RESTRICTED  
  
WT/TPR/S/303  
26 August 2014  
(14-4890)  Page: 1/79  
Trade Policy Review Body   
 
 TRADE POLICY REVIEW 
REPORT BY THE SECRETARIAT 
SIERRA LEONE 
This report, prepared for the second Trade Policy Review of Sierra Leone, has been drawn up by 
the WTO Secretariat on its own responsibility. The Secretariat has, as required by the Agreement establishing the Trade Policy Review Mech anism (Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement 
Establishing the World Trade Organization), sought clarification from Sierra Leone on its trade 
policies and practices.  Any technical questions arising from this report may be addressed to Jacques Degbelo 
(tel.: 022 739 5583) and Nelnan Koumtingué (tel.: 022 739 6252). 
 Document WT/TPR/G/303 contains the policy statement submitted by Sierra Leone. 
 
 
Note: This report is subject to restricted circulation and press embargo until the end of the first 
session of the meeting of the Trade Policy Review Bo dy on Sierra Leone. This report was drafted in 
English. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  CONTENTS 
SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................... . 6 
1   ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT .......................................................................................... 9  
1.1   Main Features of the Economy ..................................................................................... 9  
1.2   Recent Econ omic Developments.................................................................................. 10 
1.3   Trade Performance ................................................................................................... 12 
1.4   Foreign Dire ct Invest ment ......................................................................................... 14 
1.5   Outlook ................................................................................................................... 14 
2   TRADE AND INVE STMENT RE GIME ............................................................................ 15  
2.1   Genera l Framework .................................................................................................. 15 
2.2   Trade Poli cy Objectives ............................................................................................. 17 
2.3   Trade Agreements and Arrangements .......................................................................... 17 
2.3.1   World Trade Organization ........................................................................................ 17 
2.3.2   Regional agreements .............................................................................................. 17 
2.3.2.1   African Union ...................................................................................................... 17 
2.3.2.2   Economic Community of West African Stat es (ECOWAS) ........................................... 18 
2.3.2.3   Mano River Union ................................................................................................ 19 
2.3.2.4   Community of Sahel-Saharan States ...................................................................... 19 
2.3.3   Preferential trade arrangements ............................................................................... 19 
2.3.3.1   Relations with the European Union ......................................................................... 19 
2.3.3.2   Relations with the United States ............................................................................ 20 
2.3.3.3   Other agreements ............................................................................................... 20 
2.4   Investme nt Regime .................................................................................................. 20 
2.4.1   Legal fram ework for business .................................................................................. 21 
2.4.2   In centives ............................................................................................................  22 
2.4.3   International in vestment ag reements ....................................................................... 24 
3   TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE ........................................................ 25  
3.1   Measures Direct ly Affectin g Imports ............................................................................ 25 
3.1.1   Customs procedur es and requirements ..................................................................... 25 
3.1.2   Custom s valuation ................................................................................................. 26 
3.1.3   Tariffs ............................................................................................................... ... 27 
3.1.3.1   Applied MFN tariff ............................................................................................... 27 
3.1.3.2   Other du ties and charges ..................................................................................... 31 
3.1.3.3   Internal taxes ..................................................................................................... 32 
3.1.3.4   Tariff preferences ................................................................................................ 32 
3.1.4   Rules of origin .......................................................................................................  32 
3.1.5   Duty and tax conc essions and ex emptions ................................................................. 33 
3.1.6   Import prohibitions, restrictions, an d licensing ........................................................... 34 
3.1.7   Continge ncy measures ........................................................................................... 34 
3.2   Measures Directly Affecting Exports ............................................................................. 34 WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  3.2.1   Export procedur es and requirements ........................................................................ 34 
3.2.2   Export taxes, charges, an d levies ............................................................................. 35 
3.2.3   Export prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing ............................................................ 35 
3.2.4   Export support, promotio n, guarantee, and insu rance ................................................. 35 
3.2.5   Export pr ocessing zones ......................................................................................... 36 
3.3   Measures Affectin g Production and Trade ..................................................................... 36 
3.3.1   In centives ............................................................................................................  36 
3.3.2   Standards and othe r technical requirements .............................................................. 37 
3.3.3   Marking, labelling, and packaging ............................................................................. 39 
3.3.4   Sanitary and phyt osanitary requ irements .................................................................. 39 
3.3.5   State trading, state-owned enterprises, and privatization ............................................. 40 
3.3.6   Competition policy and price controls ........................................................................ 41 
3.3.7   Governme nt procurement ....................................................................................... 42 
3.3.8   Intellectual property rights ...................................................................................... 43 
4   TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR ..................................................................................... 46  
4.1   Agriculture ............................................................................................................. . 46 
4.1.1   Overview ..............................................................................................................  46 
4.1.2   Agricultural policies ................................................................................................ 47 
4.1.3   Key subsectors ...................................................................................................... 49 
4.1.3.1   Crops ............................................................................................................... . 49 
4.1.3.1.1   Cocoa .............................................................................................................  49 
4.1.3.1.2   Rice .............................................................................................................. . 49 
4.1.3.2   Forestry ............................................................................................................. 50 
4.1.3.3   Fisheries ........................................................................................................... . 52 
4.2   Energy .................................................................................................................. .. 53 
4.2.1   Overview ..............................................................................................................  53 
4.2.2   Upstream petroleum and gas activities ...................................................................... 53 
4.2.3   Downstre am activities ............................................................................................ 55 
4.2.4   El ectricity ........................................................................................................... .. 55 
4.3   Mining .................................................................................................................. .. 57 
4.3.1   Re gulation ............................................................................................................  58 
4.3.2   Main products ....................................................................................................... 60 
4.3.2.1   Diamonds .......................................................................................................... 60 
4.3.2.2   Other minerals ................................................................................................... 61 
4.4   Manuf acturi ng .......................................................................................................... 61 
4.5   Services ................................................................................................................ .. 62 
4.5.1   Overview ..............................................................................................................  62 
4.5.2   Financial services ................................................................................................... 62 
4.5.2.1   Banking .............................................................................................................  62 
4.5.2.2   Insura nce .......................................................................................................... 63 WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  4.5.2.3   Other financial services ........................................................................................ 64 
4.5.3   Information and communication services ................................................................... 65 
4.5.3.1   Tele communica tions ............................................................................................ 65 
4.5.3.2   Inte rnet access ................................................................................................... 66 
4.5.3.3   Postal services .................................................................................................... 66 
4.5.4   Transp ort services ................................................................................................. 67 
4.5.4.1   Air transport ....................................................................................................... 67 
4.5.4.2   Land transport .................................................................................................... 68 
4.5.4.3   Mariti me tran sport .............................................................................................. 68 
4.5.5   Tourism ................................................................................................................ 69 
4.5.6   Professional and business services ........................................................................... 70 
REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 7 1 
5   APPENDIX  TABLES .................................................................................................... 74  
 
CHARTS 
 Chart 1.1 Product composition of merchandise trad e, 2006 an d 2013 ...................................... 13
 
Chart 1.2 Direction of exports (f.o.b.) , including re-exports, 2006 and 2013 ............................. 14 
Chart 3.1 Breakdown of applied MFN tariffs, 2014 ................................................................. 28 
Chart 3.2 MFN tariff escalation by manufacturing, ISIC  2-digit,  2014 ....................................... 30 
Chart 3.3 Average MFN tariff rates,  by WTO product categories , 2014 ..................................... 31 
Chart 4.1 Rice production and imports, 2000-13 ................................................................... 50 
Chart 4.2 Total fish  producti on, 2000- 13 ............................................................................. 52 
Chart 4.3 Import of pe troleum prod ucts, 2000-13 ................................................................ 55 
Chart 4.4 Selected indicators in air transpor tation, 2005-13 ................................................... 67 
Chart 4.5 Visitor arrivals by ai r, by purpose and orig in, 2012 ................................................. 69 
 
TABLES 
 Table 1.1 Selected macroeco nomic indicato rs, 2005- 12 ......................................................... 10
 
Table 1.2 Balance of payments, 2006-12 ............................................................................. 12 
Table 1.3 FDI in flows, 2006-12  .......................................................................................... 14 
Table 2.1 Major trade-related legislation, December 2013 ...................................................... 16 
Table 2.2 Main investment incentives .................................................................................. 22 
Table 2.3 Key policy prescription s in the Local Content Policy ................................................. 23 
Table 3.1 Composition of Government domestic revenue, 2009-13 .......................................... 27 
Table 3.2 Structure of applie d MFN tariffs,  2004 and 2014 ..................................................... 28 
Table 3.3 Comparative analysis of Sierra Leone's MFN tariff and the new ECOWAS 
CET, 2014 ..................................................................................................................... . 29 
Table 3.4 Products subject to  the excise ta x, May 2014 ......................................................... 32 
Table 3.5 Standards and techni cal regulation s in fo rce........................................................... 38 WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  Table 3.6 State involvemen t in enterpri ses, 2013 ................................................................. 41 
Table 4.1 Evolution of crop production and livestock, 2006-13 ................................................ 46 
Table 4.2 Structure of energy consumption, 2011 ................................................................. 53 
Table 4.3 Petroleum rights, re lated fees, and conditions ........................................................ 54 
Table 4.4 Electricity generation  and consumptio n, 2009- 13 .................................................... 56 
Table 4.5 Electricity ta riffs, select ed years ........................................................................... 56 
Table 4.6 Mineral produc tion and ex port, 2006-13 ................................................................ 58 
Table 4.7 Licensing requirements in the mining sector ........................................................... 59 
Table 4.8 Fees related to mi neral rights and permits ............................................................. 60 
Table 4.9 Selected products in the manufacturing sector, 2006-13  .......................................... 61 
Table 4.10 Commercial ba nks, December 2013 .................................................................... 62 
Table 4.11 Premiums collected by insurance businesses, 2007-12 ........................................... 63 
Table 4.12 Reserve requirements for insurance bu sinesses, 2014 ........................................... 64 
Table 4.13 Financial requirements for other financial institutions ............................................. 65 
Table 4.14 Selected indicators of th e telecommunication s sector, 2005-13  ............................... 65 
Table 4.15 Tourism basic indicators, 2006-12  ...................................................................... 69 
Table 4.16 Selected regulated professional se rvices, 2014 ..................................................... 70 
 
 
APPENDIX TABLES 
 
Table A1. 1 Merchandise exports by product group (including re-exports), 2005-13 ................... 74 
Table A1. 2 Merchandise exports and re-e xports by trading partner, 2005-13  ........................... 75 
Table A1. 3 Merchandise imports by SITC section, 2005-13 .................................................... 76 
 
 Table A3. 1 MFN tariff averages  by HS2-digit level, 2014 ....................................................... 77
 
 
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  SUMMARY 
1. Sierra Leone is a least developed country (LDC) with a relatively young population: 42% of 
its 6 million inhabitants are aged less than 15 years. The country is still recovering from a decade-long civil war, which ended in 2002. Agriculture is the backbone of the economy, although its 
contribution to the GDP declined sharply to 42% in 2012 because of a boom in the mining sector. 
Sierra Leone is rich in minerals such as gold, diamond, bauxite, rutile, and iron ore. The manufacturing sector is marginal and is limited to first-stage processing of local raw materials and 
to light manufacturing. Like the other sectors of th e economy, it is plagued by weak infrastructure, 
high production costs, unreliable supply of energy at high prices, and limited access to financing.  
2. Since its last Trade Policy Review (TPR) in 2005, Sierra Leone has pursued its reconstruction 
efforts, supported by a substantial inflow of ex ternal aid. The business environment was improved 
and the economy was ranked 141
st in the World Bank's 2012 Doing business Index (160th in 2008) 
and was classified among the top global reformer s. As part of a zero-tolerance policy against 
corruption, the Parliament enacted legislation broadening the range of offences and granting 
prosecution power to the anti-corruption commission; nearly US$5 billion in assets were recovered 
between 2010 and 2012. The country implemented se veral major projects related to transport, 
agriculture, mining, and energy. In particular, it  completed the Tonkolili iron-ore mining project 
in 2011. As a result of the reconstruction efforts, FDI inflows increased substantially, to exceed 
US$715 million in 2011 and 2012 (up from only US$59 million in 2006), and economic growth has 
been strong in spite of the challenging global context of economic crisis. Record real GDP growth of 32.5% was attained in 2012, the first full year of production of iron-ore; the non-iron-ore 
economy grew by 5.3%, driven by agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and services. 
3. Exports are essentially composed of mineral products (iron-ore, diamond, rutile, and 
bauxite) and agricultural products (cocoa and coffe e). In 2012, iron ore overtook diamonds as the 
major export product, and accounted for 55.7% of total exports the following year. China is the 
main market for the country's iron ore. The sh are of exports to the European Union, a long-
standing top market, declined from 49.6% in 2006 to  12.6% in 2013. Exports to regional partners 
are generally low. 
4. Sierra Leone is a founding member of the Ec onomic Community of West African States 
(ECOWAS) and the Mano River union. It joined the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) in 2008. Sierra Leone is eligible for preferen ces granted by the EU under the Everything But 
Arms Initiative, and the United States under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. It also 
benefits from unilateral trade preferences granted by many other developed countries.  
5. Sierra Leone's economic policies are formulat ed by the Government and enacted by legal 
instruments adopted by its unicameral Parliament. Trade policy is under the purview of the 
Ministry of Trade and Industry. The Ministry collab orates with other ministries and agencies in the 
formulation and implementation of trade policies. Th ere is no formal consultation with the private 
sector. However, a 2014 Cabinet decision reco mmends the establishment of a public-private 
consultative forum on a range of issues, including trade-related ones. 
6. In 2010, Sierra Leone replaced its manual customs clearance system with the Automated 
System for Customs Data, leading to a substantial decline in average processing and clearance 
times. However, the day-to-day operation of the system remains frequently affected by the 
unreliability of Internet connectivity and electricity supply.  
7. Sierra Leone terminated its pre-shipment inspection programme in 2009. A destination 
inspection is currently operated by two companies:  Africa Link Inspection Company (for shipments 
arriving by sea) and Sierra Inspection Company (for shipments arriving by air or through terrestrial borders). The inspection applies to all consignments and is subject to a fee of 1% of 
their f.o.b. value. 
8. New customs legislation was enacted in 2011, incorporating, inter alia, some provisions of 
the WTO Customs Valuation Agreement (CVA). However, the country is facing challenges in implementing the CVA provisions, one of the reasons for maintaining the inspection programme.  WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  9. Sierra Leone's 2014 applied MFN tariff has six bands with rates varying between zero and 
30%. Most products fall in the 5% or 20% bands (86% of total tariff lines); the zero rate applies only to a few tariff lines (0.3%). The simple average rate is 12%. The tariff shows mixed escalation with semi-processed products subject to a lower average rate than raw materials, while 
fully processed products attract a higher average rate. As a member of the ECOWAS, Sierra Leone 
is to implement the new common external tariff (CET) as from 1 January 2015. The CET rates are 
within Sierra Leone's WTO binding commitments, bu t will affect the structure of its current applied 
MFN tariff.  
10. At the WTO, Sierra Leone bound all its tariffs lines at ceiling rates between 30% and 80%, 
with an average rate of 47.5%. Many of the bo und rates are considerably higher than applied 
duties. Other duties and charges (ODC) were bound on all tariff lines at rates varying between 
zero and 50%. In practice, Sierra Leone is collecting the ECOWAS Community Levy and a customs 
processing fee. These ODCs apply to all products, including those bound at zero. 
11. In 2010, Sierra Leone reformed its internal taxa tion system by replacing a host of taxes with 
the goods and services tax (GST). The GST is levied  at a standard rate of 15% and constitutes an 
important source of government revenue: it a ccounted for about a quarter of government tax 
revenue in 2013, the bulk of which is levied on im ports. Sierra Leone's excise tax is collected on 
selected imports; in 2013, the tax applied to about 51 tariff lines at rates between 5% and 35%. 
12. Various duty and tax concession programmes, including duty drawbacks, are in place. 
However, some of the incentives are to be subjec t to local-content requirements. Sierra Leone has 
no legislative or institutional framework for anti-dumping, countervailing or safeguards measures, 
and has not taken any such actions.  
13. Sierra Leone collects a tax on its major exports. According to the authorities, the purpose of 
the export tax is to encourage value addition and support the developmen t of local communities. 
The tax is applied at 2.5% on agricultural produc ts (cocoa, coffee, and palm oil), 3% on diamond, 
and 5% on gold. In addition, some mineral export s are subject to the GST and a valuation fee.  
14. Export licensing applies mainly to diamonds and gold. A permit is required for the export of 
traditional commodities such as cocoa, coffee, an d rubber. Permits are issued automatically and at 
no cost. Due to environmental regulations, a permit  is required for the exportation of plants and 
charcoal. A ban on the exportation of raw logs has been in place since 2008.  
15. Sierra Leone has not notified any technical regulations, or its national enquiry point under 
the WTO Agreement on Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT). The Sierra Leone Bureau of Standards 
(SLBS) is the national statutory body in charge of technical regulations, standards, certification, and accreditation. It generally follows ISO and IEC directives in the development of national 
standards. There are currently 33 technical regulation s in force, and 31 standards. At the borders, 
the SLBS inspects products for conformity and labelling requirements. It may perform field tests if needed. Substandard goods are, in principle, confiscated and destroyed.  
16. Sierra Leone has not notified the WTO of its sanitary and phytosanitary legislation. In 
general, a phytosanitary certificate is required for the international movement of any plant material or product. The authorities indicated that no SPS-related restrictions or prohibitions are currently in place. 
17. Sierra Leone has recently adopted policies related to competition and consumer protection. 
The related laws are yet to be enacted.  
18. Sierra Leone has not notified to the WTO any state-trading enterprise. In 2013, the produce 
marketing board was replaced by the Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Company, established as the 
primary exporter of agricultural produce. However, it does not have a monopoly over the export of 
agricultural produce. The privatization programme is still under way. 
19. Public procurement accounts for a large share of the government budget. The legislation on 
government procurement requires the use of open bid proceedings for all public purchases. It provides for a price preference between 5% and 10% for domestic contractors, suppliers, or for WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  domestically produced goods. National competitive bidding procedures are allowed under specified 
circumstances. 
20. Sierra Leone is a member of the African Region al Intellectual Property Organization, and has 
ratified the Harare Protocol on Patents and Industri al Designs. Since its last TPR, Sierra Leone has 
adopted new legislation on patents, industrial de sign, and copyrights. Counterfeiting and piracy are 
the most frequent forms of intellectual property rights infringement. The authorities view their limited capacity as the main challenge in this regard.  
21. Sierra Leone's agriculture sector employs about 75% of the labour force. Over recent years, 
the production of major crops such as rice paddy, cassava, and cocoa has increased substantially, owing to the implementation of policies geared toward increasing productivity and extending 
cultivated areas. Cocoa and coffee, the two majo r cash crops, are a non-negligible source of 
foreign exchange earnings. Tariff protection in the sector is relatively high, irrespective of the 
stage of processing. At 15.6% in 2014, the aver age applied MFN tariff for agriculture products 
(WTO categories) is more than 3 percentage points above the overall average.  
22. The mining and quarrying sector accounts fo r about 90% of annual export revenues. The 
main priorities are to ensure the sustainabl e development of the sector, and to improve 
transparency and accountability. In line with th ese, the legislative framework was revised in 2009. 
Export tax on diamond was slashed to 3% (from 6.5%). The country was granted the status of 
EITI compliant in 2013. With an average applied MFN rate of 5.4%, mineral products benefit from relatively lower tariff protection.  
23. Sierra Leone undertook few GATS commitments, and its actual regime on trade in services is 
relatively open. During the period under review, Sierra Leone strengthened its legal framework on 
the banking and insurance industries through high er capital and reserves requirements. In the 
telecommunication subsector, the state-owned operator still has a de jure monopoly over fixed-
line communications and international gateway voice services. Reforms are under way to liberalize 
the sector. 
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  1  ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT 
1.1  Main Features of the Economy 1.1.  Sierra Leone is a least developed country (LDC) with a territory of 71,740 km
2 and a 
population estimated at 6 million in 2012 (up from 4.8 million in 2002). The population is relatively 
young, with nearly 42% aged less than 15 years, and about 55.1% aged between 15 and 
64 years.  
1.2.  Agriculture remains the largest contributor to the GDP, although its share declined from 
50.1% in 2005 to 42% in 2012 (Table 1.1). Crop products, mainly rice and cassava accounted for 
the bulk of agricultural production. The contribu tion of the forestry sector hovered around 6% 
while that of the fisheries declined from 9.1% in 2005 to 7.6% in 2011.  
1.3.  Sierra Leone is rich in minerals such as di amond, bauxite, rutile, and iron ore. In 2012, the 
country entered into its first full year of production of iron ore, boosting the contribution of the 
mining sector to GDP to 22.8% (from only 3.6% the previous year). As a result, the contribution of 
agriculture dropped below 50%. The manufacturing sector is marginal, in terms of contribution to both output and employment. It consists mainly of light manufacturing. The contribution of the 
services sector dropped from about a third of GDP to 27.7% in 2012. 
1.4.  Sierra Leone is a fragile state
1 in a situation of post-conflict recovery. The last decade has 
been characterized by reconstruction efforts, support ed by a substantial inflow of external aid. The 
authorities introduced several reforms that have helped to improve the business environment 
(section 2.4). Governance has also improved, especi ally in the areas of transparency in the public 
sector, and the fight against corruption.2 Progress in the human development has also been 
substantial, even though the country ranked 180th out of 187 on the 2013 Human Development 
Index.3 Thanks to the implementation of various poverty-reduction strategies (section 1.2), the 
proportion of the population below the national poverty line declined from 66.4% in 2003 to 52.9% in 2011.
4 Numerous challenges still stand on the reconstruction path. At nearly 60%, 
youth unemployment remains a serious risk for social stability. The development of the private 
sector is hindered by major impediments such as a deficit in infrastructure, limited availability of skilled labour, the unreliability of the energy  supply, and high transportation costs.  
1.5.  The Bank of Sierra Leone is responsible fo r management of the national currency, the leone 
(Le). The exchange rate regime is classified as "floating". The central bank's interventions in the 
market are limited to weekly foreign exchange auctions aiming at allocating currency to importers, and smoothing excessive short-term exchange rate fluctuations. The exchange rate used for 
customs valuation purposes and other official transactions is calculated every Friday morning as 
the weighted average of the auction rate, and the mid-rates of commercial banks and foreign 
exchange bureaus. The official buying and selling rates are then set within a band of plus/minus 
1% of the official mid-rate. Sierra Leone acce pted IMF Article VIII obligations with effect 
from 1995 and, according to the IMF, maintains an exchange system free of restrictions on the 
payments and transfers for current international transactions.
5  
1.6.  Sierra Leone is party to the agreement establishing the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ), 
a monetary union with 5 of the 16 ECOWAS members (the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, and 
Nigeria).6 The launch of a single currency has been delayed many times, and is currently set for 
1 January 2015. As part of the process for establishing the monetary union, members of the WAMZ have agreed to convergence criteria compri sing four primary targets: keeping the inflation 
                                               
1 OECD (2013). 
2 Sierra Leone is one of the five African countries with the most improvement in governance since 2000, 
as measured by the Ibrahim Index of African Governance (Mo Ibrahim Foundation, 2013).  
3 Since 2000, Sierra Leone's improvement in the human development score has been among the 
fastest, with improvement by 3.4% every year (UNDP, 2013).  
4 World Bank, World Development Indicators. Viewed at:  http://data.worldbank.org/ . 
5 IMF (2013). 
6 The decision to establish the West African Monetary  Zone was taken in 2000, as part of a fast-track 
approach to the formation of a single monetary union  among the 16 members of the Economic Community of 
West African States (ECOWAS). The strategy was to crea te a single currency for th e countries that were not 
part of the West African Economic and Monetary Union, and then, to merge the two unions to form the 
ECOWAS-wide monetary union. Online information viewed at: http://www.wami-imao.org/  [05.05.14].  WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  rate at a single-digit level; maintaining the fiscal deficit below 4% of GDP; keeping the central 
bank's financing of fiscal deficit below 10% of government tax revenue; and maintaining gross external reserves at a level equivalent to at least three months of imports. Sierra Leone satisfied the four primary criteria in 2013 (only two criteria in 2012). 
Table 1.1 Selected macroeconomic indicators, 2005-12 
  2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
Real GDP growth (%) 4.4 4.3 8.0 5.4 3.2 5.3 6.0 32.5 
GDP per capita (current US$)  318 353 393 443 429 440 494 717 
Population (million) 5.1  5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.8 5.9  6.0 
Contributions to GDP by sectors  (%, unless otherwise indicated)  
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing  50.1  50.9 53.4 54.0 54.5 53.5 52.8  42.0 
Crops  31.9 32.9 36.1 37.2 37.8 37.3 37.1 29.8 
Livestock  2.6  2.5 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.2  1.8 
Forestry  6.6 6.6 6.4 6.3 6.2 6.1 5.9 4.6 
Fishery  9.1  8.8 8.6 8.3 8.1 7.9 7.6  5.8 
Industry  10.5 10.7 10.1 8.6 7.9 8.5 8.8 27.3 
Mining and quarrying  5.5  5.5 5.3 3.5 3.4 3.7 3.6  22.8 
Manufacturing and handicrafts  2.4 2.7 2.5 2.4 2.2 2.2 2.4 2.0 
Electricity and water supply  0.5  0.4 0.3 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.6  0.5 
Construction  2.1 2.1 2.0 2.0 1.8 1.9 2.2 2.0 
Services  35.7  34.6 32.7 33.6 33.9 34.3 34.6  27.7 
Trade and tourism  7.8 7.5 7.2 7.0 6.9 7.0 7.2 5.9 
Transport, storage, and communication  6.7  6.3 6.5 7.7 8.1 8.0 7.9  6.2 
Finance, insurance, and real estate  5.7 5.6 4.7 4.4 4.6 4.5 4.5 3.6 
Public administration  4.2  4.5 3.9 3.1 3.2 3.8 4.3  3.5 
Other services  4.2 4.1 3.9 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.5 2.7 
Education  2.4  2.1 2.3 3.4 3.1 3.1 3.1  2.5 
Health  3.2 3.1 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.2 
NPISHa 1.5 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4  1.1 
FISIMb 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.0 
Total value added 94.9  94.9 94.9 94.9 94.9 94.9 94.9  95.9 
Taxes less subsidies  5.1 5.1 5.1 5.1 5.1 5.1 5.1 4.1 
GDP at market prices  100.0  100.0  100.0  100.0  100.0 100.0 100.0  100.0  
Public finance  (% of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)  
Total revenues and grants 16.3  15.3 12.5 12.7 15.3 15.4 17.2  16.3 
Tax revenue 8.8 9.0 8.6 9.1 9.2 10.0 11.6 11.0 
Non-tax revenue 1.4  1.4 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.3 2.3  2.2 
Grants 6.1 4.9 2.6 2.2 4.7 4.1 3.3 3.1 
Total expenditures and net lending 17.6  16.6 13.4 16.7 17.7 20.6 21.8  19.6 
Current expenditure 13.2 12.7 10.8 11.8 12.2 12.8 12.7 10.3 
 Wages and salaries 4.9  4.9 4.7 4.6 4.9 5.2 5.4  3.8 
Capital expenditure 4.3 3.9 2.7 4.9 5.5 7.8 9.1 7.8 
Net lending 0.1  0.0 -0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0  1.5 
Fiscal balance -1.3 -1.3 -0.9 -4.1 -2.5 -5.2 -4.6 -3.3 
Prices, interest rates, and exchange rates  
Inflation (CPI, % change) 12.1 9.5 11.7 4.8 9.3 16.6 16.2 12.9 
Exchange rate, Le / US$ (annual average)  2,889.6  2,961.9  2,985.2  2,981.5  3,385.7 3,978.1 4,349.2  4,344.0  
Nominal effective exchange rate (2005=100)  100.0  97.9 91.4 88.7 83.5 70.1 61.6 64.7 
Real effective exchange rate (2005=100)  100.0  104.3  105.3  112.6  114.1 110.2 110.9  129.2  
External sector (% of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)  
Trade balance -11.8  -7.1 -7.5 -10.7  -15.8 -28.2 -67.1  -28.1  
Current account, net -6.4 -5.1 -7.5 -9.2 -13.5 -23.1 -66.0  -25.7  
Capital account, net 4.2  13.9 29.8 2.7 6.2 5.2 5.4  2.9 
Financial account, net -5.9 5.6 15.6 -7.4 -15.6 -17.5 -59.6  -23.1  
Total reserves (US$ million) 170.5  183.9  216.6  220.2  405.0 409.0 439.1  478.0  
Total reserves, in months of imports 4.0 4.5 4.1 3.9 6.1 4.1 1.9 2.1 
a Non-Profit Institutions Serving Households. 
b Financial Intermediation Services Indirectly Measured. 
Source: Central Bank of Sierra Leone; National  Statistics Office; African Development Bank, African Statistical 
Yearbook 2013 . Viewed at: http://www.afdb.org/documents/document/african-statistical-yearbook-
2013-31680/ ; IMF International Financial Statistics . Viewed at: http://elibrary-data.imf.org/  
(March 2014); World Bank, World Development Indicator database. Viewed at: 
http://data.worldbank.org/data-cata log/world-develo pment-indicators  [March 2014].  
1.2  Recent Economic Developments 
1.7.  Since its last Trade Policy Review, in 2005, Sierra Leone has implemented reconstruction 
reforms through its Poverty Reduction Strategy7 (aimed at laying down the foundation for 
broad-based economic growth), and has expanded its mining sector. The Strategy provided for 
                                               
7 Government of Sierra Leone (2005, 2008). WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
- 11 - 
 
  substantial investments targeted at building infrastructure, developing the private sector, and 
expanding access to social services. Between 2008 and 2013, several major transport, agriculture, and energy projects were completed. 
1.8.  Building on these outcomes, in 2013 the authorities launched the Agenda for Prosperity, 
setting the pathway to middle-income status by 2035.
8 The Agenda for Prosperity pursued the 
efforts of developing the private sector to support inclusive growth, addressing the infrastructure deficit, and improving governance and transpar ency to support public service delivery. The 
programme includes major investment projects such  as the construction of a new airport on the 
mainland, the construction of hydroelectric dams, and the extension of agricultural irrigation projects. 
1.9.  As a result of these reforms, economic growth peaked at 8% in 2007, and was at 5.4% 
in 2008, while the world economy was battling with surges in global food and fuel prices. The 
growth moderated in 2009, as demand for Sierra Leone's exports weakened essentially because of the global downturn, but accelerated again in 2011 as the country began exporting iron ore from 
the newly completed Tonkolili mining project. In  the first full year of production, 2012, the 
economy grew by 32.5%. The non-iron-ore econom y grew by 5.3%, driven by the agriculture, 
manufacturing, construction, and services sectors. Per capita nominal GDP increased at an average 
annual rate of 8% to US$494 in 2011 (Table 1.1), before jumping to US$717 in 2012. 
1.10.  Between 2005 and 2009, Sierra Leone managed to maintain its fiscal deficit well below the 
WAMZ's target of 4% of GDP, except in 2008.  The deficit widened to 5.2% of GDP in 2010, 
reflecting expenditure overruns and the construction of public infrastructure. The authorities 
responded by severely restraining public expenditure by, inter alia , scaling-down public investment 
projects and delaying the payment of some of it s bills. The percentage of non-performing loans 
increased, partly due to the high level of govern ment unpaid bills to the private sector. The fiscal 
deficit narrowed to 4.6% of non-iron-ore GDP in 2011 and 3.3% in 2012. In 2013, the deficit 
continued to narrow (1.9%), aided by stronger re venue performance, as well as to expenditure 
restraint.  
1.11.  Sierra Leone is highly dependent on foreign aid. OECD estimates put the average ratio of 
official development assistance to GDP at 31.4% over 2000-10.
9 At 19.5% of GDP in 2012, the 
stock of debt is relatively low, and the risk of debt distress is assessed by the IMF as modest. The debt service represented 2.7% of exports. Multila teral creditors accounted for 63.8% of the total 
external debt. In 2012, the authorities cancelled an Extended Credit Facility (ECF) negotiated 
in 2010 with the IMF, and negotiated a new programme to support the implementation of the Agenda for Prosperity. In October 2013, the IM F approved a three-year arrangement under the 
Extended Credit Facility for an amount of US$95.9 million. 
1.12.  Monetary policy is under the purview of the Bank of Sierra Leone (BSL). Its mission includes 
the formulation and the implementation of the mo netary policy, and regulation of the financial 
services sector. The primary objective of the monetary policy is to achieve and maintain price 
stability.
10 Until 2011, monetary policy was conducted mainly through open market operations, 
affecting indirectly the money supply to the economy and interest rates. In 2011, the Monetary Policy Committee introduced the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) as an anchor for inflation 
expectations and a benchmark for other market rates.  In the absence of sterilization, the inflow of 
capital arising from aid-funded budget spending as well as investment projects is not without challenges to the monetary policy. It has led to excessive liquidity in the economy, with associated 
pressure on inflation. As a result, the reserve money and the broad money expanded beyond their 
targets, to 18.5% and 23.1% respectively.
11 The real effective exchange rate appreciated by 16% 
(Table 1.1). To curb the pressure on inflation, the Monetary Policy Committee maintained its 
monetary policy rate at 20%, and intervened actively through open markets operations. As 
of December 2013, the MPR was at 10%. 
                                               
8 Government of Sierra Leone (2013a). 
9 OECD (2013).  
10 Bank of Sierra Leone Act, 2011. 
11 The 2012 targets were an expansion of 13.9% for reserve money, and 20.4% for broad money (Bank 
of Sierra Leone, 2013). WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  1.3  Trade Performance 
1.13.  Until 2011, Sierra Leone's exports were largely dominated by mineral products, in particular 
diamond, rutile, and bauxite. Between 2005 and 2011, exports increased at an average annual 
rate of 14% to US$349.7 million (Table A1.1). Diamonds were the leading exports, accounting for 
over a half of export earnings until 2007. This sh are declined to 33.2% in 2010 due to a leap in 
agricultural exports, and an increase in exports of rutile. Cocoa exports increased to 12.5% of total exports in 2011, largely due to higher international prices.  
1.14.  In 2012, iron ore overtook diamonds as the major export product, as the Tonkolili and 
Marampa mines completed the first year of full-scale production. In 2013, exports of iron ore accounted for 55.7% of total exports (Chart 1.1), while the share of diamonds dropped 
below 10%. China is the main market for Sierra Leone's iron ore. The share of exports to the 
European Union, a long-standing top market, declined from 49.6% in 2006 to 12.6% in 2013 
(Chart 1.2). Exports to the ECOWAS are generally  low, peaking in 2010 owing to rice exports 
(Table A1.2). 
1.15.  The evolution of imports is similar to that  of exports. Between 2005 and 2010, imports grew 
on average by 18% each year to US$775 million (Table A1.3). They more than doubled the 
following year, owing to the import of machiner y and transport equipment related to mining and 
oil investment projects. The share of machiner y and transport equipment in total more than 
doubled between 2005 and 2011, declining again in  2013 as the development phase of the iron 
ore project came to an end. 
1.16.  The overall trade deficit increased near ly tenfold between 2006 and 2012 to US$1.2 billion 
(Table 1.2), due to imports for reconstruction, including under related major investment projects. 
Trade in services increased over the same period, although at a slower pace than trade in goods. The trade in services account widened to US$349.2 million in 2012, from US$43.4 million in 2006. 
Transport services and other business services (mainly operational leasing services, miscellaneous 
professional and technical services) are the main contributors to this deficit. In 2011 and 2012, Sierra Leone was a net exporter of communication se rvices. Sierra Leone is also a net exporter of 
travel services. Trade surplus in travel servic es increased three-fold between 2006 and 2012, 
reflecting increased business travel and improvements in the tourism sector.  
Table 1.2 Balance of payments, 2006-12  
(Net flows, US$ million) 
 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
Trade balance -132.7 -159.3 -261.7 -381.3 -715.5 -1,945.5 -1,205.1 
 Goods  -89.3  -106.6  -197.7  -347.1  -517.9  -1,670.3 -855.9  
 Services  -43.4  -52.7  -64.0  -34.2  -197.6  -275.2 -349.2  
 Transportation  -30.4  -32.5  -35.1  -59.7  -88.2  -218.8 -227.4  
 Communication  -3.5  -5.1 -11.4  36.7 -8.2 73.5 88.2  
 Construction  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
 Insurance  -5.4  -8.0 -10.6  -8.8 -6.3 -16.9 -21.2  
 Financial services  0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.5 -0.8 
 Computer and information  -1.3  -0.9 -1.5 -1.0 -1.0 -1.9 -1.2  
 Royalties and licenses fees  -1.0 -1.5 0.5 0.5 0.9 0.6 0.7 
 Other business services  -4.2  -5.2 -6.9 -5.7 -98.1  -132.4 -214.2  
 Personal, cultural, and recreational services  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
 Travel  10.5  7.9 9.5 12.2 12.7 30.3 31.9  
 Government services  -8.3 -7.8 -8.8 -8.5 -9.6 -9.9 -5.2 
Income  -39.7  -104.3  -74.8  -35.7  -49.1  -218.1 -133.3  
 Investment income  -41.6  -103.3  -75.8  -37.1  -50.0  -219.2 -134.7  
 Direct investment  -25.9  -91.0  -69.9  -35.8  -43.1  -215.3 -126.2  
 Portfolio investment  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 -2.4 
 Other investment  -15.6  -12.2  -5.9 -1.4 -6.9 -3.9 -6.1  
 Compensation of employees  1.9 -1.0 1.0 1.4 0.9 1.1 1.4 
Current transfer payments  77.3 103.4  111.1  90.0 179.3  250.0 236.3  
 Official  45.3 58.8 77.7 38.7 126.6  112.8 93.8 
 Private  32.0  44.6 33.4 51.3 52.7 137.2 142.5  
Current account surplus (+) or deficit (-) -95.0  -160.2  -225.5  -327.0  -585.3  -1,913.5 -1,102.1  
Capital and financial account 133.8  288.9  165.7  436.2  517.5  1,720.1 962.9  
 Capital account  259.0  634.3  66.4 149.9  131.0  157.1 123.4  
 Financial account  -128.4  -328.3  95.4 349.6  356.9  1,673.1 937.0  
Errors and omissions -19.5  -3 -115.6  -0.0 -1.8 -0.8 -1 
Surplus (+) or deficit 58.3  131.7  175.3  109.2  69.7 194.3 140.1  WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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   2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
Financing        
 Official reserves assets -11.5  -33.9  -10.2  -231.5  -58.9  -35.4 -42.9  
 Exceptional financing 118.8  63.8 156.5  142.3  69.4 189.6 191.6  
 IMF credit and loans -165.7  -161.6  28.9 -20.0  59.2 40.1 -8.6  
Source: Bank of Sierra Leone online information. Viewed at: http://www.bsl.gov.sl/ext ernalsector_data.html  
[02.05.14]. 
 
Chart 1.1 Product composition of merchandise trade, 2006 and 2013 
2006 2013
(a)    Exports (f.o.b.), including re-exports
Iron ore
55.7%
Rutile
6.8%
Diamonds
9.7%Bauxite
0.7%
Total:   US$228 million Total:  US$1,910 million
(b)    Imports (c.i.f.)
Chemicals
6.1%Manufactured 
goods classified by 
materials
12.3%Food
14.2%
Chemicals
7.3%Mineral fuels and 
lubricants
23.4%Manufactured 
goods classified by 
materials
8.2%Machinery and 
transport 
equip.
22.5%Other
18.5%
Total:   US$395 million Total:   US$1,780 millionOther mining
0.9%
Other
12.6%Other 
(including re-
exports) 
6.0%Agriculture
0.6%
Diamonds
53.6%Agriculture
5.6%
Machinery and 
transport equip.
17.5%Food
20.1%Other (including 
re-exports) 
17.0%
Mineral fuels and 
lubricants
37.3%Other mining
20.4%
Rutile
12.5%Bauxite
10.3%Iron ore
0.0%
 
Source: Customs and Excise Department, Governme nt Gold and Diamond Office, Sierra Leone. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  Chart 1.2 Direction of exports (f.o.b .), including re-exports, 2006 and 2013 
2006 2013
Other
77.6%
EU (27)
12.6%
United 
States
0.3%
E
C
Total:   US$228 million Total:  US$1,910 millionOther
11.2%United 
States
28.9%
EU (27)
49.6%ECOWAS
9.2%Japan
0.3%Switzerland
0.8%
 
Source: Customs and Excise Department, Governme nt Gold and Diamond Office, Sierra Leone. 
1.4  Foreign Direct Investment 
1.17.  Sierra Leone's business environment has improved greatly thanks to various reforms 
undertaken as part of post-conflict reconstruction efforts. As the country is well endowed with 
natural resources, total FDI inflows increased substantially between 2006 and 2012 (Table 1.3). 
Recent FDI inflows were destined mainly to the energy and mining industries.  
Table 1.3 FDI inflows, 2006-12 
 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
Inwards FDI (million US$) 59 97 53 110 238 715 740 
Inwards FDI (% of GDP) 3.6 4.9 2.3 4.5 9.4 24.7 18.8 
Cross-border mergers and acquisitions ..  31 40 .. 13 52 ..  
Greenfield FDI (from the rest of the world) 280 .. 73 260 230 212 119 
.. Not available. 
Source: UNCTAD (2013). 
1.5  Outlook 
1.18.  Growth prospects in the medium term are linked to developments in the mining sector and 
the implementation of the Agenda for Prosperi ty. Expansion in the mining sector has been 
undertaken in conjunction with the rehabilitation of roads, railways, and port facilities. Furthermore, the trickle-down effect may be substantial, especially in tradable services. Excluding 
the mining sector, agriculture is to remain the key driver of economic growth, as the Government 
remains committed to its goal of rice self-sufficiency. 
1.19.  IMF projected that growth will remain  above 10% until 2015 then decelerate to 7.7% 
in 2016. The Government's medium-term (by 2017) objectives are to achieve annual real GDP 
growth (excluding the iron ore sector) of 7%, to reduce inflation to 5.4% annually, and to build up 
external reserves in order to reach coverage of about 4 months of imports (non-iron ore related).
12 
Downside risks associated with this outlook include uncertainty with regard to iron ore production 
and demand, as well as the high reliance on aid for budget expenditures. A shortfall in aid could 
hinder budget execution and lead to excessive borrowing. 
 
                                               
12 Government of Sierra Leone (2013) . WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  2  TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIME 
2.1  General Framework 2.1.  Sierra Leone is a constitutional republic with a unicameral parliament.
1 The President is the 
Head of State and the supreme executive authority. He is elected by direct universal suffrage for a 
term of five years, renewable once. The President is assisted by a Vice-President (elected jointly 
with the President). The President is advised by a Cabinet of Ministers. The current President was 
elected for a second term in November 2012. 
2.2.  Sierra Leone is divided into four admini strative regions: the Eastern Province, Northern 
Province, Southern Province, and Western Area (where Freetown, the capital, is located). The 
provinces are divided into 12 districts where the central government is represented by district 
councils, and 149 chiefdoms. The chiefdoms are head ed by traditional leaders (paramount chiefs) 
elected for life by tribal authorities, and are in charge of the day-to-day administration of their 
localities.  
2.3.  Legislative power is vested in the Parliament. The Parliament consists of 124 members 
elected for a five-year term: 112 are elected directly through the "district block" representation 
system, and 12 indirectly to represent provincial di stricts. The last legislative elections were held 
on 17 November 2012. In general, a bill passed by  the Parliament becomes law once signed by the 
President. A law cannot enter into force until it has been published in the Gazette . The body of law 
consists of the Constitution, laws, ordinances, orders, regulations, and customary law. Treaties and international agreements, once ratified and published in the Gazette,  take precedence over 
domestic laws. 
2.4.  Headed by the Chief Justice, the Judiciary is independent from the executive and legislative 
authorities, and consists of the Supreme Court, th e Court of Appeal, and the High Court of Justice. 
The Supreme Court is the final court of appeals and has supervisory jurisdiction over all other 
courts in Sierra Leone. The High Court of Justice has jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters. 
Appeals are brought, in first instance, to the Co urt of Appeals, and in final instance, to the 
Supreme Court. Judges, including the Chief Justic e, are appointed by the President, subject to 
parliamentary approval. 
2.5.  In 2010, the Government launched a commercial court to fast track commercial disputes.   
2.6.  Each Ministry is responsible for policies with in its mandate. Therefore, the Ministry of Trade 
and Industry (MTI) is responsible for trade policy. It collaborates with relevant ministries and 
agencies, including: the Ministry of Finance and the National Revenue Authority, on tariffs and 
customs issues; the Ministry of Justice and the Law Reform Commission, on legal and judicial matters and reforms; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on trade negotiation and representation; the 
Bank of Sierra Leone, on financial services issu es; the Sierra Leone Standards Bureau (SLBS), on 
standards development and enforcement; and vari ous technical ministries responsible for areas 
such as agriculture, fisheries, mining, labour, lands, and tourism.  
2.7.  
The MTI also collaborates with private sect or institutions such  as the Chamber of 
Commerce, Industry and Agriculture;  the Chamber of Mines; and other trade, producer, and 
consumer associations. There is no formal consul tation with the private sector on trade policy 
formulation and/or implementa tion. However, a 2014 Cabine t decision mandates the 
establishment of a public-private consultative  forum on a range of issues, including trade-
related ones.  
2.8.  In 2008, t he MTI established the National Coordinating Committee on Trade (NCCT), a 
comprising relevant ministries and agencies, as  well as representatives from the private sector 
and the academia. The NCCT was st ructured in various subcommittees , each overseeing a specific 
trade-policy issue. According to the authorities, the Committee is being revived through 
assistance from the DFID's Trade Advocacy Fund. Trade policy evaluation is under the 
purview of the MTI. No evaluation has been undertaken so far.  
                                               
1 The Constitution of Sierra Leone, Act No. 6 of 1991. The Constitution was amended in 2008 to 
accommodate some provisions in the 2000 Anti-Corruption Act (The Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment), Act, 2008). WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  2.9.  Sierra Leone considers the fight against corruption as a priority, and launched a Zero 
Tolerance Policy against Corruption in 2008. In this regard, the Parliament enacted a new anti-corruption Act
2, broadening the range of offences (from 9 to 29 offences), and strengthening 
the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC). Unlike the previous legislation, the new act gives the ACC 
the power to prosecute. Between 2010 and 2012, the ACC reported 179 completed cases of 
investigations, intelligence, and prosecutions, with nearly US$5 billion in asset recovery.3  
2.10.  Sierra Leone ratified the United Nation s Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in 2004, 
and the African Union's Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, in 2008.  
2.11.  As a mineral-rich country, Sierra Leone en dorsed the Extractive Industries Transparency 
Initiative (EITI) in 2006, and became a "candidate country" in 2008. It published its first report in 2010, disclosing revenue from its minerals sector. Sierra Leone was suspended 
in December 2013, for failure to meet benchmarks regarding disclosures of facts and figures of its 
mining activities. Remedial actions have been ta ken, and Sierra Leone has been designated EITI 
compliant as of April 2014. 
2.12.  Since its last Trade Policy Review in 2005, Sierra Leone has adopted or amended laws 
in several areas, including: cu stoms, mining, business environm ent, banking, and intellectual 
property (Table 2.1). 
Table 2.1 Major trade-related legislation, December 2013 
Issue Law Latest amendment 
Business environment and investment The Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991 Act No. 9, 2008 
 National Commission for Privatization Act, 2002   
 Anti-Corruption Act, 2008   
 Investment Promotion Act, 2004   
 Investment Code, 2005   
 Investment and Export Promotion Agency Act, 2007  
 Companies Act, 2009   
 Bankruptcy Act, 2009   
 Registration of Business Act, 2007   
Taxation National Revenue Authority Act, 2002   
 Good and Services Tax Act, 2009   
 Income Tax Act, 2000   
 Finance Acts  Finance Act, 2013  
 Entertainment Tax Act, 1971  Act No. 12, 2004  
 Customs Act, 2011   
Mining Mines and Mineral Act, 2009   
 Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, 2011  
 Diamond Cutting and Polishing Act, 2007   
 National Minerals Agency Act, 2012   
Utilities National Electricity Act, 2011   
 Water Company Act, 2001   
 Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission Act, 
2011  
Transport Maritime Administration Act, 2001  Act No. 14, 2007  
 Road Transport Authority Act, 1996  Act No. 5, 2003  
 Merchant Shipping Act, 2003  Act No. 5, 2003  
Standards and technical regulations Weights and Measures Act, 2010   
Communications Telecommunications Act, 2006  Act No. 8, 2009  
 External Telecommunications Tax Act, 1995  Act No. 3, 2004  
 Postal Services Regulatory Agency Act, 2012   
Intellectual Property Copyright Act, 2011   
 Patents and Industrial Designs Act, 2012   
Financial services Payment  Systems Act, 2009   
 Home Mortgage Finance Act, 2009   
 Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2005   
 Banking Act, 2000   
 Insurance Act, 2000   
 Exchange Control Act (Cap  265) Act No. 16, 2007  
Other Environment Protection Agency Act, 2008   
 Public Procurement Act, 2004   
Source: Http://www.sierra-leo ne.org/laws.html ; and information provided by the authorities. 
                                               
2 The Anti-Corruption Act 2008, repealed the Anti-Corruption Act 2000. 
3 Http://www.anticorruption.gov.sl/index.php?p =55&pn=Who%20we%20are#sthash.8bvEMB5P.dpuf . WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  2.2  Trade Policy Objectives 
2.13.  The ultimate goal of Sierra Leone's trade policy is to help create wealth and employment.4 
The Government seeks to achieve this goal by pr omoting and developing a robust and competitive 
private sector. It intends to, inter alia , develop a transparent trade-regime; build the required 
capacity and infrastructure for increased participation in global trade; promote competition; 
protect consumers; and encourage inflows of aid, private investment, and migrant remittances. 
2.14.  Sierra Leone's trade policy is also guided by a number of trade-related policies and 
strategies, including the 2007 National Export Strategy, the Local Content Policy, and the Small 
and Medium Enterprises Policy. In 2013, Sierra Leone updated its Diagnostic Trade Integration Study and the related Action Matrix.  
2.15.  Sierra Leone views participation in global trade as a vital factor in its economic development 
and intends to build the required capacity to reap the related benefits. In that regard, it supports 
initiatives towards the elimination of trade-distorting measures within international fora such as the WTO, promotes trade with the other ECOWAS countries, and is taking steps to fully utilize 
existing trade preferences. 
2.3  Trade Agreements and Arrangements 2.3.1  World Trade Organization 
2.16.  Sierra Leone is an original Member of the WTO. It extends at least MFN treatment to all its 
trading partners. Sierra Leone is neither a signatory nor an observer to any of the plurilateral agreements concluded under the WTO. 
2.17.  The authorities view the multilateral trading system as important for their country's 
integration into global trade. They recognized th at reaping the benefits from WTO membership will 
not come automatically and that Sierra Leone will continue to rely on trade-related technical assistance, including in capacity building, to address shortcomings in its institutions. They agreed 
the Trade Facilitation Agreement would offer benefits  in terms of reduced time and trading costs, 
but that considerable investment in infrastructure would be needed. 
2.18.  Sierra Leone established a Mission to the WTO in 2011. Since its previous TPR, Sierra Leone 
has made one notification to the WTO: in 2010, it notified the Committee on SCM that it had not 
established an authority competent to initiate investigations within the meaning of Article 25.12 of the Agreement on SCM, and that it had taken no countervailing action.
5 Sierra Leone has not been 
involved in any dispute case, as a complainant, respondent, or third party.  
2.19.  In the negotiations at the WTO, Sierra Leone is a member of the ACP group, the African 
Group, the G-90, the LDCs, and the "W52" sponsors.6 
2.20.  Within the WTO, Sierra Leone is currently designated as an "Inactive Member" due to 
contribution arrears. As a consequence, Sierra Leone is, in principle, denied training and technical 
assistance other than those necessary to meet its GATT Article XIV-2 obligations. 
2.3.2  Regional agreements 
2.3.2.1  African Union 
2.21.  Sierra Leone is a founding member of the African Union (AU), successor to the Organization 
of African Unity (OAU). The organs of the AU include: the Assembly of Heads of State and 
Government; the Executive Council; the Commissio n; the Permanent Representatives' Committee; 
the Peace and Security Council; the Economic, Social and Cultural Council; a Court of Justice, and 
                                               
4 Ministry of Industry and Trade (2010). 
5 WTO document G/SCM/N/202/SLE, 15 January 2010. 
6 The "W52" sponsors support a proposal for modalities  in the negotiations on geographical indications 
(establishing a multilateral register for wines and spirits, and extending the higher level of protection beyond 
wines and spirits), and for patents a pplicants to disclose the origin of  genetic resources and traditional 
knowledge used in their inventions ( http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/negotiating_groups_e.htm ). WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  a Pan-African Parliament. The AU will also comprise the African Central Bank; the African Monetary 
Fund; the African Investment Bank. 
2.22.  The AU aims to become an economic and po litical union. The Abuja Treaty provides for the 
establishment of the African Economic Community (AEC) by 2028, using existing regional 
economic communities (RECs) as pillars.7 Sierra Leone participates in this process through the 
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). However, the integration process has been slow in taking hold. At the 2012 AU Summit, African leaders endorsed a road map aiming at 
fast-tracking the process, with the goal of es tablishing a continental free-trade area by 2017.
8 
According to the plan, RECs are encouraged to establish their FTAs by 2014. Their consolidation into a continent-wide FTA will start in 2015, lead ing to the establishment of one economic and 
monetary union by 2028.  
2.23.  In 2001, AU members adopted the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) with 
the objectives to, inter alia , "halt the marginalisation of Africa in the globalisation process and 
enhance its full and beneficial integration into the global economy".
9 The AU/NEPAD African Action 
Plan (AAP) is the main framework defining priority programmes and projects. For the 
period 2010-15, the AAP defined projects in priori ty sectors, including "Trade, industry, market 
access and private-sector development". 
2.24.  Through the African Peer Review Mechanism,  the AU has been providing an opportunity for 
countries to voluntarily submit for review, their policies and practices in the areas of democracy and political governance, economic governance and management, corporate governance, and socio-economic development. Sierra Leone a cceded to the Mechanism in 2004, and in 2010, 
became the 15
th country to complete its peer review.10 In the report, the panel of experts 
identified several economic constraints11, and noted that poverty, poor energy supply, and 
inadequate and poorly maintained infrastructure are the key challenges to the country's political 
and socio-economic development. They suggested that priority be given to,  inter alia,  corruption, 
and mineral resources management.   
2.3.2.2  Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) 
2.25.  Sierra Leone has been a member of the ECOWAS since its establishment in May 1975.12 The 
ECOWAS was notified to the WTO in 2005 under the Enabling Clause.13 The ECOWAS institutions 
are: the Authority of Heads of States and Governments, the Council of Ministers, the Community Parliament, the Economic and Social Council, the Community Court of Justice, and the 
Commission. ECOWAS members adopted a common ex ternal tariff in October 2013, and plan to 
implement it by January 2015.  
2.26.  Sierra Leone has ratified ECOWAS's Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS), which provides for 
products deemed of Community origin to be traded across borders duty free and without 
quantitative restriction. To benefit from the ETLS, the companies and each of their products must be registered as meeting the rules of origin spec ified under the scheme. Registration of products 
involves a two-stage approval process: a national committee examines the application and makes 
recommendations to a regional committee for decision. According to the authorities, Sierra Leone does not have any approved products or enterprises. The national committee is not in place yet. 
                                               
7 The pillars of the AEC are: the Community of Sa hel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD), the Common Market 
for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC), th e Economic Community of 
Central African States (ECCAS), the Economic Community of West  African States (ECOWAS), the 
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA). 
8 African Union (2012), Decision on Boosting Intra-African Trade and Fast Tracking the Continental Free 
Trade Area (Assembly/AU/Dec.394(XVIII)). 
9 Http://www.nepad.org/ . 
10 APRM (2012). 
11 The constraints include poor resource mobilization, a lack of access to credit, and a lack of institutions 
to support agricultural credit. 
12 The other members of ECOWAS are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, the Gambia, 
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. 
13 WTO document WT/COMTD/N/21, 26 September 2005. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  2.27.  The ECOWAS protocols establish the free movement of persons: ECOWAS citizens with a 
valid travel document and health certificate may stay for up to 90 days in another ECOWAS member state before being required to apply for re sidency. In principle, residency is automatically 
granted upon application. The authorities indicated that ECOWAS citizens are treated identically to 
national citizens in establishing and running a business.   
2.28.  In 1982, ECOWAS members established an Inter-States Road Transit Regime (ISRT), with 
the purpose of facilitating the movement of good s. A single ECOWAS logbook and bond are still to 
be implemented. In the meantime, ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions launched the Regional Road 
Transit Facilitation Programme, with a view to simplifying and harmonizing their road transport regulations and procedures. Through the programme, joint control posts were established along some inter-state corridors. 
2.29.  The ECOWAS' Monetary Cooperation Programme (EMCP), adopted in 1987, called for the 
creation of a single monetary zone in the sub-region. As part of their efforts to implement the EMCP, the Heads of State of six ECOWAS members who are not members of the West African 
Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) have b een working since 2000 to establish a second 
monetary zone in the sub-region, the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ).
14 The WAMZ, to 
comprise Sierra Leone, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, and Nigeria, is currently expected to 
be in place in 2015.  
2.3.2.3  Mano River Union  2.30.  Sierra Leone is a founding member of the Mano River Union (MRU), established in 1973 with 
Liberia. Guinea joined the MRU in 1980, and Cote d'Ivoire, in 2008. The objective of the MRU is to 
eliminate barriers to bilateral trade, and to promote cooperation in the expansion of international 
trade and the expansion of productive capacity, wi th a view of forming an economic union among 
members. Member countries adopted a common external tariff in 1977, and launched a customs 
union in 1981. However, the integration process was disrupted by episodes of political instability 
and violent armed conflicts within the region. In 2004, the MRU was formally reactivated at a summit of the Heads of States. It resumed its activities in 2008. 
2.3.2.4  Community of Sahel-Saharan States 
2.31.  Sierra Leone joined the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) in 2008.
15 The 
main objective of the CEN-SAD is to establish a comprehensive economic union based on a development plan consistent with the national plans. Specifically, CEN-SAD aims to carry out 
common infrastructure projects in transport an d communications, development of trade between 
the member States, and the removal of barriers to the free movement of goods, commodities and services. 
2.32.  CEN-SAD is Africa's largest regional economic community, in terms of GDP, population, and 
number of the member countries (at present 27 countries). Like ECOWAS, CEN-SAD is one of the eight pillars of the African Economic Community. However, its progress in trade and economic 
integration has been relatively slow. 
2.3.3  Preferential trade arrangements  2.33.  As an LDC, Sierra Leone is eligible for non-reciprocal GSP treatment from: Australia, 
Belarus, Canada, EU, Japan, New Zealand, Russi an Federation, Switzerland, Turkey, and the 
United States.
16  
2.3.3.1  Relations with the European Union  2.34.  In addition to the GSP, Sierra Leone is eligible for the EU's "Everything But Arms Initiative", 
which provides LDCs with non-reciprocal, duty-free and quota-free access to the EU market. Sierra 
                                               
14 All WAEMU countries are members of ECOWAS. 
15 CEN-SAD is a regional organization created in 1998 at the initiative of six countries from the Sahel-
Saharan region: Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sudan, and Chad. 
16 UNCTAD (2011). WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
- 20 - 
 
  Leone is participating in the negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the 
EU, through the ECOWAS group.  
2.35.  The EU is the major market for Sierra Leone's exports (section 1.3). In 2009, 2.3% of 
exports to the EU were under the GSP.17  
2.36.  As an LDC, Sierra Leone was eligible for a transitional price arrangement that guaranteed a 
minimum price of €300 per tonne of sugar export ed to the EU. The price guarantee mechanism 
expired in 2012. 
2.3.3.2  Relations with the United States 
2.37.  Sierra Leone became eligible for preferences under the U.S. African Growth and Opportunity 
Act (AGOA) in 2002, and for its apparel provisions in 2004. In 2005, it was established that Sierra Leone met the requirements for exports of handicrafts to the United States. Cane products (sugar, 
molasses, ethanol, etc.) and oil-palm products (palm oil, palm kernel oil, oilcake from palm, 
palmitic acid, etc.) are eligible for duty-free export to the United States.
18 In 2013, four additional 
products (lemon grass, ginger, tobacco, and bitter root) were added to the list of eligible 
products.19 H o w e v e r ,  e x p o r t s  u n d e r  t h e  A G O A  h a v e  g e n e r a l l y  r e m a i n e d  l i m i t e d  a s  t h e  b u l k  o f  
Sierra Leone's exports to the United States consist of minerals and metals. According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Commerce, less than 1% of U.S. imports from Sierra Leone in 2012 
were under AGOA (including GSP provisions).
20 
2.3.3.3  Other agreements 2.38.  Sierra Leone receives trade preferences from other developed countries under their national 
preference schemes. Although it has not signed  the Agreement on the Global System of Trade 
Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP), Sierra Leone, as an LDC, is granted 
non-reciprocal preferences by certain signatories.
21 
2.39.  Sierra Leone has signed some bilateral agreements, for example with: Angola, China, 
Ghana, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Morocco, Nigeria, and South Africa. These agreements are 
mostly on trade cooperation matters. 
2.4  Investment Regime 
2.40.  In 2011, the Government launched a vast se t of reforms aiming at improving the business 
and investment climate. Six reforms were implemented22, propelling the country among the top 
global reformers; it moved from 150th to 141st place on the ease of doing business index. Sierra 
Leone ranks 142nd (out of 189 economies) in the World Bank's 2014 Doing Business  report. Among 
the subcategories, Sierra Leone ranks 22nd in terms of investor protection and 75th in the ease of 
starting a business. However, in the areas of dealing with construction permits and getting electricity, Sierra Leone ranks in the bottom 10%. 
2.41.  Since its last Trade Policy Review, the Sierra Leone Government has undertaken measures 
to improve its investment framework and attract FD I. These include a zero-tolerance policy against 
corruption; the adoption of new laws, especially in the mining and minerals sector; and the 
                                               
17 European Commission document SEC(2011) 536 final, 10 May 2011. Viewed at: 
http://ec.europa.eu/governance/impact/ia_carried_out/docs/ia_2011/sec_2011_0536_en.pdf  [22.10.13]. 
18 U.S. Department of Commerce online information. Viewed at: http://agoa.info/news/article/4519-
sierra-leone-preferential-market-access-to-key-markets-for-sugar-palm-oil.html  [20.06.14]. 
19 U.S. Department of Commerce online information. Viewed at: http://agoa.info/news/article/5057-
sierra-leone-four-products-c ertified-for-us-export.html  [20.06.14]. 
20 U.S. Department of Commerce online information. Viewed at: http://agoa.info/profiles/sierra-
leone.html  [20.02.14].  
21 UNCTAD online information. Viewed at: 
http://unctad.org/en/pages/PressRelease.aspx?OriginalVersionID=65 . 
22 The six reforms were: the es tablishment of a fast-track commercial court (enforcing 
contracts/resolving insolvency); the implementation of  the Automated System for Customs Data (trading 
across borders); the establishment of a Credit Reference Bureau (access to credit); the digitalization of land 
records (property registration); the automation of th e company registry (start ing a business); and the 
establishment of a one-stop shop to  deal with construction permits. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  simplification of business registration proced ures. In 2009, the Government introduced a goods 
and services tax, repealing several taxes im posed under different pieces of legislation.23 
2.4.1  Legal framework for business 2.42.  The Investment Promotion Act (2004) provides for equal treatment of foreign and domestic 
investors. With a few exceptions, foreigners may invest in any legitimate form of business. The 
restrictions include prohibition of foreign participation in airport and port operation services
24, and 
the requirement to have nationals holding at least 25% of shares for investments of less than 
US$500,000 in the mining sector. 
2.43.  The Act guarantees remittance of profits an d repatriation of capital without restrictions, 
except any applicable obligation under the Income Tax Act. Foreign investors are guaranteed against expropriation, and have access to the judicial system on the same basis as nationals.  
2.44.  All investors may open and maintain bank accounts in foreign currency. They may, in 
principle, withdraw and remit any amount from a commercial bank, and subject to the availability of the currency, have it transferred into any freely convertible currency at any legal market 
clearing rate. Investors may also acquire foreign currencies through foreign exchange auctions 
conducted regularly by the Bank of Sierra Leone.  There is no minimum capital requirement except 
for investments in banking and telecommunications. 
2.45.  The Companies Act (2009) and the Registra tion of Business Act (2007) are the main laws 
governing the registration and operation of busine sses in Sierra Leone. In accordance with these 
laws, any business must register with the Office of the Administrator and Registrar General (OARG) before starting its activity. The process involves:  
a. company name search, conducted at the OARG. There is a fee of Le 2,000 for sole 
proprietorships and partnerships, and Le 10,000 for limited liability companies (LLCs); 
b. business name registration and incorporation by the OARG. The registration fee is 
Le 30,000 for sole proprietorships and partnerships, and Le 120,000 for LLCs. LLCs must 
pay an incorporation fee, that may represent from 75% of the share capital (for a capital of Le 100,000) to 3% for capital of Le 10 million and above.
25 The business name is then 
entered in the Registrar of Companies, and a Certificate of incorporation is issued to the 
investor; 
c. tax clearance certificate, delivered free of charge by the National Revenue Authority 
(NRA). The certificate is a statement that exempts the company from the payment of the 
advance tax. A tax identification number is delivered at this stage; 
d. business registration with the NRA. The fee is Le 120,000 for LLCs, and between 
Le 20,000 and Le 60,000 for sole proprietorships and partnerships (depending on the 
class assigned to the business by the NRA officer). 
2.46.  Since 2011, all institutions involved in these steps have been available at a one-stop-office 
set up within the OARG. Starting 2014, investors may submit registration application online 
through the OARG website.26 
2.47.  In addition to these procedures, foreign co mpanies wishing to establish a subsidiary may be 
required to authenticate the documents of the parent company abroad. A trade licence from the 
MTI is required for companies wishing to engage in international trade.  
                                               
23 Goods and Services Tax Act, 2009. The Act repeal s taxes imposed under: the Entertainment Tax Act, 
1971; the Restaurant Food Act, 1989; the Development of Tourism Act, 1990; the External Telecommunications Tax Act, 1995; and the Sales Tax Act, 1995. 
24 World Bank online information. Viewed at: http://iab.worldbank.org/data/exploreeconomies/sierra-
leone . 
25 In addition, there is a fee of Le 10,000 for the filing of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, 
and Le 5,000 for each accompanying notice. 
26 OARG online information. Viewed at: http://www.oarg.gov.sl/ .  WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  2.48.  Since its previous TPR, Sierra Leone has taken steps to streamline the process for business 
registration. In 2007, an amendment to the Business Start-Up Law abolished the requirement for a foreign exchange control permit from the Bank of Sierra Leone.
27 Companies are no longer 
required to pay an advance tax before registration, to have Memorandum and Articles of 
Association, or to renew their business registrati on annually. In addition, the 2009 Bankruptcy Act 
made it easier to handle cases of business closure. 
2.49.  The Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA), established by the 
Government in 2007, became operational in 2008. It replaced the Sierra Leone Export 
Development and Investment Corporation.28 The SLIEPA is under the supervision of the MTI.  
2.50.  Non-citizens and foreign companies are not allowed to own land in Sierra Leone, but may 
lease land for a term of 21 years, renewable. The leasing of public land is subject to approval by 
the Ministry of Lands. Decisions are generally issu ed within 14 days of the request. Land outside 
Freetown and the Western Area are governed by the customary land tenure system (see section 4.1). 
2.4.2   Incentives 
2.51.  Sierra Leone's incentives programmes remain ed largely unchanged during the review period 
(Table 2.2). They are provided under the Income Tax Act, the Goods and Services Tax Act, various 
Finance Acts, the Business Start-up Act, the Bankruptcy Act of 2009, and various sector-specific 
laws. According to the authorities, there is no discrimination against foreign investors with respect to the granting of investment incentives.  
Table 2.2 Main investment incentives 
Measure/Coverage Incentive 
Corporate tax (standard rate: Zone A: 30%; Zone B: 25%)a: 
Agriculture  Exemption during the first 10 years: 
 tree and food crops: full exemption 
 agri-processing: full exemption if 60% of input is sourced locally; otherwise, 20% 
of exemption for Zone A and 10% for Zone B 
Forestry Exemption during the first 10 years:  
 full exemption for cultivation 
 processing: 30% of exemption for Zone A, 20% for Zone B 
Mining  15% for the first 5 years; afterwards  25% for Zone A, 20% for Zone B  
 deductions: full deduction for prospection and exploration, 40% for the first year of 
production 
 10% depreciation for R&D and training spending, 10% amortization for start-up 
cost; 
 deduction of 50% of qualifying investment from personal income taxes 
Tourism Reduced rate of 15% for the first 5 years 
Depreciation 
Standard capital allowance  40% for plants, machinery and equipment the first year 
 5-15% for most of other items (buildings, intangibles assets …) 
Losses carry-forward Indefinitely (provided that it does not reduce taxable income by more than 50%) 
Import duty  
Agriculture Full exemption for agricultural inputs (machinery, equipment, agri-chemicals, planting 
materials) 
Malaria and HIV drugs Full exemption 
Raw materials, plant and machinery Reduced rate of 3% 
Intermediate products Reduced rate of 10% 
Tourism Full exemption for new constructions, extension or renovation; 
Reduction of duty rates by 50% for upgrading during first 12 months of work  
Operational vehicles Reduced rates of 5%, 20%, or 30% depending on the age 
                                               
27 General Law (Business Start-up) (Amendment) Act of 2007. 
28 Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Act, 2007. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  Measure/Coverage Incentive 
Withholding tax  
General Imports: 3% 
Contracts and supplies: 10% on foreign and 5% on local contracts and supplies 
Rental income, prize winning: 10% 
Agriculture Exemption for 50% of dividends 
Other 15% 
Payroll tax  
General ECOWAS citizens: Le 1,000,000 (US$370) per year 
Non-ECOWAS citizens: Le 3,000,000 (US$1,110) per year  
Exemption if enterprise exports US$1 million or more during the year 
Tourism  Exemption for locally non-available skills for first two years for up to three employees 
Incentives for exports  
Export/excise tax Exempt for 75% exported output 
Duty drawback Allowed on raw materials for goods exported 
R&D and training expenses  An initial allowance of 40%, and then 20% annually (for capital investment only) 
Local employment allowance  2.5% of business income exempted from  corporate tax for less than 51 local 
employees, 5% for 51 to 100 employees, and 7.5% if over 100 employees 
Other incentives  
Investment allowance 7.5% in first year of new purchases  
Sales tax Full exemption for the importation of plant, machinery and spares 
a Zone A: Western Sierra Leone; and Zone  B: all other regions in Sierra Leone. 
Source:  Investment Code, 2005 and various sector-specific laws. 
2.52.  In 2011, First Step, a subsidiary of a U. S.-based non-profit agency, established a Special 
Economic Zone (SEZ)29 with the goal of providing potential investors with facilities with guaranteed 
access to the logistic support and the utilities nece ssary to operate their business. Enterprises that 
locate in the SEZ are granted various incentives, including duty exemption on imports and exports, 
a three-year corporate tax holiday, and on-site government services in areas such as customs inspections, immigration, and business registration. The Government has also committed to allow 
investors in the SEZ to use international arbitration forums to resolve disputes that may occur 
between them and the Government.  
2.53.  Sierra Leone introduced a local-content policy in 2012 (Table 2.3). The stated goal of the 
policy was "to promote growth and development of  the domestic private sector by creating 
linkages with the large domestic and foreign firms through the utilization of local resources and products, and to promote the integration of the Sierra Leoneans in all economic activities". According to the authorities, the policy will be supplemented with sector-specific requirements in 
sectors such as oil and gas, mining, and agriculture. The related legislation is at the drafting stage. 
2.54.  Starting from 2013, fiscal incentives will be granted only to enterprises in compliance with 
the policy. 
Table 2.3 Key policy prescription s in the Local Content Policy 
Objectives and prescriptions 
Use of locally available goods and services  
 Investment incentives:  the granting and/or continued use of incentives is conditional on  compliance with the LCP. In 
particular, a local-content plan will be required upon application for government incentives; 
 Local content targets:  manufacturing industry:10%; beer industry: 20%  of locally produced sorghum; bakery and 
confectionery: 10% of local cassava flour;  
 Services sector:  requirement to use services providers registered an d located in Sierra Leone. Where there is no local 
entity, the foreign entity shall operate in partnership with a nationally owned and registered company.   
                                               
29 First Step Agreement was ratified in February 2010. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  Objectives and prescriptions 
National preference in contracts and procurements  
 Contracts and concessions:  first consideration should be given to Sierra Leonean firms in sectors such as mining and the 
petroleum industry; 
 Procurements: a preferential margin of 10% for domestic firms;  
 Bid evaluation:  a 5% price preference is granted, provided that the local content of the selected bid is at least 5% higher 
than that of its closest competitor.  
Employment of nationals 
 Employment targets:  at least 20% of nationals at the managerial level and 50% at the intermediate level. If the required 
skills are not available locally, the company must demonstrate a capacity-building plan to comply with the requirement 
within 5 years; 
 Use of foreign skills:  all junior-level positions shall be held by nationals. The employment of expatriates is subject to 
quotas. 
Local ownership 
 Local-foreign partnerships:  first consideration to be given to companies with significant equity ownership by nationals, 
when assigning rights such as mineral concessions; 
 Promote access to finance by nationals.  
Source: Sierra Leone Local Content Policy. 
2.4.3  International investment agreements 
2.55.  Sierra Leone has ratified six multilateral investment agreements, including the ICSID 
Convention30 and the Convention establishing the Mu ltilateral Investment Guarantee Agency 
(MIGA).31 Under MIGA's programme, foreign investments in Sierra Leone are covered against non-
commercial risks such as currency transfer risks,  expropriation risks, risks of war and civil 
disturbance, and repudiation risk.  
2.56.  Sierra Leone has signed bilateral investment agreements with Germany (1965), the United 
Kingdom (1981, revised in 2000), and China (2001).32 Agreements on double taxation avoidance 
are in force with the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, and India. 
 
                                               
30 The International Convention on the Settlement of  Investment Disputes (ICSID) between States and 
Nationals of other States. 
31 The other investment agreements are: the Convention setting up the Inter-Arab Investment 
Guarantee Corporation of May 1971 (since April 1974); the Agreement for the Promotion, Protection and Guarantee of Investment among Members States of the Organization of Islamic Conference of 1 June 1981 
(since 23 September 1986); the Unified Agreement for the Investment of Arab Capital in the Arab States of 1982; and the Agreement of the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit of 
19 February 1992 (since 1 August 1994). 
32 UNCTAD online information. Viewed at: 
http://unctad.org/Sections/dite_ pcbb/docs/bits_s ierra_leone.pdf . WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  3  TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.1  Measures Directly Affecting Imports  3.1.1  Customs procedures and requirements 3.1.  The Customs Act 2011, the main law governing customs procedures in Sierra Leone, is 
administered by the Customs and Excise Depart ment (CED) of the National Revenue Authority 
(NRA). The CED is headed by  a Commissioner-General.  
3.2.  The main documents required for customs clearance are: the Single Customs Declaration 
(SCD), commercial invoice(s), a packing list, an import duty report (from the inspection 
company); a bill of lading; a certificate of origin; and a Classification and Valuation Certificate. Other documents such as phytosanitary or fumigation certificates may be required depending on the nature of the goods.  
3.3.  In 2010, Sierra Leone replaced its manual customs clearance system with the Automated 
System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA). The ASYCUDA++ platform is currently in place at the main 
customs office in Freetown, the Queen Elizabeth Port, the Lungi International Airport, and the 
Gbalamoya border post. The implementation of ASYCUDA faced some internal resistance and 
revenue collection was below the target during the first year. However, the system has had no major breakdowns, and has been successfully rolled out in two major customs offices at the 
borders with Liberia and Guinea. There are plans to extend it to other posts. The day-to-day 
operation of the system is frequently affected by issues related Internet connectivity and electricity supply. The ASYCUDA has helped to increase the efficiency of the customs administration. Processing and clearance times have been reduced considerably, to as short as four hours for 
consignments that do not require a customs examination. 
3.4.  The importer uploads all the required documentation at the time of filing the declaration. 
Documents are reviewed, and if complete, transferred to a valuation officer.  
3.5.  Up to 2009, Sierra Leone used pre-shipment and destination inspection. The goal of the two 
programmes is to assess quality, quantity and va lue, and to propose customs classification of 
imports. These programmes were not notified to the WTO. The pre-shipment inspection 
programme was terminated in 2009.  
3.6.  In September 2012, the destination inspection contract was granted to Africa Link Inspection 
Company (ALIC). Another contract was granted rece ntly to Sierra Inspection Company (SIC). SIC 
started its operations in April 2013. ALIC has responsibility for shipments arriving by sea while SIC 
is in charge of shipments arriving by air or thro ugh terrestrial borders. The inspection companies' 
service fee represents 0.8% of the assessed f.o.b.  value of the consignment. They also collect a 
fee of 0.15%, on behalf of the Sierra Leone Bure au of Standards, and 0.05%, on behalf of the 
Destination Inspection Secretariat within the Mi nistry of Trade and In dustry. These bring the 
overall charge to 1% of the f.o.b. value of th e consignment. There is no minimum exemption. 
3.7.  The authorities indicated that the destination inspection contracts contain provisions for the 
training of customs officials in classification and valuation, with a view to preparing the Customs 
Administration to take ownership of the functions covered by the contract. Sierra Leone Customs joined 23 of its African peers in endorsing the Ni amey Declaration on the Provision of Inspection 
Services, a declaration calling customs administrations to take ownership of the customs functions 
covered by inspection contracts.
1  
                                               
1 The Declaration was endorsed on the margins of the 121st/122nd WCO Council Sessions (Brussels, 
27-29 June 2013). In the declaration, customs administrations from 23 West and Central African countries recognized that in some instances, the contracts for the provision of inspection services have been detrimental 
to capacity building in the customs administration, and that the intended benefits, including transfer of skills and knowledge have not been realized. They issued  a declaration calling on themselves to engage 
policymakers and take ownership of the customs function s covered by these contracts, and called on the WCO 
to engage and coordinate with international donors an d development partners to support them in assuming 
these responsibilities. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
- 26 - 
 
  3.8.  The following products are exempted from the destination inspection: arms, ammunition, and 
related parts and accessories imported by the Government for military or paramilitary use; explosives and pyrotechnical products; commercial samples; live animals; fruits; vegetables; eggs; meat (fresh, chilled or frozen); newspapers and periodicals (HS heading 4902); precious 
metals and precious stones (HS headings 7101 to 7112); work of art, collectors' pieces, and 
antiques (HS chapter 97); goods by courier and parcel post; personal and household effects; and radioactive and nuclear substances. Goods belonging to non-governmental organizations, and 
goods imported by diplomats for their own use are also exempted. 
3.9.  The Customs Act 2011 mandates the Commissioner-General to ensure that all relevant 
information is easily available to interested stakeh olders, and to consult with them with a view to 
increasing cooperation and compliance. There is no formal mechanism for consultations with the 
public. The NRA's Public Education Department is in charge of making customs-related information 
available to the public. 
3.10.  The Act provides for stakeholders to apply for an advance binding ruling on, inter alia, the 
tariff classification, determination of origin, and the valuation method. In principle, the ruling is 
valid throughout the country. The authorities indicated that binding advance rulings are currently issued on matters related to classification. 
3.11.  The Act allows the CED to seize imported goods in cases of smuggling, or where it is 
determined that the goods have been intentionall y mis-described or under-valued by an importer, 
with the intention to avoid payment of duties. Seized goods, if they are not prohibited, may be released upon payment of a penalty. In the case of smuggled goods, the penalty amounts to the 
value of the goods, augmented by applicable duti es and taxes. In the case of mis-described or 
under-valued goods, the penalty is twice the amount of all duties and taxes on the first contravention, three times in case of recidivism , and four times in case of multi-recidivism. 
Importers and clearing agents are encouraged to voluntarily report any error, omission or 
infraction. No penalty will be assessed if such a report occurs prior to the initiation of an audit or an investigation. 
3.12.  Importers have the right of appeal on goods seized or penalties assessed. Appeals are 
received, in first instance by the Commissioner-General.  
3.13.  Any contravention to the customs law may be prosecuted within five years from the date of 
its end.  
3.14.  Traders are not required to use the servic e of a licensed customs clearing agent, provided 
that they demonstrate their ability to use ASYCUDA. Licences for customs clearing businesses are granted by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Applicants have to, inter alia , demonstrate that 
they have trained staff in ASYCUDA and other cu stoms processes, and acquire a guaranteed bond. 
A list of licensed customs is published annually in the Gazette . 
3.1.2  Customs valuation 
3.15.  The Customs Act 2011 is broadly base d on the provisions of the Agreement on 
Implementation of Article VII of the GATT 1994 (WTO Customs Valuation Agreement).  
3.16.  The Act prohibits the use of minimum, arbitrary or fictitious values. However, in practice, 
Sierra Leone continues to use minimum values on some food items, drinks, clothing and footwear, 
toiletries, plastic chairs, and engine oils.  
3.17.  A customs officer may examine and re-determine the classification of the goods, their value 
or the country of origin within one year after the date of the customs declaration. Such a decision 
can be appealed to the Commissioner-General within 90 days of receipt of the formal notice. The 
appeal does not dispense the importer from paym ent of the re-assessed import duties and taxes. 
The Act requires the Commissioner-General to decide  on the appeal as soon as possible, but does 
not give a specific delay. The importer has the right to lodge a further appeal to the High Court 
within 90 days of the date of notification of the decision by the Commissioner-General. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  3.18.  Sierra Leone is a member of the World Cu stoms Organization. Sierra Leone acceded to the 
Kyoto Protocol in 2006 and started implementing it from February 2007. 
3.1.3  Tariffs 3.19.  Border taxation remains an important so urce of government revenue in Sierra Leone. 
In 2013, taxes on international transactions (including the goods and services tax) amounted to 
Le 810.7 billion, about 54% of the Govern ment's domestic revenue (Table 3.1).  
Table 3.1 Composition of Gove rnment domestic revenue, 2009-13  
(Le billion) 
 2009  2010  2011  2012 2013  
Government domest ic revenue 750.2  987.8  1,156.6  1,413.1 1,500  
Income tax 211.9 236.4 269.6 329.3 349.6 
Corporate tax 61.2 76.1 88.2 107.8 114.4 
Personal income tax 121.9 147.5 175.1 213.9 227.1 
Other taxes 28.8 12.8 6.2 7.6 8.1 
Goods and services tax 0 250 299 365.4 387.8  
Import 0 170.8 237.8 290.5 308.4 
Domestic 0 79.2 61.3 74.9 79.5 
Customs and excise duties 420.5  349.7  387.3  473.2 502.3  
Import duties 316.4 204 229.1 279.9 297.1 
Excise duties on petroleum products 82.2 126.6 134.1 163.8 173.9 
Other excise duties 8.5 10.7 12.7 15.5 16.4 
Domestic sales tax 11.2 0 0 0 0 
Other revenue - including freight levy 2.2 8.3 11.5 14.1 14.9 
Royalties and fees on minerals 20.2  31.2 64.7 86 91.3  
Royalty on rutile 0.5 0.9 1 1.2 1.3 
Royalty on bauxite 1.8 4.1 4.7 5.8 6.1 
Royalties on diamond and gold 3.5 6.4 35.3 37 39.3 
Royalty on iron ore 0 0 0 13.1 13.9 
Licences, etc. 14.4 19.8 23.7 28.9 30.7 
Grants 500.3  517.1  591 640.7 557.1  
Other 49 63.3 71.2 79.9 84.9 
All revenue and grants 1,250.5  1,504.9  1,747.6  2,53.7 2,057.1  
Source: Bank of Sierra Leone, online information. Viewed at: http://www.bsl.gov.sl/statistics.html  [10.03.14]. 
3.1.3.1  Applied MFN tariff 
3.20.  Sierra Leone uses the Harmonized System (HS) for its customs tariff, although it is not a 
contracting party to its related convention.2 The 2014 applied MFN tariff is based on the 2007 
version of the HS (HS2007). It has 5,467 lines at the 8-digit level. All tariffs rates are ad valorem  
(Table 3.2). The 2014 tariff averages out to 12% (down from 13.9% in 2004), reflecting mainly 
lower imports duties on manufactured products (ISIC definition). The tariff has 6 bands 
(Chart 3.1); most products fall in the 5% band (44.9% of tariff lines) or the 20% band (41.1% of tariff lines). Only 0.3% of tariff lines are duty-free; these include some pharmaceutical products, medical equipment, children's books, and computer s. The highest rate (30%) applies to 0.7% of 
tariff line, mainly beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and used vehicles (older than 10 years).  
3.21.  Sierra Leone has neither seasonal nor variab le tariffs. The customs tariff is applied to the 
value of imports plus the incurred cost of insurance and freight (c.i.f. value), any additional cost 
paid (or payable) by the buyer, such as commi ssion or brokerage fees; cost of packaging or 
containers; royalties; licence fees; and any payment for IP rights (excluding charges for the right to reproduce the imported goods). In the absence of proper insurance documentation, insurance 
cost is assessed at the rate of 0.375% of the value of goods. 
                                               
2 The International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity De scription and Coding System. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  Table 3.2 Structure of app lied MFN tariffs, 2004 and 2014 
(%) 
 Description 2004  2014 Final bounda 
1.  Bound tariff lines (% of all tariff lines) 100.0 100.0 100.0 
2. Simple average tariff rate 13.9 12.0 47.6 
 Agricultural products (WTO definition) 16.5 15.6 40.6 
 Non-agricultural products (WTO definition) 13.5 11.4 48.7 
 Agriculture, hunting,  forestry, and fishing (ISIC 1) 14.6 14.4 42.1 
 Mining and quarrying (ISIC 2) 5.3 5.4 50.0 
 Manufacturing (ISIC 3) 14.1 12.0 47.8 
3.  Duty-free tariff lines (% of all tariff lines) 0.4 0.3 0.0 
4.  Simple average rate of dutiable lines only 14.0 12.0 47.6 
5.  Tariff quotas (% of all tariff lines) 0.0 0.0 0.0 
6. Non- ad valorem  tariffs (% of all ta riff lines) 0.0 0.0 0.0 
7. Domestic tariff peaks (% of all tariff lines)b 0.0 0.0 0.0 
8. International tariff peaks (% of all tariff lines)c 47.2 41.8 100.0 
9. Overall standard deviation of applied rates 9.5 7.2 6.5 
10. Nuisance applied rates (% of all tariff lines)d 0.0 0.0 0.0 
a Final bound rates are based on the 201 4 tariff schedule in HS07 nomenclature.  
b Domestic tariff peaks are defined as those exceed ing three times the overall simple average applied 
rate. 
c International tariff peaks are defined as those exceeding 15%. d Nuisance rates are those greater than zero, but less than or equal to 2%. 
Note: The 2004 tariff is based on the HS02 consisting of  5,577 tariff lines (at 8-digit tariff line level). The 
2014 tariff is based on the HS07 consisting of 5,467 tariff lines (at 8-digit tariff line level). No duty rates are provided for 4 tariff lines. 
Source: WTO (2005); and WTO Secretariat calculations base d on tariff information provided by authorities and 
the WTO Consolidated Tariff Schedule database. 
Chart 3.1 Breakdown of applied MFN tariffs, 2014 
(0.3)(44.9)
(12.5)
(0.4)(41.1)
(0.7)
0102030405060708090100
05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,000
Duty-free 5 10 15 20 30Number of lines Cumulated percentage (right-hand scale)Number of tariff lines Per cent
 
Note: Figures in parentheses denote the share of total lines. They do not add to 100% since duty rates are 
not available for 4 tariff lines. The 2014 tariff schedule consists of 5,467 tariff lines. 
Source: WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data  provided by the authorities of Sierra Leone. 
3.22.  The coefficient of variation of the tariff is 0.6, indicating moderate dispersion of the rates. 
With an average of 15.6%, MFN rates on agricultural products (WTO definition) are generally 
higher than the overall average. The highest rate applies to dairy products, beverages, spirits and 
tobacco. Tariffs on non-agricultural products aver age 11.4%. Using the ISIC (Revision 2) definition 
of sectors, agriculture (including hunting and fishing) remains the most protected sector, with an 
average tariff of 14.4%, followed by manufacturing  (12%), while imports of mining and quarrying 
products face the lowest tariffs (5.4%).  WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  3.23.  Escalation in the MFN tariff is mixed, with  semi-processed products being subject to a lower 
average applied rate than raw materials, while fully processed products attract a higher average applied rate (Table 3.3). At a disaggregated level (ISIC 2-digit), positive tariff escalation is prevalent in most industries (Chart 3.2), pointing to high rates of effective protection. This is, for 
example, the case of textiles and apparel, and non-metallic mineral products, where the average 
applied rate on fully processed items exceeds by  more than 10 percentage points, the rate on 
products at the first stage of processing. Such high protection does not encourage these industries 
to improve their international competitiveness. 
Table 3.3 Comparative analysis of Sierra  Leone's MFN tariff and the new ECOWAS 
CET, 2014 
 
Sierra Leonea New 
ECOWAS 
CETb 
Number  
of lines Average  
(%) Range  
(%) Coefficient 
of variation Average  
(%) 
Total 5,467 12.0 0-30 0.6 12.3 
HS 01-24 846 16.3 5-30 0.4 16.1 
HS 25-97 4,621  11.2 0-30 0.6 11.4  
By WTO category  
WTO agricultural products 789 15.6 5-30 0.4 15.6  
Animals and products thereof 94 19.0 5-20 0.2 23.9 
Dairy products 29 19.0 10-20  0.2 16.0  
Fruit, vegetables, and plants 203 17.9 5-20 0.3 17.6 
Coffee and tea 31 15.5 5-20 0.4 12.0  
Cereals and preparations 97 14.4 5-20 0.4 13.5 
Oils seeds, fats, oil and their products 93 10.6 5-20 0.5 14.1  
Sugars and confectionary 23 14.3 5-20 0.5 13.8 
Beverages, spirits, and tobacco 83 20.7 5-30 0.3 17.0  
Cotton 6 5.0 5.0 0.0  5.0 
Other agricultural products, n.e.s. 130 10.4 5-20 0.7  9.5 
WTO non-agricultural products 4,678  11.4 0-30 0.6 11.7 
Fish and fishery products 127 16.7 5-20 0.3 15.4  
Minerals and metals 935 10.4 5-20 0.7 11.7 
Chemicals and photographic supplies 901 7.7 0-20 0.7  8.0 
Wood, pulp, paper, and furniture 275 11.4 0-20 0.6 11.4 
Textiles 653 14.3 5-20 0.4 16.0  
Clothing 219 20.0 20.0 0.0 20.8 
Leather, rubber, footwear, and travel goods 170 16.1 0-20 0.4 12.9  
Non-electric machinery 525 6.7 0-20 0.7  7.0 
Electric machinery 248 13.9 5-20 0.5 11.2  
Transport equipment 205 9.7 5-30 0.9 10.2 
Non-agricultural products, n.e.s. 400 14.3 0-30 0.5 14.3  
Petroleum 20 10.3 5-20 0.7  7.9 
By ISIC sectorc 
ISIC 1 - Agriculture, hunting, and fishing 312 14.4 5-20 0.5 11.5 
ISIC 2 - Mining and quarrying 100 5.4 5-20 0.4  5.1 
ISIC 3 – Manufacturing 5,054  12.0 0-30 0.6 12.5 
By stage of processing  
First stage of processing 658 11.7 5-20 0.6 10.2 
Semi-processed products 1,778  9.0 5-20 0.6 10.0  
Fully processed products 3,031  13.8 0-30 0.5 14.0 
a The 2014 tariff is based on HS07 nomenclature consisting of 5,467 tariff lines (at 8-digit tariff line 
level). No duty rates are provided for 4 tariff lines.  
b The ECOWAS tariff schedule is based on HS 2012 nomenclature consisting of 5,899 tariff lines 
(at 10-digit tariff line level).  
c International Standard Industrial  Classification (Rev.2). Electricity, gas, and water are excluded 
(1 tariff line). 
Source: WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data provided by the authorities.  WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  Chart 3.2 MFN tariff escalation by  manufacturing, ISIC 2-digit, 2014 
(%) 
0.02.55.07.510.012.515.017.520.022.5
Food,
beverages
and tobaccoTextiles and
leatherWood and
furniturePaper,
printing and
publishingChemicals Non-metallic
mineral
productsBasic metal Fabricated
metal
products and
machineryOthern.a.
n.a.
First stage of 
processingFully 
processedSemi-processedAverage applied rate in manufacturing
(12.0 %)
 
Source: WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data  provided by the authorities of Sierra Leone. 
3.24.  The new ECOWAS common external tariff is to be implemented as from 1 January 2015.3 
Although the CET rates are within Sierra Leone's WTO binding commitments, implementation will lead to some changes. Sierra Leone will be required to eliminate its 15% and 30% bands, which 
currently apply to about 1.1% of tariff lines; to apply the 35% rate to the "specific goods for 
economic development"; and to revise its tariff structure accordingly. Sierra Leone would have to lower by more than 3 percentage points its tariff on (using the WTO classification): dairy products; 
beverages, spirits, and tobacco; coffee and tea; and leather, rubber footwear, and travel goods 
(Table 3.3). Import duties on fish and fishery products will be lowered by about 1.3 percentage points. For animals, oil seeds, fats, oil and related products, the adoption of the new ECOWAS CET would lead to higher average tariffs (up 5 percen tage points on animals and related products). 
Sierra Leone would also have to raise duties on minerals and metals by an average of 
1.3 percentage points. 
3.25.  The ECOWAS authorities also adopted an Import Adjustment Tax (IAT) and a 
Supplementary Protection Tax (SPT), to take effect simultaneously with the CET. These measures 
would allow countries to deviate from the common tariff rates when necessary. The IAT is to be used in instances when a country needs tariff protec tion higher than provided by the CET. The IAT 
rate should not be higher than needed, and in any case, no greater than 20%.
4 The SPT aims at 
slowing down import surges from non-ECOWAS countries, and may be set at a level not exceeding 70%. These taxes are for a transitional period of fi ve years, and should not apply to more than 3% 
of tariff lines.  
3.26.  During the Uruguay Round, Sierra Leone bo und all its tariffs lines at ceiling rates between 
30% and 80%, with an average bound rate of 47.5%. Tariffs on agricultural products were bound at a ceiling rate of 40%, except for preparations  of cereals, flour (HS sections 1902-1905), solid 
soup (HS section 2104), cotton linters (HS sections 5501-5504), which were bound at ceiling rates 
of 30%, and beer made from malt (HS section 2203) at 80%. Tariffs on non-agricultural items are all bound at a ceiling rate of 50% except for certain items.
5 
                                               
3 The first ECOWAS common external tariff was established in 2006, and based on the WAEMU's 
four-band CET: 0% on essential social goods; 5% on goods of primary necessity, raw materials and specific inputs; 10% on intermediate goods; and 20% on final consumption goods. Sierra Leone is not implementing 
the CET. In 2007, the Heads of States adopted a Supplementary Act creating a 5
th band at 35% on "specific 
goods for economic development"; the resulting revi sed CET was adopted in October 2013 and is due for 
implementation from 1 January 2015 (ECOWAS Commission (2013)). 
4 De Roquefeuil et al. (2014). 
5 Items bound at 30%: pharmaceutical products; fertilizers; disinfectants, insecticides, fungicides, 
herbicides, pesticides; printed books, booklets, brochur es, pamphlets and leaflets; children's picture books and 
printing books; maps; pumps for liquid; air pumps,  vacuum pumps and air or gas compressors, fans; WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  3.27.  Many of Sierra Leone's bound rates are co nsiderably higher than applied duties, leaving 
scope for the authorities to raise applied rates within the ceiling bindings (Chart 3.3). This reduces the predictability of the tariff regime. 
Chart 3.3 Average MFN tariff rates, by WTO product categories, 2014 
(%) 
0102030405060
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 01 11 21 31 41 51 61 71 81 92 02 12 22 32 41 WTO Agriculture
2 Animals and products3 Dairy products
4 Fruit, vegetables, and plants
5 Coffee and tea6 Cereals and preparations7 Oils seeds, fats, oil and their products8 Sugars and confectionary
9 Beverages, spirits and tobacco
10 Cotton
11 Other agricultural products12 WTO Non-agriculture13 Fish and fishery products14 Minerals and metals15 Chemicals and 
photographic supplies16 Wood, pulp, paper and 
furniture
17 Textiles18 Clothing19 Leather, rubber, footwear 
and travel goods20 Non-electric machinery
21 Electric machinery
22 Transport equipment23 Non-agricultural products24 PetroleumApplied rates
Bound rates
Average applied rate
(12.0%)Average bound rate
(47.6%)
 
Source: WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data provided by the authorities and WTO CTS database. 
3.1.3.2  Other duties and charges 
3.28.  Sierra Leone bound its other duties and charges (ODCs) at rates that vary between zero and 
50%, depending on the product6; most tariff lines were bound at either 50% (80.1% of HS 6-digit 
subheadings), or 20% (15.2% of HS 6-digit subheadings). The zero bound ODC rate applies to 3.8% of HS 6-digit subheadings including rice; baby food items; children's books; machinery, 
mechanical appliances and parts; and medical instruments.  
3.29.  In practice, Sierra Leone is levying the ECOWAS Community Levy on imports from non-
ECOWAS countries, at the rate of 0.5% of the c.i.f.  value. This charge is intended to finance the 
operating expenses of the ECOWAS Commission and regional integration projects. At the 2013 
Summit, ECOWAS Head of States decided to co mbine this levy with the WAEMU's Community 
Solidarity Levy (levied currently by WAEMU members at  the rate of 1%) after a transition period of 
five years. The new levy (ECOWAS Community In tegration Levy) of 1.5% will represent a 
substantial increase of the charges on imports from non-regional countries.  
3.30.  Bills of lading are subject to a stamp duty of Le 750,000. Port  charges are assessed on the 
volume of imports and exports, at rates ranging from Le 500/t to Le 1,000/t. A customs processing fee of Le 30,000 is applicable to all transactions.  
3.31.  These other duties and charges apply to all products, including those bound at zero by 
Sierra Leone. 
                                                                                                                                               
machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical equipment and parts; transmitters, colour televisions; 
tractors; buses, trucks and trailers; and medical, dent al, surgical, and veterinary instruments and appliances. 
Items bound at 35%: hand tools and implements. Item s bound at 70%: motor vehicles with capacity up 
to 2,000 cc. Items bound at 80%: motor vehicles with capacity exceeding 2,000 cc. 
6 WTO online information. Viewed at: 
http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/countries_e/sierra_leone_e.htm . WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  3.1.3.3  Internal taxes 
3.32.  The Goods and Services Tax (GST) has been in place since 2010; it replaced the sales tax 
and some other taxes.7 It is levied at a standard rate of 15% on taxable goods and services 
(domestically produced and imported goods). On imports, the base comprises the c.i.f. value, 
customs duties, and any other tax or fiscal char ge payable on the importation of goods. GST-
exempted goods include8: animals; fish and birds imported for breeding and rearing purposes; 
agricultural inputs, seeds, bulbs, and roots imported for propagation; rice (in its raw state); 
machinery for use in agriculture, veterinary, fishing, and horticulture, manufacturing and mining; 
exports of minerals; water (excluding package and distilled water); crude oil and hydrocarbon 
products (excluding lubricating oils); books and newspapers; land, buildings, and public work; and 
some services (education, medical, and pharmaceuticals services; passenger transportation9; and 
financial services).  
3.33.  The GST is an important source of government revenue. In 2013, it accounted for about a 
quarter of government domestic revenue; the bulk is levied on imports (Table 3.1).  
3.34.  The excise tax is levied on the c.i.f. va lue of imports. According to the authorities, the 
purpose of the tax is to protect domestic industri es producing similar products. Therefore, it does 
not apply to domestically produced goods. In 2013, the excise tax applied to 51 tariff lines at rates 
between 5% and 35% (Table 3.4). The tax on tobacco products was removed in 2006, but 
reinstated in 2013. In 2013, the excise tax contributed to 12.7% of the Government's domestic revenue (Table 3.1). The bulk of this re venue is raised on petroleum imports. 
Table 3.4 Products subject to the excise tax, May 2014 
Tariff lines (HS code) Description Tax rate 
(%) Amending 
legislation 
22.02 Aerated waters and non-alcoholic beverages 
(including soft drinks) 10 Finance Act, 2013 
2204, 2205, 2207.10.90, 2207.20, and 
2208 Alcoholic beverages:  
 - alcoholic content of 10% or less 
 - alcoholic content of more than 10%  
30 
35  
 
Finance Act 2010 
24.02 Tobacco products  20 Finance Act 2013  
33.06 Cosmetic and cosmetic aids  10 Finance Act, 2013  
39.07 Polythene and plastic materials  5 Finance Act, 2013  
2710, 2711, 2712, 2713, 2714, 2715, and 
2716 Petroleum products  30  
 Fireworks and pyrotechnic articles  30  
9301, 9302, 9303, 9304, 9305, 9306.21, 
9306.90, and 9307 Arms and ammunition  30  
97.01 Products and equipment designed for gambling  20 Finance Act, 2013  
Source: Excise Duty Act, 1979 and various Finance Acts.  
3.35.  In 2010, the authorities instated a stamp duty, levied at 20% on tobacco products and 
alcoholic beverages.10 The tax applies to imported and locally manufactured goods. There is also a 
3% withholding income tax on goods intended for resale. 
3.1.3.4  Tariff preferences 
3.36.  Under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Sc heme (ETLS), Sierra Leone grants duty-free 
treatment to approved products from approved enterprises established in any ECOWAS member 
State (section 2.3.2.2). 
3.1.4  Rules of origin 3.37.  Under the Customs Act 2011, the country of origin of a product is the country where it was 
wholly obtained, or the country of its last substantial transformation. A product is deemed to have 
undergone a substantial transformation if such a transformation leads to a change in the tariff line 
(at the HS 6-digit subheading). 
                                               
7 Goods and Services Tax Act, 2009. 
8 Second Schedule of the Goods and Services Tax Act, 2009. 
9 Excluding domestic air travel, boat, and hovercraft services. 
10 Finance Act, 2010. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  3.38.  As a member of the ECOWAS, Sierra Le one grants duty-free treatment to products 
originating in other ECOWAS members. Under the ECOWAS Protocol, goods are considered as originating in the member state where they were wholly produced or sufficiently transformed. Sufficient transformation in this case is a change in the tariff line (HS 6-digit subheading), local-content of at least 60%, or local value added of at least 30%.  
3.39.  As of 2012, Sierra Leone had not submitted any information to the WTO Committee on 
Rules of Origin concerning the application of any preferential or non-prefer ential rules of origin.11  
3.40.  Sierra Leone's exports are granted pref erential treatment under various agreements 
(section 2.3). In order to benefit, the exporter is usually required to obtain a certificate of origin, 
issued in many cases by the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (CCIA). For exports to ECOWAS countries and to the European Union, the CCIA issues the certificate and certifies the other export documents against payment of a fee of Le 300,000. 
3.41.  Companies that wish to benefit from  the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme must 
register with the ECOWAS Commission, and regist er each of the products they wish to ship 
duty free. The registration procedure involves a two-stage approval process where a national 
committee forwards the decision to a regional committee. It takes between four and six months.
12 
It is considered by many operators as cumbersome, and acts as a barrier to regional exports.  
3.42.  Exports under the AGOA provisions follow a different process. Businesses are required to 
register with the AGOA Secretariat, located within  the Ministry of Trade and Industry. In addition 
to the registration requirement, exports of textil e or apparel products must be accompanied by a 
visa issued by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.13 
3.1.5  Duty and tax concessions and exemptions 
3.43.  Sierra Leone's investment incentive schemes (section 2.4.3) provide for duty-free 
importation of items such as agricultural inputs (fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, tractors and parts, machinery); building materials in the tourism sector; and machinery, plant, and equipment for 
mining prospection and exploration. The granting of these concessions is governed by sector-
specific regulations.  
3.44.  In accordance with the Customs Act 2011,  exemption from the payment of customs duties 
may be granted for imported goods used for inward processing (including goods directly consumed 
in the process), as foreign aid, or under the terms of a technical assistance programme. In particular, exemption is granted for goods imported into a special economic zone for use in the production of exports. In the case of inward processing, the processed goods must be exported 
within four years of the customs declaration.  
3.45.  Goods re-imported into Sierra Leone in the same state and within one year of exportation, 
may be entitled to a re-entry free of import duties and taxes. The importer may also claim back 
any duty and tax paid at the time of exportation. 
3.46.  The Customs Act provides for the drawback of duties on imported goods that were 
subsequently exported in the same condition, or used in the manufacture of exported goods. The 
drawback corresponds to the amount of the duty paid on the imported products. Fuel and plant 
equipment are excluded from duty drawback. Applic ations for drawback of duties are receivable 
within 4 years of the customs declaration. The authorities indicated that ASYCUDA in its current configuration does not support drawbacks, and impo rters are allowed to re-utilize paid duties on 
subsequent imports. 
3.47.  In 2006, the Government transferred the respon sibility for duty waiver administration to the 
National Revenue Authority, under the responsibility of the Minister of Finance and Economic 
Development. The goal was to ensure better co ordination of these exemptions, and limit their 
                                               
11 WTO document G/RO/73, 11 December 2012. 
12 Hoppe M. and F. Aidoo (2012). 
13 Statutory Instrument – Export Control (Textiles and Apparel Articles) Regulations 2004, Supplement 
to the Sierra Leone Gazette , Vol. CXXXV, No. 16, 11 March 2004. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  impact on government revenue. In assessing applications for duty exemptions, the NRA charges a 
non-refundable administrative fee of Le 750 000 per consignment.  
3.1.6  Import prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing 3.48.  In accordance with the Customs Act 2011, the import or export of some products may be 
prohibited on the basis of, inter alia , protection of public morals; protection of human, animal, 
plant life or health; or protection of the environment. The authorities may restrict the exportation of some domestic materials if deemed necessary to ensure that essential quantities are available 
to domestic industries. Prohibition measures may also be imposed for the purpose of conservation 
of exhaustible natural resources.  
3.49.  As a party to the Montreal Protocol, Sierra Leone prohibits the import and export of 
products containing ozone-depleting substances. These include non-CFC-free refrigerators, air 
conditioners, vehicles, and aerosol products (except medical aerosols).
14 The importation of halon 
for firefighting is prohibited, except for the army, the police, and the airport and the port authorities. The Environmental Protection Agency may issue permits for the importation of some 
ozone-depleting substances if it is satisfied that the applicant has adequate facilities to handle 
them without causing damage to the environment.  Imports and exports are allowed only if they 
originate in, or are to be exported to a country that is party to the Protocol. 
3.50.  Trade in counterfeit or pirated products may be challenged by holders of intellectual 
property rights (section 3.3.8). Permits, licences or other approval procedures may apply to imports of drugs, arms and ammunition, and hazardous products (e.g. caustic soda). Imports of counterfeit drugs, expired foodstuffs, and substand ard goods are prohibited. Such goods, if seized, 
are systematically destroyed.  
3.51.  In accordance with the 2011 Finance Act, importation of right-hand-drive vehicles is subject 
to an environmental impact assessment licence, and to a surcharge of 40% of the c.i.f. value. 
The 2011 Road Traffic Regulation prohibits their importation. The authorities indicated that 
implementation of the regulation has been delayed till September 2014.  
3.1.7  Contingency measures 
3.52.  Sierra Leone has no legislative or institutional framework for anti-dumping, countervailing 
or safeguards actions, and has not taken any anti-dumping, countervailing or safeguard measures. 
3.53.  With the forthcoming implementation of the ECOWAS CET, its members have endorsed a 
supplementary protection tax that would act as a safeguard measure.
15 Its purpose is to slow 
d o w n  i m p o r t  s u r g e s  f r o m  n o n - m e m b e r s .  T h e  t a x  would be triggered by a surge in the import 
volume (an increase by 25% or more in a given year, compared to the average of the three preceding years), or a drop in the price (a drop to 80% or less of the average unit price over the 
three previous years). Countries are allowed to se t the tax at a level not exceeding 70%, provides 
that it does not violate their WTO commitments. The tax is to be applied for a period not exceeding 2 years in case of a surge in the volume , and 1 year in case of a price decline. After 
a 5-year transition period, authority to determin e the measure will be transferred to the ECOWAS 
Commission, with uniform application by all members. 
3.2  Measures Directly Affecting Exports 3.2.1  Export procedures and requirements 
3.54.  Exporters are required to submit, with their customs declaration, the relevant business 
registration or incorporation certificate, and a tax clearance certificate. Exporters of fresh produce such as cocoa, coffee, ginger, and palm kernel are required to obtain a letter from the Produce 
Monitoring Board
16, stating that they have met the statutory requirements. Other required 
                                               
14 The Environment Protection Agency Act, 2008, repealing the Environment Protection Act, 2000. 
15 De Roquefeuil et al. (2014). 
16 The Produce Monitoring Board, established in 2013 (Produce Monitoring Board Act 2013), replaced the 
Commodity Market Monitoring Unit. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  documents may include a bill of lading/airway bill, and a Custom Entry Form. The customs 
declaration and supporting documents are submitted through the ASYCUDA system. 
3.2.2  Export taxes, charges, and levies 3.55.  The authorities stated that there is no export tax on domestic produce and locally 
manufactured goods. With a view to encouragin g value addition and supporting the development 
of local communities, the authorities levy an export tax on major domestic goods such as cocoa, coffee products, diamonds, and gold. The tax on cocoa,  coffee, palm oil, and palm kernel is levied 
at the rate of 2.5% of the f.o.b. export value.  
3.56.  In 2011, the export tax on diamonds was reduced to 3% (from 6.5%). Small-scale mining 
lease-holders pay a royalty fee of 5% of the export value, and 1% as a valuation fee. Individuals exporting on an ad hoc basis, such as tourists or exporters interested in testing the market, may 
obtain a special dispensation from the licensin g requirement (section 4.3). However, they are 
charged an extra 2% in addition to the 3% export tax. Gold exports are taxed at the rate of 5% of their value as assessed by the Precious Minerals Trading Directorate. In 2012, the rate was 
reduced to 3% for individually mined gold.  
3.57.  Most exports from Sierra Leone are zero rated for the GST. Some mineral products are 
taxed at the standard rate of 15%: rutile and it s by-product, iron ore, bauxite, gold, diamonds, 
and other minerals. 
3.2.3  Export prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing 3.58.  The authorities may implement restrictions on exports for various reasons, including health, 
safety, and environment-related. In order to encourage farmers to export, the 2004 Investment 
Promotion Act abolished the licensing requirement for exports of locally produced goods, with the 
exception of gold, diamonds, and occasionally, some selected goods and materials (currently, scrap metals). Exports of traditional commodities, such as cocoa, coffee, and rubber are subject to 
a permit. Permits are issued automatically, at no cost to the trader.  
3.59.  Gold and diamond exporters are required to obtain a licence from the Ministry of Mines and 
Mineral Resources. As a member of the Kimberley Process, Sierra Leone is required to certify that 
all shipments of rough diamonds are "conflict-free". The Kimberley Process Certificate is issued by 
the Precious Minerals Trading Directorate. There is no separate fee for the certificate. It is covered by the annual diamond exporters' fee of US$1,500. 
3.60.  In accordance with the Montreal Protocol, the exportation of ozone-depleting substances is 
prohibited. The National Drugs Control Act 2008 contains, in its First Schedule, a list of prohibited 
drugs. The transport, import or export of these drugs is considered an offence, and liable to 
conviction.  
3.61.  Exports of raw logs have been banned since 2008. Due to environmental regulations, a 
special permit from the ministry in charge of natural resources is required for the exportation of plants and charcoal.
17 
3.2.4  Export support, promotion, guarantee, and insurance 
3.62.  The authorities indicated that Sierra  Leone does not operate any export subsidy 
programmes. 
3.63.  Established in 2007, the Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA) 
has the mandate to, inter alia , encourage and promote the development of exports-oriented 
activities, with a special focus on agriculture and marine resources. It provides exporters with information on market access and technical assistance opportunities, and advocates their 
interests. SLIEPA is governed by a board composed  of representatives from relevant ministries as 
well as the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, the bankers association, and the 
                                               
17 The Agricultural Act (Public Notice No. 66 of 1974) – (Cap 185), 12 December 1974; and the Rural 
Area Act (Public Notice No. 16 of 1990) – (Cap 75), 31 December 1990. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  association of manufacturers. The agency is fu nded under the Government's regular budget. 
Activities undertaken since 2007 include facilitati on of trade fairs and exhibitions; provision of 
market intelligence and trade information; provision of capacity building in export value chains; and development of product profiles for some non-traditional exports.  
3.64.  In 2010, SLIEPA developed a National Expo rt Strategy (NES) with a vision to transform 
Sierra Leone into a flourishing country through a globally competitive export-driven economy.
18 
The NES identified agriculture, fisheries, mini ng, and tourism as being strategic for export 
performance, and defined government intervention s accordingly. The NES also aims to address 
cross-cutting issues such as access to trade fi nance, transport and trade logistics, and trade 
information services. Over its implementation peri od (2010-15), the strategy is expected to put 
nearly US$590 million into the economy, mainly in  the agriculture sector. An assessment by the 
SLIEPA found the degree of implementation of the NES and its impact to be relatively high in 
agriculture, mining and tourism. Cross-cutting strategies related to trade finance, quality 
management, and trade facilitation have had varyin g degrees of implementation, in general, falling 
short of stated objectives. 
3.65.  An assessment of the strategy19 found that export capabilities were improving, although the 
awareness of local producers about export opportunities remained limited. The report also found 
that the physical infrastructure is largely inadequate, and compliance with quality requirements 
and standards is still a major challenge. Limited access to credit restricts considerably the development of export-oriented activities, especially  in the absence of any export credit guarantee 
or credit risk insurance scheme. The report also pointed out the land-tenure system, in its current 
form, especially the application of the customary land system in rural areas, as an important 
barrier to the development of the agriculture sector (section 4.1). 
3.66.  In 2013, the authorities dissolved the Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Board
20, a state-
owned enterprise solely responsible for the purchase, export, and marketing of agricultural cash 
crop products including cocoa, coffee, cashew, palm oil, rice, and sorghum. The Board was replaced by a limited liability company, the Si erra Leone Produce Marketing Company Limited. 
3.2.5  Export processing zones 
3.67.  Sierra Leone does not have a free port. In 2011, First Step, a subsidiary of a U.S.-based 
non-profit agency, established a special economic zone (SEZ)
21 near the main port of Freetown. 
The goal is to provide potential investors with faci lities where they have guaranteed access to the 
logistic support and the utilities they need to oper ate their business. Enterprises that locate in the 
SEZ are granted several incentives, including a pe rpetual duty exemption on imports and exports, 
a three-year corporate tax holiday, and on-site government services including customs inspection, 
immigration, and business registration. The Government has also committed to allow investors in 
the SEZ to use international arbitration forums to resolve disputes that may occur between them and the Government.  
3.68.  Under the ECOWAS Protocol, exports by EPZ enterprises to other ECOWAS countries are not 
eligible for preferential treatment. They are su bject to customs duties at applicable rates.  
3.3  Measures Affecting Production and Trade 3.3.1  Incentives  
3.69.  In addition to various duty rebates and su spensions relating to investment (section 2.4.2), 
Sierra Leone offers a number of fiscal incentives in the form of generous capital allowance 
expenditures, indefinite loss carry-forward, and tax rebates and holidays. 
3.70.  The Income Tax Act 2000 provides for a generous deduction of some capital expenditures 
from taxable income. Businesses may deduct from their taxable income, up to 40% of expenditure related to the acquisition of plant, machinery, automobiles, and trucks. They may also deduct 15% 
                                               
18 SLIEPA (2010). 
19 Belloc M. and M. Di Maio (2012). 
20 Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Act (Repeal) Act, 2013. 
21 First Step Agreement was ratified in February 2010. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  of expenditure related to building for industrial or agricultural activities; and 10% of expenditure 
related to buildings used for other commercial purposes. Businesses are allowed to carry forward their losses indefinitely, as long as the deduction in a given year does not reduce the tax due by more than half. 
3.71.  Businesses engaged in certain farming activities (rice and tree crops production) are eligible 
for a ten-year exemption from the corporate income tax. Although dividends are taxed at the rate of 10%, those paid during the ten-year exemption period are tax-free in the case of individual 
farmers, and taxed at a reduced rate of 5% in the case of companies.  
3.72.  Employers in the tourism sector may be exempted from the payroll tax during three years 
for up to six non-citizen employees, provided that their skills are not available locally.
22 Additional 
measures are provided for in sector-specific laws (Section 4). Enterprises may also be granted 
specific advantages upon establishment.  
3.3.2  Standards and other technical requirements 3.73.  Sierra Leone has not notified any technical regulations, or its national enquiry point under 
the WTO Agreement on Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT). 
3.74.  The Sierra Leone Standards Bureau (SLSB)
23 is the national statutory body in charge of 
standards, certification, and accreditation. It collects and disseminates information on standards 
and related matters, verifies weights and measures, and calibrates industrial and laboratory 
equipment. The SLSB's three technical committees, the National Codex Committee, the Industrial Standards Board, and the Metrology Committee, ba se their standards on those of international 
organizations. 
3.75.  The SLSB is funded mainly by the Government. It also receives support from donors 
through technical assistance and capacity-building activities. Its own resources include fees charged for the verification of weights and measures instruments
24, product testing, and the sale 
of its publications. 
3.76.  In general, the SLSB follows ISO and IEC directives in the development of national 
standards. The process includes identifying the country's needs and priorities, based on national 
development strategies such as the Agenda for Pr osperity, the National Export Strategy or the 
National Agricultural Development Plan; consultations with relevant stakeholders; development of the standard by the National Technical Committee; and publication of the standard in the Gazette .  
3.77.  The standard is then implemented by the re levant industry. Once a standard is published in 
the Gazette , the regulator of the relevant industry may submit it to Parliament to make it 
mandatory. A 60-day period is allowed for public comments before a standard can become a technical regulation. There are currently 64 standards in force, of which 33 are technical 
regulations (Table 3.5). The authorities indicate d that additional standards would be published 
in 2014. 
3.78.  The SLSB inspects products at the borders,  in collaboration with the regulatory authorities 
and Customs. The SLSB checks the certificate of  conformity and labelling requirements, and may 
perform field tests before issuing clearance to Cu stoms for the release of goods. In principle, 
substandard goods are confiscated and destroyed.  
                                               
22 The Payroll Tax Act of 1972 requires employers to pay a supplementary tax on non-national 
employees. The annual tax amounts to Le 500,000 for each employee from an ECOWAS country, and 
Le 3 million for each non-ECOWAS citizen. 
23 Standards Act No. 2 of 1996. 
24 Statutory Instrument No. 11 of 2010. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  Table 3.5 Standards and technical regulations in force  
Title Reference Technical  
regulation 
Alcoholic beverages   
Methods of test SLS 37:2010 No 
Specification for brandy SLS 14:2010 Yes  
Specification for gin SLS 15:2010 Yes 
Specification for whiskey SLS 16:2010 Yes  
Specification for wine-flavoured alcoholic drinks SLS 18:2010 Yes 
Specification for wines SLS 19:2010 Yes  
Animal and vegetable fats and oils   
Specification for edible palm oil  SLS 23:2010 Yes  
Specification for fortified palm olein oil SLS 41:2010 Yes 
Building and construction materials   
Cement – Test methods Part i: analysis by wet chemistry  SLS: ISO 29581-1_2009 No 
Specification for ordinary and rapid hardening portland cement  SLS 11:2010 Yes  
Specification for portland limestone cement CEM II/B –  L (LL)  SLS 12:2010 Yes 
Specification for portland limestone cement SLS 13:2010 Yes  
Steel for the reinforcement of concrete – Part 1: plain bars  SLS 27:2010 Yes 
Steel for the reinforcement of concrete – Part 2: ribbed ba r SLS 27:2010 Yes  
Steel for the reinforcement of concrete – Part 3: welded fabric  SLS 27:2010 Yes 
Cereal, pulses and legumes    
Methods of test for wheat flou r SLS 31:2010 No 
Specification for soft wheat flou r SLS 32:2010 No  
Specification for strong wheat flou r SLS 33:2010 No 
Specification for whole wheat flou r SLS 34:2010 No  
Specification for rice SLS 9:2010  Yes 
Specification for fortifiant premix for wheat flou r SLS 38:2010 Yes  
Specification for fortified soft wheat flou r SLS 39:2010 Yes 
Specification for fortified strong wheat flou r SLS 40:2010 Yes  
Specification for cocoa bean SLS 7:2010  Yes 
Food technology   
General principles of food hygiene SLS 2:2010  Yes 
General standards for the packaging of pre-packaged foods  SLS 4:2010  Yes 
Specification for edible cassava flou r SLS 10:2010 Yes 
Liquid hydrocarbons   
Volumetric measurement by displacement meter systems other than dispensing 
pumps SLS: ISO 2714_1980 No 
Dynamic measurement – Statistical control of volumetric metering system  SLS: ISO 4124 _1994 No  
Managing for the sustained success of an organization    
A quality management approach SLS: ISO 9004_2009 No  
Methods of test SLS 36:2010 No 
Sampling plans and microbio logical criteria SLS 35:2010 No  
Specification for raw cashew nuts and kernels SLS 5:2010  Yes 
Petroleum products   
Petroleum measurement tables – Part 2: tables based on a reference temperature 
of 20°C  SLS: ISO 91-2_1991 No 
Petroleum measurement tables – Part 1: tables based on reference temperatures 
of 15°C  SLS: ISO 91-2_1992 No  
Calibration of vertical cylindrical tanks – Part 4: internal electro-optical distance-
ranging method SLS: ISO 7507-4_1995 No 
Measurement – Standard reference conditions SLS: ISO 5024_1999 No  
Temperature measurements –  Manual methods SLS: ISO 4268_2000 No 
Equipment for measurement of liquid levels in storage tanks -  Manual methods  SLS: ISO 4512_2000 No  
Calibration of vertical cylindrical tanks – Part 5: external electro-optical distance-
ranging method SLS: ISO 7507-5_2000 No 
Tank calibration by liquid measurement – Incremental method using volumetric 
meters SLS: ISO 4269_2001 No  
Measurement of level and temperature in storage tanks by automatic methods –  
Part 6: measurement of temperature in pressurized storage tanks (non-
refrigerated) SLS: ISO 4266-6_2002 No 
Measurement of level and temperature in storage tanks by automatic methods –  
Part 1: measurement of level in atmospheric tanks SLS: ISO 4266-1_2002 No  
Measurement of level and temperature in storage tanks by automatic methods –  
Part 2: measurement of level in marine vessels  SLS: ISO 4266-2_2002 No 
Calibration of vertical cylindrical tanks – Part 1: strapping method  SLS: ISO 7507-1_2003 No  
Calibration of vertical cylindrical tanks – Part 2: optical-reference-line method  SLS: ISO 7507-2_2005 No 
Calibration of vertical cylindrical tanks – Part 3: optical triangulation method  SLS: ISO 7507-3_2006 No  
Specification for petrol (motor gasoline) SLS 17:2010 No 
Specification for gas oil (diesel fuel) SLS 20:2010 No  
Specification for kerosene SLS 25:2010 No 
Quality management systems   
Fundamentals and vocabulary  SLS: ISO 9000_2005 Yes 
Requirements SLS: ISO 9001_2008 Yes  
Roots and tubers   
Specification for fresh sweet cassava SLS 24:2010 No  
Specification for gari SLS 8:2010  Yes WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  Title Reference Technical  
regulation 
Spices and condiments   
Specification for salt fortified with iodine SLS 30:2010 No 
Specification for fresh ginge r SLS 26:2010 Yes  
Specification for refined common salt SLS 29:2010 Yes 
Water quality   
Specification for drinking wate r SLS 21:2010 Yes 
Specification for natural mineral waters SLS 28:2010 Yes  
Recommended Code of hygiene for the collecting, processing and marketing of 
portable waters SLS 22:2010  
Others   
General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories  SLS: ISO IEC: 17025_2005 No 
Confectionery – Specification for sugars SLS 3:2010  Yes 
Environmental management systems – Requirements with guidance for use  SLS: ISO 14001_2004 Yes 
Food safety management systems – Requirements for any organization in the 
food chain SLS: ISO 22000_2005 Yes  
Fresh fruits and vegetables –  Specification for mangoes  SLS 6:2010  Yes 
Source: Government Notice No. 233. Published in The Sierra Leone Gazette , Vol. CXLLII, No. 52. August 2011. 
3.79.  The SLSB has a mutual recognition agreement with the American Society for Testing and 
Materials (ASTM). It has access to its standards, may participate in its technical committee 
meetings, and receives technical assistance. SLSB  i s  a  m e m b e r  o f  t h e  A f r i c a n  O r g a n i z a t i o n  f o r  
Standardisation (ARSO). It became a corresponding member of the ISO in January 2009. With this status, the SLBS may participate in technical committee meetings as an observer, but does not 
have the right to vote. The SLBS is an affiliate member of the International Electrotechnical 
Commission, IEC, since 2003. It has adopted standards from the Codex, the IEC and the ISO (Table 3.5). 
3.80.  In general, the SLBS lacks laboratory facili ties and equipment to ensure efficient inspection, 
analysis, and certification.
25 Occasionally, it uses the laboratories of the University of Sierra Leone 
to conduct testing. Under the EU-funded West Africa Quality Programme (WAQP), the SLBS has recently strengthened its testing capacity throug h the acquisition of some equipment and materials 
for its food, microbiology, and chemical laboratories.
26 Two additional projects are expected to be 
approved in 2014: an EIF Tier 2 project on stre ngthening the quality infrastructure to support 
industrial development and trade, and a STDF proj ect related to a national assessment of the food 
control system. 
3.81.  In 2011, Sierra Leone switched from the English system of measurement to the 
international system of units, the metric system.27  
3.3.3  Marking, labelling, and packaging 
3.82.  Sierra Leone has no special marking, labelling, or packaging requirements other than the 
Price Tag Order 1956, which requires traders to display prices on the shelves.  
3.83.  The Weights and Measures Act, 2010 requires sellers of packaged goods to declare the 
gross and net weights or measures on the package. Canned goods, foodstuffs, and 
pharmaceuticals must also be labelled to show the net weight or quantity of contents, and their country of origin. The Act requires the liquid content of beverages to be labelled, as well as the 
yardage and width of textiles. 
3.3.4  Sanitary and phytosanitary requirements 3.84.  Sierra Leone has not notified the WTO of its sanitary and phytosanitary legislation. The 
phytosanitary legislation includes the Agricultural Act 1946, the Plant Phytosanitary (Import) Rules 
of 1974, and was supplemented in 1976 with the Plant Phytosanitary (Import Restriction) Notice. 
The latter lists conditions under which about 64 categories of plants and plant products may be imported. It also lists plants that are the object of an absolute prohibition. The authorities 
indicated that a phytosanitary policy and a phytosanitary and a pest control bill are at the drafting 
stage.  
                                               
25 West Africa Trade Hub, 2006. 
26 Http://allafrica.com/stories/201108301074.html . 
27 The Weight and Measures Act, 2010. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  3.85.  In general, a phytosanitary certificate is required for the international movement of any 
plant material or product. The certificate is issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food 
Security (MAFFS), in the format established by the IPCC. A pest-risk analysis is carried out prior to 
the issuance of the certificate. Plant products that  are considered "pathways" for pest introduction 
require fumigation. These include: plant materials; foodstuffs in jute bags, cartons; timber, logs, 
piassava, ginger, rubber, kola nuts, furniture; other imported goods such as used mattresses, furniture, and used clothes. The authoritie s charge a fumigation fee of Le 250,000 for 
a 20ft container, and Le 450,000 for a 40 ft container; and a fee for issuing the certificate. 
3.86.  The Phytosanitary Control Unit operates at six border ports of entry: the Queen Elizabeth II 
Quay (Freetown); the Freetown International Airport (Lungi); the Gbalamuya Customs (Kambia 
District); the Jendema Customs (Pujehun district); the Koindu and the Buedu Customs (both in 
Kailahun district). These entry/exit points inspect and certify import and export consignments, 
issue phytosanitary certificates, clearance certificates, or import and export permits.   
3.87.  The Crop Protection Unit is mandated to carry out phytosanitary inspections, treatment, and 
certification of plants and plant products for exports. It is the contact point under the SPS 
Agreement. 
3.88.  The Animal Diseases Act (undated) is the main legislative framework for animal health. 
Veterinary activities are performed by the Livest ock Services Division of the MAFFS. According to 
the authorities, livestock inspectors are currently av ailable at only two border posts. In the fishery 
sector, the Fisheries Sanitary Regulations of 2006 gi ve power to the Director of Fisheries to adopt 
sanitary control schemes for the supply of fishery products. These may include inspection of 
fish-processing establishments and management of licensing policies. 
3.89.  The authorities indicated that no SPS-related restrictions or prohibitions are currently in 
place. 
3.3.5  State trading, state-owne d enterprises, and privatization 
3.90.  Sierra Leone has not notified to the WTO any state-trading activity within the meaning of 
Article XVII:4(a) of the GATT 1994. 
3.91.  In 2002, Sierra Leone established the National Commission for Privatisation (NCP) with a 
view to privatize and divestiture of public enterprises, and to reviewing existing legislation and proposing changes. This represented a major change as it removed the management of public enterprises from supervision by line ministries.  
3.92.  Recent privatization activities (Table 3.6) include a 20-year concession contract for the 
management of the container terminal at the Freetown port by a private company. In the agriculture sector, the Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Board was dissolved
28, and replaced with 
the Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Company (S LPMC). The authorities indicated that the 
Government plans to disinvest 51% of its share in the SLPMC. The privatization of the Sierra Leone 
Telecommunications Company (Sierratel) is under way. In 2012, the NCP handed over its 
operation and management to the Management Development International Company (MDIC), an 
international consulting and management firm in  the sector. The management contract has been 
awarded for a period of three years. 
3.93.  The authorities indicated that they are cu rrently in the process of divesting two commercial 
banks: the Rokel Commercial Bank and the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank. 
                                               
28 Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Act (Repeal) Act, 2013. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  Table 3.6 State involvement in enterprises, 2013 
Sector/Entity Activity/Monopoly rights  State 
ownership 
(%) Privatization status 
Agriculture and manufacturing 
Sierra Leone Produce and Marketing 
Company Export of agricultural produce  100 51% of shares are up for 
sale 
Forest Industries Corporation  Furniture and logging of timbe r 100 Privatized 
Seaboard West Africa Flour mill  0.01 .. 
Sierra Leone National Workshop Economic zone  18 Privatized 
Utilities 
Guma Valley Water Company  Supply of potable water ( de jure ) 95 Not yet privatized 
Sierra Leone Water Company  Supply of potable water ( de jure ) 100 Not yet privatized  
National Power Authority National state electricity provide r 100 .. 
Sierra Leone Postal Services Ltd Postal services ( de jure ) 100 Up for privatization  
Sierra Leone Telecommunication Co. Ltd Telecommunication ( de jure ) 100 Under management 
contract since 2012 
Transport 
Sierra Leone Airport Authority  Airport facilities ( de jure ) 100 Up for privatization  
Sierra Leone Port Authority Port facilities ( de jure ) 100 Up for privatization  
Sierra Leone Airlines  National airline ( de facto ) 100 No longer in operation  
Sierra Leone National Shipping Company 
Limited Limited cargo clearing and 
forwarding services ( de facto ) 100 .. 
Sierra Leone Road Transport Corporation Long-distance domestic bus 
services 100 .. 
Sierra Leone Roads Authority  Road construction and 
maintenance ( de jure ) 100 .. 
Information services 
Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation Broadcasting ( de facto ) 100 .. 
Sierra Leone Daily Mail Newspaper publication  100 .. 
Government Printing Department Printing and supply of stationery 
to Government, and 
manufacturing educational 
material to schools.  100 Privatized in 2012 
Financial services 
Sierra Leone Commercial Bank Ltd Banking  100 .. 
National Development Bank Ltd  Banking  98.98  Under restructu ring 
Rokel Commercial Ban k Banking  51 In the process  
National Insurance Company Insurance and life insurance  100 In the process  
Other 
Sierra Leone State Lottery Co. Ltd Lottery ( de jure ) 100 .. 
Sierra Leone Housing Corporation Construction of houses ( de jure ) 100 .. 
.. Not available. 
Source: National Commission for Privatization . 
3.3.6  Competition policy and price controls 
3.94.  Sierra Leone does not have domestic legislation on competition or anti-competitive 
practices. A Competition Policy and a Consumer Protection Policy have been approved by the Cabinet. Related laws are yet to be approved by the Cabinet and submitted to Parliament for 
enactment. The Ministry of Trade and Industry is in charge of regulating anti-competitive 
practices. The authorities indicated that it is not unusual for firms to use their dominant position to manipulate prices.  
3.95.  In a review of Sierra Leone's investment policy regime
29, the UNCTAD identified some areas 
that deserved priority consideration. These include, in the mining sector, ensuring access for other operators to facilities such as roads and railways that may be privately owned, and in the 
operation of port services, a competitive determination of prices.  
3.96.  Rice, fuel, and flour are subject to price cont rols. Prices of regulated services are subject to 
the approval by the relevant regulatory bodies. Similarly, the prices and charges on goods and 
services provided by government departments,  public institutions, and companies owned in 
majority by the Government, are subject to approval by the National Incomes and Pricing 
Commission.  
                                               
29 UNCTAD (2010).  WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  3.3.7  Government procurement 
3.97.  A large share of the Government's annual budget is spent on public procurement. In 2010, 
procurement expenditure amounted to 46.8% of  the budget, representing about 16% of GDP.30 
3.98.  Sierra Leone is neither a member, nor observer to the WTO Plurilateral Agreement on 
Government Procurement. The Public Procuremen t Act 2004 and its regulations are the main legal 
instruments governing public procurement.31 The Act applies to procurement by ministries, 
departments, agencies, state-owned enterprises, and local governments. 
3.99.  The National Public Procurement Authority (N PPA) is in charge of ensuring that policies and 
procedures are consistent with the legislation. The Act stipulates that procurements are to be 
undertaken by relevant ministries, departments, and agencies (procuring entities). Entities lacking the required technical expertise may request the a ssistance of the Ministry in charge of works. 
Each procuring entity should establish a Procurement Committee, in charge of verifying and overall 
approval of the procurement process. The Committee may include officials from other procuring entities. The procuring entity should also establish a procurement unit, in charge of planning the 
procurement, preparing the invitation to bid and the bidding documents, and conducting the 
bid-opening procedures. The Act establishes an Independent Procurement Review Panel (IPRP), 
tasked with, inter alia , reviewing bidders' complaints and challenges on contract award decisions. 
The IPRP is to be composed of three members appo inted by the Ministry of Finance for a term of 
three years. The IPRP is not functional. 
3.100.  The Act requires all public procurement to be undertaken by means of advertised open bid 
proceedings. If the procuring entity uses another method, it must note in the records the grounds 
for the choice of the method. The procurement proc ess may include a prequalification stage, or a 
post qualification procedure. The Act prescribes equal access for all eligible and qualified bidders.  
3.101.  A margin of preference between 5% and 10% may be granted to domestic contractors, 
domestic suppliers, or for the benefit of domestically produced goods, subject to NPPA approval. 
The criteria for eligibility for the preference may be specified in terms of ownership, location of the bidder or the production facilities, the origin of the labour, the raw materials or components used, 
or the extent of association with local partners.  
3.102.  The procuring entity may use a national competitive bidding procedure if it determines that 
only domestic bidders are likely to be interested. A national bidding procedure may also be used for procurements below a given threshold, currently set at Le 600 million for goods and services, 
and Le 900 million for works. For procurements above these thresholds, an international 
competitive bidding procedure should be used. Pr eparation and submission of bids should be 
allocated at least 4 weeks in the case of a na tional bidding procedure, and 6 weeks for an 
international procedure. In the latter case, the invitation to bid should be published in a newspaper 
with adequate circulation, and technical specifications should be based on standards widely used in international trade.  
3.103.  Restricted bidding procedures may be used when the products are only available from a 
limited number of bidders or the time and cost of  considering a large number of bids is deemed 
disproportionate to the value of the procurement. In the first scenario, all known capable suppliers shall be invited to bid. In the second case, at least five bidders shall be solicited. Request for 
quotations may be used for procurement of goods and services below Le 60 million, and 
procurements of works below Le 150 million. The pr ocuring entity should request quotations from 
as many bidders as practicable, and at least th ree. Sole-source procurement is permitted under 
very limited circumstances, e.g. where the supplier has the exclusive right, or there is a situation 
of extreme urgency. In any case, the approval of the NPPA is required.  
3.104.  The recommended procurement method for consultant services is requests for proposal. 
The procuring entity is required to contact three to six firms. The solicitation of expressions of 
interest is mandatory when the estimated value of the consultant services exceeds Le 600 million. 
                                               
30 World Bank (2012).  
31 Public Procurement Regulation, Statutory Instrument No. 17 of 2006. Viewed at:  
http://www.unpcdc.org/media/8212/sierra%20leone %20regulations%20on%20public%20procurement%2020
06.pdf . WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
- 43 - 
 
  Shopping procedures may be used for procurements of goods and services below Le 60 million 
(below Le 150 million for works). 
3.105.  A bid security may be required in the bidding documents. The amount of the security must 
be explicitly stated, and should be between 2% and 5% of the estimated value of the contract. 
3.106.  The Act stipulates that the contract should be awarded to the bidder with the lowest 
evaluated and substantially responsive bid. Once  awarded, the procuring entity may publish a 
notice in the Gazette,  and any newspaper of wide national circulation. Publication is mandatory for 
goods and services contracts exceeding Le 300 million (Le 600 million for works).  
3.107.  The level of the contract approving author ity depends on the value and the object of the 
contract. Contracts under Le 6 million for consulting  services, Le 15 million for goods, Le 30 million 
for works and technical services, may be approved directly by the head of the procurement unit. 
The head of the procuring entity may approve co ntracts valued up to Le 60 million for goods, 
Le 100 million for works and technical services, and Le 30 million for consulting services. Contracts above these thresholds are to be approved by the Procurement Committee. 
3.108.  A bidder may appeal a contract award decision, in first instance, to the head of the 
procuring entity. A decision should be issued within  five working days. If a decision is not issued 
within this time-frame, or if the complainant is not satisfied with the decision, he is entitled to 
lodge a complaint with the IPRP within 10 days. For contracts that are already into force, 
complaints may be lodged directly with the IPRP. The IPRP charges an administrative fee of 2% of the complainant's bid, with a ma ximum charge of Le 2 million. 
3.109.  Procurement for drugs and medical supplies are under the responsibility of the National 
Pharmaceutical Procurement Unit.
32 They are also subject to the provisions of the Public 
Procurement Act.  
3.110.  The 2013 report of the Audi t Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) found that failure to comply with 
procurement laws and regulations is endemic. The report estimated the procurements that are not 
awarded according to established laws and regulations at more than Le 24 billion.33 
3.111.   Foreign bidders, if registered locally or in partnership with locally registered companies, 
may participate in procurements under national competitive bidding procedures. 
3.3.8  Intellectual property rights 3.112.  As a least developed country, Sierra Leone benefited from the TRIPS Council's decision to 
extend the transition period for the full implementation of the TRIPS to 1 July 2021.
34 In 2007, 
Sierra Leone undertook an assessment of its needs for technical and financial assistance related to 
the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement.35 Priorities were identified along the following 
clusters: updating the policy, the legal and the regulatory framework; strengthening the 
administration services; and increasing awareness, understanding, and use of intellectual property 
rights. 
3.113.  Sierra Leone is a contracting party to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). 
It participates in the Paris Convention for the protection of Industrial Property, the Patent 
Cooperation Treaty, the Madrid Agreement concerning  the International Registration of Marks, and 
the Madrid Protocol.36 
3.114.  Sierra Leone is among the 18 members of  the African Regional Intellectual Property 
Organization (ARIPO), whose mission is to provide a shared pool of expertise in intellectual 
                                               
32 The National Pharmaceutical  Procurement Unit Act, 2012. 
33 ASSL (2013). 
34 WTO document IP/C/64, 12 June 2013. 
35 WTO document IP/C/W/499, 3 October 2007. 
36 WIPO online information. Viewed at: http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/profile.jsp?code=sl  [21.03.14]. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
- 44 - 
 
  property matters and to foster harmonization of the relevant national frameworks.37 ARIPO 
operates a system for centralized filing and substantive examination of patent, industrial design, and trademark applications. However, the granting of protection is governed by each member state's national legislation.
38 While an ARIPO patent application may offer a convenient and cost-
effective way of obtaining patent protection in a large number of countries39, the enforceability and 
effects of ARIPO trade mark registrations vary across member states due to different or non-existent provisions in their national laws.
40 Sierra Leone has ratified the Harare Protocol on 
Patents and Industrial Designs, but not the Banjul Protocol (related to the protection of 
trademarks). 
3.115.  Sierra Leone adopted a Patents and Industrial Design Act in 201241, ending the preferential 
treatment given to marks registered in England under the previous legislation. An invention is 
patentable if it is new, involves an inventive step, and is industrially applicable. The Act 
incorporates, inter alia , provisions related to marks registered in other jurisdictions. Responsibility 
for administration of the register of patents, trademarks, and industrial designs lies with the Sierra 
Leone Intellectual Property Organisation (SLIPO). Patents are protected for 29 years from the filing 
date.  
3.116.  The SLIPO may issue a non-voluntary licence after a period of four years from the filing 
date (three years from the date of the grant of the patent) if it is established that the invention is 
insufficiently exploited. Similarly, the Government may exploit or authorize a third person to exploit a patented invention when the public interest so requires, or when the Registrar determines that the manner of exploitation of a patent is anti-competitive. In the latter case, it 
should be established that such an authorization will remedy the practice. In any case, the right 
owner is entitled to adequate remuneration.  
3.117.  Registered industrial designs are protected for five years from the filing date, renewable 
twice for the same duration. Infringements are su bject to a fine not exceeding Le 60 million, 
imprisonment not exceeding 1 year, or both. 
3.118.  For an invention to qualify for a utility model certificate, it must be new and industrially 
applicable. Utility model certificates are valid for a non-renewable period of 7 years. 
3.119.  Sierra Leone's trademark legislation has not been reviewed recently.
42 Protection covers a 
word or device, and a stereotype block of the tradem ark. Applications are received by the Office of 
the Administrator and Registrar General (OARG). The application should state the goods for which 
the trademark is to be registered. The application is then advertised by the Registrar in the 
Gazette  as "received". Opposition may be lodged within three months following the date of 
advertisement. Once an application is accepted th e trademark is registered and advertised in the 
Gazette  as "accepted". The process takes between six and eight months. Trademarks are 
protected for 14 years from the date of application, renewable for a further 14 years. Applicants may appeal the decision of the Registrar to the Courts. A new Trademark Bill has been approved 
by the Cabinet, and is awaiting enactment. 
                                               
37 The other ARIPO members are: Botswana, the Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, 
Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Sw aziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe; 
Angola and Madagascar have applied for membership. 
38 When filing for protection, applicants may use ei ther the national or the ARIPO channel. In the 
process of substantive examination, ARIPO must ensure compliance with national legislation. No provisions on parallel imports, including through compulsory licen sing or government use, exist at ARIPO level. 
39 The cost of an application for patent protection in all ARIPO states does not exceed US$3,000; costs 
are reduced as processing, publicat ion, granting, and renewals are all managed by the ARIPO Office. 
40 At the national level, some legal frameworks have yet to provide for registration of service marks. 
Moreover, very few countries (Botswan a, Lesotho, Liberia, and Swaziland) have adopted a multi-class system 
in which a single application may cover more than one class of goods and/or services, as set out in the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Registration of Marks. 
41 Patents and Industrial Design Act 2012, repealin g the United Kingdom Designs (Protection) Act, 
Cap 246, and the Patents Act, Cap 247. Viewed at: http://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2012-10.pdf  [12.03.14]. 
42 Trade Marks Act, Cap 244 of the Laws of Sierra Leone, Parts I and II, 23 September 1913; Part III, 
September 1923. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
- 45 - 
 
  3.120.  Sierra Leone enacted a new Copyright Act in 201143, repealing the Copyright Act of 1965. 
Rights are protected during the lifetime of the au thor (or the last surviving author) plus 50 years. 
For works owned by public corporations or corporate bodies, protection is for 50 years from the date on which the work was made public. The Act provides for copyright protection by reference to 
international agreements, that is, residence in a country that is party to a treaty or other 
international agreements to which Sierra Leone is party, or publication of the work in any of these countries. Expressions of folklore are protected for perpetuity.
44 
3.121.  The Copyright Act establishes the Collecting Society of Sierra Leone, tasked with protecting 
the rights of authors and owners of copyrights. Th e institution is to include representatives from 
the following professional groups: musicians, music producers, writers, book publishers, 
performing artists, and film producers. 
3.122.  Sierra Leone is neither a member nor an observer of the International Union for the 
Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). Sierra Leone is a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity.  
3.123.  Holders of intellectual property rights may challenge intended or pending importation, 
transit or exportation of suspected counterfeit trademarked goods, or pirated copyright goods. 
Upon receipt of an application from a right holder, the CED is required to make a decision within 
30 days, or within 3 days for urgent matters. The CED may suspend customs clearance 
procedures, detain the suspected goods, and eventu ally proceed to their destruction. In any case, 
re-exportation of the goods in an  unaltered state is not allowed. 
3.124.  According to the authorities, copyrights and trademarks are more frequently subject to 
infringement than other IP rights. Infringements of  copyrights are punishable by a fine of up to 
Le 60 million, and up to three-years' imprisonment. Victims of trademark violations have resort to court litigation. The enforcement of IP rights is a challenge due to the limited awareness of the 
public, and capacity constraints in the public sector. 
 
                                               
43 Copyright Act, 2011. Viewed at: http://www.sierralii.org/sl/legislation/act/2011/8  [10.03.14]. 
44 Sierra Leone has not yet acceded to ARIPO's Swakop mund Protocol on the Protection of Traditional 
Knowledge and Expressions of Folklore. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  4  TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR 
4.1  Agriculture 4.1.1  Overview 4.1.  The agriculture sector (including livestock, fo restry and fisheries) is the backbone of Sierra 
Leone's economy. Its contribution to GDP exceeded 50% until 2012, when it declined to 42% due 
to the boost in the mining sector (see Table 1. 1). The sector employs about 75% of the labour 
force. Crop products are by far the most impo rtant output. Between 2005 and 2012, their share in 
the agricultural GDP increased to 70.9% (up from 63.6%). Rice and cassava are the major food 
crops. Between 2006 and 2012, the production of rice paddy doubled to over one million tonnes (Table 4.1), owing to the implementation of policie s geared toward increasing the productivity and 
extending the cultivated area. Over the same period, the production of cassava increased fourfold 
thanks to Government support to farmers through the provision of processing equipment and 
improved planting materials. 
Table 4.1 Evolution of crop prod uction and livestock, 2006-13 
Crop 2006 2007  2008  2009  2010  2011 2012 2013  
Food crops ('000 tonnes) 
  Paddy 552.0 562.0 588.0 680.1 888.4 1,026.7 1,037.7 .. 
  Maize 16.2 20.3 22.9 23.5 44.5 51.4 53.2 .. 
  Cassava 1,120.6 1,456.8 1,893.9 1,988.6 2,818.6 3,250.0 6,261.2 .. 
  Sweet potatoes 99.9 104.9 110.2 113.5 177.0 206.2 392.0 .. 
  Pulses 48.0 52.0 58.0 59.0 70.0 82.0 81.0 .. 
Cash crops ('000 tonnes) 
  Cocoa 30.9 35.5 40.9 93.1 107.1 112.5 .. .. 
  Coffee 76.9 88.4 101.7 116.9 134.7 141.4 .. .. 
  Oil palm 1.6 1.6 1.9 2.9 3.4 3.6 .. .. 
Livestock ('000 head) 
  Cattle 271.3 325.5 390.6 470 517 568.7 625.6 688.1  
  Sheep 326.7 392 470.4 620 682 750.2 825.2 907.7  
  Goats 382.1 458.5 550.2 730 803 883.3 971.6 1,068.8  
  Chickens 4,161.8 5,202.3 6,502.9 8,600 9,460 10,406 11,446.8 12,591.3  
  Ducks 389.1 486.4 608 729.6 802.5 882.8 971 1,068.1  
  Rabbits 5.9 7.4 9.2 11.1 12.2 13.4 14.8 16.2  
  Pigs 23.0 28.7 35.9 43.1 47.4 52.1 57.3 63.0 
.. Not available 
Source:  Information provided by the authorities. 
4.2.  Cocoa and coffee, the two ma jor cash crops, are a non-negligible source of foreign exchange 
earnings. Between 2006 and 2011, cocoa production  increased more than threefold (Table 4.1), 
resulting in total exports valued at US$43.7 million (Table A1.1). 
4.3.  Imported food products account for a larg e share of domestic consumption. According to 
statistics from the Bank of Sierra Leone, food pr oducts represented 18.2% of total imports during 
the second half of 2012; rice imports accounted for 6.7% of total imports.1 Other major imported 
food products include wheat, flour, and poultry. 
4.4.  Sierra Leone's land tenure system is deemed to keep a sizable portion of arable land away 
from productive activities.2 There are two types of land tenure: the freehold system, applicable to 
Freetown and the Western Area, and the customary la nd tenure system, applicable to the rest of 
the country. In rural areas, individual ownership of land is not common. Under the customary law, the land is under the control of district paramount chiefs. They have the custody of lands on behalf 
of extended families and lineages attached to a pa rticular chiefdom. Therefore, they have the final 
say in granting or obstructing land access to any individual.
3 This situation is aggravated by the 
decade-long conflict, which has led to the displacement of an important fraction of rural population.  
                                               
1 Bank of Sierra Leone (2013b). 
2 See for instance, Unruh and Turray (2006). 
3 The Chieftancy Act, 2009. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  4.5.  The 2005 National Lands Policy puts paramount chiefs centre stage in the formal procedures 
for foreign investors to access land. Non-citizens and foreign companies are not allowed to own land. They may lease land by entering into a joint venture with the local paramount chief. The paramount chief consults with local customary landowners, and if the principle of the lease is 
accepted, the investor must request approval from the Ministry of Agriculture. A land lease 
agreement may not exceed 50 years, with a possibility of a renewal for 21 years. The annual rent rate amounts to US$5 per acre of land initially, and is subject to a review every five years.
4 
4.6.  In 2008, the Ministry of Lands placed a mora torium on the sale of land in the Western Area, 
in an attempt to curb land grabbing and multiple sales. While the ban has been lifted on the sale of private land, it remains in force on public land. A Commercial Use of Land Bill is awaiting Cabinet approval. 
4.1.2  Agricultural policies 
4.7.  Agriculture is usually given priority in the Government's various development programmes. 
One of the four priorities in the Agenda for Chan ge (2008-12) was to raise agricultural production 
and productivity.
5 In 2012, the Government embarked on an Agenda for Prosperity6, setting a 
pathway to middle income status by 2035. The first pillar aimed at achieving economic diversification by investing massively in agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism, which were 
identified as possessing strong potential for long-term inclusive and sustainable growth.
7  
4.8.  The agriculture sector is under the oversight of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food 
Security (MAFFS). In 2009, the Ministry deve loped the National Sustainable Agriculture 
Development Plan 2010-2030 (NSADP)8, a framework linking some objectives of Agenda for 
Change to specific actions. The NSADP comprises four major investment sub-programmes: 
commodity commercialization, infrastructure develo pment, private sector promotion, and sector 
coordination and management. However, the focus was almost entirely on the commercialization 
component because it was deemed to have the st rongest potential in terms of achieving food 
security and generating income for the poor.  
4.9.  The Smallholder Commercialization Progra mme (SCP), launched in 2010, is a US$403 million 
programme to move the sector away from subsistence to commercialization through, inter alia , 
increased productivity, value addition, market access expansion, provision of adequate rural 
financial services, and the development of small-sc ale irrigation projects. The programme aims to 
attain annual growth of 7.7% in the agriculture sector, raising farmers' income by 10%, and 
increasing food security level by 25% by 2015.  The agriculture commercialization sub-component 
is targeted at increasing productivity, value a ddition and marketing with  emphasis on commodity 
chain development, and strengthening farmer-based organizations (FBOs). It is expected to lead 
to the creation or the rehabilitation of about 2,750 FBOs grouped into 650 agricultural business 
centres (ABCs), to be equipped with adequate infrastructure and equipment for the provision of agricultural services.  According to the authorities, about 392 ABCs and 1,178 FBOs where created 
or rehabilitated under the SCP. 
4.10.  In 2006, the authorities adopted a Nation al Seed Policy and, for its implementation, 
established a National Seed Board, a Variety Release Committee, a Seed Industry Development Unit, and a Seed Quality Control Unit. 
                                               
4 The rent is distributed among th e following stakeholders: landowne rs (50%); District Council (20%); 
Chiefdom Administration (20%);  and the Govern ment (10%). 
5 The other priorities were energy , transportation, and human developm ent. See Government of Sierra 
Leone (2008).  
6 Government of Sierra Leone (2012a).  
7 The Agenda for Prosperity relies on 8 pillars: pr omoting the diversification of production; managing 
natural resources; accelerating human  development; fostering international competitiveness; promoting labour 
and employment; providing social prot ection services; ensuring good gove rnance of the public sector; and 
promoting gender equality  and empowering women. 
8 The Plan is also the national denomination of the African Union's Comprehe nsive Africa Agriculture 
Development Programme (CAADP). Within the CAADP fra mework, in 2003 government s committed to allocate 
at least 10% of their expenditures to the agricult ure sector within the following five years (Maputo 
declaration). WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
- 48 - 
 
  4.11.  Market access, especially to the ECOW A S  a n d  t h e  E U  m a r k e t s ,  i s  a l s o  p a r t  o f  t h e  
Government's strategy in the sector. The National Export Strategy defined a framework for boosting agricultural exports to US$251 million by 2015 (from US$33.1 million in 2009).
9 The SCP 
included a US$100 million component for the rehabili tation of feeder roads. The objective is to 
rehabilitate 2,000 km of feeder roads, as well as provide for routine maintenance and spot 
improvements. About 771 km of feeder roads had been rehabilitated under the SCP, by the end 
of 2013. 
4.12.  At 15.6% in 2014, the average applied MFN tariff for agriculture products (WTO categories) 
is more than 3 percentage points above the ov erall average (Table 3.3). The most protected 
products are: beverages, spirits and tobacco (with an average MFN rate of 20.7%), dairy products (19%), and animal products (19%). At the other end of the spectrum, the average MFN rate is 5% 
for cotton products, and 10.6% for oil seeds, fats, oil and related products. Sierra Leone bound 
tariffs for agricultural products at a ceilin g rate of 40%, with very few exceptions. 
4.13.  On the export side, there is a 2.5% tax on certain cash crop exports, including cocoa and 
coffee. Some agricultural products are subject to export ban (timber), licensing or permit 
requirements (agricultural produce, plants, and charcoal). 
4.14.  In 2009, the Government adopted a set of ince ntives specific to investors in the agriculture 
sector. These include complete exemption from corporate income tax until 2020, and 50% 
exemption from withholding taxes on dividends. Investments in tree crops and rice are eligible for a ten-year tax holiday. Businesses in the agriculture sector, like in most of the other sectors, are 
eligible for full duty exemption on their imports of machinery and equipment. In addition, they are 
entitled to full exemption on parts and other equi pment for three years, and a reduced rate of 3% 
on any other raw material. Seeds and fertilizers are exempted from import duties and from the 
goods and services tax. Businesses in the agriculture sector are allowed to fully deduct from their 
taxable base, expenses incurred on research and development, training, and export promotion. 
4.15.  The Government subsidy programme mainly provides farming equipment and inputs at 
discounted prices. Fertilizers and seeds are imported  and subsidized at the rate of 40% of their 
market prices. Through the SCP Tractor Hire Purchase scheme, the Government used a 
US$15 million line of credit from the Export-Import Bank of India to import about 265 tractors between 2009 and 2010. The tractors were sold to farmers (through FBOs and ABCs) at a 60% 
discount.
10 The balance was to be paid over seven ye ars with an annual interest rate of 4%.  
4.16.  Agricultural research is a key component in the Government's strategy for increasing 
productivity in the sector. The authorities re formed the research environment through the 
enactment of The 2007 Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute Act11 established the Sierra 
Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI) as the national agricultural research institution, and 
brought under its umbrella various institutions dealing with, inter alia , fisheries, livestock, and 
forestry. The SLARI is funded through government  budgets, and various research grants, gifts, 
and donations. The Rice Research Station and the In stitute of Agricultural Research were reformed 
and renamed the Rokupr Agricultural Research Cent re and the Njala Agricultural Research Centre, 
respectively. The Act established new research institutions for fisheries, livestock, plant genetics, land and water, forestry, and horticulture.
12  
4.17.  Credit to the agriculture sector is generally limited. The 2009 Financial Sector Development 
Plan13 identified increased access to affordable finance as one of its five priorities. It devised 
strategies in terms of broadening the outreach of rural finance, strengthening governance and 
supervision of microfinance institutions, as well as expanding the coverage by community banks. 
                                               
9 Ministry of Trade and Industry (2010). 
10 The discount was initially at the rate of 40%. 
11 The Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute Act, 2007. Viewed at: 
http://www.slari.gov.sl/slariAct.pdf  [07.04.14]. 
12 These are the Freetown Fisheries Research Centre; the Teko Livestock Station; the Woama Plant 
Genetic Resources Centre; the Magbosi Land and Water Research Centre; the Kenema  Forestry and Tree Crops 
Research Centre; and th e Kabal Horticultural Crops Research Centre. 
13 Government of Sierra Leone (2009). WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  4.18.  In line with the Plan, the SCP includes a US$28 million component to provide financial 
services for farmers and farmer-based organizations. The programme would support the establishment of 32 additional community banks (t o reach a target of 53 nationally), and the 
establishment of microcredit institutions at the chiefdom level. 
4.19.  The Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Company (SLPMC) was established in 2013 to operate 
as the primary exporter of agricultural produce while guaranteeing fair prices to farmers. However, it does not have a monopoly over the export of agricultural produce. Its activities cover cocoa, 
coffee, rice, cashews, sorghum, and palm oil (including industrial palm oil). 
4.1.3  Key subsectors 4.1.3.1  Crops 4.1.3.1.1  Cocoa 
4.20.  Cocoa, and to a lesser extent, coffee, comprise Sierra Leone's major agricultural exports. 
Cocoa's share in total exports peaked at 12.5% in  2011 (from 3.3% in 2005), and then dropped to 
2.3% in 2012. The coca sector relies on about 60,000 farmers with small-sized farms (usually, less 
than two hectares). Intermediary agents typicall y purchase cocoa from farmers and convey it to 
traders' warehouses in urban areas; the traders negotiate directly with international buyers. Domestic processing is limited to the fermentation and drying of the beans. All production is 
exported. According to the SLIEPA, farmers receive about 55% of the f.o.b. price.
14  
4.21.  Sierra Leone's cocoa production is relative ly small compared with other regional producers, 
such as Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire. The authorities' strategy is to focus on the fair-trade organic segment as a niche market. The National Export Strategy (NES) is the main policy framework for 
the subsector. Over its 5-year framework (2010-15), it plans to invest about US$72 million in the 
subsector through policy actions geared towards increasing production, enhancing the application of quality standards, and developing a robust market system. Through the NES, cocoa growers 
were provided with fermentation boxes and drying tables. With a view to supporting organic cocoa 
farming in Sierra Leone, the Government provided training and fair trade certification opportunities. The NES also supported the moderniz ation of the regulatory framework with respect 
to certification and conformity assessment.  
4.22.  Cocoa growers received additional support through credits for the rehabilitation and the 
expansion of plantations.  
4.23.  Sierra Leone is a member of the Internat ional Cocoa Organization, comprising major cocoa 
exporting countries, and some importing countries (mainly EU).
15 Sierra Leone signed the 2010 
International Cocoa Agreement in January 2012, but has not ratified it yet. 
4.1.3.1.2  Rice 
4.24.  Rice is Sierra Leone's main staple food. During the post-war period, rice production 
increased steadily, nearing 700,000 tonnes during the crop year 2006/07 before dropping below 400,000 tonnes the following year (Chart 4.1). Wi th the implementation of the National Rice 
Development Strategy, production picked up, reaching its 2006/07 level again in 2011/12, before 
dropping sharply the following year. Rice producti on is essentially for the domestic market. There 
are some marginal cross-border exports to Guinea and Liberia. Imports are an important source of 
domestic consumption (20% of domestic consumption in 2012).  
                                               
14 Online information. Viewed at: http://slembassy-germany.org/CocoaOpportunitiesPresentation.pdf  
[10.04.14]. 
15 Online information. Viewed at: http://www.icco.org/about-us/membership-of-the-icco.html  
[10.04.14]. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  Chart 4.1 Rice production and imports, 2000-13 
('000 tonnes) 
02004006008001,0002000/012001/022002/032003/042004/052005/062006/072007/082008/092009/102010/112011/122012/132013/14Imports Production
 
Source: U.S. Department of Agricu lture, Foreign Agricultural Servic e. Online database, viewed at: 
http://apps.fas.usda.gov/psdonline/psdQuery.aspx  
4.25.  The 2007 National Rice Development Strategy (NRDS)16 is the main policy framework in the 
subsector. Its objective is to achieve rice self-suffi ciency by 2015, that is, production of 1.5 million 
tonnes of paddy, by expanding of cultivat ed areas, and doubling productivity.17 Action includes 
rehabilitating and constructing feeder roads in key locations; providing community service infrastructures, such as farm market centres,  daily retail markets, and irrigation schemes; 
providing inputs and agricultural services, as well as making credit accessible.  
4.26.  The SCP includes a US$55 million component targeted at rehabilitating and developing 
small-scale irrigation systems for rice production. The programme is expected to rehabilitate about 
18,000 ha of inland valley swamps (IVS). According to  official statistics, 8,657 ha of IVS (47.6% of 
the target) have been developed or rehabilitated as of mid-2014.  
4.1.3.2  Forestry 4.27.  According to FAO estimates
18, forest covered 38.1% of Sierra Leone's land area in 2010, 
down from 40.4% in 2000, and 43.5% two decade s earlier. High reliance on biomass-based 
energy, logging activities, and to some extent the extension of agricultural and mining activities are contributing to this declining trend. The contri bution of the sector to GDP declined from 6.6% 
in 2005 to 4.6% in 2012.  
4.28.  The overall goal of the Government in th e subsector is to ensure sustainable management 
of forest resources, and biodiversity conservation . The MAFFS is responsible for forest issues. Its 
Division of Forestry is responsible for policy implementation. The Forestry Act of 1988 and the 
Wildlife Act of 1972 are the main pieces of legislation in the sector.  
4.29.  The Director of Forestry is in charge of forest resources management. Forests are classified 
as: national production forests, oriented toward the production of forest produce; national 
protection forests, destined to the preservation of the forest and the protection of related species; 
and community forests. Community forests are desi gnated on the basis of an agreement between 
the Director of Forestry and the Chiefdom Council.  They are under the jurisdiction of relevant 
chiefdoms but the Director of Forestry retains the authority to issue permits for their exploitation. 
                                               
16 Coalition for African Rice Development (2009).  
17 In a second stage, the cultivated  area would be extended to 1.1 million hectares, and productivity 
would be raised to 4 tonnes per hectare, leading to overall production of 3 million tonnes by 2018. 
18 FAO (2011).  WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
- 51 - 
 
  4.30.  The Forestry Act sets a permit requirement fo r operations in classified forests. A permit is 
required, in principle, for: cutting, burning, uprooting, damaging or destroying trees; removing any timber or forest produce; clearing land; building roads or structures; taking any earth, clay, sand, gravel or stone; cultivating crops and grazing animals.  
4.31.  There are three types of forest utilization rights: 
- forest utilization licence: grants the holder the right to perform the designated activities in 
the area covered by the licence. Licences are usually issued for a period not exceeding one 
year for a fee of Le 5 million. Longer periods may be granted for activities such as clearing 
land or planting trees or crops;  
- forest utilization concession: may include, in addition to the right of felling and extracting 
timber or other forest produce, the right to build infrastructure for carrying out these 
activities, including roads, bridges, and saw mill factories. Utilization concessions are 
granted for periods not exceeding 10 years, but may be extended to 20 years if the project includes substantial transformation of the forest product. Applicants for forest concession 
must submit, together with their application, a forest management plan making provisions 
for, inter alia , forest protection; the allowable annual cut; protected species; and the 
methods of felling and extracting timber, sylviculture, and reforestation measures. 
Concessions are negotiated with the Paramount Chief or the Government, depending on 
the status of the forest. There are currently five concessions licences, all issued for community forests;  
- forest plantation concession: gives the holder the right to clear an area with the aim of 
restocking it. It is generally valid for the estimated optimum growth cycle of the forest 
vegetation to be planted.  
4.32.  The Forestry Act provides for a Reforestation Fund to finance reforestation and encourage 
reforestation initiatives. The Fund fee is assessed at the rate of 10% on the value of exports, and 
is collected on timber, non-timber forest products, and related transport cost. Funds are redistributed to districts for their reforestation activities. Holders of utilization concessions are 
required to pay an annual rent fee of US$12 per ha of forest. 
4.33.  Some restrictions on the transportation an d export of fuel-wood and charcoal have been in 
place since 1990.
19 Transportation of 100 kg or more of wood, and 50 kg or more of charcoal, is 
subject to a permit. The purpose of these restrictions  is to limit the pressure on forest resources, 
due to the high reliance on bio-mass energy. The perm it fee is to be paid to revenue collectors at 
checkpoints alongside the main roads. The fee varies between Le 1,000 and 2,000 per unit of timber depending on the size, and amounts to Le 500 per bag of charcoal.  
4.34.  In August 2007 the Government issued a ban on the felling, processing, and export of 
timber. The goal of the ban is to curb the over-utilization of forest resources and the loss of revenue caused by the expansion of illegal forest activities. The ban was lifted in 2008 and 
reinstated in 2011. The Government also adopted a set of guidelines in 2010 covering a wide 
range of forestry issues leasing of classified forest; issuance of logging permits; stumpage fees; including transportation of forest products; export permits; importation of chain saws and sawmills.  
4.35.  Sierra Leone is a party to several co nventions and treaties on conservation and 
environmental management, including: the Convention on the Conservation of Biodiversity; the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change; the Conv ention on International Trade in Endangered 
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; the International Convention to Combat Desertification; the 
World Heritage Convention; and the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. 
                                               
19 The Forestry Act No. 7 of 1988, Public Notice No. 17 of 1990.  WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  4.1.3.3  Fisheries 
4.36.  Sierra Leone has a coastline of 506 km, and a continental shelf of about 30,000 km2, with a 
commercially viable stock of fish. The fishery sector remains a key sector of the economy, both in terms of employment and output. Between 2006 an d 2013, its contribution to GDP varied between 
6% and 9% (Table 1.1). The sector employs directly an estimated 100,000 persons. It is 
estimated that about a million of individuals are engaged in fisheries activities (including related processing). The sector comprises: the capital-in tensive industrial subsector, operating mostly 
off-shore; low-tech artisanal fishery, operating in the in-shore marine fisheries; and aquaculture 
and inland fisheries. Between 2005 and 2010, production averaged 135.8 tonnes largely derived from artisanal fishing (Chart 4.2).  
Chart 4.2 Total fish production, 2000-13 
('000 tonnes) 
020406080100120140160
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013Artisanal catch Industrial catch
 
Source: Ministry of Marine Resources.  
4.37.  Sierra Leone does not export fish products to some of its major markets either because of 
failure to meet required standards (EU market), or the non-use of by catch reduction devices (U.S. 
market). 
4.38.  Challenges for the sector include illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU), which is 
estimated to cause annual revenue loss of US$30 million. In a move to curb this practice, the authorities closed their international shipping registry to foreign-owned vessels in 2010. As from 
that date, international vessels are no longer allowed to register with Sierra Leone flag. 
4.39.  The Fisheries (Management and Development) Act, 1994
20 is the main legislation governing 
the fishery sector. The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources is in charge of development of 
the sector, and the Joint Maritime committee (JMC) deals with supervision and licensing activities. 
The Government's strategy for the sector includes  promoting freshwater fishing and aquaculture, 
and establishing a semi-industrial fishing subsector operating in inland waters. To that end, the 
authorities have engaged in major infrastructure investments, since 2005, comprising the 
construction of fish-processing plants, dry-dock facilities, vessel-repair operations, and a new fishing port.  
4.40.  The 2010 Policy Framework for the Fisheries of Sierra Leone21, for the long term 
development of the sector, aims to turn fisheries into an ecologically sustainable and economically 
efficient sector. Through the Artisanal Fisheries Development Project, the Government, with the 
support of the African Development Bank, has constructed four fish landing sites at Tombo, Goderich, Shenge, and Bonthe. During the first stage of the project, the authorities are focusing on 
                                               
20 The Act was amended in 2007 (The Fisheries (Management and Development) (Amendment) Act, 
2007). 
21 Government of Sierra Leone (2010). WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  adding value to products for the local market. At a later stage, the sites will be equipped with 
processing and distribution facilities that meet international standards. 
4.41.  Sierra Leone is also participating in the World Bank-funded West Africa Regional Fisheries 
Programme (WARFP). Through this programme, the Government had secured US$8 million of 
funding for the construction of a fisheries harbour with the infrastructure to accommodate up to 
20 vessels at a time. The complex would comprise a fisheries quay, a transhipment quay, a reefer quay, and a port administration building. The project also includes components aiming at: 
improving governance in the sector (data collection, stock assessment); curbing illegal fishing by 
reinforcing patrolling and inspection; and value addition. 
4.42.  A draft Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill is aw aiting approval by the Cabinet. According to the 
authorities, the new bill will introduce a quota-management system for fishing activities.  
4.2  Energy 
4.2.1  Overview 4.43.  Biomass is the main source of energy in Sierra Leone. It is estimated to account for over 
80% of the energy used each year. Petroleum pr oducts account for 13% of energy consumption, 
and grid-generated electricity for the rest. Bi omass energy is almost exclusively used by 
households (Table 4.2), while petroleum products are mainly used in transportation, and to some 
extent, by households and operators with priv ate generator capacity. Less than 10% of the 
population has access to grid-generated electricity.  
Table 4.2 Structure of en ergy consumption, 2011 
(%) 
Sector Fuel wood Charcoal Petroleum 
products Thermal 
and hydro Total 
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 1.0 0.0 5.0 2.0 2.0 
Mining 0.0 0.0 9.0 1.0 2.5 
Industrial/commercial 3.0 10.0 12.0 60.0 21.0 
Transportation 0.0 0.0 49.0 0.0 62.5 
Households 96.0 90.0 25.0 37.0 12.0 
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
Source: Government of Sierra Leone (2012b). 
4.44.  The Ministry of Energy is responsible for oversight of the sector. However, other ministries 
retain responsibility over some specific issues. Fo r instance, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry 
and Food Security is in charge of issues rela ted to bioenergy and crop-related energy, and the 
Ministry of Trade and Industry, through its Petroleum Unit, deals with the marketing and sales of petroleum products.  
4.2.2  Upstream petroleum and gas activities 
4.45.  Between 2005 and 2013, about US$524 million were invested in oil and gas exploration 
activities in Sierra Leone. The country is not an  oil producer, but the announcement of a discovery 
of natural gas and oil in 2010 has sparked the interest of several global oil producers. 
In October 2013, Lukoil Overseas announced another discovery of oil.  
4.46.  In anticipation of a boom in the sect or, the Government adopted a new Petroleum Act 
in 2011
22, reforming the framework for the management and the regulation of petroleum 
operations, and making provisions for the State's participation in the industry. The Act created a Petroleum Directorate, under the Office of the President, and a National Company. The Directorate is in charge of the regulation of petroleum operations. It is allowed to participate in,  inter alia , the 
tender process and the negotiation of petroleum licences, their administration, and the assessment 
of royalties and bonuses. The National Company, on behalf of the State, is in charge of managing the commercial aspects of petroleum operations (including participation in petroleum licences). 
                                               
22 The Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act of 2011 repealed the legislation enacted in 2001. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  4.47.  Petroleum resources are the property of the State. The Act provides for three types of 
access rights: a reconnaissance permit, a petroleum licence, and a permit for laying and operating pipelines (Table 4.3). The application process for any petroleum right includes a prequalification 
stage where applicants are required to obtain the status of qualified operator or applicant. The 
status is granted by the Petroleum Directorate upon application and payment of a fee. Criteria 
used in assessing applications include: the technical ability of the applicant to operate in deep waters; its financial ability to undertake capital-intensive ventures; and its sense of environmental 
responsibility, and corporate social responsibility.  
Table 4.3 Petroleum rights, related fees, and conditions 
Licence/ mode of acquisition Conditions Rights 
Reconnaissance permit  
Application submitted to the 
Petroleum Directorate Duration: by negotiation  
Non-renewable 
No fee Non-exclusive right to reconnaissance 
operations 
Petroleum licence  
Call for tenders or for direct 
negotiations Maximum duration: 30 years, 
extendable once for 10 years; 
Application fee: US$25,000/block Exclusive rights to exploration and 
production operations 
Permit to build and operate pipelines  
Application submitted to the 
Petroleum Directorate Linked to the petroleum licence Laying and operation of pipelines 
Source: Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act of  2011; and information provided by the authorities. 
4.48.  Petroleum licences are acquired through a call for tender, open only to qualified operators. 
The Minister may issue a call for direct negotiations if the call for tender is unsuccessful. In 2012, 
the application fee was raised to US$25,000 per block, from US$7,500. The Petroleum Directorate assesses applications and recommends a decision to the Minister. Licences are valid only after ratification by Parliament. They are published in the Gazette .  
4.49.  Petroleum licences are granted to applicants deemed as offering the most favourable terms 
and conditions to the country. They confer on  the holder the exclusive right to undertake 
exploration and production activities within the licence area. Licences are issued for periods not 
exceeding 30 years, including the exploration phase. Operators are allowed an initial exploration 
period of three years, renewable twice for two year s each. However, renewal is subject to approval 
from the Minister. The legislation provides for a set of minimum obligations to be fulfilled by 
licence holders before entering the production phase. In particular, they must complete all the 
exploration activities planned in the licence agreement.  
4.50.  Licensees have the obligation to inform th e Ministry of any discovery of petroleum resources 
within seven days of the discovery. They are required to assess whether the discovery merits 
appraisal, and inform the Petroleum Directorat e within 60 days of the discovery. The State, 
represented by the NPC, may participate in a petroleum licence. It is entitled to a free initial interest of at least 10% during the exploration phase.  
4.51.  Licensees and their contractors are required to provide employment and training 
opportunities to nationals. They must give prefer ence to nationals with adequate qualifications, 
and in any case, implement training and technology transfer programmes in their favour. They are 
also required to give preference to local goods.  The licence agreement may set out the payment of 
an annual fee for training. There are currently 8 licences and 16 companies involved in offshore petroleum exploration activities in Sierra Leone. 
4.52.  Holders of petroleum rights are liable for the payment of applicable taxes, including 
corporate income tax, royalties, and a surface rent  tax. Royalties are assessed on gross production 
at the rate of 10%. The surface rent tax is at US$40 per km
2 per annum during the initial 
exploration period. It is raised to US$60 on the first extension, and US$85 on the second 
extension. Companies engaged in the development or production phase are charged 
US$110 per km2 per annum. 
4.53.   Sierra Leone is a participant in the Extractives Industries Transparency Initiative. The 
Initiative also applies to petroleum resources. Holders of petroleum rights are mandated to WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  disclose all payments made to the Government. For 2011, the Government's reported receipts 
from the oil and gas sector amounted to US$15.4 million, representing 54.4% of all receipts from the extractive industries.
23  
4.54.  The current legislation covers only offshore petroleum activities. It is currently being 
revised, with a view to establishing a single le gal framework for onshore and offshore activities.  
4.2.3  Downstream activities 4.55.  Since the closing of the Sierra Leone Petroleum Refining Company, all the oil needed for 
consumption is imported. Between 2005 and 2009, the volume of oil imports (mainly diesel) 
declined by 36% to 170,000 tonnes (Chart 4.3) , reflecting largely the pressure of higher 
international oil prices. With the burgeoning iron ore sector, imports picked up and neared 400,000 tonnes in 2013.  
Chart 4.3 Import of petroleum products, 2000-13 
('000 tonnes) 
050100150200250300350400450
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Petrol Diesel Kerosene/Jet A-1 Fuel oil
 
Source: Petroleum Unit, and Government of Sierra Leone (2012), National Energy Profile of Sierra Leone,  
June 2012. Viewed at: http://www.undp.org/content/da m/sierraleone/docs/focusareado cs/undp_sle_energyprofile.pdf . 
4.56.  According to the authorities, there is no restriction on the importation of petroleum 
products. However, authorization is required from the Petroleum Unit of the Ministry of Trade and 
Industry. The Unit determines pump prices through an automatic pricing mechanism. Starting from Platts weekly average, the landed price is estimated by adding freight costs, import duties, 
and other logistic related fees (storage, port ch arges, and demurrage fees). Distribution costs, 
excise duties, and the road-user charge are added to the landed price to obtain the indicative price. Therefore, fluctuations in international pr ices or the exchange rate are passed on to the 
indicative price. However, there is no price adjustment if these fluctuations do not cause the 
landed price to change by more than 5%. Fluctu ations within the 5% range are compensated with 
excise tax revenues. 
4.2.4  Electricity 
4.57.  The installed capacity of the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC), the 
public utility company, comprises a thermal oil plant of 37 MW and six hydropower plants with combined capacity of 56.75 MW. The rest of the installed capacity of the country is privately 
owned, mostly by mining companies, and is not connected to the grid. The mining sector relies on 
captive generation, while the other customers and households rely mainly on private generation. In 2013, the electricity generation declined by 14.8% to 159.2 GWh (Table 4.4). It is estimated 
that 33,000 small generators are currently in use, providing about 180 MW annually.  
                                               
23 Moore Stephens LLP (2013). WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  Table 4.4 Electricity generati on and consumption, 2009-13 
Year 2009  2010  2011 2012 2013  
Electricity generation (GWh) 132.0 168.0 175.6 186.9 159.2 
Consumption (% share) 
  Industrial 33.1 29.2 40.3 28.4 14.5 
  Government 20.3 15.0 14.5 16.0 10.2 
  Domestic 31.2 29.9 27.9 30.8 37.4 
  Commercial 15.4 26.0 17.3 24.9 37.8 
Source: Bank of Sierra Leone. Online information, viewed at: http://www.bsl.gov.sl/statistics.html  [14.07.14].  
4.58.  Sierra Leone's electricity tariffs remain among the highest in Africa. Its average of 
US$0.28/kWh is twice as much as the continental average (World Bank, 2013). Although the 
Government subsidized oil imports, electricity ta riffs escalated between 2000 and 2008, reflecting 
mainly the global trend in oil prices combined with the weakening of the local currency. The tariffs 
were raised by 82% between 2000 and 2005. In 2008,  the authorities replaced the tariff bands in 
place in the domestic and commercial sectors with single tariffs of Le 989 and Le 1,290 per kWh, respectively (Table 4.5).  
Table 4.5 Electricity tariffs, selected years 
(Le/kWh) 
 Energy consumption 2000  2005 2008 2013  
Domestic 0-30 kWh 
31-150 kWh 
Above 150kWh 205 
293 
389 373 
533 
709 989 .. 
Commercial 0-30 kWh 
31-150 kWh 
Above 150kWh 358 
429 
465 651 
781 
846 1,290 .. 
State-run institutions All units 429 781 1,161 .. 
Others All units .. .. 1,161 .. 
Industry All units 517 941 1,376 .. 
Street lighting All units 435 792 1,161 .. 
Temporary supplies All units .. 910 .. .. 
Welders All units 546 993 .. .. 
.. Not available. 
Source: Government of Sierra Leone (2012b). 
4.59.  Energy supply is one of the major constrai nts to private sector development. Anticipating 
increased demand from the mining sector, the Government's objective is to boost installed 
capacity to 1,000 MW by 2018.24 The Government is planning to involve mining companies in the 
sector, through public-private partnerships. One such partnership is Addax Biotechnology's Makeni Project, consisting of a sugarcane plantation, an ethanol refinery, and a biomass power plant. 
Upon completion, the company is expected to provide up to 15 MW annually to the national grid. 
In June 2013, the Parliament approved a power purchase agreement with Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) Africa Sierra Leone Ltd. The agreement involves the development and operation 
of a 128 MW thermal power plant. 
4.60.  Launched in April 2010, the National Energy Policy
25 aims at providing access to electricity 
to 35% of the population by 2015, and univers al access by 2030. Achievements include the 
construction of several hydropower stations (Charlotte, Banksoka, Makali and Bumbuna II) as well 
as the installation of thermal plants in Lungi, Bo and Kono. 
4.61.  Sierra Leone is a pilot country in the UN Sustainable Energy for All (SEFA) initiative.  4.62.  The electricity sector was revamped in 2011 with the enactment of the Sierra Leone 
Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission Act of 2011, and the National Electricity Act of 2011. 
The first Act established the Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC), responsible for issuing licences and monitoring compliances, regulating tariffs, and ensuring fair competition 
among providers (in the case of unregulated serv ices). The Commission is to be funded through 
                                               
24 Government of Sierra Leone (2013). 
25 Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (2009). WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  government subventions, and an annual levy on the gross revenue of suppliers. It is not yet fully 
operational.  
4.63.  The Act imposes a licensing requirement for the sale, provision, and supply of electricity and 
water services, and the installation or operation of any related facilities. Licences are issued by the 
EWRC. Eligibility is restricted to nationals, partnerships of nationals, and companies incorporated 
or registered in Sierra Leone. The Act allows independent power producers to construct generating stations, including hydro-electric schemes, and to own and operate transmission facilities. 
However, they are required to sell their production to the Electricity Distribution and Supply 
Authority (EDSA).  
4.64.  The National Electricity Act dismantled the National Power Authority (a vertically integrated 
utility company), and established two state-owned enterprises: the Electricity Generation and 
Transmission Company (EGTC), and the EDSA.
26 The EGTC is responsible for electricity generation 
and transmission. The EDSA is in charge of transmission and distribution of electricity in areas where the Commission has not issued a licence to another entity. The Authority purchases 
electricity from the EGTC under the terms of a power purchase agreement. 
4.65.  The EGTC's capacity was boosted in 2009 with the entry into operation of the Bumbuna 
hydropower plant (Bumbuna I). The plant gene rates around 50 MW during rainy seasons. 
Additional investments are expected to boost its capacity to 300 MW by 2015. 
4.66.  In 2012, the Government signed an agreement with Joule Africa for the development of 
Bumbuna II, a project with a generation capacity of up to 389 MW during rainy seasons and at 
least 112 MW during dry seasons. The Government is also engaged in several other energy 
programmes covering the installation of new plants, transmission and distribution lines, and 
prepaid meters. 
4.67.  Sierra Leone is part of the West Africa  Power Pool (WAPP), launched by ECOWAS Heads of 
State in 1999 to integrate the operations of na tional power systems into a unified regional 
electricity market, thereby providing a stable and reliable electricity supply.
27 With funding from 
several sources, the WAPP launched an interconnection project in 2014 that involves the 
construction of 1,411 km of high voltage transm ission line between Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea 
(through Liberia and Sierra Leone).28 The project includes the electrification of communities along 
the transmission line. The project will allow the provision of a minimum of 83 MW by Côte d'Ivoire to the three other countries, and better use of ex isting hydropower resources in these countries. 
The Sierra Leone section comprises the construction of 530 km of transmission lines and of 
5 substations. Construction work is yet to begin. 
4.68.  In 2013, the World Bank approved a US$40 million project aimed at improving the 
operational performance of the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority.
29 The project includes 
the financing of a three to five-year performance-based contract for the operation and management of the Authority, and the rehabilitati on and upgrading of the distribution network. 
4.3  Mining  
4.69.  Sierra Leone has a variety of mineral resources (Table 4.6). The sector accounts for about 
90% of export revenues annually, comprising mainly diamonds, and recently, iron ore. In 2010, the country was the 10
th largest producer of diamonds (by volume), and the 3rd largest producer of 
rutile.  
                                               
26 The Authority replaced the National Power Authority (National Power Authority Act, 1982). 
27 The West African Power Pool is a specialized institution of ECOWAS.  
28 The Côte d'Ivoire – Liberia – Sierra Leon e – Guinea (CLSG) Interconnection Project. 
29 World Bank (2013).  WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  Table 4.6 Mineral production and export, 2006-13 
Mineral 2006 2007  2008  2009  2010  2011 2012 2013  
Production (volume) 
Diamond ('000 carats) 582.3 603.7 371.3 400.4 437.6 376.5 532.9 612.4 
Bauxite ('000 tonnes) 1,071.1 1,169.0 954.4 742.8 1,089.1 1,457.5 734.5 654.1 
Rutile ('000 tonnes) 73.6 82.8 78.9 63.9 68.2 68.0 94.5 122.1 
Ilmenite ('000 tonnes) 13.8 15.8 17.3 15.2 18.2 14.7 21.4 32.5 
Gold (ounces) 2,283 6,817 6,153 5,356 8,690 5,284 4,345 3,099 
Iron ore ('000 ) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 137.9 967.9 10,643 
Exports (million US$) 
Diamond 125.0 142.0 98.8 78.3 113.5 129.8 161.7 185.7 
Bauxite 23.6 32.7 28.1 18.7 31.1 39.0 17.1 13.8 
Rutile 28.5 38.1 36.7 35.9 40.6 34.4 171.7 129.6 
Ilmenite 1.1 1.2 2.6 0.9 2.7 4.4 3.8 2.9 
Gold 1.1 3.0 4.1 4.8 9.3 7.3 5.7 3.7 
Iron ore 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 .. 357.0 1,064.4 
.. Not available.  
Source: Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources.  
4.3.1  Regulation 
4.70.  The Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources is responsible for mineral resources. Its 
Department of Precious Metal Trading is in charge of valuation and certification of gold and 
diamonds, and the collection of export-related ta xes. Established in 2012, the National Minerals 
Agency is responsible for implementing policies and regulations. 
4.71.  Development of the mining sector was iden tified as a fundamental pillar for the promotion 
of sustainable economic growth in  the Agenda for Prosperity.  The Government's main priorities in 
the sector are to ensure that mineral resources support economic and social development in a sustainable manner, and to increase transparency an d accountability. In line with these priorities, 
it adopted a new Mines and Minerals Act in 2009.
30 The Act established the Minerals Advisory 
Board to monitor the implementation of minerals-related polices, advise and make recommendations to the authorities, and formulate recommendations on minerals-related policies. The Board comprises representatives from the Mini stry, local governments, the mining industry, 
and civil society.  
4.72.  Under the Mines and Minerals Act, all mineral resources are the property of the State, and 
the right to exploit them is subject to licences . Nationals, corporate bodies, and cooperatives 
registered or incorporated in Sierra Leone are elig ible to apply for a minerals right. Non-national 
residents become eligible only after ten years of residency. The Act defines five types of mineral 
rights: reconnaissance licence, exploration licence, artisanal mining licence, small-scale mining 
licence, and large-scale mining licence (Table 4.7). Artisanal mining activities are reserved for 
nationals.  
4.73.  The Mining Cadastre Office receives and ve rifies mineral rights applications, and forwards 
them to the Minerals Advisory Board for verification of legal requirements. If all requirements are 
met, the Board certifies the application and advises the Minister of its approval. However, the final 
decision depends on the Minister who may go agai nst the recommendation of the Board. In case of 
refusal, the applicant is notified of the reasons, and given 30 days to remedy the causes of refusal 
(if it is feasible). The applicant may appeal the Minister's decision to the High Court. 
4.74.  Artisanal mining licences are granted directly by the Mining Cadastre Office. Appeals, in this 
case, may be brought to the Minister in charge of the sector. Once granted, mineral rights are 
published in the Gazette . Holders of large-scale mining licences must commence operations within 
180 days after the licence is granted. The period is reduced to 90 days for all the other types of 
licences. 
                                               
30 The Act repealed the Mines and Minerals Act 1994, and the Commission for the Management of 
Strategic Resources, National Reconstruction and Development Act 1999. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  Table 4.7 Licensing requirements in the mining sector 
Licence Eligibility Conditions Rights 
Reconnaissance Registered or incorporated 
companies Maximum area: 10,000 km2 
Maximum duration: 1 year, 
renewable once  
Non-transferable Non-exclusive right to carry on 
reconnaissance operations 
Exploration Registered or incorporated 
companies Maximum area: 250 km2 
Maximum duration: 4 years 
initially, 3 years on first 
renewal and 2 years on 
second renewal  
Transferable Exclusive right to carry on approved 
exploration operations, and to apply 
for a mining licence over any part of 
the exploration area 
Artisanal mining Nationals; joint ventures, 
partnerships, cooperatives made up of nationals; companies wholly owned by nationals  Maximum area: 0.5 hectare
 
Maximum duration: 1 year, 
renewable 3 times Non-transferable Exclusive right to carry on exploration 
and mining operations 
Small-scale 
mining Cooperative societies with at 
least 25% of members being 
citizens 
Companies with at least 25% of 
shares held by citizens Area: 1 to 100 hectares  
Maximum duration: 3 years, 
renewable for 3 years 
Transferable Exclusive right to carry on exploration 
and mining operations 
Large-scale 
mining Registered or incorporated 
companies Maximum area: not 
indicated 
Maximum duration: 
25 years initially, 15 years 
for renewals 
Transferable Exclusive right to carry on exploration 
and mining operations 
Source: The Mines and Minerals Act of 2009; and the Mines and Minerals Regulations of 2009.  
4.75.  The legislation requires mining licence holders (small and large scale) to assist in the 
development of the communities where they operat e. Companies with mining operations above a 
certain threshold may be required to conclude community development agreements with local 
authorities. The agreement should include provisions requiring them to invest at least 1% of their 
gross revenue in the development of communities. Li cence holders are required to give preference 
to domestic products, public corporations, and domestically incorporated or registered companies.  
4.76.  Holders of small- and large-scale mining licences are required to give preference to 
nationals when recruiting, and to carry out a scheme of training and employment of local 
employees. Large-scale mining licence holders are required to obtain a land lease or other rights to use the land. Rent is distributed among stakeholders: 50% to land owners, 15% to the District 
Council, 15% to Paramount Chiefs, 10% to th e Chiefdom Administration, and 10% to the 
Constituency Development Fund. The Ministry may compulsorily acquire private land if it is proven that the licence holder has taken all reasonable steps to acquire the right to use it but without 
success. Landowners retain the right to graze, stoc k, and cultivate the surface of the land (to the 
extent that such activities do not interfere with mining operations).  
4.77.  In addition to application and renewal f ees, holders of mining licences and permits are 
subject to an annual charge of US$600 per hectare for small-scale mining operations, and 
US$500,000 for large-scale mining licence holders (Table 4.8). 
4.78.  Royalty fees are assessed on the market va lue of the extracted minerals, as determined by 
the Department of Precious Metal Trading. Prec ious stones with a market value below US$500,000 
are taxed at the rate of 6.5%; those with a valu e above this threshold (special stones) are taxed 
at the rate of 15%. Precious metals are taxed 5%, and all the other minerals at 3%.  
4.79.  Incentives in the mining sector include full deduction of fees related to prospection and 
exploration activities from taxable income; a deduction of 40% of production costs from the 
taxable income during the first year of activity; and a 10% amortization of start-up costs. Individuals may also deduct 50% of some investment expenditures from their personal income taxes, up to a limit of US$150,000. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  Table 4.8 Fees related to mineral rights and permits   
Type of permit Mineral right Application fee Annual charge 
Licences  Reconnaissance Application: US$250  
Renewal: US$250 US$5,000 
 Exploration  Application: US$250  
Renewal: US$250 Year 1 to 4: US$100/km2 
Year 5 to 9: US400/km2 for the first 125km2 and 
US$800/km2 for the remainder 
 A rtisanal mining Application: Le  50,000  
Renewal: Le 10,000 Le 400,000 (includes Le 150,000 for a the Artisanal 
Mining Rehabilitation Fund) 
 Small-scale mining  Application: US$500  
Renewal: US$350 US$600/ha  
 Large-scale mining  Application: US$2,500  
Renewal: US$2,500 
Transfer: US$500 US$500,000  
Permits  Dredging Application: US$250  
Renewal: US$250 US$500 (exploration and artisanal mining) 
US$10,000 (small-scale mining) 
US$20,000 (large-scale mining) 
 Radioactive minerals Application: US$250  
Renewal: US$250 US$20,000  
Source: Mines and Minerals Regulations of 2009, First Schedule. 
4.3.2  Main products 
4.3.2.1  Diamonds 4.80.  Sierra Leone has participated in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) since its 
inception, in 2003.
31 Accordingly, Sierra Lone exports diam onds only to participating countries. 
The certification process was formally incorporat ed into Sierra Leone's legal apparatus in 2009.32 
4.81.  In 2007, the Parliament enacted the Diamon d Cutting and Polishing Act, subjecting diamond 
cutting and polishing activities to licensing requir ements. A licence, issued by the Directorate of 
Precious Minerals Trading  for a period not exceeding five years, gives the holder the right to deal 
in, export and import, as well as cut, polish, crush, or set diamonds. It can be renewed indefinitely 
for periods of five years each. Only licence holders are allowed to export cut and polished 
diamonds. Product is subject to valuation by the Gold and Diamond Department. The licensee must pay the National Revenue Authority a duty of 0.5% of the difference between the certified 
value of the unpolished and polished diamonds. Small-scale mining lease holders pay a royalty fee 
of 5% of the export value, and a 1% valuation fee.  Individuals exporting on an ad hoc basis, such 
as tourists or exporters interested in testing the market, may obtain a special dispensation from the licensing requirement (section 4.3). However, th ey are charged an extra 2% in addition to the 
3% export tax.  
4.82.  Any equipment used in the cutting and polis hing of diamonds may be imported duty free. 
4.83.  Since 2011, the export tax on diamonds has been reduced to 3% (from 6.5%). It is 
allocated, in terms of percentage points: 0.75 to the local community, 0.75 to the Directorate of 
Precious Minerals Trading, 0.70 to a special treasury account, 0.25 to a monitoring fund, 0.40 to the Independent Valuator, and 0.05 to a Rehabilitation Fund, a Public Information Unit, and the 
Precious Minerals Monitoring Team.
33 The Government has also been negotiating an agreement 
with other Mano River Union member states, in order to harmonize diamond royalties and export taxes.
34  
                                               
31 The process imposes certain requir ements for the control of rough di amond production and trade. In 
particular, it requires each shipment  of rough diamonds to be certified as meeting a minimum set of standards 
and accompanied by the Kimberley Process Certificate. As of January 2014, 81 countries participate in the process. Online information, viewed at: http://www.kimberleyprocess.com/en/about . 
32 Diamond Trading Act, 2009. Viewed at: https://s3-eu-west-
1.amazonaws.com/rdwebsite/slminerals/Docume nts/Diamond%20Trading %20Bill%20(Oct%202009).doc  
[14.04.14] 
33 The Alluvial Diamond Mining (Amendment) Rules, 2006. Viewed at: 
http://www.sierralii.org/sl/legislation/statutory-instrument/2006/15 . 
34 U.S. Department of Interior (2012). WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  4.3.2.2  Other minerals 
4.84.  Gold exports are subject to an expo rt duty of 5% of their f.o.b. value.  
4.4  Manufacturing  4.85.  Sierra Leone's manufacturing sector is relatively small, accounting for less than 3% of GDP 
between 2005 and 2013 (Table 1.1). The sector employs roughly 2% of the labour force, and 
consists mainly of small and medium-scale enterp rises. Activities are limited to raw materials 
processing and light manufacturing destined for domestic consumption (Table 4.9).  
Table 4.9 Selected products in the manufacturing sector, 2006-13 
Product 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 
Beer, stout, and maltina ('000 cartons) 1,012 975 953 862 859 997 1,165.8 1,099.0 
Acetylene ('000 cubic feet) 219 291 191 143 169 166 191.6 235.1  
Oxygen ('000 cubic feet) 966  792 424 303 245 227 230.2 263.6  
Paint ('000 gallons) 136 142 157 169 150 221 182.2 233.6  
Confectionery ('000 lbs) 2,074  2,330  3,141  2,892  3,055  2,948 3,164.5 3,516.3  
Cement ('000 tonnes) 172 234 247 254 236 301 335.4 313.4  
Soft drinks ('000 crates) 1,908  2,074  1,455  1,387  1,542  1,962 2,139.4 2,274.0  
Soap (tonnes) 417 467 622 553 586 422 723.2 636.6  
Flour ('000 tonnes) ..  .. .. .. .. 10 23.2 8.8  
.. Not available.  
Source: Statistics Sierra Leone.  
4.86.  The sector faces many challenges, including weak infrastructure, the high cost of 
production, the inadequate or unreliable supply of  raw materials and energy, and limited access to 
financing. In the 2013-14 WEF report on global competitiveness, Sierra Leone ranked 144th out 
of 148 economies.35 It is labelled as a factor-driven economy (as opposed to innovation driven). It 
ranked relatively well in the areas of investor protection and the burden of government 
regulations.  
4.87.  The overall goal of the Government in the manufacturing sector is to build a commercially 
viable sector that adds value to locally produced primary products, and creates employment.36 The 
Ministry of Trade and Industry has responsibility for overseeing the sector.  
4.88.  In 2004, the UNIDO launched the four-year Sierra Leone Integrated Programme (SLIP) 
aimed at helping recovery from the civil war, by re-establishing entrepreneurial initiatives and 
providing job and income opportunities to di splaced people. Through the programme, three 
training centres (industrial growth centres) were rehabilitated and equipped with infrastructure for 
the production of agricultural tools and food proc essing. Young entrepreneurs were trained in skills 
such as masonry, carpentry, metal work, and tailo ring. However, most of the components of the 
programme were not implemented due to insufficient funding.37  
4.89.  In 2013, the average applied MFN tariff rate  in the manufacturing sector (ISIC definition) 
was 12%, similar to the overall average MFN (Table 3.2). The average bound rate in the sector is 
47.8%, leaving considerable room for tariff change. Tariff escalation is strongly positive in most industries (ISIC 2-digit), leading to high levels of effective protection. In the textile and leather, 
wood and furniture, and non-metallic mineral products industries, the tariff rate on fully processed 
products may be as high as twice the rate on products at the first-stage of processing. With additional protection provided by the excise tax, since it applies only to some imported manufactured goods (Table 3.4), Sierra Leone is less likely to achieve international or even 
regional competitiveness for the protected sector.  
                                               
35 World Economic Forum (2013).  
36 Government of Sierra Leone (2010).  
37 UNIDO (2008). WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  4.5  Services 
4.5.1  Overview 4.90.  Until 2012, the services sector accounted for about a third of the GDP. In 2012 and 2013, 
its contribution dropped below 30% owing to the boost in the mining sector. Transport, storage 
and communication, and tourism are the main components and accounted respectively for 6.2% 
and 5.9% of GDP in 2012. During the review period , the contribution of financial services to GDP 
was on a declining trend. In 2012, imports of busi ness services related to the mining and energy 
sector increased substantially (Table 1.2).  
4.91.  Sierra Leone's GATS schedule includes hori zontal and sector-specific commitments. In all 
sectors, market access through commercial presence is subject to the requirement that the foreign 
provider incorporates or establishes its business locally. There are also some restrictions with 
regard to land and building acquisition. Access through the presence of natural persons (mode 4) 
is generally unbound, except the requirement to obtain a work permit. Sector-specific 
commitments include additional restrictions on commercial presence in the provision of 
professional, insurance, banking, health, and transport services. 
4.92.  Under Article II of GATS, Sierra Leone maintains MFN exemptions for all sectors with 
respect to arrangements with members of the ECOWAS and the MRU.  
4.5.2  Financial services 
4.5.2.1  Banking 4.93.  As of December 2013, 13 commercial banks are operating in Sierra Leone (Table 4.10) 
through 96 branches. The Government has a majority stake in two commercial banks: the Sierra 
Leone Commercial Bank Ltd, and the Rokel Comm ercial Bank (SL) Ltd. There are 17 community 
banks, of which 13 were established after 200 8, and 40 licensed foreign exchange bureaus. 
Table 4.10 Commercial banks, December 2013 
(Le billion, unless otherwise indicated) 
Bank Government 
shareholding 
(%) Total 
assets Deposits Total 
gross 
loans Non-
performing 
loans (% 
of gross 
loans) 
Sierra Leone Commercial Bank Ltd  100 780.4 684.4 278.8 33.8 
Standard Chartered Bank (SL) Ltd  0 421.5 335.3 65.1 11.1 
Rokel Commercial Bank (SL) Ltd 51 689.1 610.6 289.1 20.9 
Union Trust Bank (SL) Ltd 0 288.6 194.2 177.6 24.5 
Guaranty Trust Bank (SL) 0 504.0 398.3 147.0 8.8 
First International Bank (SL) Ltd  0 240.9 184.5 83.5 13.1 
International Commercial Bank (SL) Ltd 0 103.0 59.3 32.8 3.6 
Ecobank (SL) Ltd  0 440.6 302.6 117.0 27.1 
Skye Bank (SL) Ltd  0 73.0 38.6 7.4 1.3 
United Bank for Africa (SL) 0 334.0 283.3 7.8 2.9 
Zenith Bank (SL) Ltd 0 236.0 201.5 25.3 63.0 
Access Bank (SL) Ltd  0 146.9 109.2 27.8 4.8 
Keystone Bank (SL) Ltd 0 71.2 40.8 21.6 35.1 
Total for the banking system  4,329.3 3,442.4 1,280.9 22.4 
Source: Bank of Sierra Leone.  
4.94.  The legal framework of the banking sector  was strengthened with the enactment of the 
Banking Act of 2011, the Bank of Sierra Leone Act of 2011, and the Anti-Money Laundering and 
Combating of Financing of Terrorism Act of 2012. The Banking Act provides for the licensing of banking businesses, the regulation and supervisio n of banking activities, and the protection of 
depositors. All institutions wishing to engage in ba nking are required to apply to the Bank of Sierra 
Leone (BSL) for a banking licence. The application is open to registered companies, cooperative societies, and statutory bodies. Foreign banks may engage in banking business by establishing a 
subsidiary. Licences for foreign banks are subject to the BSL receiving confirmation from the 
foreign supervisory authority that the applicant satisfies its prudential and overall management WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  criteria, and its consent to the establishment of the subsidiary. Licences are granted for a 
minimum of five years, and are not transferable. Th ere is a licence fee of Le 10 million, in addition 
to a Le 2 million application fee. 
4.95.  Banks are subject to minimum paid-up ca pital, capital adequacy ratios, and liquidity 
requirements. In general, the paid-up capital thre shold is revised every year, and is currently at 
Le 30 billion (Le 9 billion in 2007). Banks are required to maintain a minimum capital adequacy ratio of at least 15% of their risk-weighted assets , and a cash ratio equivalent to at least 12% of 
their total deposits. 
4.96.  The Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting of Financing of Terrorism Act of 2012 requires 
any person crossing the borders with more than Le 30 million (or its equivalent) in any foreign currency or negotiable instrument, to report to the customs or the police authorities.  
4.5.2.2  Insurance 
4.97.  The Sierra Leone Insurance Commission (SLICOM) is mandated to monitor and regulate 
insurance sector activities. The insurance market is reserved for companies and cooperative 
societies registered under the Insurance Act of 2000.
38 
4.98.  There are currently ten registered insurance companies, of which seven are operating in all 
classes of insurance businesses (motor, fire, marine, general accident and life), two in motor and 
marine insurance only, and one in life and medical insurance business. Reliance Insurance Trust 
Corporation is the major player in the general and life insurance markets (Table 4.11). There are 9 licensed and registered insurance brok ers and 15 agents. The WAICA-Re Insurance 
Corporation (West African Insurance Companies Asso ciation), which started its operations in 2012, 
is the only registered re-insurance company. 
Table 4.11 Premiums collected by insurance businesses, 2007-12 
(Le Million unless otherwise indicated) 
Companies 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2012  
(%) 
Life insurance (net premiums)  
Reliance Insurance Trust Corporation 198  248  435  1,953  4,233  5,858  38.7 
National Insurance Company -318  - 214  1,173  2,221  3,343  3,754  24.8  
Capital Express Assurance Company ..  ..  265  558  947  1,746  11.5 
Aureol Insurance Company 1,254  1,346  1,255  917  1,406  1,448  9.6  
Sierra Leone Insurance Company ..  ..  ..  248  567  1,073  7.1 
International Insurance Company ..   ..  ..  57  179  1,068  7.1  
STACO Insurance Company ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  191  1.3 
Total 1,134  1,379  3,129  5,954  10,675  15,139  100  
General insurance business (gross premium)  
Reliance Insurance Trust Corporation 4,409  5,266  6,486  7,169  14,125  21,208  34.8  
Aureol Insurance 7,430  7,573  8,304  9,121  11,061  15,927  26.2 
International Insurance Company 2,220  2,831  2,902  3,325  4,159  8,837  14.5  
National Insurance Company 4,666  4,514  5,007  5,981  8,335  6,783  11.1 
STACO Insurance Company ..   ..   705  1,833  3,252  2,905  4.8  
Marine and General Insurance Company 392  498  1,053  1,047  1,845  1,979  3.3 
Medical & General Insurance Company 885  1,101  1,257  1,332  1,828  1,490  2.4  
Trans-world Insurance Company 1,510  1,686  1,451  1,466  1,420  1,306  2.1 
Sierra Leone Insurance Company 410   572  600  906  607  459  0.8  
Total 21,943  24,041  27,764  32,181  46,632  60,895  100 
.. Not applicable. 
Source: Sierra Leone Insurance Commission. Viewed at: http://slicom.gov.sl/index. php?option=com_content& 
view=article&id=63&Itemid=182  [14.04.14].  
4.99.  Insurance companies are subject to paid-up capital, deposit, and reserve requirements. The 
minimum capital requirement amounts to Le 240 million for each class of business an insurance 
company is engaged in. Companies engaged in re -insurance businesses are subject to a minimum 
capital requirement of Le 2.4 billion. These am ounts are much higher than the requirements 
specified by the Insurance Act of 2000. The author ities indicated that they have been mutually 
agreed upon by the regulator and the industry, an d the legislation is being revised accordingly.  
                                               
38 Insurance Act, 2000. Viewed at: http://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2000-5.pdf  [14.04.14]. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  4.100.  Deposit requirements amount to Le 15 million for each class of insurance business, and 
Le 30 million for subsidiaries of foreign companies. Deposit requirements for companies engaged in re-insurance business are tenfold the amount re quired from those engaged in general insurance 
businesses. Deposits are to be remitted to the BSL in cash or any approved form of security. 
Reserve requirements depend on the class of business and the status of the risk involved 
(Table 4.12).  
Table 4.12 Reserve requirements for insurance businesses, 2014 
Insurance business Reserves requirement 
Unexpired risks Outstanding claims Contingency claims 
Life insurance General reserve fund 
equal to net liabilities .. 1% of premiums 
Marine insurance 45% of net premiums Amount of claims plus a 
margin of 20% The greater of: 3% of premiums 
and 20% of net profits 
Other insurance businesses 45% of net premiums .. .. 
.. Not available. 
Source: Insurance Act of 2000, and information provided by the authorities. 
4.101.  Insurers must maintain a margin of solvency with respect to their businesses. For life 
insurance businesses, the amount of liabilities mu st not exceed the amount of the life insurance 
funds. For any other class of insurance, the insurer is required to maintain a level of assets above 
liabilities by at least 10% of the premium income. Companies cannot declare or distribute any 
dividend until they fulfil all their obligations re lated to paid-up capital, solvency, and reserves. 
They should invest at least 25% of their premiums in government securities (companies engaged 
in life insurance businesses are required to invest 50%). 
4.102.  A company may transact in several classes of business but is required to keep separate 
accounts for each. In particular, receipts and investments with respect to life insurance are to be kept separate from other business.  
4.103.  There is no restriction on companies esta blished in Sierra Leone insuring risks located 
abroad. However, foreign companies must be registered locally to insure risks located in Sierra Leone. Insurance premiums are determined by companies but are subject to SLICOM approval. 
4.104.  Insurance agents, brokers, adjusters, and assessors must be registered. Licences are 
issued for one year. Insurance companies are required to pay an annual levy amounting to 1% of their gross premiums to the SLICOM. In principle, brokers are required to pay the levy at the rate 
of 0.5% of their commission, although the actual rate is 3%.  
4.105.  Civil liability insurance is compulsory for owners of motor vehicles.  4.5.2.3  Other financial services 4.106.  Financial institutions other than commercial banks are regulated by the Other Financial 
Services Act of 2001.
39 They must obtain a licence from the BSL. There is an application fee of 
Le 500,000 and a licensing fee of Le 2 million. Th ere are currently two microfinance institutions 
(Ecobank Microfinance (SL) Ltd, and Bank for I nnovation and Partnership Microfinance), and one 
institution providing mortgage finance (HFC Mortga ge and Savings (SL) Ltd). They are subject to 
minimum paid-up capital, capital adequacy ra tios, and reserve requirements (Table 4.13). 
4.107.  Financial leasing businesses are required to maintain minimum paid-up capital of 
Le 2 billion, and a reserve fund into which they transfer a portion of their after-tax profits 
annually. The portion is set at 20% until the reserve fund reaches the level of the paid-up capital, and 5% afterwards. 
                                               
39 The Other Financial Services Act, 2001. Viewed at: http://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2001-7.pdf  
[14.04.14]. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  Table 4.13 Financial requirements for other financial institutions 
(Le and %) 
Type of institution Minimum 
paid-up capital 
(billion) Capital 
adequacy ratio  
(%) Cash reserve 
requirement 
(%) Liquidity reserve 
requirement 
(%) 
Mortgage finance 25 15 10 15 
Deposit-taking MFIs 1 8 10 20 
Discount houses 2 .. .. 60 
Community banks 1 8 10 20 
.. Not available. 
Source: Bank of Sierra Leone. 
4.108.  In 2011, the Parliament enacted legislation covering credit reference bureaus.40 The Act 
restricts the activity of credit reference bureaus to companies and bodies corporate in possession of a licence. Licences are granted by the BSL and renewable annually.  
4.5.3  Information and communication services 
4.5.3.1  Telecommunications 4.109.  Access to telecommunications services in Sierra Leone is limited, and much lower than the 
average for Africa (Table 4.14). In 2012, access to fixed-lines was 0.3 subscriptions per 
100 inhabitants (down from 0.56 in 2007). However, access to mobile telephone services increased from 14.3 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in 2007 to 37 subscriptions in 2012.
41 
Table 4.14 Selected indicators of the telecommunications sector, 2005-13 
  2005 2006  2007  2008  2009  2010  2011 2012 2013  
Fixed-telephone subscriptions (per 100 inhabitants) 
  Sierra Leone 0.54 0.55 0.56 0.57 0.58 0.24 0.27 0.30 .. 
  Africa 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.4 
  Developing countriesa  12.7   13.0   13.0   12.8   12.4   12.0   11.5   11.3   11.1  
Mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions (per 100 inhabitants)  
  Sierra Leone ..  ..  14.3 18.2 20.6 34.7 36.4 37.0 .. 
  Africa 12.4 17.8 23.5 32.4 38.4 45.7 53.6 59.8 63.5 
  Developing countriesa  22.9   30.1   39.1   49.1   58.3   69.0   78.3   84.3   89.4  
Individuals using the Internet (percentage)  
  Sierra Leone 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.6 0.9 1.3 .. 
  Africa 2.4 3.3 3.9 6.4 7.8 10.1 12.4 14.3 16.3 
  Developing countriesa 7.8 9.4 11.9 14.7 17.5 21.2 24.5 27.5 30.7 
.. Not available. 
a Grouping is based on the UN  definition (UN M49 Manual).  
Source: International Telecommunications Union online information. Viewed at: http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-
D/Statistics/Pages/stat/default.aspx . 
4.110.  Sierra Leone Telecommunications Company Ltd (Sierratel), the state-owned operator, has 
a de jure  monopoly over fixed-line communications and international gateway voice services. It is 
currently in the process of privatization. In 2012, its management was transferred to Management 
Development International Company (MDIC) under a three-year contract.  
4.111.  There are currently six licensed operators in the mobile sector, of which 5 are in operation: 
Airtel, Africell, Comium, Sierratel, and Smart Mobile.  
4.112.  The Ministry of Information and Communica tions is responsible for national policies on 
issues relating to information and communications. The National Telecommunications Commission 
(NATCOM) was established in 2006 as the regulator of the telecommunications sector.42 Its 
                                               
40 The Credit Reference Act, 2011. Viewed at: 
http://www.bsl.gov.sl/pdf/Credit_Reference_Act_2011.pdf  [14.04.14]. 
41 These statistics are not adjusted for multiple subscriptions. 
42 Http://www.natcom.gov.sl/ . WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  responsibilities include regulating activities of companies operating in the sector, managing the use 
of the spectrum resources, promoting universal access, and ensuring efficient, equitable, and 
cost-effective telecommunications services.   
4.113.  The Telecommunications Act of 2006 (amended in 2009), the main legislation in the 
sector43, is currently under revision. In accordance with the Act, licences are required for:  
provision of telecommunications services to the public; leasing, selling or provision of 
telecommunications network capacity to third parties; provision of telecommunication services 
through networks leased from third parties; and building any infrastructure related to the provision 
of these services. Licences are issued by the NA TCOM. The licensing requirement does not apply to 
private telecommunications networks. The Commission may exempt a class of telecommunications services from the licence requirement, and require registration only.  
4.114.  Licensed operators may enter freely into agreements related to interconnections and 
value-added services. Approval by NATCOM is not required for interconnection agreements, except 
those involving a foreign public telecommunications operator. All operators must submit their 
tariffs to the NATCOM for approval before they enter into force.  
4.115.  The Act established a Universal Access Development Fund (UADF), to be used to improve 
access to telecommunication services by communities deemed as least advantaged. Operators are 
required to contribute at least 1% of their gross annual revenue to the Fund. Airtel and Africell, the 
two major operators in the mobile subsector, provide the bulk of the UADF resources. Each of these operators contributes a lump sum of US$150,000 annually into the Fund. The UADF is managed by a unit of the regulatory body. The unit prepares projects and invites licensed 
operators and service providers to bid to implement them.  
4.116.  The Commission is also in charge of managing the radio frequency spectrum. It may use 
competitive bidding procedures in allocating radio frequency spectrum. 
4.117.  The Telecommunications Act is currently under revision. The revised Act will provide for 
the revocation of the monopoly rights granted to Sierratel, the establishment of a new unit to manage the Universal Access Development Fund, and the opportunity for the public to submit 
projects for funding. 
4.5.3.2  Internet access 4.118.  At the end of 2013, there were 6 licen sed public Internet service providers, and 
34 licensed public VSAT operators.  
4.119.  In 2013, Sierra Leone launched its connection to the African Coast to Europe (ACE) cable, 
a project aiming at providing African countries with affordable access to the international broadband network, through the construction of  a 17,000 km submarine fibre optic cable from 
France to South Africa. Sierra Leone is involved in the consortium, through the Sierra Leone Cable 
Company, a state-owned company. The Government in tends to disinvest up to 51% of its share in 
the company. 
4.5.3.3  Postal services 
4.120.  The state-owned Sierra Leone Postal Services Limited (SALPOST) is responsible for 
providing universal service. It has exclusive rights to provision of domestic courier services for packages weighting up to 2 kg; printing and issuan ce of postage stamps; and installation of boxes 
and mail bags for collection and the delivery of mail. International providers include DHL, TNT, Red 
Coad, and UPS.  
4.121.  In 2012, the authorities established the Post al Services Regulatory Agency, to license and 
regulate the operation of postal services.
44 The Act established a board in charge of governance of 
                                               
43 Telecommunications Act, 2006. Viewed at: http://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2006-9s.pdf  
[14.04.14]. 
44 Postal Services Regulatory Agency Act, 2012. Viewed at: http://www.sierralii.org/files/2012-05.pdf  
[10.04.14]. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
- 67 - 
 
  the Agency; the board may appoint an executive-director for day-to-day management. The 
operation of any postal service is subject to a licence issued by the Executive-Director. Only 
nationals and registered corporate bodies are eligible to apply for a licence. 
4.5.4  Transport services 
4.5.4.1  Air transport 
4.122.  Sierra Leone's air transportation infrastructure comprises the Lungi International Airport, 
and ten regional airports. Construction of another international airport is scheduled to start by the 
end of 2014. At the Lungi International Airport, the Sierra Leone Airport Authority is responsible 
for providing fire services, air navigation serv ices, and management of the terminal. Aviation 
security is the responsibility of the Westminster Av iation Security Services Ltd. Ground-handling is 
managed by Sky Handling partners.  
4.123.  Between 2008 and 2013, the number of pa ssengers carried increased threefold to 225,402 
(Chart 4.4), reflecting the dynamism in the mining and oil sectors. International airlines flying to 
Sierra Leone include Air France, Brussels Airlines, BMI, Kenya Airlines, and Royal Air Maroc. Sierra 
Leone is also serviced by regional airlines such as Asky, Gambia Bird, and Air Ivoire.  
Chart 4.4 Selected indicators in air transportation, 2005-13 
024681012
050100150200250
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013Passengers carried Freight (right-scale)'000 passengers Million ton-km
 
Source: Secretariat calculations, based on  data provided by the authorities.  
4.124.  The authorities indicated that consultati ons are under way for the establishment of a sub-
regional airline company among Mano River Union States.  
4.125.  The Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA), established in 2008, became operational 
in 2010.45 It has the mandate to oversee air transport and related cargo services, and ensure 
compliance with related international agreements and obligations. Businesses interested in engaging in commercial air transport services (including foreign air operators) require a licence 
from the SLCAA. The SLCAA is funded through Government subventions.  
4.126.  Sierra Leone is a signatory to the Yamoussoukro Declaration concerning the liberalization 
of intra-African air transport markets. The Declar ation and the subsequent Yamoussoukro Decision 
eliminates, in principle, all non-physical barriers and restrictions related to the granting of traffic 
rights, especially up to fifth freedom rights. Sierra Leone is also a party to the Banjul Accord Group 
Agreement, together with Cape Verde, Ghana, and the Gambia. Sierra Leone has bilateral air 
service agreements with 42 countries.
46 It has concluded 15 agreements since 2006. 
                                               
45 The Civil Aviation Act, 2008 (repealing the Civil Aviation Act of 1966). Viewed at: 
http://www.slcaa.net/en/images/Documents/slcars/actslcaa.pdf  [14.04.14]. 
46 These are (year of signature/last review in parenthesis): Belgium (1973), Benin (1987), Brazil 
(2012), Cameroon (1978), Canada (2011), Côte d'Ivoire (..), Cuba (1976), Czech Republic (1969), France WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
- 68 - 
 
  4.5.4.2  Land transport  
4.127.  Sierra Leone's road network comprises about 11,311 km of roads, classified as primary, 
secondary or feeder. The paved network represents 8% of the overall network, with less than 10% 
built since the previous TPR. Efforts over the last  decade aimed at rehabilitating the core road 
network. 
4.128.  Under the Road Transport Authority Act of 1996, the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) 
is in charge of the regulation and developm ent of the road transport industry. The Road 
Maintenance Fund Administration Act of 2010 established a road maintenance fund, to be used to 
defray the cost of maintaining the core road network. The Fund receives mainly the road-user fee levied on fuel at the rate of US$0.16 per litre, vehicle licence and registration fees, and other 
licence fees collected under the Road Traffic Ac t 2007. The Fund is administered by the Sierra 
Leone Road Maintenance Fund Administration.  
4.129.  At the regional level, Sierra Leone is involved in the ECOWAS Trans–West Africa Coastal 
Highway, a 4,560 km highway that is expected to link 12 member countries. According to the 
authorities, about 80% of the Sierra Leonean segment has been completed.  
4.130.  Sierra Leone has an 84 km railway, used mainly for transporting iron ore to the port of 
Pepel. In 2009, the Parliament ratified a decision to lease the railway and port infrastructure to 
African Minerals, a mining company. The agreement grants exclusive lease rights to the company, 
but provides for the infrastructure to remain available to other users, at commercial rates. 
4.131.  Cabotage is not permitted in Sierra Leone. However, it is commonly practiced in areas 
along the borders.  
4.5.4.3  Maritime transport 
4.132.  There are five main ports in Sierra Leone: Bonthe, Pepel, Freetown, the Kissy Oil Terminal, 
and the port of Sherbro Island. The port of Freetown, with six berths and four warehouses, is the 
primary port; Sherbro is used mainly for exports of  bauxite and rutile, and Pepel is currently under 
a leasing contract and used primarily for exports of iron ore.
47 
4.133.  The Sierra Leone Maritime Administration Act of 2000 discharged the Sierra Leone Ports 
Authority (SLPA) from its regulatory functions,  and transferred them to the newly established 
Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA).48 The SLMA is in charge of the registration of ships 
and other vessels49, the licensing and safety of maritime personnel, and the regulation of 
maritime, coastal, and inland waterway transportation.50 It is funded mainly by the proceeds of a 
charge levied on all cargo loaded or discharged in the country. The levy applies to imports and 
exports at the rate of US$2 and US$1.2 per tonne of shipment, respectively. Operators are subject 
to a registration fee and a tonnage tax, both varying between Le 2 million and Le 20 million 
depending on the tonnage. In 2013, there were 11 registered shipping agencies. 
4.134.  All port commercial services remain under the purview of the SLPA. In 2010, the National 
Commission for Privatization launched a reform with the objective of increasing the efficiency and 
the productivity of ports. As part of this process, Bolloré Africa Logistics acquired, in 2010, 
a 25-year concession for the management of the container terminal in the port of Freetown. 
                                                                                                                                               
(1990), Gambia (1990), Germany (1970), Ghana (1970), Guinea (1989), Hashemite Jordan (1983), Hungary 
(1975), Iceland (2013), Italy (1970), Jamaica (2013), Kenya (..), Kuwait (2012), Lebanon (1968), Liberia (1973), Luxembourg (..), Mali (1974), Morocco (2008), Nig eria (1973), Norway (2013), Pakistan (1978), Qatar 
(2013), Republic of Congo (1995), Romania (1980), Russian Federation (1980), Senegal (1997), Singapore (2013), South Africa (2006), Spain (1983), Sudan (2012), Netherlands (1983), Turkey (2011), United Arab Emirates (1978), United Kingdom (2012), and United States (2012).
 
47 In 2012, the authorities granted two mining companies (African Minerals and London Mining), the 
exclusive right to rehabilitate and increase th e throughput capacity of the port of Pepel. 
48 Sierra Leone Maritime Administ ration Act, 2000. Viewed at: http://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2000-
11.pdf  [14.04.14]. 
49 In accordance with the Registra tion of Shipping Act of 1965. 
50 The SLMA is also responsible for the administrati on of the Carriage of Deck Passengers Act of 1961. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
- 69 - 
 
  4.135.  The Sierra Leone National Carrier (SLNC) was established in 2012 as the sole national 
carrier.51 It is a joint venture between the Government (51% of the shareholding), and Four Handy 
Limited, a UK-based company (49%). Every shipper engaged in seaborne transportation in Sierra 
Leone is required to register with the SLNC. The SL NC has the right to carry out, at its discretion, 
the seaborne transportation of at least 40% of the total volume of cargo exported or imported into 
Sierra Leone, and to participate with an interest of up to 40% in the provision, operation and ownership of any floating production, storage off-loading unit (FPSO) or floating storage 
off-loading unit (FSO). It may enforce this provision by requesting the 40% shareholding or the 
payment of a commission. 
4.5.5  Tourism 4.136.  Sierra Leone's tourism assets include its beaches, tropical environment and scenery, the 
diversity of its wildlife, and its cultural heritage. Development of the industry has suffered from the 
decade-long political instability in the country. From 2006, the sector's contribution to GDP hovered around 7% until 2012, when it dropped to 5.9% because of the expansion in the mining 
sector. The number of arrivals by air nearly doubled between 2007 and 2012, to 59,730 visitors 
(Table 4.15). Nearly half of the visitors travelled for business purposes (Chart 4.5), most were from Europe and Africa. As part of its strategy to promote the concept of "root tourism", the 
authorities are undertaking efforts to restore some historic sites such as the Bunce Island 
Facilities.  
Table 4.15 Tourism basic indicators, 2006-12 
  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
Arrivals  33,704 32,223 35,670 36,775 38,615 52,442 59,730 
Number of hotels 22 25 28 27 33 37 22 
Number of employees 2,620 2,583  3,238  2,940  3,650 4,687 2,620  
Contribution to GDP (%) 7.5 7.2 7.0 6.9 7.0 7.2 5.9 
Source: National Tourism Board online information. Viewed at: http://www.ntb.sl/site-page/tourism-statistics  
[14.04.14].  
Chart 4.5 Visitor arrivals by air, by purpose and origin, 2012 
(% of total arrivals) 
Business
49.6%
Family visit
23.6%Holidays
15.8%Other
10.9%
Africa
31.3%
Europe
26.2%America
17.7%Asia
17.6%Other
7.2%By purpose of visitBy origin
 
Source: National Tourism Board of Sierra  Leone. Online information, viewed at: http://www.ntb.sl/site-
page/tourism-statistics  [14.04.14].  
4.137.  The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs (MoTCA) is responsible for policy formulation 
for tourism and culture. Its objectives are to promote sustainable tourism as a means of economic 
growth and socio-cultural integration, and to promote the country as a friendly tourist destination. These objectives are pursued through the develo pment of an appropriate regulatory and policy 
framework, promotion of the hospitality industry, and encouragement of investments in the sector. 
                                               
51 Sierra Leone National Carrier Act, 2012. Viewed at: http://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2012-13.pdf  
[14.04.14].  WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
- 70 - 
 
  The National Tourism Board (NTB) is in charge of the promotion and development of tourism.52 It 
is responsible for studying the impact of tourism policies, and for registering, licensing, and classifying tourist facilities. It is also in charge of monitoring all tourist establishments, and ensuring compliance with ECOWAS Standards of Classification of Tourist Establishments.  
4.138.  In the 2009 National Investment Policy, the Government adopted a set of incentives for 
development of the tourism industry that includes : a reduced-rate of 15% for corporate tax during 
the first five years of a new investment (the standard rate is 30%); duty-free treatment for 
imports of materials, machinery, and equipment used in new construction, and for extension or 
renovation of existing tourism-related facilities (provided that such materials are not easily available locally); and a three-year exemption fr om the payroll tax for up to six non-national 
employees (provided that the skills are not available locally). 
4.5.6  Professional and business services 
4.139.  In general, business and professional services operators may establish a commercial 
presence if they enter into a partnership or joint venture with Sierra Leoneans. Individuals and 
companies wishing to engage in a regulated profession are generally required to obtain 
authorization or accreditation from the relevant professional association (Table 4.16). 
Table 4.16 Selected regulate d professional services, 2014 
Profession Law and/or professional association Market access requirements 
Certified accountants Institute of Chartered Accountants Sierra Leone .. 
Engineers Sierra Leone Institution of Engineers  .. 
Notaries Notaries Public Act, Cap 13  .. 
Lawyers Sierra Leone Bar Association 
http://www.barassociation.sl/  .. 
Physician and 
dental surgeons Medical Practitioners and Dental Surgeons Act, 
1994 (amended in 2008)  
Medical and Dental Council of Sierra Leone .. 
Pharmacists Pharmacy and Drugs Act, 2001  
Pharmaceutical Society of Sierra Leone (all 
registered pharmacists) The Pharmacy Board reviews applications  and 
maintains a register of pharmacists 
Architects Architects Act, 1986 
Architects Registration Council  Residence, passing  qualifying examinations,  and 
practical training 
Temporary registration is available to non-
residents  
.. Not available. 
Source: WTO Secretariat, based on information provided  by the authorities; and Medical Practitioners and 
Dental Surgeons (Amendment) Act, 2008.  
                                               
52 The Development of Tourism Act, 1990. Viewed at: http://www.ntb.sl/ . WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
- 71 - 
 
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Sierra Leone's Third Generation Povert y Reduction Strategy Paper (2013-2017) . Freetown. Viewed 
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Government of Sierra Leone (2012b), National Energy Profile of Sierra Leone,  June. Viewed at: 
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  Hope M. and F. Aidoo (2012), Removing Barriers to Trade between Ghana and Nigeria: 
Strengthening Regional Integration by Implementing ECOWAS Commitments . The World Bank 
Group, Africa Trade Policy Notes No. 30, March. 
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[14.04.14]. 
Ministry of Trade and Industry (2010), Sierra Leone National Export Strategy 2010-2015 . Sierra 
Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency, Freetown. Viewed at: 
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[14.04.14]. 
Mo Ibrahim Foundation (2013), 2013 Ibrahim Index of African Governance – Summary.  Viewed at: 
http://www.moibrahimfoundation.org/down loads/2013/2013-IIAG-summary-report.pdf . 
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World Bank, Africa Infrastructure Country Diagnostic. Viewed at: http://www.infrastructureafrica.org/system/f iles/Sierra%20Leone%2 0ctry%20rpt%20Web.pdf  
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SLIEPA (2010), National Export Strategy . Ministry of Trade and Industry, June. Viewed at: 
http://www.trade.gov.sl/documen t/national-export-strategy  [25.03.14]. 
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development.  United Nations, New York and Geneva. Viewed at: 
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57917_ebook_IP_Sierra_Leone.pdf . 
Unruh, Jon D. and Harry Turray (2006), Land tenure, food security and investment in postwar 
Sierra Leone . FAO, Livelihood Support Programme, Working Paper No. 22. 
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Survey, August. Viewed at: http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/2011/myb3-2011-
sl.pdf . 
West Africa Trade Hub (2006), SPS Capacity in Sierra Leone.  WATH/Accra Technical Report No. 14, 
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eone.pdf . WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  World Bank (2008), Sierra Leone – Mining sector reform: a strategic environmental and social 
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9810354/sierra-leone-mining-sector-reform- strategic-environmental-social-assessment . 
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at: http://www.weforum.org/reports/global-competitiveness-report-2013-2014 .  WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
- 74 - 
 
  5  APPENDIX TABLES 
Table A1. 1 Merchandise exports by produc t group (including re-exports), 2005-13   
(US$ million and %) 
  2005 2006  2007  2008  2009  2010  2011 2012 2013  
Total (US$ million) 158.5 228.3 244.5 215.3 232.9 341.2 349.7 1,121.3 1,910.3 
  (% of total) 
Mineral exports 89.6 77.4 88.8 78.9 59.9 58.7 68.9 74.9 93.4 
  Diamonds 89.4 53.6 58.1 45.8 33.9 33.2 37.2 14.4 9.7 
  Bauxite 0.0 10.3 13.4 13.0 8.1 9.1 11.2 1.5 0.7 
  Rutile 0.0 12.5 15.6 17.0 15.4 12.0 9.9 15.3 6.8 
  Gold 0.2 0.5 1.2 1.9 2.0 2.7 2.1 0.5 0.2 
  Ilmenite 0.0 0.5 0.5 1.2 0.4 0.8 1.3 0.3 0.2 
  Iron ore 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.3 31.8 55.7 
  Zircon 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 3.0 0.4 0.0 
  Other mineralsa 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 10.5 20.1 
Agricultural exports 3.9 5.6 5.6 8.6 20.5 11.4 13.3 3.9 0.6 
  Coffee 0.5 0.5 0.8 0.7 5.4 0.6 0.6 0.3 0.1 
  Cocoa 3.3 5.1 4.6 7.0 8.4 10.7 12.5 2.0 0.5 
  Piassava 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
  Fish and shrimp 0.0 0.0 0.2 1.0 6.6 0.0 0.2 1.6 0.0 
  Tobacco 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Other domestic exports 2.0 4.6 4.5 5.7 8.7 23.0 8.3 17.6 4.7 
Re-exports 4.5 12.4 1.1 6.8 10.9 6.9 9.5 3.6 1.3 
a Comprises ores and concentrates of  tin, zinc, molybdenum, and silver. 
Source: Statistics Sierra Leone. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  Table A1. 2 Merchandise exports and re-e xports by trading partner, 2005-13  
(US$ million and %) 
  2005 2006 2007  2008  2009  2010  2011 2012 2013 
Total (US$ million)  158.5  228.3  244.5  215.3  232.9  341.2   349.7 1,121.3 1,910.3  
 (%) 
EU (27) 87.4 49.6 53.5 45.5 36.5 37.3 40.4 23.4 12.6  
United States 2.4 28.9 30.7 33.2 29.9 28.1 26.9 17.5 0.3 
Japan 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 3.5 1.0 0.5 0.0  
Switzerland 0.0 0.8 5.8 1.3 7.4 11.1 9.2 7.2 5.4 
ECOWAS 3.8 9.2 2.0 4.6 11.2 14.0 2.9 1.5 4.1  
Other 6.4 11.2 7.6 15.3 15.0 6.0 19.6 50.0 77.6 
Source: Statistics Sierra Leone. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  Table A1. 3 Merchandise imports by SITC section, 2005-13 
(US$ million and %) 
  2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 
Total (US$ million) 341 395 446 533 521 775 1,718  1,603  1,780  
SITC sections  (% of total)  
Food 15.6  14.2 15.2 21.7 20.1 13.5 14.4 19.1 20.1  
Beverages and tobacco 2.9 2.4 2.7 4.1 4.8 2.5 1.9 1.8 1.8 
Crude materials 2.6  5.5 3.3 2.7 3.1 1.7 1.1 2.1 1.7  
Mineral fuels and lubricants 33.9 37.3 37.7 37.5 24.2 22.1 16.0 21.6 23.4 
Animal and vegetable oils 0.4  0.8 1.4 0.9 1.5 1.2 0.6 0.6 0.8  
Chemicals 6.7 6.1 6.9 4.6 6.4 5.6 3.9 6.7 7.3 
Manufactured goods classified by materials 11.9  12.3 11.6 10.7 12.7 14.4 10.2 10.6 8.2  
Machinery and transport equipment 21.1 17.5 16.8 14.2 18.3 32.6 44.1 30.3 22.5 
Miscellaneous manufactured articles 5.0  3.9 4.3 3.6 8.8 2.4 1.8 1.9 1.6  
Miscellaneous transactions and commodities 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.9 6.0 5.4 12.6 
Source: Statistics Sierra Leone. WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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Table A3. 1 MFN tariff averages by HS2-digit level, 2014 
HS Description No. of 
lines Average 
(%) Range  
(%) Final 
bound 
average 
(%) 
 Total 5,467 12.0 0-30 47.6 
01 Live animals 22 15.9 5-20 40.0 
02 Meat and edible meat offal 59 20.0 20 40.0 
03 Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates 106 16.3 10-20 50.0 
04 Dairy produce; birds' eggs; natural honey; edible products of 
animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included 38 18.8 5-20 40.0 
05 Products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included 17 11.2 5-20 40.0 
06 Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the like; cut 
flowers and ornamental foliage 16 15.3 5-20 40.0 
07 Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers 59 19.6 5-20 40.0 
08 Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons 63 19.3 5-20 40.0 
09 Coffee, tea, maté, and spices 31 19.0 5-20 40.0 
10 Cereals 19 8.2 5-20 40.0 
11 Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat 
gluten 30 14.8 5-20 40.0 
12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; misc. grains, seeds and fruit; 
industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder 49 9.3 5-20 40.0 
13 Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts 10 6.0 5-15 40.0 
14 Vegetable plaiting materials; vegetable products not elsewhere 
specified or included 5 11.0 5-20 38.0 
15 Animal or vegetable fats, and oils and their cleavage products; 
prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes 57 12.1 5-20 40.5 
16 Preparations of meat, of fish or  of crustaceans, molluscs or 
other aquatic invertebrates 28 19.8 15-20 45.4 
17 Sugars and sugar confectionery 23 14.3 5-20 40.0 
18 Cocoa and cocoa preparations 18 13.9 5-20 39.4 
19 Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; pastry cooks' 
products 23 17.4 5-20 38.5 
20 Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or other parts of plants 58 19.7 10-20 39.3 
21 Miscellaneous edible preparations 26 16.7 5-20 39.0 
22 Beverages, spirits, and vinegar 49 21.9 5-30 52.2 
23 Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal 
fodder 24 5.0 5 40.4 
24 Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes 16 17.8 5-20 40.0 
25 Salt; sulphur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and 
cement 72 6.3 5-20 50.0 
26 Ores, slag, and ash 37 5.0 5 50.0 
27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils, and products of their distillation; 
bituminous substances; mineral waxes 57 8.7 5-20 50.0 
28 Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of 
precious metals, of rare-earth metals, of radioactive elements or of isotopes 165 5.0 5 50.0 
29 Organic chemicals 338 5.0 5 49.9 
30 Pharmaceutical products 38 5.1 0-20 31.3 
31 Fertilizers 23 5.0 5 30.0 
32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; tannins and their derivatives; dyes, 
pigments and other colouring matter; paints and varnishes; putty and other mastics; inks 59 9.2 5-20 50.0 
33 Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet 
preparations 35 15.3 5-20 47.6 WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
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  HS Description No. of 
lines Average 
(%) Range  
(%) Final 
bound 
average 
(%) 
34 Soap, organic surface-active agents, washing preparations, 
lubricating preparations, artificial waxes, prepared waxes, polishing or scouring preparations, candles and similar articles, modelling pastes, dental waxes and dental preparations with a 
basis 28 15.9 5-20 50.0 
35 Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes 16 5.0 5 43.1 
36 Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; 
certain combustible preparations 10 15.5 5-20 50.0 
37 Photographic or cinematographic goods 35 19.1 5-20 50.0 
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 81 14.0 5-20 47.3 
39 Plastics and articles thereof 140 8.3 5-20 50.0 
40 Rubber and articles thereof 94 13.9 0-20 50.0 
41 Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather 37 16.4 5-20 48.6 
42 Articles of animal gut (other than silk-worm gut) 24 17.9 10-20 50.0 
43 Furskins and artificial fur; manufactures thereof 12 18.3 10-20 45.8 
44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 77 15.5 5-20 50.0 
45 Cork and articles of cork 11 5.0 5 50.0 
46 Manufactures of straw, of esparto or of other plaiting materials; 
basket ware and wickerwork 12 20.0 20 50.0 
47 Pulp of wood or of other fibrou s cellulosic material; recovered 
(waste and scrap) paper and paperboard 21 5.0 5 50.0 
48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of 
paperboard 107 9.1 5-20 50.0 
49 Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the 
printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans 22 9.5 0-20 43.6 
50 Silk 12 11.3 5-20 47.5 
51 Wool, fine or coarse animal hair; horsehair yarn and woven 
fabric 48 10.3 5-20 47.7 
52 Cotton 145 13.1 5-20 49.2 
53 Other vegetable textile fibres; pa per yarn and woven fabrics of 
paper yarn 23 8.0 5-10 47.4 
54 Man-made filaments 77 10.9 5-20 50.0 
55 Man-made staple fibres 117 10.7 5-20 50.0 
56 Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns; twine, cordage, 
ropes and cables and articles thereof 35 16.3 5-20 50.0 
57 Carpets and other textile floor coverings 21 20.0 20 50.0 
58 Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace; tapestries; 
trimmings; embroidery 45 19.7 5-20 50.0 
59 Impregnated, coated, covered or  laminated textile fabrics; 
textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use 24 16.3 10-20 50.0 
60 Knitted or crocheted fabrics 43 20.0 20 50.0 
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 106 20.0 20 50.0 
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or 
crocheted 113 20.0 20 50.0 
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn 
textile articles; rags 53 18.0 5-20 50.0 
64 Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles 27 18.1 15-20 50.0 
65 Headgear and parts thereof 10 20.0 20 50.0 
66 Umbrellas, sun umbrellas, walking-sticks, seat-sticks, whips, 
riding-crops and parts thereof 6 20.0 20 50.0 
67 Prepared feathers and down and ar ticles made of feathers or of 
down; artificial flowers; articles of human hair 8 20.0 20 50.0 
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar 
materials 51 18.8 10-20 50.0 
69 Ceramic products 30 18.0 5-20 50.0 
70 Glass and glassware 70 18.6 5-20 50.0 WT/TPR/S/303 • Sierra Leone 
 
- 79 - 
 
  HS Description No. of 
lines Average 
(%) Range  
(%) Final 
bound 
average 
(%) 
71 Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, 
precious metals, metals clad with precious metal, and articles 
thereof; imitation jewellery; coin 53 12.4 5-20 50.0 
72 Iron and steel 167 5.6 5-10 50.0 
73 Articles of iron or steel 131 16.6 5-20 49.7 
74 Copper and articles thereof 53 7.6 5-20 50.0 
75 Nickel and articles thereof 17 6.8 5-20 50.0 
76 Aluminium and articles thereof 41 9.4 5-20 50.0 
78 Lead and articles thereof 8 6.9 5-20 50.0 
79 Zinc and articles thereof 9 6.7 5-20 50.0 
80 Tin and articles thereof 5 5.0 5 50.0 
81 Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof 48 5.0 5 50.0 
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; 
parts thereof of base metal 66 9.7 5-20 35.0 
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 36 17.1 5-20 50.0 
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; 
parts thereof 510 6.3 0-20 43.3 
85 Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound 
recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles 265 14.4 5-20 47.9 
86 Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts 
thereof; railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts 
thereof; mechanical (including electro-mechanical) traffic 
signalling equipment of all kinds 23 5.0 5 50.0 
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts 
and accessories thereof 157 10.8 5-30 55.7 
88 Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof 15 5.0 5 47.3 
89 Ships, boats and floating structures 21 8.1 5-20 50.0 
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, 
precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts 
and accessories thereof 153 8.1 0-30 48.0 
91 Clocks and watches and parts thereof 51 19.6 10-20 50.0 
92 Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles 17 13.5 10-20 50.0 
93 Arms and ammunition; parts and accessories thereof 20 19.5 10-20 50.0 
94 Furniture; bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions 
and similar stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings, not 
elsewhere specified or included; illuminated signs, illuminated 
name-plates 48 17.2 5-20 50.0 
95 Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories 
thereof 31 18.1 5-20 50.0 
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 48 18.5 10-20 49.8 
97 Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques 13 13.1 5-20 50.0 
Note: Calculations of averages are based on national tariff line level (HS 8-digit). 
Source: WTO Secretariat estimates, based on data pr ovided by the authorities, and WTO CTS database. 
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