially 
the Regional Market, Competition and International Cooperation Department (DMRC).  
5.259.   We welcome our excellent working relat ionship with that Department and the ongoing, 
active and very valuable support of the Permanent Delegation of the West African and 
Monetary  Union in Geneva.  
5.260.   I must also commend and express our fulsome thanks to the eight WAEMU member 
States, with which the  International Trade Centre has excellent bilateral relations based on respect 
for "national ownership" and guided by a quest for a return on investment, regardless of whether a 
project is financed under the Enhanced Integrated Framework, the European Deve lopment Fund or 
other sources of bilateral or multilateral funding.  
5.261.   Finally it is my pleasure to reiterate that the International Trade Centre will continue to 
make all its expertise and know -how in trade -related technical assistance available to better se rve 
the WAEMU Commission and countries in their various trade promotion and facilitation initiatives 
to the benefit of the people in the subregion and West Africa as a whole. This includes the absolute 
need to cooperate closely with the ECOWAS Commission, whose commitment I also welcome.  
5.262.   Thank you for your kind attention.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  H.E.  MINIST ER ALIOUNE  SARR  (SPOKESPERSON  OF THE WAEMU  MEMBER  COUNTRIES ) 
5.263.   Just a few words of thanks, first of all to you, Mr  Chairman, for the way in which you have 
conducted these proceed ings, and to Ambassador Chambovey for his pertinent observations.  
5.264.   I would also like to thank all the representatives of Members of the Trade Policy Review 
Body and to express my appreciation and congratulations to all my WAEMU colleagues who gave 
me the ho nour of acting as their spokesman at this first common trade policy review of the Union.  
5.265.   My thanks and congratulations to Commissioner  Dieme as well for the coordinating role he 
has played over the last few months to ensure that this review could take place in very good 
circumstances.  
5.266.   Not to mention our Ambassadors here in Geneva and our experts who are often busy in the 
background doing the technical work that allows us to respond appropriately to the comments 
made by WTO Members.  
 
Agenda item: Adoption o f TPRB 's Annual Report for 2017  
5.267.   The TPRB ad opted its Annual Report for 2017  contained in document 
WT/TPR/W/ 135/Rev.1.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  6  CONCLUDING REMARKS B Y THE CHAIRPERSON  
6.1.  The first joint Trade Policy Review of the eight member countries of the West African 
Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) has allowed us to deepen our understanding of the 
regional and national economic and trade regimes, as well as their developments since 2011. We 
are grateful to the Secretariat and the Members under review, Benin, Burkina F aso, Côte d 'Ivoire, 
Guinea -Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo, as well as the WAEMU Commission, for the 
comprehensive reports prepared for this TPR. I would also like to thank our discussant 
Ambassador Didier Chambovey from Switzerland, and the 28 deleg ations that took the floor for 
their valuable contributions to this Review.  
6.2.  Members commended WAEMU countries on their macroeconomic performance despite the 
difficult global economic environment, and the challenges posed by increasingly freque nt droughts,  
and in some cases,  problems in the security situation. All WAEMU countries have managed to 
maintain low inflation and to increase per capita incomes, although these still remain low. WAEMU 
countries have generally refrained from taking protectionist measu res and have continued to 
remain open to international trade with, and investment from, third countries. Members also 
appreciated the numerous recent reforms to improve the business environment under the 
Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law i n Africa (OHADA), and several of them 
highlighted the bilateral tax and investment treaties.  
6.3.  Members noted that merchandise exports from WAEMU countries were highly concentrated, 
both in terms of products and markets, and encouraged diversification. Côte d'Ivoire 's agricultural 
sector was mentioned by some as an example of successful diversification. Participants were of the 
view that further reforms to transport infrastructure and increased electricity supply should 
contribute to the diversification effor ts, mainly towards industrialization. Members urged WAEMU 
countries to establish WTO consistent SPS regimes based on modern risk -management approaches 
to, inter alia , avoid outright import bans on products such as meat and poultry. Many Members 
appreciated  the engagement of WAEMU countries in WTO negotiations on, inter alia , fishery 
subsidies. Several Members called for less distortion in international cotton trade, which affects 
WAEMU producing countries.  
6.4.  Members congratulated WAEMU countries for their co ntinued efforts to improve their 
international trading environment, especially through the implementation of the Trade Facilitation 
Agreement (TFA); and they encouraged those who had not yet ratified it to do so. WAEMU 
countries were also reminded to submi t their Categories A, B and C notifications under the TFA and 
to continue efforts to streamline and automatize trade procedures.  
6.5.  Members noted that the implementation of the ECOWAS CET in 2015, with a fifth band of 
35% on some 130 tariff lines, increased nominal and effective protection. It also increased the 
number of lines on which the applied rates exceed the bound levels for all countries except 
Guinea -Bissau and Togo. The country -specific flexibilities offered by the new tariff regime during 
the five -year transition period have been prone to national differences. In addition, many Members 
mentioned the numerous other duties and charges that further complicated the border tax system, 
and called upon the countries to rationalize it with a view to achievi ng full compliance with their 
WTO commitments. Some Members were of the view that the adoption of a single entry system 
("libre pratique ") would enhance the smooth functioning of the Customs Union.  
6.6.  Several Members encouraged WAEMU countries to participate in the Agreement on 
Government Procurement. They commended those WAEMU countries that had accepted the 
Amendment Protocol to the TRIPS Agreement, and encouraged the other member countries to 
follow suit. Furthermore, some Members called upon the WAEMU coun tries to strengthen their 
intellectual property regimes noting that only one of them had ratified the 2015 revision of the 
Bangui Agreement.  
6.7.  Noting that all WAEMU countries also participate in ECOWAS, Members called for full 
harmonization of the trade reg imes of the two communities and were interested in learning further 
about the potential benefits from the Continental Free Trade Area under negotiation. Other areas 
for improvement by WAEMU countries underlined by Members included compliance with WTO 
notification obligations, and trade statistics.  WT/TPR/M/362 • WAEMU member countries  
 
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  6.8.  WAEMU countries have provided replies to almost all of the 245 questions raised by Members. 
We look forward to receiving the answers to any outstanding questions within the one month 
deadline, by which time this review will be successfully finalized.  
6.9.  In conclusion, Members commended WAEMU countries on their commitment to maintaining 
open trade and investment regimes while further integrating regionally. I am sure that WAEMU 
countries will reflect the results of th is Review into future trade reforms to further their regional 
integration and to enhance their participation in th e multilateral trading system.  
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