RESTRICTED  
  
WT/ACC/LBR/23  
WT/MIN(15)/2  
 
9 October 2015  
(15-5328)  Page: 1/131  
Working Party on the Accession of Liberia    
 
 REPORT OF THE WORKING PARTY 
ON THE ACCESSION OF LIBERIA  
_______________ 
 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  TABLE OF CONTENTS   
I. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 5  
DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED ........................................................................................... 5  
INTRODUCTORY ST ATEMENTS ......................................................................................... 5  
II. ECONOMIC POLICIES .............................................................................................. 7  
-  Monetary and fiscal policy ....................................................................................... 7  
-  Foreign exchange and payments ............................................................................. 8  
-  Investment regime .................................................................................................. 9  
-  State ownership, privatization and state-trading entities ..................................... 13  
-  Pricing poli cies ...................................................................................................... 15  
-  Competition policy ................................................................................................ 15  
III. FRAMEWORK FOR MAKING AND ENFORCING PO LICIES ........................................ 15  
-  Powers of Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches of Government ................ 15  
-  Government entities responsible fo r making and implementing policies 
affecting foreign trade;  Right of Appeal ................................................................ 18  
-  Division of authority between cent ral and sub-centra l governments .................... 19  
IV. POLICIES AFFECTING TRADE IN GOODS ............................................................... 20  
-  Registration requirements for import/e xport operations; Trading rights .............. 20  
A. IMPORT REGU LATIONS ......................................................................................... 23  
-  Ordinary customs duties, customs tariff ................................................................ 23  
-  Other duties an d charge s ...................................................................................... 25  
-  Tariff rate quotas, ta riff exempt ions ..................................................................... 26  
-  Fees and charges for se rvices rendered ................................................................ 27  
-  Application of internal  taxes to imports ................................................................ 29  
-  Quantitative import restrictions, including prohibitions, quotas and 
licensing sy stems .................................................................................................. 31  
-  Customs valuation ................................................................................................. 36  
-  Rules of or igin ....................................................................................................... 37  
-  Other customs fo rmalities ..................................................................................... 38  
-  Preshipment inspection ......................................................................................... 41  
-  Anti-dumping, countervailing du ties, safeguar d regimes ...................................... 43  
B. EXPORT REGU LATIONS ......................................................................................... 45  
-  Customs tariffs, fees and charges for services rendered, application of 
internal taxes to exports ....................................................................................... 45  
-  Export restrictions ................................................................................................ 45  
-  Export subs idies .................................................................................................... 46  
C. INTERNAL POLICIES AFFECTING FOREIGN TRADE IN GOODS ............................... 47  
-  Industrial policy, in cluding subs idies .................................................................... 47  
-  Technical barriers to trade, st andards and cert ification ........................................ 48  
-  Sanitary and phytosani tary meas ures ................................................................... 51  
-  Trade-related investment measures ...................................................................... 57  WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  -  Free zones, special economic areas ....................................................................... 58  
-  Government pr ocurement ..................................................................................... 59  
-  Transit ................................................................................................................... 60  
-  Agricultural policies .............................................................................................. 61  
(a) Import s ................................................................................................................. 61  
(b) Exports .................................................................................................................. 62  
(c) Internal po licies .................................................................................................... 62  
V. TRADE-RELATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY REGIME ............................................. 62  
-  GENERAL ............................................................................................................... 62  
-  Industrial property protection ............................................................................... 63  
-  Responsible agencies for policy fo rmulation and implementation ......................... 63  
-  Participation in international inte llectual property  agreements ............................ 64  
-  Application of national and MFN treatment to foreign nationals ............................ 64  
-  Fees and taxes ...................................................................................................... 64  
-  SUBSTANTIVE STANDARDS OF PROTECTION, INCLUDING PROCEDURES 
FOR THE ACQUISITION AND MAINTENA NCE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 
RIGHTS ................................................................................................................. 64  
-  Copyright and rela ted rights ................................................................................. 64  
-  Trademarks, includin g service marks .................................................................... 66  
-  Geographical indications, including appellations of origin ..................................... 66  
-  Industrial designs ................................................................................................. 67  
-  Patents .................................................................................................................. 67  
-  Plant variety protection ......................................................................................... 67  
-  Layout designs of inte grated circuits .................................................................... 68  
-  Requirements on undisclosed informatio n, including trade secrets and test 
data ....................................................................................................................... 68  
-  MEASURES TO CONTROL ABUSE OF IN TELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS ................ 68  
-  ENFORCEMENT ...................................................................................................... 68  
-  Civil judicial procedur es and reme dies .................................................................. 68  
-  Provisional measures ............................................................................................ 69  
-  Administrative procedur es and reme dies .............................................................. 69  
-  Special border measures ....................................................................................... 69  
-  Criminal proc edures  .............................................................................................. 69  
VI. POLICIES AFFECTING TR ADE IN SERVICES ........................................................... 70  
VII. TRANSPARENCY .................................................................................................... 71  
-  Publication of information on trade ....................................................................... 71  
-  Notifications .......................................................................................................... 72  
VIII. TRADE AGREEMENTS ............................................................................................. 72  
CONCLUSI ONS ............................................................................................................... 73  
ANNEX 1 ....................................................................................................................... . 74 
ANNEX 2 ....................................................................................................................... . 77 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  ANNEX 3 ....................................................................................................................... . 78 
ANNEX 4(A) ................................................................................................................... 79 
ANNEX 4( B) ................................................................................................................... 80 
ANNEX 4(C) ................................................................................................................... 81 
ANNEX 5 ....................................................................................................................... . 82 
ANNEX 6 ....................................................................................................................... . 84 
ANNEX 7 ....................................................................................................................... . 85 
ANNEX 8 ....................................................................................................................... . 87 
ANNEX 9 ....................................................................................................................... . 89 
ANNEX 10.......................................................................................................................  90 
ANNEX 11.......................................................................................................................  91 
ANNEX 12.......................................................................................................................  92 
ANNEX 13.......................................................................................................................  93 
ANNEX 14( A) ................................................................................................................. 9 4 
ANNEX 14( B) ................................................................................................................. 9 5 
ANNEX 14( C) ............................................................................................................... 101  
ANNEX 14( D) ............................................................................................................... 107  
ANNEX 14(E) ................................................................................................................ 110  
ANNEX 14(F) ................................................................................................................ 114  
ANNEX 15..................................................................................................................... 1 16 
ANNEX 16..................................................................................................................... 1 17 
ANNEX 17..................................................................................................................... 1 18 
ANNEX 18..................................................................................................................... 1 19 
ANNEX 19..................................................................................................................... 1 20 
ANNEX 20( A) ............................................................................................................... 121  
ANNEX 20( B) ............................................................................................................... 122  
ANNEX 21..................................................................................................................... 1 23 
ANNEX 22..................................................................................................................... 1 24 
ANNEX 23..................................................................................................................... 1 25 
ANNEX 24..................................................................................................................... 1 26 
ANNEX 25..................................................................................................................... 1 27 
APPENDIX .................................................................................................................... 1 28 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  I. INTRODUCTION  
1. The Government of the Republic of Liberia (h ereinafter: Liberia) applied for accession to 
the World Trade Organization (WTO) in June 2007.  At its meeting on 18 December 2007, the 
General Council established a Working Party to examine the application of the Government of 
Liberia to accede to the WTO under Article XII of the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the WTO.  The terms of reference and the membership of the Working Party are reproduced in document WT/ACC/LBR/2/Rev.7. 
2. The Working Party met on 11 July 2012, 7 May 2015, 23 July 2015, and 6 October 2015 
under the Chairmanship of H.E. Mr. Joakim Reiter (Sweden / Deputy Secretary-General of  UNCTAD).   
DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED 
3. The Working Party had before it, to serve as  a basis for its discussions, a Memorandum 
on the Foreign Trade Regime of Liberia (WT/ACC/ LBR/3), the questions submitted by Members on 
the foreign trade regime of Liberia, together with the replies thereto, and other information 
provided by the authorities of Liberia (WT/ ACC/LBR/4; WT/ACC/LBR/ 5;  WT/ACC/LBR/6;  
WT/ACC/LBR/7 and WT/ACC/LBR/7/Add.1; WT/ACC/LBR/8 and WT/ACC/LBR/8/Add.1; 
WT/ACC/LBR/9/Rev.1; WT/ACC/LBR/10; WT/ACC/LBR/11/Rev.1; WT/ACC/LBR/12; 
WT/ACC/LBR/13/Rev.3; WT/ACC/LBR/14, WT/ACC/LBR/15, WT/ACC/LBR/16, WT/ACC/LBR/17, WT/ACC/LBR/18, WT/ACC/LBR/19,  WT/ACC/LBR/20, WT/ACC/LBR /21 and, WT/ACC/LBR/22), 
including the legislative texts and other documentation listed in Annex 1 to this Report.    
INTRODUCTORY STATEMENTS 
4. The representative of Liberia said that despite the political upheavals and civil war 
(1980-2003) that destroyed Liberia's economy and brought a steep decline in living standards for 
its population, Liberia was once again on the road  to economic recovery.  An elected government 
under the leadership of President Ellen Johnson Sirl eaf had been sworn into office in January 2006, 
and set about to implement numerous reforms to re -activate the economy, to re-introduce Liberia 
into the international community and economy, and to help Liberia re-integrate into global value 
chains.  Since 2006, Liberia had shown a strong commitment to implementing the sound reforms and maintaining the macroeconomic stability necessary for accelerated and sustainable economic 
growth.  Liberia was a small open economy based on natural resource development, and it was 
recognized that future growth and ability to reduce poverty lied in increasing Liberian trade with the rest of the world.  Liberia needed investme nt capital and upgraded technology, so it was 
critical that economic policies focused on attracting investors while trying to stimulate the 
development of local business.  
5. The three-year "Lift Liberia" Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS), introduced in 2008, had 
articulated the Government's overall vision and major strategies for moving towards rapid, 
inclusive and sustainable growth and development based on efforts in four keys areas: 
Consolidating Peace and Security; Revitalizing the Economy; Strengthening Governance and the Rule of Law; and, Rehabilitating Infrastructure and Providing Basic Services.  Key elements and 
sub-strategies included controlling corruption, creating conditions conducive to human and 
business development, and foreign direct investment, improving land rights and access, and completing the development of a WTO-based trad e policy.  For example, the PRS Strategy for 
Economic Revitalization had promoted measures to restore major commodity exports such as 
rubber, timber, iron-ore mining, and other cash crop s.  In the case of rubb er and cash crops, the 
World Bank had approved a Tree Crop Rehabilitation Project for small scale farmers involved in rubber as well as other cash crops.  And, under an agreement with the Government of Liberia, 
Buchanan Renewables had assisted farmers to cut down old rubber trees and replant.  In the case 
of timber, efforts such as dredging of the ports of Buchanan and Greenville would make it possible 
to resume the export of timber.   
6. The representative of Liberia added that during the "Lift Liberia" PRS, in 2008-2011, nearly 
2,500 kilometers of paved and laterite roads had been reconstructed or rehabilitated; electrical generation capacity had increased from practically zero to 23 megawatt (MW); 48 kilometers of WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  power transmission and distribution lines had been constructed or renewed; and implementation 
had begun on the regional West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) cross-border electrification project. To revive traditional economic sectors, Liberia ha d attracted leading global firms that had begun to 
reinvest in forestry, rubber, and mining. As a re sult, exports had increased from US$175 million in 
2006 to US$295.2 million in 2011. Liberia had attracted foreign direct investment (FDI) in several 
non-traditional sectors including petroleum, oil palm, hotels, finance, industry, and infrastructure.   
7. However, these investments were not sufficie nt to diversify the Li berian economy, nor 
create enough jobs. Therefore, the Government had prioritized to achieve a stable macroeconomic 
environment, which was necessary for growth. It had worked out a plan to establish a competitive business environment in Liberia through the reform of the Tax and Investment Codes, and had streamlined business registration processes. Further, it had moved toward multi-year financial 
planning and cash-based balanced budget.  Efforts had been focused on improving governance, 
strengthening justice, and restoring confidence in the rule of law.  During the PRS period, the Government had created the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), the Public Procurement 
and Concession Commission (PPCC), and the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency 
Initiative (LEITI). To make government institutions more transparent and capable, the Government of Liberia had set a Civil Service Reform Strategy, which had rationalized the 
functions and mandates of ministries and agencies.  
8. He added that, although the "Lift Liberia" PRS had made great strides toward recovery, it, 
however, had not met all of its goals due to the country's institutional and human capacity deficits. Hence, the Agenda for Transformation (AFT) had been introduced in 2012.  The AFT was a five-
year development strategy which followed "Lif t Liberia" PRS while placing greater focus on 
interventions to target the most pressing problems. The AFT was not supposed to deliver transformation by the end of five years but rath er was the first step towards achieving the goals 
set out in Vision 2030 (Liberia's long-term vision of socio-economic transformation 
and development). The main goals of Vision 2030, inscribed in the AFT, were to ensure that Liberia achieved middle-income status by 2030. The flagship projects of the programme were: (i) to 
promote and sustain private sector development through enhanced economic competitiveness and 
diversification, increased value addition and an improved administrative and policy environment; (ii) to maintain fiscal, monetary, trade and exchange rate policies that entrenched macroeconomic stability and support efficient public expenditur e management, expand inclusive private-sector 
growth and job creation; (iii) to increase access  to renewable energy services and affordable 
power, improve accessibility and connectivity of  roads and bridges, ensure reliable, safe, 
affordable and efficient transport services, facilitate  access, transparency and reliability of low-cost 
postal, telecom and ICT services nationwide, expand access to affordable housing for low-income 
household, rebuild and rehab public and communi ty building and household-level infrastructure; 
(iv) to promote a robust, competitive and modernized agriculture sector supportive of sustainable 
economic growth and development; (v) to in tegrate community, conservation and commercial 
aspects of forestry to sustainably contribute to reducing poverty, improving livelihoods and quality 
of rural life, and increasing the ecological services provided by forests; and, (vi) to promote a sustainable, transparent, and well-managed exploitation of mineral resources and an equitable 
distribution of benefits among citizens. 
9. The representative of Liberia also informed that currently, the country's main imports were 
food and live animals, machinery and transpor t equipment, manufactured goods and petroleum 
products.  In 2013, Liberia's total merchandise trade (on an FOB basis) had grown by 15.4% 
to US$1,754.6 million, from US$1,520.8 million recorded in 2012; exports and imports had accounted for 31% and 69%, respectively; compared with 29.2% and 70.8% in 2012, 
respectively.  Total merchandise export receipts had risen by 22.3% to US$543.7 million in 2013, 
from US$444.4 million earned in 2012, largely on account of a 180% rise in iron ore export receipts (to US$327.8 million in 2013, from US$117 million in 2012).  The significant rise in iron ore export earnings in 2013 had been driven mainly  by increased domestic production and export 
volumes, despite the declining global price pattern  of the commodity in that year.  Iron ore and 
rubber accounted for 82.5% of total export earnings in 2013, as compared to 66.2% in 2012 and 67.6% in 2011. 
10. Liberia's application to join the WTO was an important step towards re-engaging the 
multilateral trade policy community after many ye ars of disruption.  Liberia looked forward to 
participating in the forum most responsible for establishing and policing the rules for international 
trade.  In view of the Guidelines established by the WTO General Council for Accession of WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  Least-Developed Countries (WT/L/508 and Add.1), and bearing in mind Liberia's status as a 
least-developed country (LDC), the representative of Liberia called on Members of the Working Party to expedite and be flexible in the negotiations to establish Liberia's WTO commitments and to extend special and differential treatment as foreseen in the provisions of the WTO Agreement 
regarding LDCs.  Technical assistance and/or transition periods were needed to implement some 
WTO commitments.  In this regard, Liberia sought support in the areas of Fees and charges for services rendered; Preshipment inspection; Customs tariffs, fees and charges for services 
rendered, application of internal taxes to expo rts; Technical barriers to trade; Sanitary and 
phytosanitary measures; Trade-related investment measures; and, Trade-related intellectual property regime. 
11. Members welcomed Liberia's application to join the Organization, appreciating the efforts 
already undertaken by Liberia to achieve compliance with WTO rules and principles and to provide 
market access offers and comprehensive documentation on its trade regime at an early stage of the process.  Members noted that, although further work was needed, it was clear that Liberia 
would benefit from the WTO accession process,  and from the full implementation of WTO 
provisions and market access commitments that would create a good economic climate for investment, growth, and development.  In this regard, Members pledged to work constructively 
with Liberia.  Some Members indicated that they  had, and would, continue to offer technical 
assistance to facilitate Liberia's accession.  Members looked forward to Liberia's early accession on appropriate terms.  Some Members re ferred to Liberia's current status as an LDC, and, in line with 
the Guidelines for Accession of Least-Developed Countries, would consider this a relevant factor in 
establishing Liberia's terms of accession.   
12. The Working Party reviewed the economic policies and foreign trade regime of Liberia and 
the possible terms of a draft Protocol of Accession  to the WTO.  The views expressed by Members 
of the Working Party on the various aspects of Liberia's foreign trade regime, and on the terms 
and conditions of Liberia's accession to the WTO, are summarized below in paragraphs 13 to 331. 
II. ECONOMIC POLICIES 
- Monetary and fiscal policy 
13. The representative of Liberia said that his country operated a dual currency arrangement, 
where both US and Liberian dollars were accepted as legal tender.  Currently, US dollars still 
comprised a significant portion of the "official" broad money supply, not counting US dollar 
currency in circulation outside the banks, which was not measured.  Despite ongoing efforts to encourage use of the Liberian dollar, most larg e public and private sector transactions were 
conducted in US dollars with significant amounts of savings at commercial banks held 
in US dollars.   
14. The supply of US dollars came primarily from exports, remittances, and inflows of foreign 
assistance; the demand for US dollars was determined mostly by the demand for imports.  
The supply of Liberian dollars arose mostly from government payments of salaries and for goods 
and services.  The net demand for Liberian dollars was primarily for tax payments and as a medium of exchange in smaller denominations.  The demand for money (both US dollars and 
Liberian dollars) had been expanding rapidly in the post-crisis era, and there had been concern 
regarding the ability of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) to control inflation. 
15. The conduct of monetary policy in Liberia was generally geared towards containing 
exchange rate fluctuations and ensuring low inflation.  A weekly foreign exchange auction was the 
key mechanism used by the CBL to affect domestic monetary conditions.  In 2009, the CBL had intensified its intervention in the foreign exchange  market, to ease the pressure on the exchange 
rate of the Liberian dollar. The CBL had interven ed in the foreign exchange market through the 
weekly foreign exchange auctions to smoothe n excessive exchange rate fluctuations.  
In May 2013, to broaden the policy instruments available to the CBL for monetary policy management, the CBL had first introduced the Treasury bill (T-bill), to manage excess liquidity of 
US dollars in the economy.  Since then, the T-bills had been conducted every month. 
The introduction of T-bills by the CBL kept inflation to low single digits through a stable Liberian-US dollar exchange rate. The net foreign reserves position of the Central Bank of Liberia WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  (CBL) at end-December 2013 had been US$262.73 million, compared with US$238.97 million at 
the end of 2012.  
16. Liberian monetary authorities had been severely limited in their ability to conduct an 
independent monetary policy with respect to the Libe rian dollar.  This was due, first and foremost, 
to the dual currency arrangement and the predomin ance of the US dollar over which it had no 
control. In addition, there was no open market for government securities since those previously issued had been discredited and no new securities had been issued more recently.  The only policy 
instrument that could be used to influence prices was the exchange rate, and Liberia lacked the 
reserves to materially affect it through that market. 
17. Liberia's fiscal stability had depended heavily on domestic and international trade for its 
revenue, with customs and excise taxes accounting for 49% of the total revenue in fiscal year of 
2006/2007, 36% in 2009/2010 and, 30% in 2013/2014. In this period, Liberia had made a strong 
commitment to enhancing revenue collection efficiency as well as broadening the tax base.  This had contributed to rise in revenues with some decline during the economic crisis 
in 2008-2009.  Reform measures had included stronger enforcement of customs administration, 
use of preshipment inspection of imports, reduct ion of the customs user fee, strengthening tax 
collections from large taxpayers, eliminating th e settlement of tax liabilities through non-cash 
payments, and reducing tax and duty exemptions on imports of rice and petroleum products.  
Other measures included more consistent implem entation of the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, 
expansion of automated tax administration, improv ed auditing resulting from comparing different 
sources of taxpayer information, and taxpayer education. 
- Foreign exchange and payments  
18. The representative of Liberia informed that the Liberian dollar exchange rate had come 
under enormous pressure during most of 2009, due mainly to the global financial crisis, 
depreciating to L$72.44/US$1.00 at end-September 2009, from L$64.93/US$1.00 at end-January 2009. The weakening of the Liberian dollar against the US currency could be generally ascribed to the slowdown in the rate of workers' remittances, declines in export 
earnings, and higher market demand for US dollar s. The Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) had been 
taking steps to ease the volatility in the exchange rate by intensifying its intervention in the foreign exchange market through increased sale of US dollars to the market. As a result, the 
Liberian dollar had regained almost all of the value lost in 2009, strengthening it from L$72.44 to 
around L$67 per US dollar as of December 2009. The average exchange rate between the Liberian 
and the US dollars had depreciated by 1.8%, to L$73.51/US$1.00 in 2012, compared with 
L$72.23/US$1.00 for 2011 as a result of rising demand for foreign exchange during the year, 
caused by higher growth in business activity.  The current Liberian dollar exchange rate was L$88 per US dollar.
1  
19. The depreciation of the exchange rate had co ntributed to an elevated inflation since 2009, 
although inflation had dropped to the single-digit  range in 2013 (7%), from a high double digit for 
most of 2008.  Inflation had remained relatively low, compared with the average prevailing in other countries in West Africa.  The Government of Liberia continued to study the option of moving 
to a complete US dollar standard, at the same time efforts were being made to decrease the 
importance of US dollars in the economy relative to Liberian dollars. The choice made would have an important influence on Liberia's competitivene ss in the global, and even regional, economy.   
20. Liberia's current account deficit continued to increase.  The deficit, which had stood at 
below 10% of GDP in 2005, had risen sharply to 20.5% of GDP in 2007.  The increase in the deficit had derived exclusively from the trade deficit, which continued to grow as a result of the larger share of imports in the economy.  For similar reasons, the current account deficit had increased 
further in 2008.  On the other hand, Liberia's capital account deficit had started to improve since 
2005 with the re-emergence of private investment and foreign direct investment (FDI).  The current account deficit had risen by 13.2% to US$1,288.00 million for the end of 2013, from 
US$1,137.3 million for the end of 2012. This had b een due to a 5.6% deterioration in the trade 
deficit to US$667.3 million in 2013 from US$632.00 mi llion in 2012. The widening period in the 
trade deficit in 2013 had been on account of a 12. 5% (US$134.5 million) rise in import payments 
                                               
1 As of 25 August 2015. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  that had outpaced a 22.3% (US$99.3 million) gr owth in export receipts recorded in 2013.  
The 38% decline in current transfers, resulting mainly from an 89.3% fall in workers' remittances, had also contributed to the deterioration in the current account deficit.  The account deficit as a percentage of GDP had averaged 65.2% in 2013, compared with 65.5% and 64.7% in 2012 and 
2011, respectively.  
21. Liberia had successfully implemented two Sta ff-Monitored Programmes of the International 
Monetary Fund (IMF) under which it had made significant improvements in public finances and in 
monetary and exchange rate policies, paving the way to full restoration of normalized relations 
with the IMF in March 2008.  The Government had also made strong initial progress in dealing with its debt situation. It had formulated and begun implementation of a comprehensive domestic debt 
resolution strategy, had cleared its long-standing arrears to the World Bank, the African 
Development Bank, and the IMF, had signed a ne w three-year agreement with the IMF, and had 
reached the decision point under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries' (HIPC) Initiative.  In 2009, the bilateral relations between the CBL and international institutions had continued to grow in 
strength with mutual commitment towards the achievement of the goal of the 2009 Poverty 
Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) Programme agre ed with the IMF.  In this spirit, the IMF had 
completed the third appraisal of Liberia's performa nce in the implementation of its Economic and 
Financial Programme supported by the PRGF.  Re gular transmission of the country's Monetary 
Survey to the IMF was carried out, consistent with the agreement with the IMF under the PRGF Programme. Currently, as a result the implem entation of the Heavily Indebted Poor 
Countries (HIPC) Initiative, Liberia maintained a cash-based balanced budget, with significantly 
increased government revenue; it had moved towards multi-year financial planning and 
achieved US$4.9 billion of cumulative debt relief.  
- Investment regime 
22. The representative of Liberia said that Liberia's investment environment was liberal, and 
his Government actively sought both domestic and foreign investment in order to promote economic development, and placed great importan ce on transparency, fairness, and equality of 
treatment for all investors.  The recent reform of  the investment regime, i.e., the enactment of the 
Investment Act of 2010, had been intended to establish consistency with international best practice as a necessary tool for attracting sustainable domestic and foreign investment, for 
reconstructing and enhancing the economy of Liberia and for creating a viable market-based 
economy to encourage private enterprises through a transparent, equitable and non-discriminatory 
legal framework for investment.  The Investment Act of 2010, which had repealed the Investment 
Incentives Act of 1973 and the National Investment Commission Act of 1979, covered direct and 
indirect investment and portfolio investment.  It sought to rationalize, standardize and ensure transparency in the award of investment incentives by consolidating fiscal incentives in the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended in 2011 (hereinafter: Revenue Code), and developing a 
coordinated institutional capacity involving all relevant government agencies for the administration 
of such incentives.
2  The Government of Liberia acted as a regulator of investment rules.   
23. The Investment Act of 2010 provided that all investors must incorporate and/or register a 
business organization in accordance with Title 5 of the Liberian Codes of Laws Revised of 1976 
("Associations Law") or such other laws as were relevant to the establishment of the enterprise.   With the exceptions described in paragraphs 24 an d 25 of this Section of this Report, below, the 
Investment Act of 2010 confirmed that foreign in vestors might own or control, totally or in 
partnership with Liberians, business organizations in  any sector of the economy, based on national 
treatment in terms of licenses or permits, a ccounting standards, insurance requirements and 
taxation, among other requirements.  Foreign investors had access on equal terms to the 
protection of Liberian law, including right of ap peal; the right to hold bank accounts; subject to 
payment of taxes and other legal requirements, the right to dispose of proceeds; and the right to 
repatriate capital, make payments abroad, and remit proceeds upon sale of the investment.  
Liberia required major investors to fund social services and infrastructure projects including 
schools, clinics, and roads, as part of their concession agreements. 
                                               
2 An enterprise shall be entitled to such fiscal in centives as are applicable  under the Liberia Revenue 
Code of 2000, as Amended in 2011 and such non-fiscal incentives as are applicable in relevant legislation. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  24. However, in line with Liberia's development agenda, both under the Poverty Reduction 
Strategy (PRS) and its successor policy, i.e. Agenda for Transformation (AFT, part of Vision 2030), the Investment Act of 2010 reserved specific businesses for Liberians or required Liberian participation in ownership.   Ownership of the following business activities was reserved exclusively 
for Liberians:  
 Supply of sand; 
 Block making; 
 Peddling; 
 Travel agencies; 
 Retail sale of rice and cement; 
 Ice making and sale of ice; 
 Tire repair shops; 
 Auto repair shops with investments of less than US$50,000; 
 Shoe repair shops; 
 Retail sale of timber and planks; 
 Operation of gas stations; 
 Video clubs; 
 Operation of taxis; 
 Importation or sale of second-hand or used clothing; 
 Distribution in Liberia of locally manufactured products; and, 
 Importation and sale of used cars (except authorized dealerships which might deal in 
certified used vehicles of their make). 
The representative of Liberia confirmed that the ownership restriction for retail sale of rice and 
cement did not apply to wholesale trade of these products. 
25. In addition, direct investment in enterprises in the following sectors was also reserved for 
Liberians, unless: (i) the foreign investor was the exclusive owner and the total capital invested was not less than US$500,000; and, (ii) the foreign investor was in partnership with Liberians and 
the aggregated shareholding of the Liberians was at least 25%, and the total capital invested was 
not less than US$300,000, in accordance with Schedule 1 of the Investment Act of 2010:  
 Production and supply of stone and granite; 
 Ice cream manufacturing; 
 Commercial printing; 
 Advertising agencies, graphics and commercial artists; 
 Cinemas; 
 Production of poultry and poultry products; 
 Operation of water purification or bottling plant (excluding the production and sale of water 
in sachets); 
 Entertainment centres not connected with a hotel establishment; 
 Sale of animal and poultry feed; 
 Operation of heavy duty trucks; 
 Bakeries; and, 
 
Sale of pharmaceuticals. 
With respect to the ownership restrictions for sale of pharmaceuticals, the representative of Liberia 
confirmed that "sale of pharmaceuticals" covered wholesale trade only.  He also confirmed that the 
importation of pharmaceuticals directly for consumption or prescriptions mailed from overseas directly to the consumer was not covered by this requirement.  Pharmaceutical goods did not include non-pharmaceutical nutritional supplements in a tablet, capsule, or powdered form. 
26. Finally, in an effort to encourage foreign invest ors to hire locally, Section 75 of Title 18 of 
the Liberian Codes of Laws Revised of 1976 (" Labour Law"), stipulated that except for 
administrative, supervisory, or technical positions, it was unlawful to hire an alien employee unless 
the list of qualified Liberians had been exhauste d or there was no qualified person on the list 
capable of performing the job to be filled.  If an employer reported to the Minister of Labour that 
he could find no Liberian employee capable of doin g a specific job, the Minister, or his/her deputy 
appointed for that purpose, granted a special permit  according to the employer the right to engage 
the service of an alien(s) to be named in the permit, designating the class of work he/she would WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  be required to perform.  No alien employee could be employed at a rate different from that paid to 
a Liberian citizen in similar position who had equal competence or length of service. 
27. The Investment Act of 2010 protected investor s from nationalization or expropriation 
unless the expropriation was in the national interest for a public purpose, was the least 
burdensome available means to satisfy that ov erriding public purpose, and was made on a 
non-discriminatory basis, in accordance with due proc ess of law.  In the event of expropriation, an 
investor had the right to: (i) payment of fair and adequate compensation and, (ii) access to the 
domestic courts for determination of the investor's interest or right and the amount of 
compensation to which he/she was entitled, which compensation should be fair market value. Investors also had the right to repatriate capital, profits and dividends. 
28. The National Investment Commission (hereinafter in this Section: Commission) regulated 
direct investment in Liberia. It promoted the development of foreign direct investment in all 
sectors of the economy of Liberia other than thos e reserved to domestic investors.  With the 
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) and other relevant Government of Liberia institutions, 
the Commission stimulated the domestic private sectors by encouraging and fostering support for 
domestic entrepreneurs.  The Commission was a key player in evaluating and awarding 
concessions and other development rights to raw materials developers in Liberia.  According to the 
Revenue Code, it also conducted the economic evaluation of the business plan of enterprises 
seeking government support, making its recommendations to the Minister of Finance and Development Planning for certification of the investment for this purpose.  The Commission recommended the scope of the exemptions from domestic taxes and import duties, which were the 
same as the incentives provided for in Chapter 1, Subchapter A, Section 16 (On Special 
Investment Incentives) of the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended in 2011, as described in paragraph 32 of this Section of this Report, to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning 
which would then certify the eligible enterprises.   The Commission also recommended the types of 
goods and quantities proposed for exemption and the investor's proposed importation schedule.   
29. The representative of Liberia informed that his country currently had bilateral investment 
treaties (BITs) with three countries: France, Germany and Switzerland.  More information about 
the BITs was contained in Annex 2 to this Report. 
30. Current areas where Liberia was seeking to attract investment were in the extractive 
industries (particularly iron ore, but also diamon ds under the Kimberly Process) with emphasis on 
energy, mining, and oil exploration; and agriculture (mostly rubber and oil palm) with extensive 
replanting of rubber trees and general rehabilita tion and expansion of tree crop plantations.  
The lifting of the UN timber sanctions in 2006 and signing of the forestry chain-of-custody 
agreement in December 2007 had opened the way to expand export of timber products. 
31. Although its domestic market of roughly four million people was relatively small, the 
intensified efforts to rebuild the post-conflict economy from scratch had provided many foreign 
investment opportunities in the agriculture, services and manufacturing sectors.  Currently, 
Liberia's export sector relied heavily on its extractive industries, like iron ore and rubber.  Iron ore represented an increasing large proportion of exports as multibillion dollar investments from Arcelor Mittal, China Union and BHP Billiton started and expanded production.  In September 2011, 
Arcelor Mittal had made Liberia's first export shipment of iron ore in 25 years. The main export 
destinations for Liberia included China, the European Union, and the United States. Liberia had also attracted foreign direct investment (FDI) in several non-traditional sectors, including 
petroleum, and oil palm. The information on the annual FDI in Liberia was contained in Annex 3 to 
this Report.  
32. Investment incentives were provided for new investment activities in Chapter 1, 
Subchapter A, Section 16 (On Special Investment Incentives) of the Liberia Revenue Code of 
2000, as Amended in 2011.  Enterprises certifie d by the Ministry of Finance and Development 
Planning upon recommendation by the Commission were eligible for the special investment incentives, for a period of five years from th e commencement of investment, if the investment 
exceeded US$1,000,000 or, in the case of a business with 100% Liberian ownership, the capital 
invested exceeded US$500,000. For investments exceeding US$10 million, and subject to approval by the President and the Legislature, the tax incentives could be allowed for a period of up to 
15 years. The representative of Liberia informed that although, currently, Liberia applied the 
Goods and Services Tax (GST), it intended to ev entually transform to the value-added tax (VAT), WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  at which time, the investment incentives would also apply to VAT.  To be eligible, the enterprises 
had to be new investments and operate in the following areas:  (i) tourism carried out through tourist resorts, hotels and cultural sites; (ii) manufacturing of finished products having at least 60% local raw material content; (iii) energy; (iv) hospitals and medical clinics (the capital invested 
exceeding US$100,000); (v) low and medium income  housing; (vi) air, sea, rail, and road 
transport infrastructure, including ports; (vii) high-impact information and communication technology; (viii) banking in the areas lacking financial services; (ix) poultry; (x) horticulture; 
(xi) exportation of sea products; (xii) agricultural food-crop cultivation and processing, including 
cocoa and coffee; (xiii) small- and medium-scale rubber and oil palm cultivation and processing; ( x i v )  m a n u f a c t u r i n g  o r  a s s e m b l y  o f  f i n i s h e d  p r o d uc t s  f o r  e x p o rt ,  p r o v i d e d  th a t  a t  l e a s t  7 0 %  o f production was exported from Liberia within any 12-month period; and, (xv) waste management.  
Special tax incentives were allowed for up to 10 0% of the qualifying cost with respect to the 
following: (i) 30% of the cost of equipment and machinery used in the activity in the year the asset was placed in service; (ii) 30% of the construction cost of a new hotel or tourist resort; 
(iii) 10% of the cost of the buildings and fixtures used in a manufacturing process that produced 
finished products (whether for domestic consumption or for export) having at least 60% local raw material content. A percentage of the cost of investment in an asset specified under (i)-(iii) above 
that was placed in service in an economically deprived zone, or in an investment activity certified 
by the Minister of Finance and Development Pl anning as meeting standards for increase of 
employment, was described in Annex 4(A) and ANNEX 4(B) to this Report. In addition, the new investments that operated in the areas specified in this paragraph, were eligible to exemptions 
from GST and from import duty, for all medical and educational equipment and supplies purchased 
for the use directly in or in connection with the investment activity and intended to be placed in service within one year of purchase, and other asse ts, purchased for the use directly in the activity 
and intended to be placed in service immediately upon purchase, as listed in Annex 4(C) to 
this Report.  
33. In response to Member's question, the represen tative of Liberia confirmed that some of the 
incentives described in paragraph 32 of this Section of this Report depended on use of local 
materials or exportation and referred to Section "Trade-related investment measures" of this Report. He confirmed that Chapter 1, Subchapter A, Section 16 (On Special Investment Incentives) of the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended in 2011, was the only legislation 
providing for investment incentives contingent upon the use of local input or exports.  The Agenda 
for Transformation (AFT, part of Vision 2030) did not provide for investment incentives of this kind.  
34. The incentives described in paragraph 32 of this Section of this Report were separate from 
and could not be combined with other tax incentiv es for investment, which were not dependent on 
use of local materials or exportation, as provided for in Section 204(d) of the Liberia Revenue Code 
of 2000, as Amended in 2011, that allowed firms en gaged in manufacturing, services, agricultural 
processing (not already in Industrial Free Zones), or providing tourist facilities or establishing a corporate headquarters in Liberia to deduct an ag gregate of up to 30% of the purchase price of 
equipment and machinery from their taxable inco me in the year the equipment was placed in 
service.   
35. Members expressed concern that foreign investors could own, wholly or in partnership with 
Liberians, control business organizations in any sector of the economy of Liberia apart from a 
number of business activities which were reserved exclusively for Liberians, as described in 
paragraph 24 of this Section of this Report.  Th ey asked the representative of Liberia to explain 
the justifications for reserving those businesses to Liberians and whether Liberia planned to open 
ownership to foreign investors.  Specifically, with respect to travel agencies, Members asked, in 
light of Liberia's hopes to rapidly develop the to urism sector, whether the Government of Liberia 
considered that foreign investment in travel agencies could contribute to the development of the sector.  They also expressed concerns with regard to requirements to the total capital invested and 
the aggregate shareholding of the Liberians, as de scribed in paragraph 25 of this Section of this 
Report. 
36. In response, the representative of Liberia sa id that the Government of Liberia was aware 
of the non-discrimination principle in Article III of the GATT 1994 and had this issue under 
consideration.  Liberia's overall development agenda, under the former Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS), Agenda for Transformation (AFT, part of Vision 2030), included the development of its 
domestic private sector as well as the growth and development of a vibrant middle class.  In an WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  effort to facilitate this goal, the Government of  Liberia had reserved specific businesses with a 
relative ease of entry and very low capital investment requirement strategically for Liberians.  The Government of Liberia would monitor and evaluate its strategy with regard to its effectiveness prior to opening these sectors to foreign investors by 1 November 2019. 
37. The representative of Liberia added that the growth and development of the tourism sector 
would include the growth of travel agencies, as described in paragraph 318 of Section "Policies 
Affecting Trade in Services" of this Report, which currently were limited to Liberians.  
The Government of Liberia envisaged that Liberian  owned travel agencies could be instrumental 
without direct foreign interventions. In response to Member's question, he confirmed that there was no limitation on the right of foreign investors to move intra corporate transferees to Liberia. Responding to Members' questions on investment incentives, special tax incentives and additional 
tax incentives, he confirmed that these incentives did not apply equally to foreign and domestic 
businesses. Investment incentives were based on several criteria, including ownership, industry and amounts invested. 
38. The representative of Liberia confirmed that his Government acknowledged that the 
current regime was not in full compliance with the WTO Agreement and was working on addressing the deficiencies by 1 November 2019, with the aim to ensure non-discriminatory treatment of 
foreign investors.  The Working Part y took note of this commitment. 
- State ownership, privatizatio n and state-trading entities 
39. The representative of Liberia said that many of Liberia's public services and export-
oriented enterprises were state-owned and played a significant role in the economy, especially 
since the end of the civil war.  Liberia had 19 state-owned enterprises (SOEs), as well as regulatory agencies, some of which only existed statutorily but were no longer functional.  
The heads of SOEs were appointed by the President.  The legislative acts that created these SOEs 
mandated whether or not Senate confirmation was needed.  He added that, the history of SOEs in 
Liberia was characterized by a high level of corruption and mismanagement that was slowly being addressed.  Liberia's Public Finance Management Act of 2009 set out rules governing the 
management and operation of the SOEs.  The law also defined the mandate and scope of an SOE, 
as a commercial enterprise or any other organizati on established by law, in which government had 
controlling shares.  The Bureau of State Enterprise (BSE) was a parastatal organization responsible 
for SOEs' financial and management oversight but it lacked the government's budgetary support 
needed to be effective.   
40. The Government's strategy for restructuring SOEs before had been two-pronged: (i) firstly, 
it intended to dissolve or privatize SOEs that had become obsolete, unnecessary or appropriate for 
private ownership; and, (ii) secondly, there were ongoing plans to improve efficiency and 
economic governance at the remaining SOEs.  The Government had formed the SOE Working Group, spearheaded by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, to develop multi-year 
strategic and operational frameworks for Liberian SOEs.  The framework for this had been difficult 
to implement, given the economic and social sensitivity of the possible resulting layoffs and the economic chaos created by the Ebola crisis.  The 19 SOEs currently in place, including Liberia 
Sugar Corporation (LSC) which was defunct, were listed in Annex 5 to this Report, with their 
functions and ownership structures.  The represen tative of Liberia added that one state owned 
enterprise, Liberia Cement Corporation (Cemen co), had been fully privatized in 2013.  
41.  The representative of Liberia confirmed that his Government would ensure the 
transparency of its ongoing privatization programme.  He stated that his Government would provide annual reports to WTO Members on developments in its privatization programme as long as the programme would be in existence, and along the lines of the information already provided 
to the Working Party during the accession process. The Working Party took note of 
this commitment. 
42. The representative of Liberia said that the SOEs abided by the same corporate laws and 
principles as private companies, unless otherwise provided for in law.  The enterprises were 
organized with Boards of Directors and adhered to national accounting standards.  The Board of Directors prepared annual reports and audited statements to the shareholders, internal auditors 
and the tax authorities.  The annual reports were published in the Official Bulletin and/or in WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  newspapers.  Independent (external) auditors' reports were always annexed to the annual reports.  
Where an SOE made a profit, that was distribu ted as decided by the Board of Directors. 
43. Regarding state trading, the representative of Liberia said that weapons and munitions 
were imported exclusively by the Ministry of Defence.  Other products, such as fuels and 
lubricants, were imported subject to a special impo rt regime and under an exclusive regime by the 
SOE or other selected enterprises.  Asked to name the state-sanctioned trading monopolies, the representative of Liberia informed that the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC) had the 
mandate to procure and supply quality petroleum and petroleum-related products to the Liberian 
market.  There were no plans on future change  in status of the Liberia Petroleum Refinery 
Company (LPRC). The Liberia Produce Marketing Corporation (LPMC) was responsible for coordinating cocoa production in the cocoa sector  and the exportation of cash crops, such as 
cocoa, coffee, cashews, etc.  Ru bber did not fall under its mandate.  Before the civil crisis, the 
LPMC had operated as a board purchasing cash crops from farmers. Currently, that mandate was 
not enforced, as the LPMC functioned by granti ng licenses to buyers and providing technical 
capacity, as necessary. Process to transform th e LPMC to a regulatory body was underway.  
Once the law passed, the LPMC would cease to exis t, all its functions would not apply, as the new 
regulatory agency, the Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA), would 
regulate the sector. 
44. In response to Member's question about th e Liberia Maritime Authority (LMA) and the 
Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), the representative of Liberia confirmed that the LMA dealt solely with the registration of ships.  It di d not have any responsibilities on fisheries or 
international trade in fishery products.  The LBS was strictly state-owned and operated radio and 
TV stations. It did not act as a regulatory agency for radio or TV stations that were not state-owned.   
45. A Member noted that Liberia designated companies to import petroleum products, cement 
and rice, which meant, in effect, that these firms had "special privileges" in trade, i.e., the right to trade in these products. This Member urged Liberi a to consider notifying these firms as SOEs.  
In response, the representative of Liberia info rmed that the Government of Liberia did not 
designate companies to import cement and rice. Companies importing cement and rice were privately-owned and had to meet specific requirements (three-month stock supplies, etc.) to curtail oligopolistic and monopolistic behaviour, as described in paragraph 73 of Section 
"Registration Requirements for Import/Export Operations; Trading Rights" of this Report.  
Given Liberia's small market, these products were critical for the economic stability of the country. 
46. Based on the information available, some Members considered that Liberia would need to 
notify SOEs listed in Annex 5 to this Report as state trading enterprises (STEs) under Article XVII 
of the GATT 1994. The representative of Liberia rep lied that, as described earlier in this Report, 
the status of its SOEs listed in Annex 5 to this Report was in a state of transformation, e.g., some 
of them being restructured as regulatory agen cies, others being privatized or going out of 
business.  It would be difficult to definitively identify STEs from this list without additional review.  However, Liberia could confirm that, as currently op erating, the LPMC (which was in the process of 
transforming into a regulatory body, the LACRA, as described in paragraph 43 of this Section of 
this Report), the LPRC and the National Oil Company (NOCAL) shared the characteristics of STEs 
as defined by the WTO, and these entities would be notified in Liberia's first formal submission under Article XVII of the GATT 1994. 
47. The representative of Liberia confirmed that Liberia would ensure that all State-owned, 
State-invested, and other enterprises with special or exclusive privileges would make purchases of goods and services, which were not intended for governmental use, and sales in international 
trade, based solely on commercial considerations, e.g. price, quality, marketability and availability, 
and that the enterprises of other WTO Member s would have an adequate opportunity in 
accordance with customary practice to compete for such purchases or sales.  In addition, Liberia would not influence, directly or indirectly, commercial decisions on the part of State-owned, 
State-invested, and other enterprises with special or exclusive privileges, including on the 
quantity, value or country of origin of any goods purchased or sold, except in a manner consistent with the WTO Agreement.  The representative of  Liberia confirmed that upon accession Liberia 
would notify and provide information on the activities of all State-owned, State-invested, and 
other enterprises with special or exclusive privilege s in accordance with Article XVII of the General WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 and the Unde rstanding on that Article.  The Working Party 
took note of these commitments.   
- Pricing policies 
48. The representative of Liberia said that in a small number of specific sectors, there was 
specific concern for oligopolistic behaviour resulting in high prices on essential products.  In trying to address these problems, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) had instituted price monitoring and studied the possibility of price controls, or an appropriate mark-up or profit 
margin.  Currently, Title 14 of the Liberian Codes of Laws Revised ("General Business Law") was 
the legal instrument that regulated the oligopolistic behaviour of business firms in Liberia.  The Liberian Government issued monthly price circulars for cement, rice and petroleum products.  
The circulars set the maximum wholesale prices fo r these products on a month-to-month basis. 
Under the draft Competition Law, which enactment was envisaged in October 2015, the Government of Liberia would address the issues of oligopolistic behaviour on the market and 
promote fair competition in all sectors.  There were no other provisions for price controls in 
Liberian law. 
49. The representative of Liberia confirmed that pricing policy in Liberia would be applied in 
compliance with the provisions of Article III:4 and XI:1 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and 
Trade  1994 and Article 4 of the WTO Agreement on  Agriculture.  He further stated that in the 
application of price controls now or in the future, Liberia would apply such measures in a WTO-consistent fashion, and take account of the interests of exporting WTO Members as provided 
for in Article III:9 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994.  Liberia would publish the 
list of goods and services subject to State monitoring or control and any changes to this list in its Official Gazette, and at least three local dailies, along with the official website of the Ministry of 
Commerce and Industry (www.moci.gov.lr) and wo uld continue to do so after accession.  
The Working Party took note of these commitments.  
- Competition policy 50. The representative of Liberia said that the re gulation of competition policy was addressed 
in Title 14 of the Liberian Codes of Laws Revised ("General Business Law").  The Law was based on 
the need to prevent unfair trade practices and anti-c ompetitive behaviour, as well as to ensure an 
active and efficient free market economy.  In recent years, there had been increasing concerns in 
the Government of Liberia about the anti-competiti ve practices of some businesses in key sectors, 
especially among those distributing imported goods such as cement, rice and other areas of retail.  To avoid possible abuse of monopolistic position by big companies, the Government of Liberia 
intended to promote the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and expand the scope for the 
establishment of new ones, to ensure that major foreign-owned businesses did not dominate small and medium-sized enterprises.  He noted that the Government had initiated annual SME conferences with the private sector to understand their constraints and to provide more 
opportunities for SMEs.  
51. In 2010, Liberia had developed a draft Competition Law, currently going through 
stakeholder review before being submitted to the National Legislature for enactment, envisaged in 
October 2015.  The new law would tackle conspiracies in relation to trade including price fixing and 
market allocation; unfair trade practices including misrepresentations and price maintenance; anti-competitive behaviour including abuse of dominant position; and, mergers.  The current 
system, under Title 14 of the Liberian Codes of Laws Revised ("General Business Law"), allowed 
the Ministry of Justice to investigate cases relating to unfair prohibited trade practices, such as, price fixing and market allocation.  
III. FRAMEWORK FOR MAKING AND ENFORCING POLICIES 
- Powers of Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches of Government  
52. The representative of Liberia informed that the 1986 Liberia Constitution (hereinafter: 
Constitution) had replaced the 1847 Constitution  which had been suspended on 12 April 1980.  
The Constitution had come into force on 6 January 1986.  WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 16 - 
 
  53. The form of government was Republican with three separate coordinate branches:  the 
Executive, the Legislative, and the Judicial.  Consis tent with the principles of separation of powers 
and checks and balances, no person holding office in  one of these branches could hold office in or 
exercise any of the powers assigned to either of the other two branches except as otherwise 
provided for in the Constitution; and no person ho lding office in one of the said branches could 
serve on any autonomous public agency.  An ex ample of an exception to the principles of 
separation of power was the Vice President who was in the Executive Branch and served as the 
President of the Senate, presiding over the deliber ations without the right to vote, except in the 
case of a tie. 
54. The Executive Power of the Republic of Liberi a was vested in the President who was Head 
of State, Head of Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia.  
The President was elected by universal adult suffrage of registered voters and held office for a 
term of six years.  All Liberian citizens 18 years of age or older were allowed to vote.  No person could serve as President for more than two terms.  The President had the power to conduct the 
foreign affairs of Liberia (including foreign trade policy which, as per the authority of the 
Legislature, had to be authorized in law) and, in that connection, was empowered to conclude treaties, conventions and similar international agreements with the concurrence of a majority of 
each House of the Legislature.  The President appointed the Cabinet to carry out government 
functions, subject to the confirmation by the Senate.  The President also nominated and appointed the heads of regulatory bodies and 19 State-owne d enterprises (SOEs).  The information about the 
regulatory bodies, where the President did the appointing, and, whether these appointments 
needed legislative confirmation, was contained in Annex 6 to this Report.   
55. Liberia had a bicameral Legislature, a Senate and a House of Representatives, consisting of 
73 representatives and 30 senators, respectively.  Senators were elected for a nine-year term, and 
the members of the House of Representatives were elected for a six-year term.  Under the 
Constitution, the Legislature had the power to ratify treaties, conventions and other international agreements negotiated or signed by the Executive on behalf of Liberia and to regulate trade and 
commerce between Liberia and other nations. 
56. Making and enacting laws was one of the Legislature's most important responsibilities.
3 
According to the Constitution, in order to become la w, bills had to be passed by a majority vote in 
both Chambers and signed by the President.  Every proposal for making a law had to be made in 
the form of a bill by members of the Legislature or  by the Executive.  The bills could be introduced 
to the Legislature, either the House of Representa tives or the Senate, only by members of either 
chamber.  The ideas for bills could come from individual citizens, communities, civil society 
organizations or government institutions. The process was as follows: 
(i) A bill was introduced to either the House of Representatives or the Senate, depending 
on the sponsor of the bill, by a member of either chamber,  and given a first reading;  
(ii) The bill was assigned to a committee where members would debate the issues and 
could introduce changes.  The committee submitted a report to the plenary;  
(iii) The bill was given a second reading by the plenary. The members could decide to 
send the bill back to the committee or make amendments;  
(iv) When the legislators were satisfied that there had been sufficient debate, the bill as 
amended was given a third reading in the plenary and members were called on to vote in favour of or against it. If members passed the bill, it was sent on to the other 
chamber of the Legislature for consideration;  
(v) The bill was introduced into second chamber and given a first reading; 
(vi) The bill was assigned to a committee where members would debate the issues and 
could make changes.  The committee submitted a report to the plenary; 
                                               
3 Other responsibilities of the Legislature were to: create new counties; levy taxes; constitute courts 
inferior to the Supreme Court; approve treaties, conventions and other international agreements; regulate trade and commerce between Libe ria and other nations; etc. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  (vii) The bill was given a second reading by the plenary.  The members could decide to 
send the bill back to the committee or make amendments;  
(viii)  When the legislators were satisfied that there had been sufficient debate, the bill as 
amended was given a third reading in the plenary and members were called on to 
vote in favour of or against it.  If the other chamber concurred with the first, the bill 
was sent to the President for executive approval; and, 
(ix) Once a bill had either been signed by the President or vetoed but passed by a 2/3 
majority of each chamber, the bill was published into law. 
This process, particularly, would apply to the ratification of the WTO Accession Protocol. 57. The Executive Branch, headed by the President,  was composed of ministries and agencies. 
Each ministry and agency was created by law through the legislative process mentioned in 
paragraph 56 of this Section of this Report.  Wi th the power vested in each ministry and agency, 
each had the authority to create regulations for the enhancement of its mandate enshrined in the statute creating them.  Regulations created should neither violate provisions of the Constitution 
nor the Act creating the ministry or agency.  Th e head of each ministry and agency, or his/her 
designate, was the person empowered to sign and issue regulations. 
58. The representative of Liberia noted that, in a ccordance with Title 12 of the Liberian Codes 
of Laws Revised ("Executive Law"), heads of ministries or independent agencies (including SOEs) 
under the Executive Branch, subject to approval by  the President, issued regulations within their 
respective mandates.  These  regulations were implementing already enacted legislation, but not 
limited to it, and could extend to issues not di rectly addressed by the existing legislation.  
To facilitate the process of transforming the regulatory regime towards its full WTO consistency, as 
a temporary measure, the Government had decided to issue the regulations necessary to ensure WTO consistency of Liberia's trade regime prior to its accession.  The respective legislation would 
be adopted and enacted during the transition peri ods granted to Liberia in accordance with its 
Protocol of Accession.  He confirmed that if a WTO commitment had not yet been enacted in law, the WTO Agreement and Liberia's Protocol for Accession would still be considered legally binding in 
Liberia. 
59. The representative of Liberia also confirmed that international treaties and agreements 
ratified by the Legislature, including the WTO Ag reement, had precedence over domestic laws.  
If laws and other acts of Liberia were found to contradict international treaties or agreements, the 
provisions of the international treaty or agreem ent, such as the WTO Agreement, would apply. 
All legislative or regulatory instruments necessary for the application of the WTO provisions would be adopted and enacted upon accession, with the exception of those in the areas where Liberia 
would be granted transition periods in accordance with its Protocol of Accession.  The Working 
Party took note of these commitments. 
60. The judiciary was divided into four levels: (i) traditional or lay courts which existed in rural 
areas of the country; (ii) justices of the peace and magistrate courts (courts not of record); 
(iii) circuit and specialized courts (e.g., the Tax Court, the Commercial Court, the Probate Court, etc.); and, (iv) the Supreme Court.  He explained that:  
1)  Traditional or lay court handled minor issues, such as ownership of chattels, 
farmland use, spousal disputes, etc. in a given traditional locale; these courts did 
not handle criminal issues.   
2)  Magistrate courts and justices of the peace (courts not of record) were fast track 
courts that dealt with civil and criminal matters. For civil matters, they had 
jurisdiction over issues related to recovery of money or chattels of value less than L$14,999.99; recovery of real property or rent of up to L$14,999.99; for criminal 
matters, determinations on subjecting to trial of persons charged with an offence 
over which a superior court had jurisdiction alleged to have been committed in a magisterial area, except for cases of rape or sexual violence. The magisterial courts had original jurisdiction over petit larceny and misdemeanour of first, WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  second and third degrees.  The magisterial courts where there was no Traffic Court 
would handle violations of the Vehicle and Traffic law.  
3)  Circuit courts exercised original general jurisdiction, over all cases as to which 
another court was not expressly given exclusive original jurisdiction by 
constitutional or statutory provision.  The circuit courts also had jurisdiction over 
admiralty cases.  The circuit courts had subject matter jurisdiction over criminal and civil matters.  Appeals from magisterial courts were lodged at the circuit courts 
in the jurisdictional areas in which the magisterial courts are located.  Specialized 
courts had been created by statutes to adjudicate certain special issues of law such as debt, tax, rape, etc.  This specialized courts' jurisdiction was limited to the subject matter for which they had been created. Additionally, the Specialized 
courts served as judicial reviewers of decisions from administrative agencies (e.g., 
decision taken from tax matter heard by the Board of Tax Appeals (BoTA) would be reviewed by the Tax Court) and inferior courts such as the magisterial courts. 
4)  The Supreme Court had original jurisdiction in all cases affecting ambassadors, or 
other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a county was a party.  The Supreme Court also had jurisdiction of all appeals from courts of record and from 
rulings of Justices of the Supreme Court presiding in Chambers on applications for 
remedial and extraordinary writs, including refusal to issue such writs, and shall be 
the court of final resort in all such cases.   
The formal judicial system remained hampered by severe shortages of qualified judges and judicial 
officers. 
- Government entities responsible for ma king and implementing policies affecting 
foreign trade; Right of appeal 
61. The representative of Liberia informed that th e Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) 
was responsible for making and implementing policies regarding domestic and international trade under the Executive Act of 1972 that was amended in 1987.  The functions of the Ministry of 
Commerce and Industry included, as provided for under the Act, promotion, development, 
regulation, control, operation and expansion of commercial, industrial enterprises and activities in Liberia.  The Ministry of Commerce and Industry ex ercised powers with respect to protection of the 
public interest and the achievement of national  goals through the establishment and enforcement 
of standards for commodities and trade.  Such  functions, as required by the public and 
government agencies in pursuit of these objectives , were administered by or under the purview of 
the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.  In execution of its functions, the Ministry of Commerce 
and Industry: 
- established and regulated commodity and trade standards; 
- collected, evaluated and published data pertaining to commerce and industry; 
- established and enforced standards of business practice; 
- promoted sound development of foreign and domestic commerce; - developed plans for the movements of goods and people to and from Liberia;  - conducted the registration of business enterprises; and, 
- performed other functions that could be assigned by the President. 
62. Some activities, such as administration of bilateral trade agreements, such as the 
Economic Community of West African States (ECO WAS) and the Mano River Union, were handled 
by other agencies, such as the Ministry of Fina nce and Development Planning and the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs.  The responsibility for customs procedures and duties and taxes on imported 
products was held by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and the Liberia Revenue 
Authority.  In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health were responsible for 
sanitary and phytosanitary inspections at ports of  entry; and the Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) was involved in the import and export of products, such as chemicals and controlled 
substances.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was responsible for signing trade treaties or 
agreements on behalf of the Republic of Liberia.  Responsibility for regulating trade in services was 
diffuse and spread over a range of government bodies.   WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  63. The representative of Liberia informed that Section 59 of the Liberia Revenue Code of 
2000, as Amended in 2011 (hereinafter: Revenue Code),  provided the right of appeal or protest of 
a customs decision.  In accordance with the Code, the appeal process began at the Board of Tax Appeals (BoTA), which was an administrative review body.  The BoTA would grant a regular 
hearing within six months of the date of the trader's request for a hearing.  An emergency hearing 
could be granted within ten days (e.g., in case of seizure of property).  The decision of the BoTA 
was appealable to the Tax Court, within 60 days of  the BoTA decision.  In response to Member's 
question on the relationship of the BoTA and th e Tax Court to the Executive, he informed that 
members of the BoTA and judges of the Tax Cour t were appointed by the President (Head of the 
Executive Branch).  Neither of these bodies repo rted to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. 
He added that it was also possible for traders to appeal or protest a customs decision to the Tax 
Court, directly. Party litigants might seek redress from a decision of the Tax Court by petitioning 
the Supreme Court of Liberia.  He also informed that, Section 1239 of the draft Customs Code would provide for an additional mechanism of appeal within customs, as a "first and fast" 
administrative remedy.  The draft Customs Code, when enacted, would provide for an 
administrative appeal system within customs whose decision could be appealed to the BoTA, the Tax Court and the Supreme Court.  The representative of Liberia informed that in addition to 
complaints relating to tariff, fees and taxes, ot her trade-related issues including suspension and 
revocation of licenses would be protested and/or appealed through both administrative and judicial procedures. Chapter 82 ("Administrative Procedure Act") of Title 12 of the Liberian Codes of Laws Revised ("Executive Law") provided that all mini stries and other autonomous agencies of the 
Executive Branch of the Government were mandated to appoint as many qualified hearing officers 
a s  n e c e s s a r y  t o  h o l d  h e a r i n g s  r e q u i r e d  b y  l a w .   E v e r y  m i n i s t r y  o r  a g e n c y  w o u l d  p r o c e e d  w i t h  reasonable dispatch to conclude any matter presented to it.  A person who had exhausted all 
administrative remedies within a ministry or agency was entitled to judicial review.  According to 
Chapter 6, Section 6.2 of Title 17 of the Liberian Codes of Laws Revised ("Judiciary Law"), the Tax 
Court would hear complaints about trade issues other than tariffs, fees, or taxes  to the extent of 
the Revenue Code.  Protest and appeals were not limited to the BoTA and the Tax Court but also 
to any competent court of justice including the Commercial Court, other civil law courts and the Supreme Court.  Chapter 1, Section 1.8 of Title 7 of the Liberian Codes of Laws Revised ("Commercial Code") stipulated the functions of the Commercial Court, inter alia , hearing issues 
relating to transactions in the sale of goods.  
64. The representative of Liberia confirmed that the current constitution, laws and regulations 
provided the necessary institutional base for the pr ompt administrative and judicial review of the 
administrative actions.  The representative of Liberia further confirmed that, from the date of 
accession, Liberia's laws and regulations would provide individuals or enterprises affected by any administrative action subject to WTO provisions, the right to appeal such action, without penalty, 
both to a higher administrative authority and to the courts or other independent tribunal in 
conformity with WTO obligations, including those set out in Article X of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, Article 23 of the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, Article 11 of the WTO Agreement on Impl ementation of Article VII of the GATT 1994, 
Article 62 of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and 
Article VI of the General Agreement on Trade in Services.  The tribunals or procedures would also include actions relating to the implementation of  national treatment, conformity assessment, the 
regulation, control, supply or promotion of a service, including the grant or denial of a licence to 
provide a service and other matters.  The tribunals or procedures responsible for such reviews would be impartial and independent of the agency  entrusted with administrative enforcement and 
would not have any substantial interest in the outcome of the matter.  The review procedure would 
include the opportunity for appeal, without penalty, by individuals or enterprises affected by any administrative action subject to review.  Notice of the decision on appeal would be given to the appellant and the reasons for such a decision would be provided in writing.  The Working Party 
took note of these commitments. 
- Division of authority between central and sub-central governments 
65. The representative of Liberia said that Liberia was a unitary state with full trade and treaty 
powers vested in and exercised by the central government. Under the Liberian governance structure, a unitary state was one in which the central government was supreme and the subdivisions were subject to the laws and regu lations promulgated by the central government. 
He explained that, for administrative purposes, Liberia was divided into counties.  There were WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  15 counties in Liberia.  The counties were subdivided into 68 districts, districts into townships, 
townships into chiefdoms, chiefdoms into clans, and clans into towns or villages.  County authorities, district commissioners, city mayors, township commissioners and superintendents were appointed by the Presiden t.  They exercised executive authority and 
enforced municipal laws and ordinances by virtue of the fact that they were an extension of the 
Executive branch of government. They did not have the power to legislate or introduce any trade-related measures.  The Minister of Intern al Affairs was the chief officer of the local 
governments, responsible for overseeing local administration.  There were also elections for 
paramount, clan and town chiefs by the registered voters in their respective localities, to serve for a term of six years. Paramount, clan and town chiefs served as both points of notification and enforcers of central laws and regulations in their localities based on directives of the 
superintendents responsible for the enforcement of central laws and regulations in the counties.  
He confirmed that there were no local parliaments. The superintendents, district commissioners as well as the elected officials were all subject to the direct control of the executive authority.  
In accordance with Title 20 of the Liberian Codes of Laws Revised ("Local Government Law"), local 
bodies had authority over budgetary issues, took care of public property and could execute and 
enforce laws related to their respective localities.  He confirmed that local governments could not 
make laws and regulations for the governance of ar eas under their control.  The representative of 
Liberia added that there was currently a plan to transfer the authority on tax collection to the counties level.  Policies that increasingly put power in the hands of local communities were taking hold with the passing of the Community Rights La w, endorsement of a National Decentralization 
Policy, and the creation of county-level branches for government service delivery. 
66. The representative of Liberia confirmed that all financial, budgetary and tax collection 
activities performed by local governments would be in compliance with Article III of the General 
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994.  The representative of Liberia confirmed that sub-central 
entities (local administrative bodies) had no autonomous authority over issues of subsidies, taxation, trade policy or any other measures covered by WTO provisions.  He confirmed that, upon 
accession, Liberia would apply WTO provisions and Liberia's Protocol of Accession uniformly 
throughout the entire customs territory, including in special economic zones, and other areas where special regimes for tariffs, taxes and regula tions were established.  He further confirmed 
that when apprised or alerted of a situation where WTO provisions were not being applied or were 
applied in a non-uniform manner, central authorities would act to enforce WTO provisions without 
requiring affected parties to petition through the courts.  The Working Party took note of these commitments. 
IV. POLICIES AFFECTING TRADE IN GOODS 
- Registration requirements for impo rt/export operations; Trading rights 
67. The representative of Liberia informed that business registration statistics indicated 
that the Liberia Business Registry (LBR) had registered a total of 4,950 businesses as of November 2011, of which 625 were foreign-owned.  In 2013, a total of 7,459 businesses were registered, of which 479 or 6% were foreign-owned.  As of October 2014, a total of 6,006 
businesses were registered in 2014, representing 5,636 Liberians and 370 for foreign-owned 
businesses.  The LBR had been established in April 2011, as a one-stop business registry to simplify and speed up the process of starting a bu siness, allowing entrepreneurs to register their 
businesses within 48 hours. 
68. The representative of Liberia said that the ex isting registration requirements were for all 
businesses.  Currently, business registration was required for domestic and foreign natural and 
legal persons to import goods.  Chapter 4 ("Busi ness registration") of Title 14 of the Liberian 
Codes of Laws Revised ("General Business Law") required that no person should conduct or carry on a business unless he had registered such a business.  The Investment Act of 2010 required that any person who intended to establish an enterpri se should incorporate and/or register a business 
organization in accordance with Title 5 of the Liberian Codes of Laws Revised ("Associations Law") 
or such laws as were relevant to the establishment of the enterprise.  
69. Registration of business in Liberia had prev iously been undertaken by the Division of 
Domestic Trade of the Ministry of Commerce and In dustry (MoCI).  Before engaging in importing 
or exporting, all businesses had been required to : (i) register with the Ministry of Commerce and WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  Industry; and, (ii) obtain approval from the respective sector ministries.  This process was 
cumbersome and involved several ministries: Finance, and Foreign Affairs, along with other agencies, such as the National Social Security Corp oration, and the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL).  
This process took more than a month to register a business.  
70. After the Ministry of Commerce and Industry had implemented a programme to streamline 
business registration, the registration process, on  average, took about ten days and required a 
signature of the Registrar General for approval.  Liberia had implemented a computerized national 
business registry that simplified and sped up the process of starting a business, allowing 
entrepreneurs to register their businesses within 48 hours.  The registration procedure for starting a business had been improved in Liberia.  The au tomated system had increased Liberia's specific 
ranking on "Starting a Business" in the World Ba nk's "Doing Business" Report from 64 in 2011 to 
35 in 2012.  In the 2015 Report, Liberia was ranked 30 on "Starting a Business".  The Business 
registration process depended on the type of business ownership: (i) sole proprietorship, (ii) partnership or, (iii) incorporated business, etc.  
71. The process of registration of a business was now reduced to the following procedures: 
(i) An applicant submitted an application to register the business, providing the 
required documents (articles of incorporation and the identification card), and 
paying the fee, as described in the Regi stry's Web site: www.lbr.gov.lr. This first 
step could be completed within a day; and, 
(ii) An applicant received an approval of the application and the Business Registration 
Certificate. This second step could also be completed within one day from the date 
of application, bringing the total time of registering an enterprise to be within 48 hours (two days). 
72.  The representative of Liberia referred to Annex 7 to this Report which contained 
information on the current fees structure for business registration in Liberia. 
73. To engage in importing certain products, importers had to obtain an Import Permit 
Declaration (IPD), as discussed in Section "Quantitative Import Restrictions, including Prohibitions, 
Quotas and Licensing Systems" of this Report. For the highly monitored sectors of petroleum, 
cement and rice, the businesses also had to contact, directly, the Minister for Commerce and Industry for authorization, based on specific technical requirements related to standards, 
warehousing, etc., before they could start the import business, as described in paragraphs from 
137 to 146 of Section "Quantitative Import Restrictions, including Prohibitions, Quotas and Licensing Systems" of this Report.  The representative of Liberia informed that all the criteria 
applied were technical and all firms interested in such enterprise that met the criteria could import 
these products. He added that currently there were nine firms authorized to import petroleum products, and seven firms authorized to import ri ce.  On cement, he emphasized that the cement 
market was open to all importers.  Currently, gi ven that Liberia had a cement plant (Cemenco), 
only one importer was operating. 
74. Members asked the representative of Liberia about the state-of-play in the process of 
implementing a computerized national business regi stry.  The representative of Liberia responded 
that the Liberia Business Registry (LBR) was a priority of the Liberia Poverty Reduction Strategy 
(PRS). It had been delivered by the Ministry of  Commerce and Industry in partnership with the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, the CBL and the 
National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP).  The initiative had been supported 
by the Investment Climate Facility (ICF) for Africa and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) which provided technical expertise and logist ical and financial support.  The LBR was a 
semi-autonomous Government of Liberia agency operating as a one-stop-shop to formalize / 
register enterprises and provide information se rvices to the public.  The LBR, launched on 
18 April 2011, registered all types and categories of businesses through the computerized system, 
which had the potential of registering a business within at most 48 hours, if all requirements for a 
particular enterprise registration were complied with. 
75. Members noted the statement of the representative of Liberia that foreign-owned 
businesses earlier had to submit articles of incorporation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, and that fees were levied.  They requested further 
clarification on these incorporation requirements for foreign-owned businesses, and why the requirements were different for Liberian-owned busi nesses.  With respect to different fees applied 
to business incorporation depending on whether they were Liberian- or foreign-owned, Members 
asked to clarify the basis for such fees, and how these fees were in line with the cost of the actual 
service rendered.  Members asked whether Liberia intended to remove the discrimination between 
foreign-owned businesses and locally-owned businesses and encouraged Liberia to bring the 
business licenses fees into compliance with WTO principles. 
76. The representative of Liberia responded that the new registration process, which no longer 
required the submission of articles of incorpor ation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the 
Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, was described in paragraph 70 of this Section of 
this Report.  His Government was aware that the current registration practice, in terms of fees 
levied, constituted an infringement of the non-discr imination principle.  The higher registration fee 
for foreign businesses was a source of revenue for the Government of Liberia.  The disparity in 
business registration fees between foreign and domestic businesses was being reviewed within the 
context of revenue generation, and nature of business, with the view to bring the business 
registration fees into compliance with WTO prin ciples by the date of accession.  The draft 
regulation on Fees for Business Registration containing non-discriminatory business registration 
fee rates had been developed with the view to enactment in September 2015.  The new fee rates 
were reflected in Annex 8 to this Report and would apply to both domestic and foreign entities seeking business registration in Liberia. 
77. Members also noted that current law appeared to constitute a domestic presence 
requirement.  They requested the representative of Liberia to clarify whether a foreign (legal or natural) person could directly import a product for a customer in Liberia without first establishing 
domestic presence in Liberia.  Specifically, they requested a clarification on whether an importer of 
record (not distributing imports in the domestic market) was required to be registered as a business in Liberia.  If Liberia required foreign persons to establish a domestic presence in Liberia 
before they were permitted to import, Members asked to explain the rationale for this requirement 
in addition to registration in order to import.   
78. Concerning the right to engage in importation or exportation, the representative of Liberia 
said that foreign and Liberian nationals had the righ t to import goods.  Although Liberia recognized 
the distinction between the right to import and the right to distribute goods in the domestic 
market, the term "importer of record" was not documented in its legislation.  The definition of importer of record was included in the draft Foreign Trade Law.  According to Section 9 of the draft 
Foreign Trade Law, a foreign person would be permi tted to import goods into Liberia solely as the 
importer of record, provided this person did not en gage in any further activities in respect of such 
goods, without having to comply with the domestic laws of Liberia regarding licensing, registration 
or other similar requirements applicable to persons who conducted or carried on business in 
Liberia.  The draft Foreign Trade Law was envisaged to be enacted and enter into force in October 2015.  When the Foreign Trade Law was enacted, business registration would not be required for importers of record as long as the importer did not distribute locally. 
79. He added that foreign (legal or natural) persons could directly import a product for a 
customer in Liberia without establishing a domestic presence in Liberia (in that case, the foreign firm was the exporter and the customer was the impo rter).  The exporter (legal or natural person) 
did not have to meet the domestic presence requir ement to export to Liberia, and did not have to 
be registered. The importer (legal or natural person) had to meet the domestic presence requirement depending on the end use (personal or  commercial) of the product being imported.   
80. To be involved in importation of good for sale/distribution, a person had to be recognized 
by the laws of Liberia as a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation or joint venture.  In order to be legally engaged in these activities, the business had to be registered, and during this process, a Tax Identification Number (TIN) was assigned to this business.  The requirement to 
have a legal presence in Liberia was provided for in Chapter 4.2 of Title 14 of the Liberian Codes of 
Laws Revised ("General Business Law").  The legal presence did not have to be the commercial presence. In response to Member's question on how substantial the presence had to be, the 
representative of Liberia informed that the Li beria Business Registry (LBR) required a mailing 
address, which could be, but not necessarily required to be, a physical location.  WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  81. With regard to ownership restrictions described in paragraph 24 of Section "Investment 
Regime" of this Report, a Member noted that the importation of used cars and clothing was reserved to Liberians.  This Member asked if th e restriction extended to both natural and legal 
persons, i.e. whether a foreign-owned corporation registered in Liberia might deal import of such 
goods.  The representative of Liberia responded that a foreign-owned corporation registered in 
Liberia could not import such goods, except for authorized dealerships which dealt in certified used vehicles of their made, as indicated in paragr aph 24 of Section "Investment Regime" of this 
Report, and corporations having existed before passage of the Investment Act of 2010.  
Requirements for importation were documented in the administrative notice of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of 12 June 2013 No. MCI/No.008/06/2013.  
82. With regard to information provided in paragraph 69 of this Section of this Report, 
Members asked the representative of Liberia to cl arify what sort of approval could be required 
from respective sector ministries, which ministries could be involved, and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) approval process. 
83. The representative of Liberia informed that the Liberian Business Registry (LBR) had the 
role of registering enterprises in accordance with  Chapter 4 of Title 14 of the Liberian Codes of 
Laws Revised ("General Business Law").  The LBR advised the enterprise, based upon the line or 
lines of business activity, to obtain the requisite operating licence from the Ministry or Agency with 
oversight and technical responsibility. Listed below were examples of some of the business 
activities that required a licence or permit from the relevant sector Ministry or Agency: 
- Fishing activity and other agricultural activities – Ministry of Agriculture; 
- Sale of motor vehicles, parts and accessories (other transport related activities) – Ministry 
of Transport; 
- Sale of pharmaceuticals – Pharmaceutical Board of Liberia; 
- Mining activities – Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy; 
- Logging activities and/or forestry related activities – Forestry Development Authority 
(FDA); 
- Construction-related activities – Ministry of Public Works; 
- Private security guard services – Ministry of Justice; and, - Buying and selling "scrapped materials" – Mini stry of Lands, Mines and Energy/Ministry of 
Justice, and other relevant ministries. 
84. The representative of Liberia confirmed that  from the date of accession, Liberia would 
grant any natural or legal person, regardless of physical presence or investment in Liberia, the right to be the importer of record of any product allowed to be imported into Liberia, at any level 
of distribution, and that its laws and regulations relating to the right to trade in goods and all fees, 
charges or taxes levied on such rights would conform fully with its WTO obligations, including Articles VIII:1(a), XI:1, and III:2 and 4 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, 
Article III of the General Agreement on Trade in Services, and Article 63 of the WTO Agreement on 
Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.  He also confirmed that full rights to import 
and to export would be granted in a non-discriminatory and non-discretionary manner from the date of accession, and any requirements for commercial registration or application for trading 
rights would be for customs and fiscal purposes only, would not require investment in Liberia nor 
confer the right to distribute there, and would not constitute a barrier to trade.  The Working Party 
took note of these commitments.   
A. IMPORT REGULATIONS 
- Ordinary customs duties, customs tariff 
85. The representative of Liberia said the legal framework for the tariff regime in Liberia was 
the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended in 2011 (hereinafter: Revenue Code). The tariff 
was composed of four schedules, as described in Annex 9 to this Report.  In line with the Revenue Code and the ECOWAS Harmonized Commodity Description Code, Liberia applied the Harmonized 
Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) developed by the World Customs Organization 
(WCO), as amended by the Protocol of Amendm ent of 24 June 1986. Liberia had acceded to the 
HS Convention in 2010.  Liberia's national tariff schedule was based on HS 1996 until July 2012 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  when it was migrated to, and became effective with the HS 2012 as required by the WCO and in 
line with Sections 1711 and 1712 of the Revenue Code.  
86. Liberia applied custom duties on both ad valorem  and specific duty bases.  The majority of 
the duties were on an ad valorem  basis.  The structure of Liberian tariff regime had a total number 
of 110 (1.9%) tariff rates in a specific duty basis.  Those lines included rice, sugar confectionery, 
beverages, spirits and soaps, organic surface – ac tive reagents products among other products.  
87. The representative of Liberia said that custom s import duty tariff structure for Liberia was 
relatively simple.  On the structure, he referred to Annex 10 and Annex 11 to this Report. 
The structure had 12 basic ad valorem  tariff rates: (i) 0%; (ii) 1.5%; (iii) 2.5%; (iv) 5%; (v) 
7.5%; (vi) 10%; (vii) 11%; (viii) 15%; (ix) 20% ; (x) 25%; (xi) 45%; and, (xii) 50%. The most 
common ad valorem  duty rate was 5%, accounting for some 1,930 products (33% of all the 
product lines).  The least common tariff rate was 45%, only for one product.  Two products 
(scientific or school printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter, and monetary gold) were duty free.  The structure also had 24 sp ecific duty rate bases.  He added that, import 
duty was an important component of Liberia Government's revenue.  The total government 
revenue for the fiscal year 2013/2014 had been US$395.925 million, with import duty contributing some US$155.1 million (30%). 
88. Liberia was in the process of phasing in the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) with 
the aim of harmonizing its tariff regime with the CET.  The ECOWAS CET had five categories and five rates (0%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 35%) which on aver age were higher than tariffs currently being 
applied in Liberia.  The ECOWAS member States applying the CET, such as Senegal and Togo, 
currently had an average ad valorem  tariff of around 12.1%, and it was expected that on 
implementation of the CET, average tariffs in Liberia would rise to the similar level.   
89. In 2007, the weighted average tariff rate of Liberia had been 11.32%.  Except for the 
countries who were members of the Mano River Union (MRU), Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, and Sierra 
Leone, all the import duties applied on an MFN ba sis.  The representative of Liberia noted that 
when Liberia began the implementation of the EC OWAS CET , the tariff structure of Liberia would 
have the same five categories as one of the ECOW AS CET, as reflected in Annex 12 to this Report. 
90. Liberia was also a member of the MRU.  Th e MRU had been established in 1973 by Liberia 
and Sierra Leone.  Guinea had joined the MRU in 1980 and Côte d'Ivoire had joined in 2008.  The goal of the MRU was to foster economic cooperation among the member countries but 
currently most of the efforts were geared towards maintenance of peace in the region.  Trade with 
member countries was duty free.  Goods traded in  the region were accompanied with the region's 
proof of origin (in a form indicating that the goods were of local origin).  The customs declaration 
had to be accompanied by a proof of the MRU origin (certificate of origin).  The certificate of origin 
had to be signed by the industry, approved by th e customs administration and attested to by the 
MRU country office in the country of origin. 
91. The representative of Liberia informed that Li beria had originally planned to implement the 
ECOWAS CET from 1 January 2015, as was requeste d by the ECOWAS Commission and agreed by 
the ECOWAS member States. However, due to the Ebola outbreak, Liberia would commence the implementation of the ECOWAS CET on 1 January 2016.  Liberia was currently reviewing a draft 
three-year migration plan for full implementation of the ECOWAS CET (including the application of 
the five tariff bands, including the 35% band for the sensitive products) by 1 January 2019.  There were exceptions that allowed Liberia to deviate from ECOWAS CET for a maximum number 
of 3% of the total tariff lines of the ECOWAS CET fo r a period not more than five years.  However, 
those exceptions were strictly conditioned to certain occurrences and came into two categories (forms), as stated in Article 2 of the ECOWAS Regulation C/REG.1/09/13 of 1 September 2013 
"On Supplementary Protection Measures (SPM) for the Implementation of the ECOWAS Common 
External Tariff" (hereinafter: SPM Regulation):
 (i) Import Adjustment Tax which was a temporary 
duty that an ECOWAS member State could apply only when a country's MFN was higher than the ECOWAS CET at the time of entry of the SPM Regula tion into force; and, (ii) Supplementary Tax 
which was an additional duty to the ECOWAS CET that an ECOWAS member State could apply due 
to increase in the volume of imports of a produc t entering the customs territory of this ECOWAS 
member State during any year equalled or exceeded  25% of the average imports for the last three 
preceding years, or average CIF import price of shipments entering the customs territory of an 
ECOWAS member State during any month fell below 80% of average CIF for the last three years. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  There was no separate Liberia Tariff Law for the implementation of the ECOWAS CET.  The three-
year migration plan would be ratified by the Le gislature in December 2015.  By the end of the 
three-year migration period, Liberia would have the tariff in alignment with the ECOWAS CET including nomenclature and rates. However, Liberi a would have to further subdivide some of the 
ECOWAS CET tariff lines for statistical and other purposes, though the ECOWAS CET rates would 
be maintained in those subdivisions.  Thus, Liberia would have 5,917 total tariff lines with the implementation of the ECOWAS CET, thou gh the ECOWAS CET had 5,899 tariff lines. 
The representative of Liberia informed that the ECOWAS CET was already the basis of Liberia's 
goods offer. 
92. The representative of Liberia said that the ad valorem  duty on imports currently ranged 
from 0% to 50%.  He added that upon the implem entation of the ECOWAS CET, the tariff rates on 
imported products would be simplified into five tariff bands, i.e., 0%, 5%, 10%, 20% and, 35% 
(for the sensitive products). 
93. Members asked the representative of Liberia to clarify Liberia's position on the fifth band 
for the ECOWAS CET tariff schedule (for the sensitiv e products) of 35%, which had been agreed by 
the ECOWAS ministers in November 2008, and whether Liberia had its own methodology for identifying sensitive products.  
94. In response to Member's question on the sens itive products, the representative of Liberia 
informed that the list of critical essential commodities had been compiled by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) and made up of g oods considered to be essential and politically 
sensitive for reconstruction and poverty reduction.  The list of critical essential commodities was 
currently made up of three goods: rice, petrol eum products, and cement.  In response to a 
question from a Member on import tariff on rice, which was currently suspended, he confirmed that, from 1 January 2019, Liberia would apply th e ECOWAS CET duty on rice at the level of 10%, 
i.e. rice would not be considered as a sensitive product part of the fifth band for the ECOWAS CET 
tariff schedule.  The representative of Liberia re -confirmed that the tariff rates on the sensitive 
products, as defined in the ECOWAS CET, would be in line with the ECOWAS CET by 
1 January 2019. 
- Other duties and charges 95. The representative of Liberia said that imports into Liberia from non-ECOWAS member 
States were currently charged 0.5% of the valu e of imports (CIF) as the ECOWAS Community Levy 
(ECL). This charge was the statutory contribution to the ECOWAS secretariat for running of the 
community's operations.  According to the Protocol on the ECOWAS Community Levy, each ECOWAS member State was expected to pay a tax of 0.5% of the value of imports (CIF) on all 
products imported from non-ECOWAS member States.  The representative of Liberia confirmed 
that there were no other duties and charges within the meaning of Article II:1(b) of the GATT 1994.  
96. Some Members stated that they would be very concerned at any attempt to seek 
exemptions from the provisions of Article II: 1(b) of the GATT 1994 for particular kinds of 
measures such as the ECOWAS levy, recalling that the provisions of Article II:1(b) of the GATT 1994 had been created to ensure the integrity of commitments on bound tariffs.  Liberia was 
encouraged to fund the ECOWAS levy from general taxation revenue, or negotiate its elimination 
within the ECOWAS.  
97. Members also encouraged Liberia to bind its other duties and charges within the meaning 
of Article II:1(b) of the GATT 1994 at zero upon accession. 
98. Responding to requests that Liberia eliminate all other duties and charges within the 
meaning of Article II:1(b) of the GATT 1994 and bi nd such duties and charges at zero in the 
Schedule of Concessions and Commitments on Goods,  the representative of Liberia said that the 
application of the ECOWAS Community Levy had b een negotiated by all ECOWAS member States 
and that Liberia was not in a position to eliminate this levy unilaterally.  He further stated that the ECOWAS Community Levy was, in his view, the only charge currently applied by Liberia that fell 
within the meaning of other duties and charge s covered by Article II:1(b) of the GATT 1994. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 26 - 
 
  99. In response to a question from a Member, the representative of Liberia stated that the tax 
of 0.5% of the value of imports (CIF) on all products imported from non-ECOWAS member States was established in the Protocol on the ECOWAS Community Levy, and could be increased by the 
ECOWAS member States acting jointly.  If that sh ould occur, Liberia intended to consult with the 
ECOWAS member States and other WTO Member s on compensation, as necessary, for the 
increase. 
100.  The representative of Liberia confirmed that his Government would not list duties and 
charges in its Schedule of Concessions and Commitments on Goods under Article II:1(b) of the 
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 ex cept for the ECOWAS Community Levy of 0.5%, 
thereby binding such charges at that rate.  The Working Party took note of these commitments.   
- Tariff rate quotas, tariff exemptions 
101.  The representative of Liberia said that Liberia did not apply tariff rate quotas on imports. 
There were several duty exemption programmes for defined importers, which applied on an MFN basis.  These duty exemption programmes were pr ovided under various legislation or orders.  
The Liberia Revenue Code 2000, as Amended in 2011 (hereinafter: Revenue Code), provided for 
exemption of duty payment on any goods impo rted by or on account of the President, 
Government, local government or local government bodies, representatives of foreign 
governments or public international organizations, as reasonably used households and personal 
effects in reasonable quantities, under special circumstances relating to senior government officials, and as personal effects for person al use of people arriving from abroad.  
102.  Equipment for construction of roads, forest ry equipment, agricultural equipment and 
agricultural seeds had been exempted from paymen t of import duty through presidential order, 
which was a presidential power, by tradition, inherent in the position as a president. This power extended to granting tariff incentives as well as actions to enhance national unity and social, 
political and economic stability, in compliance with the Constitution.  The presidential executive 
order had a life span of one year. In 2014, exemption of duty on these products had been extended through Presidential Executive Order No. 64 of 2014, for one year.  The purpose of this 
duty suspension had been to accelerate the pace  of road construction and rehabilitation, the 
development of the forestry sector and agricultur al production in the country.  The Presidential 
Executive Order  No. 64 had not been renewed in 2015.The Consolidated Tax Amendments Act of 2011, as incorporated in the Revenue Code, had prov ided exemptions from payment of duty for all 
raw materials and capital goods for use in the agri cultural sector.  Capital equipment and inputs 
imported by a contractor with an agricultural co ncession agreement had also been duty exempted.  
In addition, medical and educational equipment an d supplies purchased for use during the life of 
the contract were import duty exempted.  Raw materi als, excluding gasoline and gas oil, as well as 
plant and equipment, including vehicles, and capita l spare parts, and intermediate inputs including 
explosives, drilling mud, grinding balls, tires for trucks and similar items when imported by 
producers under a mineral development agreement (MDA) or a petroleum production sharing 
agreement were also exempted from duty.  The information about Liberia's import tariff waivers through Executive Orders, as of 2015, was contained in Annex 13 to this Report. 
103.  The import duty on rice had subsequently been suspended through presidential orders.  
Executive Order No. 61 of 2014, renewed by Ex ecutive Order No. 70 of 25 June 2015, had 
suspended the import tariff on rice as classified under tariff Nos. 1006.30.00 (in packing of more than 5 kg or in bulk); and 1006.40.00 (broken rice) under the Revenue Code.  The representative 
of Liberia confirmed that there were no other tariff exemptions, other than those described in 
paragraphs from 101 to 103 of this Section of this Report.  All of these tariff exemptions were provided for on an MFN basis. 
104.   Members asked the representative of Liberia to explain the presidential order system and 
whether the tariff exemptions were delivered erga omnes , to any companies. 
105.  The representative of Liberia explained that the presidential executive orders were 
temporary decrees that increased, lowered or exempted certain goods from duties and taxes for a 
specified period of time, but not more than for one year.  The presidential order system addressed 
specific issues or concerns pending legislative ac tion.  Only the Legislature had the authority to 
establish duty and tax rates on a permanent basis.  Tariff exemptions by presidential executive WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 27 - 
 
  orders were published in local dailies. Tariff exemptions issued through presidential executive 
orders were available to all enterprises operating in the sectors and/or met the incentive requirements and paying the import duties unless otherwise restricted by the order. Sections 16 and 17 of Chapters 6 and 7 of the Revenue Code established the criteria for any company to 
benefit from tax incentives. Presidential executive orders issued to specific companies had only 
been granted to SOEs providing public utilities like electricity, water and sanitation.  Incentive agreements entered into between specific companies and the Government of Liberia were specific 
to the company and not available to all. This was the same with agricultural concessions, mineral 
development agreements and production sharin g agreements.  The Government of Liberia, 
through the Revenue Code, was moving away from this practice so that incentives would be specified in the Tax Code and available to all qualifying companies on an equal basis.  The issuance 
of a presidential executive order was a constituti onal provision that empowered the President to 
address critical development and poverty reduction priorities that might not be swiftly addressed through other legal channels.    
106.  Members understood that low or zero tariffs on agricultural, mining and petroleum 
extraction equipment could be valuable to Liberia's economic development.  However, these Members noted that Liberia maintained provisions fo r duty-free imports available only to firms with 
an agricultural concession agreement, mineral development agreement, or petroleum production 
sharing agreement.  These Members requested the representative of Liberia to provide further 
information on each of these types of agreements  and explain whether the duty-free benefits that 
accrued to companies participating in these agreements were contingent upon the use of local 
content or contingent upon export. 
107.  The representative of Liberia responded that Section 16 of Chapter 1 and Section 1708 of 
Chapter 17 of the Revenue Code provided the sect ors, the investment threshold and the type and 
level of exemption available under the law.  The provisions of Section 16 of the Revenue Code 
became available based on the level of investment (US$500,000 for 100% Liberians and US$1 million and above for all others for a set period  of time five years), and, specifically for 
manufacturers, there was a requirement for local inputs of about 60%, excluding water.  
Export performance was not a requirement under all scenarios. 
108.  Members took note of Liberia's explanations regarding the presidential executive order 
system and tariff exemptions.  They called the representative of Liberia's attention to the 
importance of a transparent and predictable trad e and business environment.  Members noted that 
tariff exemptions by presidential executive order were normally available to all companies but the order might state otherwise.  They requested for clarifications regarding such exceptions.  
Members also noted Liberia's intention regarding the reforms related to incentives.   
109.  The representative of Liberia replied that the presidential executive order was based on the 
constitutional provision by which the President could make a temporary decree to address specific 
issues, pending legislative action.  Presidential executive orders had one year life span but were 
renewable. They were applicable to all companie s and, as such, they were non-discriminatory.  
All presidential executive orders were published.  The representative of Liberia further clarified that 
in keeping with Liberia's development and poverty reduction priorities, exceptional presidential 
executive orders were issued for particular institutions, mostly public ones, providing public 
services for public goods. 
110.  The representative of Liberia confirmed that any tariff rate quotas, if introduced in the 
future, would be applied and administered in conf ormity with WTO rules and regulations, including 
MFN and national treatment provisions.  He also confirmed that upon accession to the WTO, any tariff exemptions would only be implemented in conformity with the relevant WTO provisions 
including Article I of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 and the WTO Agreement on 
Trade-Related Investment Measures.  The Working Party took note of these commitments. 
- Fees and charges for services rendered 111.  The representative of Liberia said that fees and charges for services rendered included the 
following fees in connection with importation, exportation and transit: (i) fixed fees; (ii) customs 
user fee, including the customs user fee for trad e in transit through Liberia; (iii) preshipment 
inspection fees, as described in paragraph 182 of Section "Preshipment Inspection" of this Report; WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 28 - 
 
  and, (iv) port fees. The representative of Libe ria confirmed that there were no other fees and 
charges for services rendered applied in connection with importation or exportation.  The Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended in 2011 (hereinafter: Revenue Code), provided, in his view, for the customs service fees to cover the cost of customs services at ports and airports.   
112.  The Revenue Code provided for fixed fees to be  paid as a part of customs service fees for 
services at customs ports of entry. These fixed fees were fixed by the Minister of Finance and 
Development Planning and were to cover services, as described in Annex 14(A) to this Report. 
Particularly, for scanning fees, the Revenue Code empowered the Minister of Finance and 
Development Planning to set a fee directly related to the scanning of cargo containers, which had to be proportionate to the length of the container and might not exceed US$7 per foot. 
113.  Section 1802(b)(1) of the Revenue Code provid ed that the customs user fee should not 
exceed 1.5% of the CIF value of the imported goods  or US $10,000 per item, whichever is less.  
The customs user fee on exported goods should  not exceed 1.25% of the FOB value of semi-
processed goods, and 2.5% of the FOB value of un processed goods.  The customs user fee, which 
was an administrative fee, applied to imports and to exports at all borders, including the imports 
that were exempt from duty (tariff) payments.  It was not applied for goods imported by diplomatic and UN missions or on the export of processed goods. Goods on trans-shipment were 
subject to a 2.5% customs fee, as described in Section "Transit" of this Report.  
114.  On the port fees, the representative of Libe ria added that the Government of Liberia had 
contracted "APM Terminals" to manage the biggest port of Liberia, the Freeport of Monrovia, where 
more than 90% of Liberia's trading activities took pl ace.  Tariffs of "APM Terminals" applied at this 
port, as shown in Annex 14(B) to this Report.  All other ports were operated by the National Port 
Authority (NPA), which was the regulatory body in charge of administering ports, with the NPA tariffs applied.  Importers and exporters of good s into and from Liberia had to pay customs fees 
and charges at the NPA ports, as shown in Anne x 14(D), Annex 14(E) and, Annex 14(F) to this 
Report.   
115.  The representative of Liberia stated that many  of the fees applied by Liberia in connection 
with importation or exportation approximated the cost of the services rendered and were 
consistent with WTO provisions.  However, he  recognised the need for reducing the number and 
diversity of such fees  and ensuring that any of these fees not consistent with the WTO Agreement 
be amended.  He stated that Liberia intended to bring the fees into compliance with the WTO 
requirements  as soon as possible and no later than upon the conclusion of the agreements 
between the Liberian Government and the private firms concerned. 
116.  The representative of Liberia confirmed that, Li beria would bring all of its fees and charges 
applied in connection with importation and exportation, including those described in paragraphs 
from 111 to 114, 182, and 256 of this Report, into  compliance with Articles VIII and X of the 
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, wi th full compliance occu rring no later than 
1 August 2017 in accordance with the Action Plan  s e t - o u t  i n  T a b l e  1 .   T o  t h i s  e n d ,  l a w s  a n d  
regulations implementing such fees during the transition period would not be implemented in a manner that resulted in a lesser degree of consistency with Article VIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 than on the date of ac cession.  All fees and charges in connection with 
importation and exportation, except for those listed in Table 1, would be consistent with the 
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, upon accession.  He further confirmed that, during this transition period, Liberia would ensure that  its laws and regulations concerning fees and 
charges for services rendered would be applied in a manner consistent with other provisions of the 
WTO Agreement, including on a non-discriminatory basis consistent with Articles I and III of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994.  He also confirmed that any new laws and 
regulations governing fees in connection with importation and exportation established after 
accession, as well as any revisions made to existing fees after accession, would be in conformity with WTO provisions, including Article VIII of th e General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, 
and accordingly would not introduce or reintroduce any fees or charges for services rendered that 
were applied to imports and exports on an ad valorem  basis.  The Working Party took note of 
these commitments.   WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 29 - 
 
  Table 1:  Action Plan for bringing fees an d charges in connection with importation and 
exportation into compliance with the GATT 1994 
Fee Old fee New fee Time-Frame 
Customs user fee on imports CIF: 1.5% but no 
more than US $10,000 per item US$200/20ft 
container;  US$400/40ft container August 2017 
Customs user fee on exports: 
 Finished/processed goods 
 Semi-processed goods 
 Unprocessed goods 
  
FOB: 0% 
FOB: 1.25% 
FOB: 2.5% August 2017 
Customs user fee on goods in transit: CIF: 2.5% US$5004 August 2017 
PSI fees: 
1. All products: FOB ranging from US$3,500 to 
US$15,835 (seaport only) 190.00 US$ US$426/20ft 
container;  US$587/40ft container
5 August 2017 
2. All products: FOB above US$15,835 
 Imports 
 Exports: 
o All products (except rubber) 
o Rubber  
1.2%  1.4% 0.7% August 2017 
3. Crude Oil and Refined products US$2 per metric 
tonne August 2017 
4. Rice US$1 per metric 
tonne August 2017 
 
- Application of internal taxes to imports 
117.  The representative of Liberia said that the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended in 
2011 (hereinafter: Revenue Code), provided for app lication of three types of internal taxes on 
imports: the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the luxury tax and the excise tax.  The GST was 
levied on sale of all goods and specified services in Liberia, domestic and imported. Section 
1000(3)(b) of the Revenue Code set the GST rate at 7% for all commodities, except for alcoholic 
beverages at 10% and exempt supplies at 0%. Section 1021(b)(1) of the Revenue Code set the GST rate at 7% for all services, except for hotel services, gambling services, sales of tickets by 
international transport services, sales of tickets by travel agencies and sporting or game arranger 
services - at 10% and, telecommunications - at 15%.  Section 1001(e) of the Revenue Code, reproduced in Annex 15 to this Report, provided th e list of supplies that were exempted from the 
GST. There was a 10% luxury tax on luxury automobiles and all items of jewellery, regardless of 
their origin.  Luxury automobiles attracted luxury tax on any automobile that was in the class of 
private passenger new automobiles with minimum value of US$40,000 and used automobiles with minimum value of US$20,000. The GST and luxury tax were applied at import for imported goods 
and at ex-factory for domestic goods. The represen tative of Liberia informed that the Government 
of Liberia had made the policy decision to transition from the GST to the VAT. Article 5 of the draft Value Added Tax Act provided the transitional provisions from the GST to the VAT. Article 6(1) of 
the draft Value Added Tax Act provided a suggested rate of 15% as the VAT levy to be applied on 
all domestic and imported products, except for the products that would be zero-rated/exempted from the VAT, as contained in Schedules I, II, and III of the draft Value Added Tax Act. As per Article 46 of the draft Value Added Tax Act, the exemptions from the VAT would be applied on a 
strict non-discriminatory basis as per Article I of the GATT 1994 and Article III of the GATS. 
This draft law was currently going through major stakeholder consultation. 
118.  Excise tax ranging from 5% to 35% was levied on some products including some 
miscellaneous edible preparations, most beverages, spirits, all ores, slags and ash, all mineral 
fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation, bituminous substances, mineral waxes, some inorganic chemicals, essential oils and resinoids, arti cles of stone, funfair, table or parlour games.  
                                               
4 The new fee reflects the estimated costs for the services connected with transit (monitoring, 
warehousing, the customs automated system maintenance, stationery and supplies, tools and equipment 
amortization and/or replacement cost). 
5 The new fee reflects the estimated costs for th e PSI services for 20' and 40' containers (PSI 
inspection, issuance of certificate with the expertise for the customs valuation and classification). WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  Details of the products that were subject to excise taxes were given in Annex 16 to this Report.  
For most of the beverages and spirits, imported ones had a higher excise duty than those that were locally produced.  
119.  Members asked how Liberia intended to remove the discrimination between those products 
that were imported and those that were locally produced. 
120.  The representative of Liberia responded that the Revenue Code had addressed the issue of 
non-discrimination with respect to some products. Section 1120 of the Revenue Code, on Alcoholic 
Beverages, stated that excise tax, at a rate of 35%, had to be levied on all beverages with an 
alcohol content in excess of one per cent, includin g beer, wine, stout, ale, gin, whisky, bourbon, 
and other products intended for consumption by mouth that had the requisite alcohol content, whether imported to or produced in Liberia, but not including pharmaceutical products or medicinal 
preparations (for example, cough suppressants or similar products) if certified by the Pharmacy 
Board. Section 1121 of the Revenue Code, on Tobacco and Tobacco Products, stated that, excise tax at a rate of 35% had to be levied on tobacco and on any product containing tobacco, including 
cigarettes, cigars, snuff, chewing tobacco, and similar products, whether imported to or 
manufactured in Liberia. 
121.  Members noted that, for other commodities, Liberia charged higher excise taxes on 
imports than local products.  This practice appeared to be in conflict with Article III of the GATT 
1994 (national treatment requirements).  They requ ested the representative of Liberia to provide 
further information on these excise taxes. 
122.  The representative of Liberia replied that his Government had begun removing the 
discrimination, as evidenced in Section 1120 of the Revenue Code.  A study was conducted on how 
to align excise tax rates for all other imported and domestic products.  Moreover, the ECOWAS was 
working on harmonization of excise tax rates with in the region based on Directive C/DIR.2/06/09 
of 27 May 2009 "On the Harmonization of the ECOW AS Member States' Legislations on Excise 
Duties".  Article 10.2 of the Directive stated th at the rate of taxation adopted by the ECOWAS 
member States should be identical for the exci sable products, whether locally manufactured or 
imported.  This, in his view, would help remove the element of discrimination from Liberia's excise 
tax regime.  
123.  Members asked the representative of Liberia to elaborate on the application of excise taxes 
on both imports and domestically produced products, including at what level (e.g., at importation, 
at point of sale or factory) thes e taxes were applied, and whether excise taxes applied uniformly to 
both domestic and imported goods.  
124.  In response, the representative of Liberia said that excise tax was applied on finished 
excisable imported products at the point of importation.  No excise tax was levied on raw materials 
for local manufacturers.  The excise tax on domestic products was charged ex-factory, i.e. local manufacturers paid excise tax only on finished products at ex-factory and not on raw materials 
used.  Previously, for a few domestic products the excise tax rate had been lower than that on 
imported products of the same kind. This discrimination, to a large extent, had now been removed through the 2011 amendment of the Revenue Code.  However, there remained discrimination on a number of products, as reflected in Annex 16 to  this Report, that was yet to be corrected. 
The representative of Liberia stated that the Government of Liberia was aware of the 
discrimination and would remove this discrimination on Miscellaneous Edible Preparation (HS Code 2106.90.00), Non-alcoholic beverages (HS Sectio n 2202); Vinegar containing alcohol (HS Code 
2209.00.10) by the date of accession, and on Mi neral and aerated water (HS Section 2201) – by 
1 August 2017. Excise tax, at a rate of 35% would be levied on Mineral and aerated water, whether imported to or produced in Liberia. Excise taxes on all excisable products would be levied 
equally on imported and locally produced or manufactured products. 
125.  The representative of Liberia confirmed that from the date of Liberia's accession all laws, 
regulations and other measures relating to internal taxes and charges levied on imports, including the excise taxes listed in Annex 16 to this Report, would be in full conformity with its WTO 
obligations, including Article III of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, and that it 
would implement such laws, regulations and other measures in full conformity with those obligations, with the exception of the excise tax on Mineral and aerated water (HS Section 2201) WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 31 - 
 
  which would be brought into compliance with Liberia's WTO obligations, including Article III of the 
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade  1994, by 1 August 2017.  The Working Party took note of 
these commitments.   
- Quantitative import restrictions, incl uding prohibitions, quotas and licensing 
systems  
126.  The representative of Liberia said that Section 1206 of the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, 
as Amended in 2011 (hereinafter:  Revenue Code), prohibited importation of all goods, wares, 
articles and merchandise mined, produced or manufactured wholly in any foreign country by 
convict labour, forced labour or indentured labour under penal sanctions.  In addition, it had prohibited importation into Liberia of light vehicles that were more than ten years old (since 1 January 2006).  The light vehicles included sedans, buses, pickups, four wheel drive vehicles, 
and light trucks.  This ban had been eliminated by Regulation of the Ministry of Finance  and 
Development Planning No. 16.14263-2/MOF/R/BCE/14 in April 2014.  Currently, vehicles which 
were more than ten years old were subject to th e environmental charge, as described in Annex 17 
to this Report.  The importation into Liberia of light vehicles that were right-hand drive, of any 
age, remained prohibited.
6  Importation of rice and cement into Liberia was also subject to 
approval by the Government of Liberia.  
127.  Members asked the representative of Liberia to provide a list of products that were 
currently covered by import restrictions or prohibitions and a list of those that might be made subject to such restrictions or prohibitions prior to its accession to the WTO. 
128.  The representative of Liberia responded that the following items were currently prohibited 
for import into Liberia:   
-  Right-hand drive vehicles; 
-  Energy drinks under the name of Pussy; 
- Potassium Bromate; 
- Aldrin; - Chlordan; 
- Dixxins; 
- Endris; - Furans; - Heptachlor; 
- Dieldrun; 
- Mirex; - Toxaphene; 
- Polychlorinate; 
- DDT; - Hexachlorabenzene; and, 
- Methyl bromide (to be included by 2015 convention). 
Liberia was still in the process of identifying products for restrictions and intended to progressively 
add products to this list in line with international best practices. 
129.  The representative of Liberia said that all importers of certain products from all countries 
were required to obtain an Import Permit Declaration (IPD) to import goods into Liberia.  The list of such products, as contained in the Notice of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry 
No. MCI/No.008/05/2013, was reflected in Annex 18 to this Report. The list included: (i) fresh and 
frozen meat and meat products, including poultry;  (ii) fresh and frozen fish and crustaceans; 
(iii) fresh and frozen vegetables and tubers (excluding canned, preserved, or dried); (iv) fresh fruits and nuts (excluding canned, preserved, or dried); (v) dairy produce, including milk, cream, 
butter, cheese, and eggs (excluding powder); (vi) bottled water and alcoholic beverages; 
(vii) products of the milling industry, including ri ce, flour, and starches; (viii) live animals, all 
types; (ix) prescription medicines/pharmaceuticals and biological substances; (x) specialized 
medical, dental, or veterinary apparatus and equipment; (xi) inorganic and organic products of the 
                                               
6 The lifting of the prohibition of right-hand drive ve hicles could be considered on a case-by-case basis, 
especially for special purpose vehicles no t used for the transportation of people. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 32 - 
 
  chemical industry, chemical elements, acids, and chemicals (e.g. lead, potassium bromide, 
mercury, sodium, monosodium glutamate, formaldehyde, sulphuric acid), including ozone-depleting substances; (xii) fertilizers containing nitrates; (xiii) petroleum products, including crude and refined oil and petroleum gases; (xiv) explosives, pyrotechnics, fireworks, and 
combustible liquid or gas preparations; (xv) m ilitary tanks and weapons, arms and ammunition; 
(xvi) hazardous wastes (including clinical waste, municipal waste, sewage sludge, and other wastes); and, (xvii) building materials (including lime, cement, steel rods, plywood, PVC pipes, 
sheets of zinc, and ceramic flooring blocks). Lice nsing was required to protect human and animal 
health, ensure food and national security, monitor and regulate the importation of hazardous materials. Particularly, in terms of the protection of human and animal health, IPDs were used to ensure that imports met sanitary and phytosanitary requirements.  This was particularly important 
for frozen food and live animals imported by la nd. In 2013 and 2014, approximately 40% of total 
imports were covered under the list in Annex 18 to this Report.  The IPD was a requirement under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry's Administ rative Notice MCI/No.008/05/2013 required all 
importers of certain goods to make an entry and specify declaration by the importer (in a 
prescribed form), giving facts relevant to the de termination of the value of the goods for customs 
purposes.  According to Liberia President's Annual Speech in January 2010, the Government had 
been considering moving away from the issuance of IPDs. Under the ASYCUDA Programme, the 
UNCTAD had provided technical assistance to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to automate the IPDs.   
130.  The representative of Liberia said that, the IPD form was obtained from the Ministry of 
Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, the Liberia Revenue 
Authority, the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, and the offices of the inspection company "Bureau 
Veritas".  The form showed the importers' and sellers' full name and address, importers' Tax 
Identification Number (TIN), country of supply, country of shipment, date of shipment and number 
of shipments, means of dispatch, port of loading an d port of landing.  It also showed the cost of 
the goods being imported in the respective currency, including the FOB value, insurance, freight 
costs, total CIF value, any other charges, e.g., the Preshipment Inspection (PSI) service fee of 
1.2% of the FOB value, and the terms of payment.  It also required the HS code and the technical description of the goods; and quantity and the unit price.  
131.  After completing the IPD, the importer paid a PSI service fee at the designated bank, 
which was currently either Global Bank or International Bank, at a rate described in Annex 19 to 
this Report.  The importer then submitted the IPD and the PSI fees payment receipt to the Ministry 
of Commerce and Industry for authorization.  Th e approval of the IPDs by the Ministry of 
Commerce and Industry required two signatures: (i) Director of Trade or the Deputy Minister in 
charge of Commerce and Trade; and (ii) Assistant Minister in charge of Commerce and Trade.  The IPD was approved subject to Clean Report of Finding (CRF) by "Bureau Veritas" or its affiliate 
agents (BIVAC Company) as to quantity inspection and price comparison.  The IPD was in five 
copies: one for the importer, two for the Ministry  of Commerce and Industry, one for customs and 
one copy for BIVAC.  The term of validity of the IPD was six months.   
132.  Members noted that according to Liberia President's Annual Speech in January 2010, the 
Government was considering moving away from the issuance of IPDs.  They asked the 
representative of Liberia to inform whether any steps had been taken or were planned to be taken as regards the issue of IPDs. 
133.  The representative of Liberia responded that steps had been taken to minimize the impact 
of IPDs.  Since 1 October 2010, the IPD had been requ ired only for a list of specified products and 
commodities.  The Government had issued new regulations in subsequent years, and, on 
12 June 2013, Ministry of Commerce and Industry's Administrative Notice MCI/No.008/05/2013 
had been issued, further reducing the list to 17 categories and an updated HS Code list for the specific products listed in the Regulation.  The list of such products was contained in Annex 17 to this Report.  In 2013, UNCTAD had provided technical assistance to automate the IPD in 
ASYCUDA, with the result of system configuration. 
134.  Members appreciated that Liberia was considering moving away from the issuance of IPDs 
and supported that move so long as more burdensome measures were not put in place.  
They requested the representative of Liberia to  clarify the difference between an IPD and an 
import declaration.  In response, the representati ve of Liberia said that the difference between an 
IPD and an import declaration was that an IPD was the form used by the Ministry of Commerce WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  and Industry to monitor importation, as reproduced in Annex 20(A) to this Report, whereas the 
import declaration was the Single Administrative Declaration (form) which importers used to make declarations to customs. 
135.  A Member asked to clarify the role of Enviro nmental Protection Agency (EPA) and what, if 
any, licensing and inspection requirements it applied for.  Members asked to explain how Liberia's 
import licensing procedure for chemicals was in compliance with the WTO, including the WTO Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures.  
136.  The representative of Liberia responded that the EPA operated a National Chemical Control 
Registry which was an Inter-Ministerial Committee sanctioned by a provision of the Act Adopting the Environment Protection and Management Law of the Republic of Liberia of 2003 that registered 
and permitted the importation of all chemicals into the country that were or had the potential to 
become pollutants when released into the environment.  There was a Memorandum of 
Understanding between the Ministry of Commerc e and Industry and the EPA establishing a 
licensing system that made a permit or licence a requirement for importation of hazardous 
substances and chemicals.  A permit from the EPA was a pre-requisite for obtaining an IPD at the 
Ministry of Commerce and Industry.  This proce ss allowed all chemicals to be registered and 
screened in advance of being imported.  For petroleum products, an additional permit was also 
required from the Liberia Petroleum Refining Co mpany (LPRC).  The representative of Liberia 
acknowledged that this was likely to be a burden  to importers.  The Government of Liberia was 
reviewing these import licensing procedures.  However, chemicals did require non-automatic 
licenses.  
137.  Members noted that petroleum products, cement and rice importers had to apply for 
authorization to import from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), as described in 
paragraphs 45 of Section "State Ownership, Privatization and State-Trading Entities" and 73 of 
Section "Registration Requirements for Import/Export Operations; Trading Rights" of this Report, 
and that these sectors were monitored.  They asked to clarify what was entailed in the authorization process and what was the nature of such monitoring.  The procedure for obtaining an 
approval for the importation of rice (which simi larly applied to cement, petroleum products and 
flour) was as follows: 
1) The importer submitted a letter to the Minister for Commerce and Industry requesting 
permission to import rice into Liberia. The letter had to specify details about the quantity 
and quality/type of bulk commodity bein g imported, the exporting country, and a pro 
forma  invoice; 
2) Upon receipt of the importer's application, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry 
reviewed the request taking into consideration the available stock of rice at that point in 
time, the demand and supply conditions in the market, the IPDs already granted for rice importation, and made a comparative assessment against other applications. Importation 
of sub-standard rice was strictly prohibited; 
3) The application was then considered by the Ministry's Division of Price Analysis and 
Marketing (PAMD) to analyze the cost variables submitted on the information from the pro 
forma  invoice to establish the suggested price; 
4) The importer was then notified by letter from  the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of 
the approval or refusal of the application, and any conditions attached to the approval. 
The importer had to follow the above procedures. Th e pre-inspection fee payable to BIVAC for rice 
was US$1 per metric tonnes.  The importer only had to finalize the order with the supplier for the 
shipment of a bulk commodity when the procedural  steps 1 – 4 described above in this paragraph 
had been completed. There was no fee charged for the approval. Approval was granted within a 
week, once all the requested documents were provided and the requirements were met.  
138.  The representative of Liberia said that his Government monitored importation of cement. 
The minimum requirements for importation of cement were as follows: 
- new entrants had to have a current business registration for the fiscal year of operation; WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  - a cement sample with a minimum grade standard of 42.5R had to be submitted prior 
to importation; 
- the importer had to have an available storage facility with a minimum storage capacity of 
10,000 metric tonnes; and, 
- new entrants had to submit a list of distributors/retailers regarding the sale/distribution 
of cement. 
139.  In the past, the Liberia Cement Company, Cemenco, had enjoyed exclusivity over the 
manufacturing and importation of cement that had been supported by the imposition of a 
protective tariff of US$2.00 per bag on imported cement by the past Liberian administration. However, in 2006, by a Presidential Executive Order, the cement market had been liberalized and the tariff of US$2.00/bag had been suspended. The same Presidential Executive Order eliminated 
the monopoly of Cemenco.  Currently, Liberia had the following cement companies: Cemenco, 
Fouta Corporation, Monco Liberia Ltd., Fortress, Un ited Commodities, Srimex Enterprises, Inc. and 
others. 
140.  The Government of Liberia monitored imports of petroleum products.  Prior to Liberia's 
application for accession to the WTO, the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC) had been the only public corporation established by legislative act with the sole right to import, distribute 
and grant franchise to any person or business establishment with the expressed desire to sell 
petroleum products on the Liberian market.  Following the decline of LPRC infrastructure in the 1980s, and its inability to perform its statutory obligation as the sole importer of petroleum products, the management then had begun delegating its statutory responsibilities to private 
entities wishing to import petroleum products. The LPRC storage tanks and oil jetties had been in a 
debilitating condition, with limited storage capacity to handle the multiple requests from local importers to import refined products.  So, the management had introduced import schedules to 
afford everyone the opportunity to import.  Understanding fully the magnitude of the storage 
constraints and the overwhelming demand at the LPRC Oil Jetty, Total Liberia Inc. had put forth a proposal to the management of Liberia to construct its own oil terminal to mitigate the problem.  
Importation Requirements for Petroleum Products were as follows: 
- current business registration for FY of operation; 
- non-refundable, non-transferable petroleu m import licence fee of US$125,000 annually for 
100% foreign firms, US$75,000 for shared ownership (not less than 40% ownership by 
Liberian), and US$50,000 for Liberian firms to  the management of LPRC for importers of 
petroleum products into Liberia; and, 
- for importers of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), annual importat ion fee of US$7,000;  
distributors, and for those importing lu bricant, it was US$3,500, annually.  
The representative of Liberia recognized that th e discriminatory element in this regulation would 
need to be eliminated from the date of accession. 
141.  The Government of Liberia monitored the importation of rice because of the 1979 rice 
riots.  Rice was Liberia's staple diet and, with 64% of the population living below the poverty line, it was the Government's policy to ensure its availability and affordability to the average Liberian.  In this fragile environment, rice was considered a "politically sensitive" commodity.  The rice 
market was not restricted as it had been in the past. Currently, there were seven rice importers in 
Liberia: Supply West Africa Trading (SWAT), United Commodities Inc. (UCI), Fouta Corporation, Harmony Trading, Mila Community, Abranata and Sons Inc., and K & K Trading Co.  The market 
share by any of the rice importers depended on the competitive prices offered.  There was no 
longer any import quota.  The Ministry of Comme rce and Industry monitored the rice market to: 
- ensure rice price affordability on the local market vis-à-vis the world market price; 
- discourage illicit trading to avoid market saturation, arbitrary price hikes, hoarding 
and smuggling; 
- ensure that rice importers had in-country stock for three to four months at all times; and, - ensure acceptable import quality, quantities and diversifying of import sources. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  142.  Additionally, all rice importers were to meet the following requirements: 
- business registration current for the fiscal year of operation; 
- warehouse capacity of not less than 10,000 metric tonnes; 
- submit a list of distributors/sellers of rice; 
- establish a distribution chain of at least five of the leeward counties of Liberia; and, - submit a sample of rice prior to importation with the minimum grade standard of 5% to 
25% broken. 
143.  Members noted that Liberia continued to monitor the importation of rice as a "politically 
sensitive" commodity.  According to recent IMF analysis, the decrease in the world market price during 2011 had not been passed through customers on the Liberian market, which did not seem 
in line with the intentions of the monitoring po licy of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.  
This rigidity of rice prices in Liberia might point to "product market distortions" in this market.  
Given the impact of the rice price on the urban poor, and the political sensitivity of rice for the 
country, Members asked whether Liberia was planning to analyse if the requirements for rice 
importers (e.g. warehouse capacity of not less th an 10,000 metric tonnes) could have the impact 
of de facto  excluding smaller businesses from this market and effectively preserving an oligopoly, 
and address the competition issues in the import food market. 
144.  Members also asked the representative of Liberia to explain the administrative procedures 
which the Government of Liberia used to monitor the rice industry.  They asked to explain why rice importers were required to submit a list of distributors/sellers and had warehouse capacity of not 
less than 10,000 metric tonnes. 
145.  The representative of Liberia responded that  having large warehouses made Government 
inspections easier and more economical than having many smaller warehousing facilities. 
He added that construction firms and supermarkets were permitted to import rice without meeting 
the 10,000 metric tonnes of storage capacity requir ement which applied only to "major importers" 
described in paragraph 73 of Section "Registration Requirements for Import/Export Operations; Trading Rights" of this Report. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry allowed smaller importers 
to jointly arrange for sufficient amount of warehouse capacity provided they had capital to sustain 
the market. In response to Members' reference to the analysis by the IMF, the representative of 
Liberia added that, in his view, the "product market distortions" in the rice market were, currently, 
beyond his Government's control.  The Government of Liberia believed that the situation could be 
addressed by strengthening the legislative provisions on competition. The Government was aware that the provisions on anti-competitive behaviour in Title 14 of the Liberian Codes of Laws Revised 
("General Business Law") were not sufficient to tackle the "product market distortions".  In this 
light, a Competition Law had been drafted, which was now awaiting enactment by the Legislature, 
to address any anti-competitive practices in the Liberian market, including the rice market. 
146.  For the purposes of monitoring the quality and supply of rice, Liberia required importers of 
rice to write directly to the Minister of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) to receive authorization to 
import rice.  The Ministry of Commerce and Industry had instituted these rules in order to continuously monitor the quality of rice in the country and to ensure that supply did not drop 
below three months of import covered.  If supply  did drop, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry 
would invite importers to a meeting to discuss the increase in future import volumes.  
147.  The representative of Liberia added the import licensing regime of Liberia from the date of 
accession would be fully in accordance with th e WTO Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures. 
The draft Foreign Trade Law, envisaged to be enacted and enter into force in October 2015, provided for new licence requirements and criteria  (sections 17 and 18).  Thus, licensing would not 
have any restrictive or distortive effects on trade in licensed goods (section 17.5). The draft 
Foreign Trade Law also contained provisions on national treatment (section 8) and MFN 
(section 10).  
148.   The representative of Liberia confirmed that Liberia would eliminate from the date of 
accession, and would not introduce, reintroduce or apply quantitative restrictions on imports or 
other non-tariff measures such as quotas, bans, permits, prior authorization requirements, licensing requirements or other requirements or restrictions having equivalent effect that could not 
be justified under the provisions of the WTO Agreement.  The import licensing regime from the WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 36 - 
 
  date of accession would be fully in accordance with all relevant provisions of the WTO Agreement, 
including the WTO Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures.  He further confirmed that the legal authority of the Government of Liberia to suspend imports or to apply licensing requirements that 
could be used to suspend, ban or otherwise restri ct the quantity of trade would be applied from 
the date of accession in conformity with the pr ovisions of WTO Agreement, including the General 
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, the WTO Ag reements on Import Licensing Procedures and 
Safeguards, and the Understanding on Balance- of-Payments Provisions of the GATT 1994.  
The Working Party took note of these commitments. 
- Customs valuation 149.  The representative of Liberia said that Liberia used the Brussels Definition of Value (BDV).  
It did not apply the WTO valuation methods set out in Article VII of the GATT 1994 and the WTO 
Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of  the GATT 1994 (hereinafter: Customs Valuation 
Agreement).  The Government of Liberia had draf ted the necessary amendments to its legislation 
on customs valuation in preparation for WTO accession, as part of the draft Customs Code, and 
submitted them to the Legislature for enactment by December 2015. 
150.  Customs valuation in Liberia was currently based on the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, as 
Amended in 2011 (hereinafter: Revenue Code).  According to the Revenue Code, the value of any 
imported good was taken to be the normal price.  This was the price that the goods would fetch at 
the time of their sale in the open market between a seller and a buyer independent of each other.  Determination of the normal price took into account all the costs and charges up to the point of entry into Liberia (CIF), but did not include the du ties and taxes paid domestically, as it assumed 
that such charges were born by the buyer.  
151.  Customs valuation of exported goods for which there was no specific value fixed by law for 
the purposes of levying duties was provided for by the Revenue Code.  An ad valorem  duty was 
assessed by taking the market value of the goods at  the place of exportation at the export time.  
The market value was taken as the price at which the exported goods were freely sold to a purchaser abroad, or in absence of such sales, offered for ordinary course of trade at the place of 
export.  The market value included the cost of containers and coverings and all owner costs, 
charges and expenses incurred at the place of export before the goods were shipped. 
152.  The representative of Liberia added that in the draft Customs Code, mentioned in 
paragraph 149 of this Section of this Report, it  was recognized that understanding of the WTO 
rules on customs valuation was crucial to the application of the Code.  The Ministry of Finance and 
Development Planning intended to provide across-the-board training of Liberia's customs officials, brokers, and other key stakeholders on Liberia's new, WTO-consistent, customs valuation process.  
153.  Members noted the statement of the repres entative of Liberia that currently his 
Government did not apply the valuation methods set out in Article VII of the GATT 1994 and the 
Customs Valuation Agreement. Members asked to provide more information about the status of 
the newly-developed WTO-consistent legislation on customs valuation and the time-frame for its 
implementation.  
154.  The representative of Liberia responded that the new Customs Code had been drafted and 
was pending enactment by the Legislature.  It wa s envisaged that Legislature would enact the new 
Customs Code by December 2015.  The representati ve of Liberia informed that the provisions of 
the Customs Valuation Agreement were fully refl ected in the draft Customs Code.  The draft 
Customs Code would be modified, before adopti on, to reflect all provisions of the Customs 
Valuation Agreement, including those contained in Annex I to the Agreement (Interpretative 
Notes).  
155.  Members also requested the representative of Liberia to clarify how price comparisons 
were used, and if they were used, to determine whether the declared value of goods was valid.  
The representative of Liberia said that, in order to validate whether the declared price of a good 
was valid, customs currently used the BIVAC verification data base as reference only.  When Liberia would begin the implementation of the WTO Agreement, including the Customs 
Valuation Agreement, with the enactment of the draft Customs Code, the database would also 
remain only for reference point and not a price or value. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 37 - 
 
  156.   The representative of Liberia stated that legislation on the valuation of imports for 
customs and taxation purposes conforming to the requirements of the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the GATT 1994 woul d be enacted prior to Liberia's accession to the 
WTO.  Liberia would implement the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the GATT 
1994 and Annex I to it (Interpretative Notes) from the date of accession, and if using a database 
as a reference for validating the declared price of a good, Liberia would not use any form of minimum value or fixed valuation schedule for customs valuation of goods.  If the transaction 
value offered was disputed, Liberia would release the goods subject to the posting of sufficient 
guarantee for the maximum amount of the customs payments that could be owed.  Liberia would 
also apply Decision 3.1 of the Committee on Customs Valuation (Treatment of Interest Charges in the Customs Value of Imported Goods) and paragraph 2 of the Decision on Valuation of Carrier 
Media Bearing Software for Data Processing Equipment (Decision 4.1).  The Working Party took 
note of these commitments.  
- Rules of origin 
157.  The representative of Liberia said there was no legislation on rules of origin in Liberia.  
The national rules of origin had been developed under the draft Customs Code, in line with the 
WTO Agreement on Rules of Origin.  Currently, the only rules of origin regime which were 
applicable to Liberia was the one of the Mano River Union (MRU).  Upon the implementation of the 
ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS), Liberia would also be implementing the ECOWAS Rules of Origin.  The rules of origin provided in the draft Customs Code were in alignment of the ECOWAS Rules of Origin. Liberia was also engaged in the on-going ECOWAS-EU Economic 
Partnership Agreements (EPA) negotiations.  When this process was completed, it was expected 
that the country would apply the ECOWAS-EU EPA ru les of origin regime.  Liberia had also been 
approved to benefit from the Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) and would therefore need to 
implement the preferential rules of or igin requirements for the AGOA.   
158.  The representative of Liberia added that the draft Customs Code, which was envisaged to 
be enacted by the Legislature by December 2015 , did not fully reflect the provisions of the 
WTO Agreement on Rules of Origin.  Any gaps in the Customs Code, once enacted, would be 
promptly implemented through regulations.   
159.  In response to a specific question from a Member on the issuance of prospective binding 
decisions on rules of origin, the representative of Liberia informed that section 1239 of the draft 
Customs Code required the issuance of a binding ru ling within 60 days from the date of request for 
such ruling. The ruling would be communicated dire ctly to the requesting party and all customs 
staff and published on the websites of the Libe ria Revenue Authority (www.lra.gov.lr) and the 
Liberia Chamber of Commerce (www.lcclr.org). Section 1239 also provided for the right of appeal 
to an independent body (Board of Tax Appeal) fo r administrative review and competent courts for 
judicial review and determination. In response to Member's question on the guarantee for 
confidential information, he informed that neit her the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended 
in 2011, nor the draft Customs Code provided a guar antee of confidential information specifically 
for the purposes of rules of origin. The Draft Customs Code would be amended to include the confidentiality clause in line with Article 3(i) of WTO Agreement on Rules of Origin. He also 
confirmed that Liberia would adhere to the ECOWAS Regulation on Rules of Origin, to conform to 
Article 3(i) of the WTO Agreement on Rules of Origin. 
160.  The representative of Liberia stated that, from the date of Liberia's accession, its laws and 
regulations for preferential and non-preferential  rules of origin would comply fully with the 
WTO Agreement on Rules of Origin.  He further confirmed that Liberia's rules of origin would be established in law and notified to the WTO Committee on Rules of Origin by the time of accession.  
The requirements of Article 2(h) and Annex II, Paragraph 3(d) of the Agreement, that 
assessments of origin be issued no later than 150 days after the request from the exporter, importer, or any person, would be fully implemented upon accession.  He also stated that, upon accession, the customs authorities would provide for an assessment of the origin of the import 
upon the request of an exporter, importer or any person with a justifiable cause.  Any request for 
such an assessment would be accepted even before trade in the goods concerned began.  Any such assessment would be binding for three ye ars.  The Working Party took note of these 
commitments.  WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  - Other customs formalities  
161.  The representative of Liberia said that the customs formalities required under the Liberia 
Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended in 2011 (hereinafter: Revenue Code), were based on procedures and guidelines provided by the In ternational Convention on Simplification and 
Harmonization of Customs Procedures (Kyoto Convention) administered by the World Customs 
Organization (WCO).  Liberia was, however, not a contracting party to the Kyoto Convention.  The Revenue Code required that for entry and exam ination of imported goods, the importer had to 
make a declaration to customs, accompanied by documents which included: (i) Import Permit 
Declaration (IPD), where applicable; (ii) a report of findings for preshipment inspected consignments issued by the preshipment agent; (iii) an invoice; and, (iv) a payment of all 
applicable duties and taxes before release of the goods. 
162.  The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning had begun the process of modernizing 
the customs operations.  In 2009, with funding from the African Development Bank, it had begun 
implementing the Automated System for Custom s Data (ASYCUDA), to enhance the customs 
clearing process at the Freeport of Monrovia.  It had opened a one-stop-shop at the largest port of 
entry (the Freeport of Monrovia) bringing under one structure, in harmonized operations, the Customs Freeport Collectorate, a Central Bank of  Liberia (CBL) tax payment window, a private 
bank, BIVAC, and the National Port Authority (NPA ).  This system had streamlined the customs 
clearing process, thereby facilitating a freer flow of international commerce and reducing business clearing cost with positive impact on economic  growth.  Liberia had rolled out ASYCUDA to 12 out 
of its 17 customs ports of entry; the roll out ha d been brought to a suspension due to the Ebola 
outbreak and had resumed when the health crisis  had ended.  Similar automation systems had 
additionally rolled out to: (i) two sea ports; (ii) the petroleum port; (iii) the mineral port; (iv) the parcel post office; (v) two airports; and, (vi) four  land border ports. In addition, the Domestic Tax 
Department of the Liberia Revenue Authority ha d implemented, under its modernization plan, 
automated processes in 2010 by installing the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS) which had later migrated to the Standard Integrated Tax System (SITAS). The installation of these 
systems was an important element in the Government's plan for enhanced transparency and 
accountability.  
163.  The new custom processes could be categorized into 11 steps: 
(i)  Pre-arrival information and profiling: 
The shipping lines sent advance cargo information electronically to customs. Customs might use 
the pre-arrival information for risk profiling and targeting.  This information might feed into the clearance process directly or might be used for future profiling purposes and statistical analysis.  
The consignee provided the broker with all releva nt documents which included but were not limited 
to the Clean Report of Finding (CRF), bill of lading, the invoice and the packing list, etc.;  
 
(ii) Arrival of vessel: 
On arrival of the vessel, the cargo was offloaded and placed in the port premises.  The captain of 
the vessel submitted the Manifest to the Wharfinger (customs officer) to confirm arrival of cargo. The boarding team carried out their due inspections of the vessel and report their findings to the 
Wharfinger where applicable.  The shipping line in collaboration with the NPA conducted the tally of 
the arrived cargo.  The shipping line amended and stored the electronic manifest in ASYCUDA World to include any additions or subtractions to the manifest before sending it to customs for final 
validation. Customs then validated the electronic manifest in preparation for the broker's usage; 
(iii) Brokers preparation: The broker proceeded to capture and register the de claration (IM4 or IM5 or IM6) ensuring that all 
fields relevant to the type of declaration were filled in correctly to avoid any queries that might 
delay the process.  All supporting documents relevant to the regime of the declaration had to be attached to the declaration ready for submission to customs; 
(iv) Lodgement: WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  The broker then lodged the entry with the customs.  Entries that were received at this point were 
required to have been registered in ASYCUDA World.  Receipt of the entry at the lodgement section marked the official receipt of the entry document into customs control.  Once received the entry had to always remain within customs control and was never subsequently returned to the 
agent until at the distribution stage; 
(v) Selectivity: On presentation, all entries were subjected to checks which aimed at  ensuring that:  (i) the form 
was legible and complied with the requirements for a computer generated entry; (ii) the entry had 
been properly completed, e.g., signed and dated;  and, (iii) the appropriate supporting documents 
were attached.  If errors were identified in the entry, the documents were referred to the broker.  If there were no queries on the entry, it was passed to the next stage of processing, selectivity at 
assessment. The assessment section was the hub of entry processing.  The assessment officer 
received the entry package and called the entry on the screen using the goods clearance module. 
Once the entry was identified, the assessment officer activated the assessment facility in ASYCUDA 
World.  This action triggered the system's selectivity and, as a consequence, entries were 
automatically routed to either of four lanes: (i) Green Lane: no selection - entry might be released without further scrutiny; (ii) Yellow Lane: selected for documentary check; (iii) Red Lane: selected 
for physical examination; and, (iv) Blue Lane: selected for post clearance action, but entry might 
be released. After completion of documentary chec k or physical examination, entries were taken 
through the step of final assessment. Once duti es, taxes and any other fees had been assessed, 
the assessment officer would print an assessment notice and give it to the broker. The CRF might 
be examined using risk management principles; 
(vi) Queries and amendment: This function was concerned with the treatment of entries that were found to be in error at any of 
the functional areas in the clearing process. The query and amendment function controlled the 
transmission of error advices to the broker and al so all subsequent amendments to the entry data 
and conducted final assessment; 
(vii) Payment: 
The broker obtained a manager's cheque from a commercial bank, and submitted it to the CBL for 
payment of duty.  On receipt of the payment, th e CBL input the payment details into the ASYCUDA 
World system and on validation printed a receipt to confirm payment and passed it to the broker.  
The broker submitted the receipt to the customs officer in preparation for release; 
(viii)  Release: When all customs formalities were completed in cluding confirmation of payment, the customs 
release officer would issue a printed Release Order to the appropriate broker.  Distribution of 
documents would be maintained. Customs officer dedicated to this function was responsible for physically distributing the document copies that were retained by customs and those that were 
delivered to other stakeholders.  In addition, the customs officer was also responsible for passing 
entries originally routed to the Green Lane and Blue Lane to the post clearance audit section;  
(ix) Post clearance audit: The post clearance audit section was responsible for the performance of an off-line verification of 
the Green Lane and Blue Lane entries, after the go ods had been released.  On completion of this 
action, the entry was forwarded to the archives section.  In addition, the post clearance audit section was responsible for a percentage check of Yellow Lane and Red Lane cleared entries to 
provide quality assurance of the system risk management profiles.   
(x) The NPA Process: The NPA obtained delivery order from the shipping  line and prepared bills for payment of port 
charges.  The broker took bills to the bank, paid an d then took deposit slip to obtain official receipt 
from the NPA. Finally, the NPA prepared a gate pass. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  (xi) Exit: 
On completion of all processes related to customs and other stakeholders, an exit note was issued 
from ASYCUDA World by the officer at the exit gate.  Together with the gate pass, the exit note 
was presented to the exit gate officers / stakeholde rs like the NPA, to allow the vehicles/cargo exit 
the premises of customs. 
164.  Members noted that similar automation systems were to be extended to other customs 
points in 2010 and asked for an update on the status of this project. 
165.  The representative of Liberia responded that ASYCUDA World was operational at three 
locations as of 2010: the Monrovia Seaport, th e Roberts International Airport (RIA), and the 
Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) port . Twelve of Liberia's customs ports had been 
automated with ASYCUDA World.  Work was under way to expand ASYCUDA to the remaining five 
customs ports in Liberia. 
166.  Members asked for a clarification whether the 11 steps that characterized the new customs 
process had to be done sequentially or whether some of them could be done concurrently (for 
instance, whether the broker could prepare the documents prior to the goods arrival). 
167.  The representative of Liberia responded that some of the processes would be done 
concurrently. In fact, some of the steps were not applicable for certain clearance regimes. 
For example, the 11 steps were not needed for a warehousing regime, and a transit/trans-
shipment regime.  He also stated that brokers could make pre-arrival declarations since shipping lines were submitting manifests and bills of lading prior to vessels' arrival. 
168.  Members noted that Liberian customs might use the pre-arrival information for risk 
profiling and targeting.  They asked the repr esentative of Liberia to explain under which 
circumstances the pre-arrival information was not used. 
169.  The representative of Liberia clarified that pre-arrival information was used in every 
transaction.  Based on the pre-arrival information, the customs level of intervention (risk 
assessment) could be determined to be either high or low.  This decision was based on information 
obtained prior to the arrival of the goods or from historical data available. 
170.  Members also asked whether the use of brokers was mandatory and what were the 
eligibility requirements for brokers, if any. 
171.  The representative of Liberia emphasized that the use of a broker was not mandatory.  
Section 1500 of Chapter 15 of the Revenue Code required that customs brokers must be persons 
of good moral character. No person could transa ct business as a customs broker without a licence 
granted in accordance with the provisions of the Revenue Code.  The provisions of the Revenue Code were construed to authorize the licence requirement to any person transacting as a custom 
house business pertaining to his own importations. The licence of any customs broker, shown to be 
incompetent, disreputable, or who had, with intent, defraud, in any manner wilfully and knowingly deceived, misled, or threatened any importer, exporter, claimant, or client, actual or prospective, 
by word, circular, letter, or by advertisement, could be revoked or suspended by the Minister of 
Finance and Development Planning. Such revocation had to be preceded by a hearing and an investigation. Such revocation could be protested or appealed to the Board of Tax Appeal (BoTA) or any competent court of jurisdiction.   
172.  Members asked to describe what criteria were used to determine which lane (Green, 
Yellow, Red, Blue) a product was placed in. 
173.  The representative of Liberia responded that Liberia's risk assessment criteria were based 
mainly on five factors as follows: 
(i) importer's compliance record:  Prior to automation, customs conducted 100% physical inspection/examination on all 
consignments except those for diplomatic missions, INGOs and other such importers.  As a result WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  of these inspections, customs was able to estab lish a compliance record for all importers, thus 
identifying risk levels for all importers; 
(ii)  type of commodity:   The 100% examination provided customs information of the kinds of commodities with high risk 
not only for revenue fraud but also for health and security concerns; 
(iii)  importer's agent / broker's record:   By the same exercise, customs was able to establish a compliance record of importers and 
brokers/agents; 
(iv)  country of origin/export:   The same exercise provided customs with statistics that showed which countries of export had 
discrepancies of risk levels; 
(v) intelligence:   
Some criteria were based on intelligence.  The risk level established through each or the 
combination of any of the above determined the risk criteria used to determine which lane (Red, 
Yellow, Blue, Green) a product would be placed in. 
174.  Members asked to confirm if Liberia had a guarantee or surety system in place.  
The representative of Liberia so confirmed.  
175.  Members asked what criteria were used to determine whether a product had to undergo 
post clearance audit, and what was meant by "off-line verification" and "archives section". 
176.  The representative of Liberia confirmed that the criteria used to determine whether a 
product went under post clearance audit were: (i) consignment must be preshipment inspection-
compliant; (ii) value of the goods; (iii) nature of the goods; (iv) country of origin of the goods; (v) 
risk level of the consignee and/or broker; and, (vi) volume of import.  Blue Lane declarations were subject to post clearance audit.  The term "off-line verification" stood for verification after the 
consignment had been released from customs control.  The "archives section" was the area in 
which all hard copies of processed customs declarations from the Freeport collector of customs were kept for the statutory period. 
177.  Members asked the representative of Liberia to describe the amount and services rendered 
and any port charges as part of the NPA process.  The representative of Liberia responded that all 
ports, with the exception of the Freeport of Monr ovia which was operated by APM Terminals, were 
administered by the NPA. For services and charges at the NPA ports, he referred to Annex 14(D), 
Annex 14(E) and Annex 14(F) to this Report.  
- Preshipment inspection 178.  The representative of Liberia said the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended in 2011 
(hereinafter: Revenue Code), provided for the ex amination of both exports and imports by the 
customs.  Due to the limited capacity of the cu stoms to undertake the examination and inspection 
functions, these had been contracted out. Hence,  the use of preshipment inspection (PSI) would 
continue until customs' capacity was built.  The Government of Liberia required PSI for all imports 
(and some exports).
7 Petroleum products were subject to destination inspection. Currently PSI for 
all products (except for logs) was undertaken by BIVAC International (Bureau Veritas Group).  PSI for logs was undertaken by Société Générale de Surveillance SA (SGS).  BIVAC had a liaison 
office in Monrovia, Liberia. It had a total of 51 staff, some based in the office in Monrovia and 
other staff based in other five border points in Liberia.  PSI was conducted by regional BIVAC centres in various parts of the world.  
                                               
7 The PSI requirement for exports was only for mi nerals and forest products, excluding gold and 
diamond. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  179.  PSI was required for goods of FOB value of equal to or exceeding US$3,500, as threshold 
for imports by sea, and US$1,500, as threshold for imports by air and land borders.  The importer 
submitted the authorized import permit de claration (IPD) and three copies of the pro forma  invoice 
and the bank receipt payment slip (receipt showing payment of BIVAC fee) to BIVAC liaison office 
in Monrovia.  BIVAC then electronically transmi tted the IPD by the Preshipment Inspection Order 
(PIO) to the appropriate regional BIVAC centre ov erseas depending on the country of supply of the 
imports.  The regional BIVAC centre then sent an email or a fax correspondence to the seller 
asking for the technical details of the goods, a copy of the pro forma  invoice, the location and the 
date when the goods would be available for inspection.  Physical inspection of the goods was then undertaken by the regional BIVAC centre, in presence  of the seller with the aim of ensuring that 
the description corresponded to the details on the IPD and the pro forma  invoice.  In cases where 
the IPD was not required and the consignment was not exempt from PSI, the importer requested 
for inspection to BIVAC through a predesigned form for such request.  Inspection was particularly done to establish the quantity and price description of the goods.  An inspectors' report was 
therefore issued.  
180.  The regional BIVAC centre used the inspectors' report to determine the correct customs 
classification code for goods which had been physically inspected.  Based on the final commercial 
invoice provided by the seller, the centre performed a final price analysis and calculated the value 
for duty purposes.  If the quantity, quality, specification and price were found to conform or had been corrected (if there was a discrepancy), the regional BIVAC centre issued a Clean Report of Finding (CRF).  The CRF was electronically transm itted to the BIVAC liaison office in Monrovia, 
which delivered the printed documents to the impo rter.  The importer submitted this CRF to the 
customs for the clearance and goods delivery. 
181.  Products exempted from PSI included: (i) goods imported with a FOB value 
below US$3,500; (ii) reasonable amount of personal effects and household items; (iii) supplies for 
diplomatic missions and, United Nations Organizations; (iv) gold and precious stones; (v) explosives, pyrotechnic products, arms and ammunitions, weapons and implements of war 
imported by the Liberian armed forces and Liberian Police Service; (vi) fresh fish caught by locally 
in Liberia waters; and, (vii) goods imported by parcel post not exceeding US$1,500. 
182.  The representative of Liberia said that the Re venue Code, in his view, provided for the PSI 
fees to cover the cost of PSI services at ports and airports.  The Revenue Code gave the Minister 
of Finance and Development Planning authority to se t and prescribe in a regulation this fee, which 
was to be paid to the collector in charge.  The PSI fees paid for imports currently were shown in the Annex 19 to this Report.  
183.  Members noted that PSI was currently required for all goods over US$3,500.  They asked if 
Liberia was considering moving away from or reducing its use of PSI.  They asked if Liberia ensured or planned to ensure that its PSI requir ements conformed to the requirements of the WTO 
Agreement on Preshipment Inspection and other WTO Agreements.  
184.  The representative of Liberia acknowledged that the current PSI inspection fees were not 
approximate to the cost of inspection and assessment services rendered, thus making them non-compliant with the WTO rules. He informed th at the Government of Liberia had retendered the 
PSI contract which had been won by BIVAC.  Th e previous agreement between the preshipment 
inspection company and the Government of Libe ria had been for three years beginning from 
July 2012 and had expired in July 2015. Considering the nature of the PSI contract, the Liberian 
procurement law required that there be an international competitive tender process.  Due to 
circumstances beyond the control of the Government  of Liberia (Ebola epidemic), a tender process 
had not been initiated prior to the expiration of  the previous agreement in July 2015, which had 
led the Government to make a decision to extend the previous agreement for two years, till 
July 2017. Notwithstanding this extension of th e previous agreement with BIVAC, the PSI fees 
would be aligned with the WTO rules. Should Liberia extend the current agreement or enter another agreement after July 2017, the Government of Liberia would ensure that it was in full 
compliance with the WTO rules on PSI, specifically, to ensure that PSI fees were in WTO 
conformity. The current fees would be amended to reflect specific rates commensurate with the services of the PSI firms. The fees for services would be based on the container's size rather than 
the value of the goods, as reflected in paragraph 116 and Table 1 of Section "Fees and Charges for 
Services Rendered" this Report. The cost of the se rvice was to cover inspection fees, issuance of 
certificates and the PSI expertise in classification, valuation, etc.
 He added that, the draft Customs WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  Code would be the legislation that would provide guidance and governance to all customs 
procedures and formalities. Any institution implementing any function of customs that was o u t s o u r c e d  t o  i t  w o u l d  h a v e  t o  d o  s o  i n  l i n e  w i t h  t h e  C u s t o m s  C o d e ,  o n c e  i n  f o r c e .  T h e  d r a f t  Customs Code was now with the Legislature awaiting enactment by December 2015. 
185.  Members also requested the representative of Liberia to clarify how price comparisons 
were used, and if they were used, to determine whether the declared value of goods was valid.  The representative of Liberia said that, in order to validate whether the declared price of a good 
was valid, customs currently used the BIVAC verification data base as reference only.  
When Liberia would begin the implementation  of the WTO Agreement, including the WTO 
Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the GATT 1994, with the enactment of the draft 
Customs Code, the database would also remain only for reference point and not a price or value.  
Liberia's commitment on this issue is contained in paragraph 156 of Section "Customs Valuation" 
of this Report. 
186.   The representative of Liberia stated that the preshipment inspection requirements would 
be temporary and in conformity with the requirements of the WTO Agreement on Preshipment 
Inspection and other relevant WTO Agreements.  Li beria would take full responsibility to ensure 
that such enterprises operating on its behalf complied with the provisions of WTO Agreements 
including the WTO Agreements on Technical Barrie r s  t o  T r a d e ,  t h e  A p p l i c a t i o n  o f  S a n i t a r y  a n d  
Phytosanitary Measures, Import Licensing Procedur es, the Implementation of Article VII of the 
GATT 1994, Rules of Origin, the Implementation of Article VI of the GATT 1994, Subsidies and 
Countervailing Measures, Safeguards, and Agricult ure.  The establishment of charges and fees 
would be consistent with Article VIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, no later 
than 1 August 2017 in accordance with the Action  Plan set-out in Table 1. From the date of 
accession, Liberia would ensure that the due pr ocess and transparency requirements of the 
WTO Agreements, in particular Article X of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 
would be applied.  Decisions by such firms coul d be appealed by importers in the same way as 
administrative decisions taken by the Government of Liberia.  The Working Party took note of 
these commitments. 
- Anti-dumping, countervailing duties, safeguard regimes 
187.  The representative of Liberia said that the an ti-dumping regime of Liberia was provided for 
in the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended in 2011 (hereinafter: Revenue Code).  
Under the Revenue Code, the Minister of Finance and Development Planning could prescribe an 
increase or decrease in the rate of customs du ty applicable to goods whose import had been 
confirmed to cause injury to a domestic industry.  The decision of the Minister would be taken after 
consultation with his/her Deputy Minister for Fiscal Affairs and the Minister of Commerce and 
Industry, and after an investigation had been ca rried out to ascertain injury caused by the 
importations.  Currently, anti-dumping procedures in Liberia were not based on or follow the 
WTO rules.  
188.  Members expressed concern that anti-dumping procedures in Liberia were not based on or 
follow the WTO rules. They requested the representa tive of Liberia to submit the reform plan in 
order to bring Liberia's legislation in compliance with WTO rules.  Members sought a commitment 
from Liberia that should Liberia decided to adopt and enact trade remedy laws, they would be in 
conformity with the WTO Agreement and, Me mbers would be granted access to the draft 
anti-dumping legislation prior to its enactment.  The representative of Liberia responded that 
currently, Liberia had no trade remedy measures in place. 
189.  Asked whether Liberia had any plans to adopt new, WTO-consistent, provisions for 
anti-dumping measures, the representative of Liberia confirmed that, upon accession, Liberia 
would not impose any trade remedy measures before being bound by a trade remedy legislation 
that was consistent with the WTO rules and before such legislation would be notified to Members.  As of the date Liberia implemented the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET), Liberia would be bound by the ECOWAS' trade remedy legislatio n, including anti-dumping, anti-subsidy and 
safeguard legislation. The ECOWAS trade remedy legislation would be notified to the WTO 
Secretariat by the ECOWAS along with the remaining provisions of the ECOWAS CET. As of yet, Liberia relied on the ECOWAS trade defence measures. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  190.  The representative of Liberia confirmed that, should the Government of Liberia decide to 
enact a Safeguard, Anti-dumping or Countervailing Duty Law, Members would be notified, and the legislation would be in conformity with the WTO Agreement on Safeguards, the WTO Agreement 
on the Implementation of Article VI of the GA TT 1994, and the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and 
Countervailing Measures.  The Working Party took note of this commitment. 
191.  The representative of Liberia informed that trade remedy regime was provided for in 
Section 1202 of the Revenue Code.  This legislation provided for imposition of new and additional 
duties on foreign goods as remedies as a way of Presidential action.  The President was authorized 
to proclaim and declare those duties if he/she de termined they would be in the public interest.  
If the country continued to discriminate against Liberia, the President could ban imports of all 
products from the respective country.  This was to be done after determining that the country of 
origin of the imported goods imposed, directly or indirectly, on Liberian goods an unreasonable 
charge, exaction, regulation or limitation which was not equally enforced on like goods of other foreign countries, and when the country directly or indirectly discriminated against the commerce 
of Liberia by law, administrative regulation or practice. 
192.  Members asked for more details about the system of Presidential authorization and how it 
was determined that new and additional duties on  foreign goods were in the public interest.  
Members requested Liberia to clarify whether the President could only impose countervailing duties 
in instances where the duties were determined to be in the public interest and, if so, to describe the criteria for such a determination.  In response, the representative of Liberia said that Presidential authorization had never been used to levy countervailing duties. The determination 
that the Presidential authorization was in public interest, depended on the matter which the 
authorization intended to address.  The Govern ment of Liberia was aware that the existing 
Liberia's rules on the introduction of the trade remedies had a discretionary element. For this 
reason, these rules were planned to be removed, through the amendment of Part I of the Revenue 
Code.  He also referred to his reply on anti-dumpi ng measures in paragraph 189 of this Section of 
this Report.  If Liberia would want to introduce trade defence measures (particularly, 
countervailing duties), they would be implemen ted through the regional (ECOWAS) arrangement 
and not Presidential authorization.  
193.  The representative of Liberia also informed th at Liberia had no formal safeguard regime.  
Safeguard measures had never been applied in Liberia, except for a surtax of US$ 0.10 per kilo 
imposed on imported flour. He informed that this surtax was introduced by the Ministry of Finance 
and Development Planning in April 2009, by Administrative Regulation No. 5.1204-1/MOF/R/01, due to a sharp increase in the importation of flour that substantially affected local price thus 
creating injury and a potential threat of greate r injury. The surtax was to make the local flour 
industry price competitive considering the high cost production due to the lack of electrical power, 
water, and economy of scale of production.  He acknowledged that after accession, tariff surtaxes 
for safeguard purposes would have to be applied in a manner consistent with WTO provisions. 
The representative of Liberia confirmed the surt ax currently applied to imports of wheat flour 
would be eliminated by 1 July 2019. 
194.  Members urged Liberia to base its trade remedy regimes on WTO rules and make the 
necessary changes in its regimes as soon as possible.  This would include, but would not be limited 
to, requiring there to be an investigation into whether goods were dumped or subsidized, whether there was material injury suffered by the domestic  industry, and whether there was a causal link 
between the dumped or subsidized imports and th e injury experienced.  Liberia would need to 
conduct its trade remedy proceedings consistent with all provisions of the WTO Agreement on the Implementation of Article VI of the GATT 1994 (WTO Anti-dumping Agreement) and the 
WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.  Members also requested the 
representative of Liberia to clarify Liberia's po sition on conducting safeguard proceedings in 
compliance with WTO obligations under the WTO Agreement on Safeguards.  In response, the representative of Liberia said that in future, sh ould a safeguard measure be necessary, it would be 
introduced by the ECOWAS Commission. 
195.  The representative of Liberia confirmed that, from the date of accession, Liberia would 
apply safeguard, anti-dumping, or countervailing duty measures only after notifying and 
implementing laws in conformity with the prov isions of WTO Agreements on Safeguards, the 
Implementation of Article VI of the GATT 1994, and on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. 
He further confirmed that upon accession Liberia would apply any such existing measures only in WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  conformity with the relevant WTO provisions, with the exception of the surtax currently applied to 
imports of wheat flour which would be eliminated by 1 July 2019.  The Working Party took note of 
these commitments. 
B. EXPORT REGULATIONS 
- Customs tariffs, fees and charges for serv ices rendered, application of internal 
taxes to exports  
196.  The representative of Liberia said that the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended in 
2011 (hereinafter: Revenue Code), provided for a duty free regime for exports of 
finished/processed goods from Liberia.  Regardin g semi-processed goods, the Revenue Code levied 
a customs user fee (an administrative fee), not exceeding 1.25% of the FOB.  With respect to 
unprocessed and trans-shipment of export goods, he informed that the Revenue Code levied a 
customs user fee (an administrative fee), not exceeding 2.5% of FOB, and CIF, respectively.  
He clarified that currently, the Government of Liberia levied the maximum rate of the customs user fees for exports, stipulated in the Revenue Code, as reflected in Annex 21 to this Report.  The list 
of port fees and charges connected with exportation was contained in Annex 14(C), Annex 14(D), 
Annex 14(E), and Annex 14(F) to this Report. Excluding the Freeport of Monrovia whose fees were set by APM Terminals, other functional ports were managed by the National Port Authority (NPA).  
The PSI fee on exports was 1.4% FOB, except fo r PSI fee on exports of rubber, which was 0.7% 
FOB.  For the Action Plan for bringing the fees and charges in connection with exportation into compliance with the WTO rules, including Arti cle VIII of the GATT 1994, he referred to 
commitment paragraph 116 and Table 1 of Section "Fees and Charges for Services Rendered" of 
this Report.  
- Export restrictions 
197.  The representative of Liberia said that export  regulations were provided for in the Liberia 
Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended in 2011 (hereinafter: Revenue Code). All exporting firms had to be businesses registered in Liberia (as required by the Investment Act of 2010), as described in Section "Registration Requirements for Import/Export Operations; Trading Rights" of this Report, 
and should, for four products (rice (HS Code 1006.30), petroleum (HS Code 2710.19), cement 
(HS Codes 2523.30, 2523.90) and pharmaceuticals (HS Codes 3003.10, 3003.20, 3003.31, 3003.39, 3003.40, 3003.90)), obtain an Export Permit Declaration (EPD), as specified in 
Administrative Notice of the Ministry of  Commerce and Industry MCI/No.006/06/2012.  
198.  Asked whether the EPD could be considered as an automatic export licence, the 
representative of Liberia said that Liberia considered the EPD as a non-automatic licence.  
The purpose of the EPD was to monitor export performance and to provide technical advice on 
which sector(s) the Government of Liberia could develop.  It was also a document by which the Government of Liberia captured export data for statistical purposes and for GDP tabulation.  Other than the invoice and the registration certificate for conducting business in Liberia, there 
were no other document requirements to obtain an EPD.  The representative of Liberia also stated 
that to export logs, which were not subject to the EPD, an inspection report from Société Générale de Surveillance SA (SGS) was needed, which was al so considered licensing in terms of the WTO. 
Export of diamond also had to meet a Kimberly certification process put in place by the United 
Nations and the Government of Liberia.   
199.  The EPD form was obtained from the Division of Trade of the Ministry of Commerce and 
Industry (MoCI).  The form showed the exporter's  and buyer's full name and address, Exporter's 
Tax Identification Number (TIN), country of destination, country of shipment, date of shipment and number of shipments, means of dispatch, port of  loading and port of landing. It also showed 
the value of the goods being exported in the respective currency including the FOB value, 
insurance, freight costs, total CIF value, any othe r charges to be paid, and the terms of payment.  
It also showed information on the description of the goods being exported including the HS code and the technical description of the goods; and qu antity and the unit price.  After completing the 
EPD, the exporter paid a PSI service fee to the designated bank, either Global Bank or 
International Bank.  For all export products, th e PSI fee was 1.4% of FOB value of exports.  
After payment of the fee, the exporter submitted the EPD and the PSI fees payment receipt to the 
Ministry of Commerce and Industry for authorizat ion. To get the approval of the EPD for rice, WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  cement or petroleum products, the exporter had to demonstrate that there was ample supply due 
to the minimum threshold requirement to maintain supply for at least three months (for rice: 75,000 metric tonnes, for petroleum products and cement: based on the available domestic stock); for pharmaceuticals, in addition to the EPD, the exporter was required to obtain a licence 
from the Liberia Medicines and Health Products Re gulatory Authority.  The approval of the EPD 
required two signatures:  Director of Trade or  Deputy Minister responsible for Commerce and 
Trade, and Assistant Minister responsible for Commerce and Trade.  The EPD was approved 
subject to Clean Report of Finding (CRF) by Bureau Veritas (BIVAC Company) or its affiliate agents 
as to quantity inspection and price comparison. The EPD was in five copies:  one for the importer, two for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, one for customs and one for BIVAC.  The validity of the EPD was six months. The EPD form was reproduced in Annex 20(B) to this Report. 
200.  The representative of Liberia added that there we re no export quotas in Liberia.  In 2001, 
the United Nations Security Council had imposed an embargo on the diamond and timber sectors 
of Liberia.  In 2007, this embargo had been removed.  Currently, the country was undertaking 
reforms in the forest and other resources sectors to make their operations conform to 
internationally accepted standards.  In November 2008, through the Executive Order No. 6, the President had ordered a pause in the export ation of unprocessed natural rubber as the 
Government had taken steps to curb the decline in the Liberian rubber industry.  In 2014, 
Presidential Executive Order No. 60 had been issued and extended the pause in the exportation of unprocessed natural rubber for a year.  The situation had further deteriorated when the rubber sector reported negative growth in the seco nd half of 2014 due to the health crisis.  
The representative of Liberia further stated that the Government of Liberia did not intend to have 
this ban in place permanently. The Government of Liberia intended to revive the rubber industry and have the ban removed upon accession.   
201.   The representative of Liberia confirmed that from the date of accession, Liberia would 
apply its export permit requirements and other ex port control requirements in conformity with 
WTO provisions.  The Working Party took note of these commitments. 
- Export subsidies 
202.  The representative of Liberia informed that, as documented in Chapter 1, Subchapter A, 
Section 16 (On Special Investment Incentives) of the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended 
in 2011 (hereinafter: Revenue Code), Liberia provided tariff preferences for the export of fish and 
manufactures as investment preferences. He confirmed that Liberia did not have other export financing, subsidy or promotion policies in place.  The Ministry of Commerce and Industry in 2008 
had implemented programme "Liberia Export De velopment Project" (LEDP) sponsored by the 
International Trade Centre (ITC).  One of the objectives of this programme had been to train some members of staff in trade intelligence, busine ss advocacy, entrepreneurship development and 
export promotion.  It was envisaged that when this programme came to an end, the trained staff 
would form an export promotion unit at th e Ministry of Commerce and Industry.  
The representative of Liberia also confirmed that  there were no export performance requirements 
in Liberia. 
203.  The representative of Liberia said that the Revenue Code had provided for duty drawback 
on exports.  The drawback had been allowed on  two types of goods: (i) goods incorporating 
imported components (in this case, drawback was equal to the duty paid on imported components 
incorporated in the goods and was allowed after the goods had been exported or deposited in a 
warehouse or free zone by an importer); and, (ii) goods produced or manufactured from imported materials or goods in the manufacture of which imported materials had been used, when import duty had been paid on such materials and not dr awn back, when such goods were either exported 
or deposited in a warehouse or free zone for exportation or shipment as stores.  Drawback in this 
case had been equal to the duty paid on the imported materials used in the manufacture of goods, and the goods had been exported or deposite d in a warehouse or the free zone by the 
manufacturer. 
204.  However, since Presidential Executive Order No. 3 of 2006 "On Government Revenues and 
Obligations" all custom duty drawbacks and tax credits had been abolished, therefore duty 
drawback and tax credits did not currently exist in  Liberia.  The representative of Liberia noted WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  that Executive Orders were of limited duration of  one year, so a longer term approach to duty 
drawback might have to be implemented by the Government. 
205.  Members requested the representative of Liberia to explain what export promotion policies 
it intended to implement, for instance as part  of the Liberia Export Development Project.  
The representative of Liberia informed that the Government of Liberia had drafted and adopted an 
Export Strategy.  The Export Strategy had been completed in June 2014 and was available on the 
official website of the Ministry of Comm erce and Industry (www.moci.gov.lr).    
206.  The representative of Liberia confirmed that  from the date of accession Liberia would 
administer its subsidy programmes subject to Article 3.1(a) of the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, in full conformity with the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, including Article 27.2 thereof.  He also confirmed that, within six months 
of the entry into force of Liberia's Protocol  of Accession, Liberia would provide a subsidy 
notification, in accordance with Article 25 of the Agreement, to the WTO Committee on Subsidies 
and Countervailing Measures containing all necessary information on these subsidy programmes.  
The Working Party took note of these commitments. 
C. INTERNAL POLICIES AFFECT ING FOREIGN TRADE IN GOODS 
- Industrial policy, including subsidies 
207.  The representative of Liberia said that Liberia currently had an emerging manufacturing 
and industrial sector and he believed that it had the potential to be developed further through its 
industrial policy.  Although there had been assistance from international donors such as, Japan 
International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 
in 2011, and 2014, respectively, the progress had been on hold due to the health situation in Liberia.   
208.  The representative of Liberia, however, said  that his Government might wish to protect 
some sectors in the future. In this respect, Liberia wished to avail itself of all special and differential treatment provisions, including developmental provisions and trade policy instruments 
available in the GATT 1994 and other WTO Agreements. 
209.  With respect to subsidy policies, a Member noted that investment incentives provided 
under the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended in 2011 (hereinafter: Revenue Code), included "special tax incentives" to a number of sectors, such as manufacturing, which in this 
Member's view, appeared to be conditioned on the use of local content.  The representative of 
Liberia said that the Revenue Code had a potential non-permissible subsidy provision which would be examined and resolved.  The subsidy which th e representative of Liberia referred to was the 
provisions relating to local content requirement in Section 16 of the Revenue Code on special 
investment incentives.  Liberia was currently analysing the legal discrepancies in the Revenue Code in order to have a full compliance with the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing 
Measures. 
210.  Members appreciated the statement of the re presentative of Liberia, expressed in 
paragraph 208 of this Section of this Report.  At the same time, they sought a commitment that 
the Government of Liberia would provide details, pr ior to accession, regarding any subsidies that it 
implemented, including any incentives it implemented as part of its Export Strategy. 
211.   The representative of Liberia confirmed that Liberia would administer its subsidy 
programmes in full conformity with the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing 
Measures, including Article 3.1(b) and Article 27.2, from 1 November 2019.  The representative of 
Liberia further confirmed that incentives that had been granted to firms and individuals authorized 
by these laws and programmes prior to the date of accession that constituted a prohibited subsidy, 
within the meaning of Article 3.1(b) of the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing 
Measures, would be withdrawn by 1 November 2019.  All necessary information on these subsidy programmes would be notified to the WTO Committ ee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures in 
accordance with Article 25 of the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures within 
six months of entry into force of Liberia's Protocol of Accession.  Liberia also would provide WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  explanatory information in its subsequent notifications under Article 25 to enable other Members 
to confirm that such programmes are being progressively eliminated.  The Working Party took note of these commitments. 
- Technical barriers to trade, standards and certification 
212.  The representative of Liberia said that Liberia was a member of Codex Alimentarius, the 
International Standardization Organization (ISO) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission in relation to standards. Recommendations and guidelines of these 
organizations served as a basis for the preparation,  revision, and application of national standards, 
technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures. Liberia standards in metrology conformed to international standards.   
213.  Chapter 1 "Weights and Measures: Consumer Protection" of Title 14 of the Liberian Codes 
of Laws Revised ("General Business Law") had established the basis for the application and 
implementation of standards for metrology. Currently, there were no other technical regulations 
and standards for other TBT issues and Liberia would have to develop those regulations and 
standards to be in full compliance with the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (hereinafter: WTO TBT Agreement). In his view, full  compliance to the principles of the WTO TBT 
Agreement would require technical and financial assistance and an appropriate transition period.  
The Action Plan for the Implementation of the WT O TBT Agreement is contained in Table 2 of this 
Report. 
214.  Pursuant to Chapter 29 "Ministry of Commerce and Industry" of Title 12 of the Liberian 
Codes of Laws Revised ("Executive Law"), the Ministry of Commerce and Industry was a 
Government body having, as one of its functions,  the establishment and enforcement of standards 
for commodities and trade. The Division of Stan dards had been established as the standardizing 
body for commodities and trade. Currently, there was no focal point on TBT matters. The Liberian 
representative said that there were discussions with an aim at establishing the TBT enquiry point. However, in his view, this would require technical and financial assistance. 
215.  Members asked for a clarification if the Division of Standards within the Ministry of 
Commerce and Industry was the central standardizing body of Liberia, and, if so, if it already 
accepted and complied with the Code of Good Practice for Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards, as established in Article 4 of the WTO TBT Agreement. 
216.  The representative of Liberia responded that Liberia still lacked a central standardization 
body. There was a bill to set up a national standardization body. The Division of Standards at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, along with Di visions of Standards in three other Ministries: 
of Agriculture; of Health and Social Welfare; and, of Public Works, was involved in adopting 
national standards in compliance with internat ional standards. The Divisions were preparing 
technical regulations for adoption and application by central Government bodies in compliance with Article 4 of the WTO TBT Agreement. 
217.  Members noted a number of items in Liberia's TBT Checklist (WT/ACC/LBR/8) that were 
under consideration or in the process of being es tablished.  They invited the representative of 
Liberia to provide a timeline of Liberia's intentions to bring its TBT measures into compliance with 
the WTO TBT Agreement.  
218.  In response, the representative of Liberia informed that Liberia was currently in the 
process of a regulatory review with regard to technical regulations, standards and conformity 
assessment procedures. The regulatory review was underway, and would culminate in the 
preparation of a standalone all-encompassing WTO-consistent draft law on technical barriers to trade.  He also added that the action plan, which had been established in December 2013 and updated in 2015, was intended to support the im plementation of the TBT Checklist. The action 
plan included the following components: (i) review of Liberia's legislative framework with regard to 
TBT; (ii) identification of the regulatory authorities involved in TBT and their responsibilities; (iii) cooperation and coordination among the regulatory authorities (Good Regulatory Practices); 
(iv) establishment of a TBT Enquiry Point; (v) establishment of a TBT Notification Point; 
(vi) identification of trade priorities with regard to exports and imports; and, (vii) improved quality 
infrastructure.  Liberia was currently working towards the fulfilment of points (i) and (ii).  WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  Next steps according to this action plan were sch eduled to be taken in fourth quarter of 2015.  
Liberia was working towards fulfilling the requir ements of the WTO TBT Agreement one year after 
accession.  Liberia was also aware that putting in place the TBT regime would require technical assistance. 
219.  Members noted Liberia's plan to establish the TBT Enquiry Point.  They requested 
additional information on the status of this projec t.  The representative of Liberia responded that 
the establishment of the Enquiry Point was targeted for the fourth quarter of 2015. 
The Administrative Regulation No. MCI/NO.001/09/2015 Establishing an Enquiry and Notification 
Point for Technical Regulations had been issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on 
3 September 2015.  The Enquiry and Notification Point for Technical Regulation would be established within the structure of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.  The contact details of 
the National Enquiry Point would be: 
Address: Ministry of Commerce and Industry;  
P.O.Box 9041, 
Ashmun/Gurley Streets,  
Monrovia, Liberia 
Email:  info.nep@staff.moci.org  
Website: www.moci.gov.lr 
Tel:  + 231 886524311 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  220.  Members asked Liberia to provide more details about how it was planning to ensure that 
the WTO TBT Agreement transparency obligations were complied with, in particular those regarding the possibility for other Members to submit comments on the implementation of new technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures. They also asked for information on 
how Liberia would ensure compliance with the WTO TBT Agreement provisions regarding the 
development and application of technical regula tions and conformity assessment procedures, in 
particular:  non-discrimination in the treatment of products; consideration of appropriate 
international standards, guides and recommendations as a basis for technical regulations and 
conformity assessment procedures;  and the accept ance of the results of conformity assessment 
procedures conducted by bodies in an exporting Member country.  In response, the representative 
of Liberia stated that Liberia was developing a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the 
adoption of standards and also drafting a technical regulation that was geared toward making 
Liberia fully compliant with Article 5 of the WTO TBT Agreement. Currently, Liberia was planning to review and harmonize conformity certification for local products. 
221.  Members asked the representative of Liberia to give an indication of when Liberia was 
planning to implement a procedure for comments on new regulations. The representative of Liberia responded that any regulatory changes to its TBT regime would need to be done during a 
transition period contained in paragraph 222 and Table 2 of this Report. 
222.  The representative of Liberia confirmed that Liberia would progressively implement the 
WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade in a ccordance with the action plan set-out in Table 
2. He further  confirmed that during the transition period, existing measures would be applied on a 
non-discriminatory basis, i.e., providing for nation al treatment and MFN treatment for all imports.  
Measures in place at the time of accession and al ready consistent with the provisions of the WTO 
Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade would not be subject to transition.  Liberia would ensure 
that any changes made in its laws, regulations and practice during the transition period would not 
result in a lesser degree of consistency with the provisions of the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade than existed at the date of ac cession. Full implementation of the WTO Agreement 
on Technical Barriers to Trade would start from 1 August 2017 without recourse to any further 
transition period.  The Working Party took note of this commitment. 
Table 2:  Action Plan for the Implementation of the WTO Agreement on 
Technical Barriers to Trade  
Provisions of the 
WTO TBT 
Agreement Required Actions Time-Frame 
 Review of the existing institutiona l, legal and regulatory framework for 
Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), in cluding the draft law on TBT, to 
bring it into full compliance with the WTO TBT Agreement 2015 
Article 10 Development of the draft regulation of the Ministry of Commerce and 
Industry on the Establishment of TBT Enquiry Point, in accordance 
with Chapter 29.2(a) of Title 12 of the Liberian Codes of Laws Revised ("Executive Law") DONE 
Stakeholders' Review of the draft TBT Enquiry Point Regulation DONE 
Establishment of the TBT Enquiry Point by the regulation of the 
Ministry of Commerce and Industry 2015 
Recruitment and training of staff for th e operation of the Enquiry Point 2015 
Articles 2.9, 2.10, 
3.3, 5.7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 10.7, 10.10, 15.2 and Annex 3 Development of the draft regulation of the Ministry of Commerce and 
Industry on the Establishment of the National Notification Authority, in accordance with Chapter 29.2(a) of Title 12 of the Liberian Codes of 
Laws Revised ("Executive Law") 2015 
Stakeholders' Review of the draft National Notification Authority 
Regulation 2015 
Establishment of the National Notification Authority by the regulation 
of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry 2015 
Conduct recruitment and training of additional staff for the operation 
of the National Notification Authority 2015 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  Provisions of the 
WTO TBT 
Agreement Required Actions Time-Frame 
Articles 2, 2.3, 3, 
3.1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7.1 Drafting the regulation of the Mini stry of Commerce and Industry on 
the establishment a National Standa rds Body responsible for setting 
standards in compliance with WTO TBT Agreement and its Annex 3 and issuing technical regulations  2015 
Stakeholders validation of the regulation of the Ministry of Commerce 
and Industry on the establishment a National Standards Body 2015 
Establishment of the National Standards Body by the regulation of the 
Ministry of Commerce and Industry 2015 
Conduct recruitment and training in the Code of Good Practice of 
additional staff for the operation of the National Standards Body 2015 
Article 2  Technical Regulations and Standards: 
 
‐ Development and adoption of the Code of Good Practice for 
the development of Technical Regulation in accordance with international standards, including Codex Alimentarius and the ISO.  
 
2015-2017 
  
Articles  2, 2.1, 3.1  Conformity Assessment: 
 
‐ Development and adoption of standard operating procedures 
for conformity assessment, in accordance with international 
guidelines. 2015-2017 
Articles 2, 3, 5, 7 Accreditation of Laboratories: 
 
‐ Establishment of a technical working group within the 
National Standards Body with the mandate to oversee the accreditation of the National Standards Laboratory (NSL); 
 
‐ Accreditation of the NSL by a third party recognized 
accreditation body.  
   
2015 
 
2016-2017 
 
Full implementation of the WTO Agreement on  Technical Barriers to Trade 1 August 2017 
 
- Sanitary and phytosanitary measures 
223.  The representative of Liberia informed that Title 3 of the Liberian Codes of Laws Revised 
("Agriculture Law") of 1976 (Chapter 1 "Plant an d Animal Quarantine", Chapter 2 "The National 
Livestock Artificial Insemination Act"), Title 14 of the Liberian Codes of Laws Revised ("General 
Business Law"), Title 33 of the Liberian Codes of  Laws Revised ("Public Health Law"), the Act 
Adopting the Environment Protection and Management Law of Liberia of 2003 and the Act Creating the Forestry Development Authority of 1976 provided  the legislative basis for the protection of 
human, animal and plant life and health.  In accord ance with Chapter 1.2 of Title 3 of the Liberian 
Codes of Laws Revised ("Agriculture Law"), the exis ting legislation regulated import and export of 
animals and plants, specifically, to: (i) prevent entry into Liberia of injurious plant and animal pests and diseases existing in foreign countries; (ii) prevent the spread of such pests and diseases 
should they become established in Liberia; (iii) conserve dwindling species; and, (iv) protect the 
food supplies of Liberia. 
224.  The representative of Liberia recognized that the existing SPS legislation would need to be 
improved, to achieve full WTO-consistency and eliminate any gaps and discrepancies in the current 
regulations. He informed that, in addition to th e laws and regulations listed in paragraph 223 of 
this Section of this Report, legal acts were being developed to create a comprehensive framework for Liberia's SPS regime and ensure its consistency with international standards and guidelines and 
the requirements of the WTO Agreement on th e Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary 
Measures (hereinafter: WTO SPS Agreement).  The legal framework being developed was work in progress.  This work required technical assistan ce.  Specifically, a standalone all-encompassing 
WTO-consistent draft SPS law was being developed.  In support of the Agriculture Law, a new 
Plant Quarantine Act was being drafted, scheduled to be adopted in 2016.  The National Livestock Policy had been adopted in July 2015.  He added that in 2008, the Government of Liberia had 
adopted the Food and Agriculture Policy and Stra tegy (FAPS), to address the problems of the 
agriculture sector of Liberia. The FAPS, inter alia , contained a set of measures to revitalize the 
livestock sector and its value chains. The Government of Liberia was developing and enforcing WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  improved livestock regulations and operational rules and mechanism of enforcement, which 
included SPS standards for safety and quality control of animal and livestock products.  
225.  The representative of Liberia said that Liberia was a member of the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission, the International Plant Protection Co nvention (IPPC) and, since May 2014, the World 
Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The requ irements of the Codex Alimentarius Commission 
and the IPPC were captured in Title 14 of the Li berian Codes of Laws Revised ("General Business 
Law") and Title 3 of the Liberian Codes of La ws Revised ("Agriculture Law"), respectively. 
Liberian representatives attended Codex, OIE, and IPPC meetings on a regular basis.  Liberia's SPS 
measures were applied in line with the standards of these international bodies (particularly, Liberia used the labelling requirements of Codex Alimentarius).  International standards would be taken into account in developing and introducing new SPS measures in Liberia. 
226.  Three Ministries were primarily responsible for sanitary and phytosanitary measures: the 
Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Commerce and 
Industry, as follows:   
- Ministry of Agriculture oversaw live animal and plant health quarantine. It was also 
responsible for overseeing the preparation an d implementation of phytosanitary measures 
in Liberia. The Ministry administered and was responsible for the control, inspection and 
approval of plant life and health measures an d enforced plant quarantine, in accordance 
with Chapter 1 of Title 3 of the Liberian Codes of Laws Revised ("Agriculture Law");  
- The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare was in charge of food safety. It was responsible 
for the enforcement of food sanitary conditions, including those for meat and poultry 
products. It also oversaw and regulated sanitary conditions for hotels, boarding houses, 
public eating and drinking houses, in acco rdance with Chapter 30.2 of Title 12 of the 
Liberian Codes of Laws Revised ("Executive Law") and Article 26 of the Public Health Law; 
and, 
- The Ministry of Commerce and Industry was mandated to ensure quality standards of 
domestic and imported products and ensure conformity of imported products with the 
applicable SPS regulations, in accordance with  Chapter 29.2(a) of Title 12 of the Liberian 
Codes of Laws Revised ("Executive Law").  
The three Ministries, on a collaborative basis, also jointly oversaw the inspection of animal 
slaughter houses.  Within their competence, the Ministries had developed various policies and 
drafted new laws, to strengthen Liberia's SPS standards, as reflected in paragraph 224 of this 
Section of this Report.  
227.  The representative of Liberia added that the National SPS Committee had been set up, 
with terms of reference.  However, the Committee had not yet become operative due to lack of 
national budgetary appropriations. It was an ticipated that it would be functional by 
December 2015.  Once fully functional, the Committee would, inter alia , perform the following 
functions: 
- advise and assist the Government of Liberi a in drafting, promulgating and implementing 
national regulations and standards with th e purpose of ensuring that they were: 
(i) compliant with the WTO SPS Agreement; (ii) based on applicable international 
standards; and, (iii) not more trade-restrictive than necessary to protect food safety, 
animal or plant health in Liberia;  
- contribute to raising awareness of SPS matters among stakeholders by holding 
consultations with and providing information to them in preparation of the country's 
positions with regards to international fora related to SPS matters in Liberia;  WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  - facilitate the exchange of information am ong the stakeholders in the three areas of: 
(i) animal health; (ii) food safety; and, (iii) plant health, in order to enable efficient operation of Liberia's National SPS Enquiry Point (NEP) and the SPS National Notification Authority (NNA); and, 
- coordinate training programmes on SPS matters at the national level.  
228.  The representative of Liberia informed that th e Ministry of Agriculture required an import 
permit / a certificate for import of the following products: (i) pathogenic micro-organisms 
(including seed culture of and viruses) of animals and plants, insects pests and other organisms; 
(ii) relevant animals and plants, their products and other quarantine objects from countries or regions with prevalent epidemic animal or plant diseases; (iii) animal carcasses that were infested and untreated; (iv) wood and wooden packaging ma terials not in compliance with ISPM No.15; 
(v) processed food items; (vi) soil or soil on pr opagated materials from foreign origins;  (vii) all 
banned and restricted agro-chemicals and veterinary drugs; and, (viii) wildlife and marine resources (elephant parts, all wildlife animals, sea turtle, dolphin). 
229.  Members requested to explain how the import permit procedures were no more 
administratively burdensome than absolutely nece ssary to administer the phytosanitary measure, 
and asked to provide further details regarding the reasons that the Ministry of Agriculture could 
deny an import permit. 
230.  The representative of Liberia explained that the import permit procedure for imports of 
plants and plant products was in line with international best practices. Liberia followed International Plant Protection Convention's International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures 
(ISPMs) and the OIE codes for Terrestrial and Aquati c Animal Health. Provided that an application 
for an import permit was complete, the Ministry of Agriculture would process it within 24 hours. Pursuant to paragraph 4 of Chapter 1 of Title 3 of  the Liberian Codes of Laws Revised ("Agriculture 
Law"), the authority to prohibit the importation of plants which were poisonous, noxious, or which 
produced deleterious drugs or might be infested or infected with harmful pests or diseases was 
vested with the Ministry of Agriculture.  Import permits could be denied if the country of origin of 
the product was suspected to have an outbreak of a pest disease. Further, a permit could be 
denied if the applicant/importer was not a register ed business with the Liberian Business Registry 
(LBR) or, if the applicant submitted insufficient information inconsistent with the requirements of Chapter 4.3 of Title 14 of the Liberian Codes of Laws Revised ("General Business Law"), as 
described paragraph 71 of Section "Registration Requirements for Import/Export Operations; 
Trading Rights" of this Report.  Currently, information on the import permit procedure for plants, plant products and agrochemicals was not available online.  Information was provided from the 
Ministry of Agriculture's office. Liberia was cogniz ant of the fact that this negatively affected 
imports. There was a need for technical assistance to set up an electronic system for import permits and to develop/revise regulations and procedures on import permits. 
231.  Some Members asked about the national labora tory of Liberia responsible for testing of 
agricultural goods referred to as the Ledlum La boratory in Fendell and asked to provide more 
information regarding the National Laboratories (Metrological, Chemical and Microbiological), which, once certified, should also be able to test agricultural goods.  Members also asked the 
representative of Liberia if the Government of Liberia planned to expand the scope of testing 
beyond live animals. 
232.  The representative of Liberia responded that the following laboratories had been 
established: (i) Central Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Fendell (Ledlum Lab); (ii) National 
Standards Laboratory (NSL); and, (iii) Drugs Te sting Laboratory, established by the Liberia 
Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authorit y.  The plan for the Ledlum Lab was to provide 
prompt and reliable test results by well-trained personnel to the field veterinary services and to 
enhance animal disease diagnosis and control (f or example, transboundary animal diseases 
surveillance).  The Ledlum Lab had started conduc ting microbiological, virology, and parasitology 
testing activities in 2011. By the end of 2015, it wo uld expand its testing activities in the field of 
bee health for honey production (organic certification for export of honey and the production of 
candle from bee wax).  The Ledlum Lab was also  a member of the African Union Interafrican 
Bureau of Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) network of veterinary labs and sent cases for confirmation 
to designated laboratories in the region.  The National Standards Laboratory (NSL) was a testing 
and calibration facility.  Its establishment was link ed to Liberia's accession to the WTO.  It aimed WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  to strengthen the SPS system in Liberia, by  enabling Liberia to prevent importation of 
sub-standard products that might threaten human, plant or animal health, and by making sure that food and agriculture exports from Liberia met international standards.  The NSL was also part 
of a regional programme working towards strengthening quality infrastructure in order to support 
competitiveness and harmonization of TBT and SPS measures in West Africa. The NSL had three 
basic laboratories which were undergoing prep aration for their eventual accreditation to 
ISO 17025:2005 international standard in all laborato ry practices. The testing activities of these 
laboratories were as below: 
1) The Chemical Testing Laboratory, which major goal was providing quality analytical 
testing services for the purpose of: (i) determining whether food met specification in order to protect the consumers' interests; (ii) verifying claims on labels and 
identity of sample in order to determine quality or wholesomeness of product; and, 
(iii) making sure that food did not contain potentially harmful chemicals in concentration higher than the permissible limit; 
2) The Microbiology Laboratory, which major goal was providing quality 
microbiological testing services for the purpose of protecting consumers' interests, verifying producer claims, and ensuring that products did not contain microbial 
contaminations; and, 
3) The Metrology Laboratory was a major calibration body of the NSL. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  On the Drugs Testing Laboratory, established by the Liberia Medicines and Health Products 
Regulatory Authority, the representative of Libe ria added that this laboratory was performing 
testing of medicines and health products for qualit y.  More information about the laboratories was 
contained in Annex 22 to this Report.  In response to Members' question, he also confirmed that 
Liberia did not plan to expand the scope of testing beyond live animals, unless under 
exceptional circumstances. 
233.  Members requested for further information on Liberia's system for recognizing different 
SPS measures that achieve the same level of protection pursuant to Liberia's commitment 
on equivalence. 
234.  The representative of Liberia informed that Liberia did not have a system for recognizing 
different SPS measures that achieve the same level of protection, to evaluate equivalence of such 
measures.  Also, risk assessment capacity was limited.  Technical assistance in this field was 
needed.  A central recipient body where this ca pacity could be developed was the National SPS 
Committee of Liberia. 
235.  In response to a specific question on the standards or regulations related to products 
derived from genetic engineering that could play an important role for innovative agricultural 
technologies, the representative of Liberia said that currently, the Central Agriculture Research 
Institute under the Ministry of Agriculture was the only government-owned and operated research 
entity on agricultural matters in Liberia.  The Central Agriculture Research Institute performed its mandate for research, gene, engineering and breeding practices for the development and 
improvement of selected plants and animals, al ong with best practices to enhance viability, 
production, and guard against environmental effects.  The Central Agriculture Research Institute 
had developed several varieties of rice, cassava, and other tubers, and had researched on improving seed, fish, and small rudiments.   
236.  The representative of Liberia said that currently there was no regulation on genetic 
engineering although he recognized the important role  that it could play.  Further, in this context, 
he said that if in the future, new regulatory a pproaches related to genetic engineering and other 
new technologies were envisaged for, they would be transparent, predictable, science-based and 
consistent with Liberia's international trade obligations.   
237.  Members requested an update on the regulations and procedures that Liberia was 
developing to provide for transparency of SPS me asures, and asked to provide the information on 
the progress in the establishment of the National Notification Authority (NNA) and the National 
Enquiry Point (NEP) to the Working Party. 
238.  The representative of Liberia responded that the National Enquiry Point (NEP) had been 
established within the structure of the Ministry of  Agriculture.  The decision on its establishment 
had been taken by the Ministry of Agriculture in November 2013.  The Regulation Establishing an 
Enquiry and Notification Authority for Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures had been issued by 
Ministry of Agriculture on 18 August 2015 to de fine the scope of its functions, based on 
international guidelines and the transparency re quirements of the WTO SPS Agreement and shared 
with the Members of the Working Party.  The cont act details of the National Enquiry Point (NEP) 
were: 
Address: National Livestock Bureau; Ministry of Agriculture;  
Old LPRC Road; Somalia Drive, Gardnesville,  1000 Monrovia, 10 Liberia 
 
Email:  sps.liberia@moaliberia.org Website: www.moaliberia.org 
 
Tel:  + 231 776 13 73 78  The National Notification Authority (NNA), which would be established no later than 1 August 2017 
as part of the National SPS Committee, as reflec ted in the Action Plan for the Implementation of 
the WTO SPS Agreement reproduced in Table 3 of this Report, would be responsible for SPS notifications.  The representative of Liberia also informed that all SPS regulations were published WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  in the Official Gazette of the Ministry of Foreig n Affairs, as referred in paragraph 320 of Section 
"Transparency" of this Report, and/or the official websites of the three Ministries in charge of SPS 
measures: (i) the Ministry of Agriculture; (ii) the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare; and, (iii) the Ministry of Commerce and Industry : www.moaliberia.org, www.mohsw.gov.lr and, 
www.moci.gov.lr, respectively. Prio r publication of draft SPS measur es was not currently available. 
As per the Action Plan for the Implementation of  the WTO SPS Agreement reproduced in Table 3 of 
this Report, Liberia would take steps to ensure that draft SPS measures would be made available 
to the public, through the official journal or official website, for review and comment prior to 
adoption. Comments would be taken account of when finalizing the proposed SPS measures. 
239.  Members requested information on further steps which Liberia planned to take to bring its 
SPS system into conformity with WTO commitments, and what assistance Members might provide 
to help Liberia in this regard. 
240.  In response, the representative of Liberia referred to Table 3 of this Report.  Technical 
assistance would be helpful in developing new and revising existing SPS-related legislation, 
regulations and procedures for implementation. 
241.  The representative of Liberia requested that the Working Party grant a transition period 
from the date of Liberia's accession until 1 August 2017 for implementation of the WTO SPS 
Agreement, as outlined in the Action Plan fo r the Implementation of the WTO SPS Agreement 
reproduced in Table 3 of this Report.  This transition period would allow Liberia to fully implement the obligations under the Agreement. He stressed the necessity for his Government to receive adequate technical and financial assistance to ensure the proper implementation of the WTO SPS 
Agreement. 
Table 3:  Action Plan for the Implementati on of the WTO Agreement on the Application 
of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  
Provisions of the WTO 
SPS Agreement Activity Time-frame 
Article 2:  Basic rights 
and obligations;    Article 3: Harmonization   Adoption of the Food and Agriculture Policy and Strategy DONE 
Development and adoption of the modifications and amendments to Title 3 of th e Liberian Codes of Laws 
Revised ("Agriculture Law"), the draft SPS law, and other legislation, as necessary, to ensure its consistency with the WTO SPS Agreement and the relevant international standards 2015-2017 
   Promulgation of rules and re gulations in support of Title 3 
of the Liberian Codes of Laws Revised ("Agriculture Law")  2015-2017 
  Adoption of SPS-related me asures and procedures along 
international guidelines (e.g. Codex, OIE, IPPC) 2016 
Review and update the technical food regulations and food 
specifications in accordance with the international specifications of the Codex Alimentarius Commission 2015-2017 
Periodic evaluation of the food control system as well as of 
food inspection activities according to the guides, manuals and international recommendations 2015 - 2017 
 
Strengthening of animal health  laboratories, to expand the 
scope for animal testing 2016 
Strengthening of a national food safety laboratory, to 
expand the scope for food testing 2016 
  Expand animal and plant quaran tine stations at additional 
entry points 2016 
Development of human capacity in the areas of 
phytosanitary and animal health 2016 
 
Article 4:  Equivalence Adoption of legi slation to ensure the compliance of the 
above-mentioned laws and regulations with equivalence obligations 2015 – 2017 
   Update of the terms of re ference of the National SPS 
Committee to address the equivalence issues 2016 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  Provisions of the WTO 
SPS Agreement Activity Time-frame 
Article 5: Risk 
Assessment; 
 
Article 6 and Annexes A.6 and A.7: Adaptation to regional conditions   Setting up a Division on Crop  Protection as part of the 
Ministry of Agriculture 2015 
  Conduct transboundary animal disease surveillance, taking 
into consideration regional conditions 2015 
  Conduct a survey to determine plant pest risks for crop of 
economic importance, taking into consideration regional conditions 2016 
Development of human capacity in the area of risk analysis 
and management 2016  
Article 7 and Annex B: 
Transparency Strengthening of the National Enquiry Point in the Ministry 
of Agriculture, including drafting and adopting the legal instruments defining the scope of its functions, based on 
international guidelines and the transparency requirements of the WTO SPS Agreement DONE 
  Drafting and adopting the legal instruments establishing the 
National Notification Authority under the National SPS Committee, based on intern ational guidelines and the 
transparency requirements of the WTO SPS Agreement  DONE 
  Setting up a mechanism for prior publication of draft SPS 
measures in the Official Gaze tte and/or at the official 
websites of the Ministries in charge of SPS measures 2015-2017 
  Development of human capacity in the area of SPS 
transparency and notifications 2015-2017 
Article 8 and Annex C: 
Control, inspection and approval procedures  Review control, inspection and approval procedures, to 
ensure compliance with Annex C to the WTO SPS Agreement 2015 - 2017 
Full implementation of the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures 1 August 2017 
 
242.  Some Members highlighted the efforts made by Liberia in reviewing its SPS legislation and 
invited Liberia to continue with its efforts to bring regulations and legislation progressively in compliance with the  WTO rules.  They took note of Liberi a's request for a transition period until 
1 August 2017 for full implementation of the WT O SPS Agreement and encouraged Liberia to take 
advantage of the technical assistance available in the SPS area. 
243.  The representative of the Liberia confirmed that Liberia would progressively implement the 
WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures in accordance with the 
Action Plan provided for in Table 3.  He further confirmed that duri ng the transition period, existing 
measures would be applied on a non-discriminator y basis, i.e., providing for national treatment 
and MFN treatment to all imports.   Measures in place at the time of accession and already 
consistent with the provisions of the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures, would not be subject to transition.  Liberia would ensure that any changes made in its laws, regulations and practice during the transition period would not result in a lesser 
degree of consistency with the provisions of th e WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary 
and Phytosanitary Measures, than existed at the da te of accession.  Full implementation of the 
WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures would start from 1 August 2017 without recourse to any further transition period.  He further confirmed that Liberia 
would consult with Members upon request if they deemed that any measures applied during the 
transition period affected their trade negatively.  The Working Party took note of these commitments.  
- Trade-related investment measures 
244.  On trade-related investment measures of Liberia, the representative of Liberia referred to 
Section 16 of the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended in 2011 (hereinafter: Revenue 
Code), as described in paragraph 32 of Section "Investment Regime" of this Report. A Member 
noted that Section 16 of the Revenue Code provided that the National Investment Commission could certify companies as eligible for the special investment incentives, i.e., exemptions from VAT/GST and import duties on specified products for a period of five years from the WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  commencement of investment (15 years if the investment exceeded US$10,000,000) provided 
that they were new investments and operated, inter alia , in the following areas:  manufacturing of 
finished products having at least 60% local raw material content; exportation of sea products; agricultural food-crop cultivation and processing, including cocoa and coffee; small- and medium-
scale rubber and oil-palm cultivation and processing; manufacturing or assembly of finished 
products for export, provided that at least 70% of  production was exported from Liberia within any 
12-month period.  Additional tax incentives covered construction of, inter alia , new factories that 
used local raw materials. This Member reiterated that where such incentives were contingent, de 
facto or de jure , upon requirement to export or use local content, they were inconsistent with the 
provisions of the WTO Agreement on Trade-related Investment Measures.  
245.  Asked to provide Liberia's plan for eliminating the investment practices that were 
inconsistent with the WTO Agreement, the representative of Liberia said that the provisions on 
granting incentives dependent on export or use of local content provided for in Chapter 1, Subchapter A, Section 16 (On Special Investment Incentives) of the Revenue Code had expired on 
30 June 2015 and would not be extended. 
246.  The representative of Liberia informed that as of 30 June 2015, the Ministry of Finance and 
Development Planning had granted investment in centives under Section 16 of the Revenue Code 
to eight private companies, as indicated in Annex 23 to this Report.  All these incentives had been 
granted by the Ministry between February 2014 and October of 2014 and would last for a period of five years, expiring in 2019. 
247.  The representative of Liberia said that Liberia would ensure that all laws, regulations and 
other measures applied in Liberia that were related to issues covered by this section, would be 
consistent with the provisions of the WTO Agreement on Trade-related Investment Measures, except for measures applied under investment agreements described in paragraph 246 and Annex 
23 to this Report, for which a transition period until 1 November 2019 was agreed.  
The representative of Liberia confirmed that Liberi a would engage in consultations with interested 
WTO Members, no later than 1 November 2017, regarding WTO-consistent measures that could be 
applied in connection with investment agreements described in paragraph 246 and Annex 23 to 
this Report, and would notify WTO Members of any measures planned to replace the WTO-inconsistent measures applied under these agreements at least six months prior to the adoption of such new measures.  The representative of Liberia confirmed that all WTO-inconsistent 
measures, applied pursuant to these investment agreements would be eliminated by 
1 November 2019.  The representative of Liberia al so confirmed that, upon accession Liberia would 
not conclude any new agreements with investors in any sector that contained provisions contrary 
to the WTO Agreement on Trade-related Investment Measures.  The Working Party took note of 
this commitment.  
- Free zones, special economic areas 
248.  The Government of Liberia had established the Liberia Industrial Free Zone Authority 
(LIFZA) in 1975 to encourage and promote foreign cooperation and investments in the country.  The representative of Liberia informed that there were two free zones in Liberia: the Monrovia 
Industrial Park (MIP), and the Liberia Industrialized Free Zone.  However, he added that there 
were, de facto , no commercial activities performed in the Liberia Industrialized Free Zone.  
In accordance with the Act Creating Industrial Free Zone Authority of Title 30 of Liberian Codes of 
Laws Revised ("Public Authorities Law"), the LI FZA was responsible for overseeing and managing 
free zones in Liberia.  As the LIFZA was currently de facto  dysfunctional, the Government of 
Liberia had drafted Special Economic Zones Act in 2014.  The representative of Liberia said that 
upon enactment of the Act on Special Economic  Zones, envisaged by August 2016, it would 
replace the Act Creating Industrial Free Zone Au thority of Title 30 of Liberian Codes of Laws 
Revised ("Public Authorities Law").  Further, the Liberia Special Economic Zone Authority would be created as a regulatory body to: (i) promulgate  policies and all necessary regulations for the 
effective implementation of the Act; (ii) designate geographically defined areas as suitable for the 
development of special economic zones (SEZs) su bject to the Land Rights Policy of Liberia and 
existing laws, and strategic national interests;  (iii) prescribe different categories of SEZs;  
(iv) determine the types of services and businesses that could be located in SEZs; (v) review, 
grant and revoke licenses to develop, operate and maintain SEZs; and (vi) monitor and regulate activity in SEZs. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  249.   The representative of Liberia informed that the Monrovia Industrial Park (MIP) was 450 
hectare parcel land set aside for industrial development in Gardnersville Township just outside Monrovia, where industries that were established within this Park were entitled to waive import duties.  He also clarified that the Freeport of Mo nrovia, which was hosting the Liberia Industrialized 
Free Zone , was the biggest seaport in Liberia where more than 75% of Liberia's imports took 
place.  Asked to describe the customs requirements (e.g., tariffs, taxes, fees) that were applied to goods that exited the MIP or the Liberia Industrialized Free Zone: (i) for export abroad outside the 
ECOWAS; (ii) for export to another ECOWAS member States, if that was different from (i); and, 
(iii) for consumption within the rest of Liberia, the representative of Liberia clarified that both for the MIP, and the Liberia Industrialized Free Zone , goods exported to countries outside of the 
ECOWAS enjoyed tax-free regime unless such good s were not finished or processed goods.  
Goods exported to the ECOWAS member States enjoyed the same treatment until the 
implementation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS).  Further, for goods produced/processed for consumption within the territory of Liberia, taxes were paid as required in 
S c h e d u l e  I  o f  t h e  C u s t o m s  T a r i f f  S c h e d u l e  o f  L i b e r i a ,  a s  d e s c r i b e d  i n  p a r a g r a p h  8 5  o f  S e c t i o n  
"Ordinary Customs Duties, Customs Tariff" of this Report. 
250.  Further, the representative of Liberia said that according to the former Poverty Reduction 
Strategy, Agenda for Transformation (AFT, pa rt of Vision 2030), Liberia was considering 
developing one or more SEZs to promote investment, reduce production costs, generate employment, diversify production and better integrate Liberian firms with regional and global markets.  The representative of Liberia said that  upon the passage of the Draft Special Economic 
Zones Act, the Government intended  to establish additional SEZs.  
251.    The representative of Liberia confirmed that, from the date of accession, free trade zones 
established under Title 30 of Liberian Codes of Laws Revised ("Public Authorities Law") or any 
other legislation would be established, maintained and administered in full conformity with the 
provisions of the WTO Agreement, including the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures and the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures, and that Liberia would 
ensure enforcement of its WTO obligations in those zones. He further confirmed that the right of 
firms to register and operate in these zones would not be subject to export performance, trade balancing, or local content criteria requirements. In addition, the representative of Liberia confirmed that from the date of accession goods imported into the free trade zones  and goods 
produced in any free trade zones or areas under tax and tariff provisions that exempt imports and 
imported inputs from tariffs and certain taxes would be subject to normal customs formalities when entering the rest of the territory of Liberia, including the application of tariffs and taxes.  
The Working Party took note of these commitments. 
- Government procurement 
252.  The representative of Liberia said that public procurement in Liberia was regulated by the 
Public Procurement and Concessions Act of 20 05, as Amended in 2010 (hereinafter: Public 
Procurement and Concessions Act), and the Small Business Empowerment Act.  In addition to 
procurement, the Public Procurement and Concessions Act also regulated concessions in Liberia.  
The objectives of the Act were to promote integrity, fairness, accountability and public confidence 
in the procurement process; and achieve transpar ency in the procedures, processes and decisions 
relating to procurement and concession agreements , among other objectives.  With respect to the 
Small Business Empowerment Act, the representative of Liberia stated that the Government of 
Liberia enacted the Act to ensure that 25% of public procurement was set aside for only Liberian firms. 
253.  The Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) was established as a distinct 
corporate entity to oversee all public procuremen t and concessions processes in accordance with 
the Public Procurement and Concessions Act.  The PPCC had begun to implement its mandate as 
provided for by the Act in 2006 following the first po st-war inauguration of Liberia's President, Her 
Excellency, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.  The PPCC had the core objective to achieve 
transparency in the procedures, processes and decisions relating to procurement and concession agreements and ensure "Value for Money" through th e economic and efficient use of public funds.   
254.  The Public Procurement and Concessions Act a pplied to the procurement of goods, works 
and services, financed in whole or in part from public funds including the disposal of government WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  stores, plant and equipment and all other public co ncessions.  The application of the Act had three 
main exceptions: 
 The procurement of goods, works and services financed by loans taken or guaranteed by 
the government and/or aid granted under an international agreement which prescribed the 
procurement procedures to be employed;  
 Agreements executed by the Central Bank of Liberia in respect of monetary policy; and, 
 Procurement of military or national security equipment.  
255.  Entities classified as contracting authorities were those that used public funds and those 
where the Government had majority ownership.  No contract values were excluded from the application of the Public Procurement and Conc essions Act.  The public procurement regime of 
Liberia followed international best practices and wa s fully transparent and predictable.  The Public 
Procurement and Concessions Act and regulations stip ulated all the relevant procedures for the call 
for proposals, tendering and bidding, evaluation of proposals and award of contracts.  Full details 
of the procurement procedures were contained in the following document: PPCC, Public 
Procurement and Concessions Act 2005, Implementation Manual of April 2009, available at 
http://www.ppcc.gov.lr/doc/Step_by_s tep_Implementati on_Manual.pdf.  
- Transit  
256.  The representative of Liberia said that the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended in 
2011 (hereinafter: Revenue Code), provided for regulations on trans-shipment and goods in transit.  According to the Revenue Code, goods in transit, trans-shipment or on temporary 
importation, when entered in Liberia were relie ved from payment of customs duty.  However, 
goods in transit through Liberia had to pay a levy of 2.5% of the CIF value of goods.  
The representative of Liberia confirmed that the 2.5% of the CIF value of goods was an 
administrative fee, as stipulated in Section 5.b(5) of the Revenue Code.  He said that concerning 
the fee for indirect trans-shipment for goods initially destined for Liberia, which the importer later decided to trans-ship (e.g. due to market conditions), the charge had previously been at a flat rate of US$500, however, it had been abolished. 
257.  Goods in transit when imported through a port in Liberia might be stored in designated 
transit warehouses as the necessary custom's clearance was being undertaken.  The  Revenue Code gave the Minister of Finance and Developm ent Planning authority to approve places at 
various ports of entry as transit warehouses.  It also required that the person transiting goods in 
transit or importing goods which had to be trans-shipped made an entry for such goods.  The entry consisted of an import permit declaration (IPD),  made by the person and completed in line with 
the Ministry of Commerce and Industry specifications.  The IPD was also accompanied by the 
goods invoice. 
258.  A Member observed that an ad valorem customs fee for transit was, by definition, based 
on the value of the good in transit, and theref ore could not be considered a fee for services 
rendered.  Since taxation of trade in transit for re venue purposes was prohibited by Article V of the 
GATT 1994, the Member sought Liberia's plans for br inging the charge into conformity with Article 
VIII of the GATT 1994.  The representative of Liberi a stated that it would address this issue in the 
same way as its currently ad valorem customs fees and PSI fees. 
259.  The representative of Liberia confirmed that, from the date of accession, Liberia would 
apply any laws, regulations or other measures go verning transit operations and would act in full 
conformity with the provisions of the WTO Agreement, in particular Article V of the General 
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994. In this regard, the current levy of 2.5% of the CIF value of goods charged on all trade in transit through Liberia would be eliminated and replaced with an administrative fee consistent with the provisions of Article VIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs 
and Trade 1994, by 1 August 2017, and as provid ed for in Table 1 of this Report. The Working 
Party took note of these commitments. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  - Agricultural policies 
260.  The representative of Liberia said that the mainstay of the Liberian economy was 
agriculture, which, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), had contributed 
about 39% of aggregate GDP in 2013.  Agriculture was thus a major component of economic 
revitalization.  Growth in the agricultural sector was led by the production of rubber and timber.  Agriculture was the primary source of livelihood for the majority of the population. Recovery had been quicker in the commercial plantation sector, with the high prices of rubber and palm oil on 
the international market spurring investment.  However, since 2013, the price of rubber had fallen.  
The scarce resources available to smallholders and a poor transportation network hampered their ability to get products to market.  The agricultur al sector also suffered from low productivity, as 
technology remained virtually stagnant for decades.   This was compounded by Liberia's dual land 
tenure system, formal and customary, which seriously restricted land ownership by both Liberians and foreigners.  
(a) Imports 
261.  The representative of Liberia said that most of  the tariffs applicable to agricultural goods 
were in ad valorem , except for a few products whose duty was applied at a specific level. 
Agricultural products with specific duty included semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not 
polished or glazed.  The import duty on rice had however been suspended through Presidential 
Executive Order No. 61 of 2014.  This order prov ided an extension of an earlier Presidential 
Executive Order No. 19 of 3 March 2009 on suspension of the tariff on rice.  This included rice 
classified under tariff Nos. 1006.30.00 (in packing of more than 5kg or in bulk); 1006.30.00 
(in packing of at least 5kg); and 1006.40.00 (broken rice) under the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended in 2011.  The purpose of suspensi on of the duty was to continue bringing relief 
to the public on this staple food.  
262.  The representative of Liberia said that the ad valorem  duty on agricultural products 
c u r r e n t l y ,  r a n g e d  f r o m  1 . 5 %  ( f o r  s o m e  p r o d u c t s  o f  m i l k  a n d  c r e a m )  t o  2 5 %  ( f o r  s o m e  f r u i t s  including pears, apricots, cherries, peaches an d strawberries).  He added that upon the 
implementation of the ECOWAS Common External Ta riff (CET), the tariff rates on agricultural 
products would be simplified into four of the five tariff groups, i.e., 5%, 10%, 20% and 35%.  
263.  The representative of Liberia said that under the provisions of the Presidential Executive 
Order No. 64 of 2014, duty on agricultural seeds,  agricultural equipment and related implements 
had been suspended.  The purpose of the duty susp ension was to contribute towards stimulation of 
the activities in the agricultural sector after years of war, and to provide incentives under the 
infrastructural and economic revitalization pillars of the Poverty Reduction Strategy by encouraging 
private sector investment in the procurement of essential agricultural equipment, agricultural seeds and related implements.  Importers of se eds and agricultural machinery and implements, 
therefore paid only the custom user f ee and the ECOWAS Community Levy (ECL).  
264.  A Member noted that the Liberian Government was monitoring the quantity and price of 
imported wheat flour in order to support the domestic milling industry.  In this context, the Member requested Liberia to provide more details of the monitoring process and specific 
Government policies and actions involved in support ing the domestic industry.  The representative 
of Liberia confirmed that the Ministry of Commerc e and Industry did not restrict the quantity of 
wheat flour imported into Liberia.  However, he said that there was a surtax of US$ 0.10 per kilo 
imposed on imported flour by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, which would be 
eliminated at full implementation of the EC OWAS CET by 1 January 2019, as described in 
paragraph 193 of Section "Anti-Dumping, Countervailing Duties, Safeguard Regimes" of this Report.  He noted that this surtax was to make the local flour industry price competitive 
considering the high cost production due to the la ck of electrical power, water, and economy of 
scale of production. 
265.  Particularly, in response to the question how long the Government of Liberia intended to 
apply these policies monitoring process and specific policies, the representative of Liberia said that 
the phase out period of this administrative policy could take up until December 2015.  WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  266.  Noting the representative of Liberia's confirmation that the Ministry of Commerce and 
Industry did not restrict the quantity of wheat flour imported into Liberia, the Member further 
required additional information when the phase- out was expected to begin.  In response, the 
representative of Liberia noted that its surtax of  US$ 0.10 per kilo imposed on imported flour by 
the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning  was not in compliance with the WTO rules.  
With the advent of the ECOWAS CET, Liberia intended to be in full compliance by implementing only the ECOWAS CET tariff.   
(b) Exports 
267.  The representative of Liberia informed that no export subsidy, export finance, export credit 
or guarantees or insurance programmes were currently available.  He also confirmed that Liberia would bind agricultural export subsidies at zero  from the date of accession.  The Working Party 
took note of this commitment.   
(c) Internal policies 268.  The representative of Liberia said that his Government had introduced the Food and 
Agriculture Policy and Strategy in 2008, which ai med at: (i) achieving sustainable sufficiency in 
rice through self-reliance, with much greater focus on production from swamp/lowlands, and by small holders;  (ii) sustainable transformation of traditional subsistence rice farmers into 
commercial rice farmers focusing on increased access to essential inputs, improved strategies for 
upland cultivation, mechanization, value addition  and linkages to markets;  (iii) establishing large-scale commercial rice farms through the direct involvement of the private sector (national and foreign), within specified agro-ecological zones that offered comparative advantages in rice 
production;  such enterprises would enter into partnership agreements with smaller commercial 
rice producers as out-growers to the enterprises;  (iv) value addition and development of a commercial rice industry, with rice value chain development starting at the farm level;  and (v) 
establishment of a Rice Development Fund and a Rice Advisory Board.   
269.  Liberia's commitments on agricultural tariffs and domestic support and export subsidies for 
agricultural products are contained in the Schedule of Concessions and Commitments on Goods 
(CLXXIV) annexed to Liberia's Protocol of Accession to the WTO. 
V. TRADE-RELATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY REGIME 
- GENERAL 
270.  The representative of Liberia said that the Government of Liberia had enacted its first 
intellectual property law (the Copyright Act) on  22 December 1911.  In 1997, the Copyright Act of 
1911 had been repealed and replaced by the Copy right Law of 1997.  Further, in 2003 Liberia's 
first Industrial Property Act had been enacted.  The Government of Liberia had been advised by 
the WIPO that the Copyright Law of 1997 and th e Industrial Property Act of 2003 were not 
sufficient in order to meet the WIPO's best practices, and international standards, including the 
WTO Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (hereinafter: WTO TRIPS 
Agreement).  Thus, the Government of Liberia had undertaken a legislative step to combine the Copyright Law of 1997 and the Industrial Property Act of 2003 to be harmoniously transformed to 
a new and singular intellectual property law, i.e. the draft Intellectual Property Act. 
271.  The representative of Liberia said that the draft Intellectual Property Act regulated and 
protected different forms of intellectual proper ty, including trademarks, copyright, industrial 
designs, patents and geographical indications.  Responding to Members' question on the timeline 
of the enactment of this draft Act, the representa tive of Liberia informed that the draft Act was 
currently at the office of the President who would submit the bill to the Legislature for enactment.  
It was envisaged to be enacted and implemented in  October 2015.  The representative of Liberia 
introduced some key differences between the two pr evious Acts, and the draft Intellectual Property 
Act, which, in his view, were based on the su bstantive improvements in the draft Intellectual 
Property Act.  For example, in relation to Sub- Part VI (A) (Copyright and Related Rights) in the 
draft Intellectual Property Act, more topics were considered, including the incorporation of the 
Marrakesh Treaty, allowing the reproduction of a published work, without authorization of the WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  owner, for the visually impaired persons or persons with print disabilities in a specialized format 
which enabled their perception to work.  Further, as for Sub-Part VI (B) (Industrial Property Rights), the scope was extended to include layout-designs of integrated circuits, which was not stipulated in the Industrial Property Act of 2003.   Also, the coverage of the various intellectual 
property topics was expanded with further details  and clarity.  In his view, overall the draft 
Intellectual Property Act was in compliance with the WTO TRIPS Agreement. 
272.  Members were interested in the results of the WIPO Intellectual Property Development 
Plan for Liberia.  The representative of Liberia replied that the Plan had been operational since 
2009, the draft Intellectual Property Act was a concre te legislative result of this WIPO Intellectual 
Property Development Plan for Liberia.  In addition, the representative of Liberia said that the WIPO Intellectual Property Development Plan also provided Intellectual Property courses in several 
universities in Liberia. 
- Industrial property protection 
273.  The representative of Liberia said that the Industrial Property Act of 2003 would be 
repealed in its entirety by the draft Intellectua l Property Act.  The envisaged timeframe for its 
enactment and implementation was October 2015. 
- Responsible agencies for policy formulation and implementation 
274.  The representative of Liberia said that according to Section 4.1 (Establishment of the 
Liberia Intellectual Property Office) of the draft In tellectual Property Act, in the Executive Branch of 
Government, there would be a corporate semi-autonomous agency with perpetual succession and 
a common seal to be known as the Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO).  Upon the 
implementation of the draft Intellectual Property  Act in October 2015, the Liberia Copyright Office 
and the Liberia Industrial Property Office (both ex isting entities) would be merged into the LIPO, 
which would become operational. The LIPO would comprise a central administration and two 
departments - Copyright Department and Industrial Property Department - under the policy direction of the Minister of Commerce and Industry to administer all intellectual property matters. 
275.  Noting that the Management Board was still functioning and intact, a Member asked 
whether the Management Board was the same as the Board of Directors whose organization and structure was set forth in Section 5 of the draft Intellectual Property Act.  The representative of Liberia clarified that the Management Board stipulated in the Copyright Law of 1997 and the Board 
of Directors stipulated in the Industrial Proper ty Act of 2003 would be dissolved and replaced by 
the Board of Directors which would be the governin g body of the LIPO, when the draft Intellectual 
Property Act would be implemented. 
276.  Asked to clarify the functions of the Collective Management Organization (CMO), the 
representative of Liberia firstly said that currently, there was no existing CMO in Liberia, although there were efforts to establish one support ed by the Norwegian Copyright Development 
Association (NORCODE) and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO).  
Upon the establishment of the CMO as an inde pendent body licensed by the LIPO, the main 
function of the CMO would be to collect remuneration  to be paid to holders of rights of works.  
Right holders could either collect directly from users or contract with the CMO to collect on the 
right holders' behalf.  Additionally, the CMO could bring infringement cases to the LIPO against 
users who used their members' content but refused to enter a licensing agreement with the right holders or the CMO.  In response to Member's question regarding what right holders the CMO 
would represent, the representative of Liberia sa id that according to Section 9.29 of the draft 
Intellectual Property Act, if a sound recording published for commercial purposes, or a reproduction of such sound recording, was used directly for broadcasting or other communication 
to the public, or was publicly performed, a sing le equitable remuneration for the performer or 
performers and the producer of the sound recording shall be paid by the user to the producer or 
the CMO licensed by the LIPO. The CMO would also represent other stakeholders, such as: music publishers, sound recording producers, performers, audiovisual producers, and print authors, to 
protect their moral, economic and public performance / neighboring rights.  The establishment of 
more than one CMO was envisaged, after the LIPO had been established, as described in paragraph 274 of this Section of this Report.  WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  - Participation in international in tellectual property agreements 
277.  The representative of Liberia said that Liberia had become a member of the World 
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on 8 March 1989, and had acceded to the various 
international intellectual property conventions, as reflected in Annex 24 to the Report.  In addition, 
he noted that Liberia had also been a party to the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) Protocol since 24 December 2009, which offered protection and promotion of intellectual property within the African region. 
278.  Members requested information on Liberia's plans to accede to intellectual property 
treaties, such as the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants.  The representative of Liberia replied that Liberia was not a signatory to the International Union for 
the Protection of New Varieties of Plants.  However, he noted that the Government of Liberia was a 
member of the African Regional Intellectual Prop erty Organization (ARIPO), which was a member 
of the International Union for the Protection of the New Varieties of Plants.  The representative of 
Liberia noted that currently there was a considerable legal and administrative limitation that would 
require further efforts by various Government authorities in Liberia to collectively tackle the issue of protecting new varieties of plants.  In this context, he informed that his Government was planning to establish a legislative framework to address the issue on the protection of the new 
varieties of plants.  The draft ARIPO Legal Framewor k for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants 
was currently being considered by the Government of Liberia with an aim to adopt it as a model law in Liberia. 
279.  A Member asked whether Liberia had plans to join the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT), the 
WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (W PPT), and the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual 
Performances.  The representative of Liberia re sponded that regarding the Beijing Treaty on 
Audiovisual Performances, it was waiting for the signature by the President, and would after be 
sent to the Legislature for its ratification, envisa ged by 1 January 2016.  With respect to the WIPO 
Copyright Treaty (WCT), and the WIPO Perfor mances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT), the 
representative of Liberia said that his Govern ment intended to join them by July 2016, and 
currently, the Government of Liberia was in consultation with the WIPO for the necessary 
procedures.  He confirmed that the draft Intellectual Property Act would be further revised to implement these three Treaties.   
- Application of national and MFN treatment to foreign nationals 
280.  The representative of Liberia said that in accordance to Section 8 (National Treatment and 
Most Favoured Nation Treatment) of the draft Inte llectual Property Act, Liberia provided national 
and MFN treatment, which had not been granted in  the two previous Acts (the Copyright Law of 
1997, and the Industrial Property Act of 2003). 
- Fees and taxes 281.  The representative of Liberia noted the curre nt fees and taxes structure for trademarks, 
patents, and industrial designs was reflected in Annex 25 to this Report.  With respect to the 
registration fees on the patent applications, he recognized the current disparity between the fees 
levied on Liberian and non-Liberian firms.  Howe ver, he confirmed that this discrepancy would be 
corrected based on the national and MFN treatment as stipulated in paragraph 280 of this Section 
of this Report, upon the full implementation of th e draft Intellectual Property Act which would be in 
October 2015. 
- SUBSTANTIVE STANDARDS OF PROTECTION, INCLUDING PROCEDURES FOR THE 
ACQUISITION AND MAINTENANCE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS 
- Copyright and related rights 282.  The representative of Liberia said that the Copyright Law of 1997 would be repealed in its 
entirety by the draft Intellectual Property Act.   
283.  Some Members had requested information on examples of the rights associated with 
authors' economic interests in their works.  The representative of Liberia said that unlike in the WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  Copyright Law of 1997, Section 9.6 of the draft In tellectual Property Act clearly identified the 
rights associated with authors' economic interests in their works.  It stated "subject to exceptions provided for in this Act, the owner of copyright shall have the exclusive right to carry out or to 
authorize the following acts in relation to the work":  
(i) Reproduction of the work; 
(ii) Translation of the work; (iii) Adaptation, arrangement or other transformation of the work; 
(iv) Distribution of the original or a copy of the work to the public through sale, rental 
or otherwise; 
(v) Rental of the original or a copy of an audiovisual work, a work embodied in a 
sound recording or a computer programme; 
(vi) Public performance of the work; 
(vii) Broadcasting of the work; and, (viii) Other communication to the public of the work. 
 
In response to Member's question, he clarified th at the concept of "work" in Section 9.6 of the 
draft Intellectual Property Act was general, implying to include, for example, sound recordings and 
other related rights.   
  284.  In response to a specific question what copy right and other related rights owners of sound 
recordings had, the representative of Liberia said that, Section 9.7 of the draft Intellectual 
Property Act would, unlike the Copyright Law of 1997, allow the owner to have not only economic rights but also moral rights to: (i) have his/her name indicated prominently on the copies and in 
connection with any public use of his/her work; (ii) not have his/her name indicated on the copies 
in connection with any public use of his/her work; (iii) use a pseudonym; (iv) object to any distortion, mutilation or other modification of, or other derogatory action in relation to his/her work which would be prejudicial to his/her honour or reputation. 
285.  Responding to the question on the terms of protection for authors of works, audiovisual 
works, anonymous works, photographs, phon ogram producers, phonogram performers and 
broadcasting organizations, the representative of Liberia cited Section 9.20 of the draft Intellectual 
Property Act as below:  
-  Authors of works (Section 9.20(a)): the economic and moral rights in literary, musical and 
artistic works, other than photographs, had to be protected during the life of the author 
and for 50 years after the end of the year in which the author died; 
- Joint authorship of works (Section 9.20(b) ): the economic and moral rights had to be 
protected during the life of the last surviving author and for 50 years after the end of the 
year in which that author died; 
- Audiovisual works (Section 9.20(c)): the economic and moral rights had to be protected 
for 50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work was made or first made available to the public by authorized publication or by any other means, whichever date 
was the latest; 
- Broadcasting organizations (Section 9.20(d) ): the economic and moral rights had to be 
protected for 50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the broadcast took 
place;
8 
- Anonymous / pseudonymous works (Section 9.20(e)): the economic and moral rights had 
to be protected for 50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work was made or first made available to the public, by authorized publication, whichever date was 
the latest, provided that where the author's identity was revealed or was no longer in 
                                               
8 This was a protection granted to orig inal broadcasts; whereas Section 9.30(b)  of the draft Intellectual 
Property Act protected derivative rights granted by the original broadcasters for 20 years only. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  doubt before the expiration of the period, th e provisions of Section 9.20(a) or Section 
9.20(b) had to apply, as the case might be; 
- Applied art (Section 9.20(f)): the economic and moral rights had to be protected for 
50 years form the end of the calendar year in which the work was made; and 
- Photographs (Section 9.20(g)): the economic and moral rights had to be protected for 
50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work was made or first made available to the public by publication, whichever date was the latest. 
286.  In response to a specific question on digital works, the representative of Liberia said that 
the scope of works protected under Section 9 (Copyright and Related Rights) in the draft Intellectual Property Act included a "computer programme" which was defined as a set of instructions expressed in words, codes, schemes or in any other form, which was capable, when 
incorporated in a medium that the computer could read, of causing a computer to perform or 
achieve a particular task for result.  In his vi ew, "computer programmes" qualified digital works. 
- Trademarks, including service marks 
287.  Asked to clarify the renewal policy in trademarks, a representative of Liberia said that 
Section 10.9 (Terms of Registration; Renewal) of the draft Intellectual Property Act was, in his 
view, in compliance with Article 18 of the WTO TRIPS Agreement.  Further, he said that Section 
10.9 went beyond what Article 18 of the WTO TRIPS Agreement provided for, by allowing the term 
of registration of a mark to be of ten years re newed for further consecutive periods of ten years 
each, without limits (instead of seven years in the WTO TRIPS Agreement) from the date of the 
registration.  At the expiration of the period that  a trademark had been registered for, there was a 
grace period of six months to allow the trademark owner to renew its registration. 
- Geographical indications, including appellations of origin 288.  The representative of Liberia said that the dr aft Intellectual Property Act included Section 
11 on geographical indications for goods, except wines and spirits. Section 11.1(b) particularly 
governed additional protection for wines and spirits.   The additional protection for wines and spirits 
had not been stipulated in the Industrial Property Act of 2003.   
289.  Based on Section 11.4 (Exclusion from Protecti on) of the draft Intellectual Property Act, 
whereby an indication that was identical with the term customary in common language in Liberia as the common name for the relevant goods or for related services, was not protected as geographical indication, a Member asked two related questions.  First, whether Liberia planned to 
accept those international cheese standards listed in the Codex Alimentarius as generic.  
The representative of Liberia responded that Liberia would not accept those international cheese standards as listed in the Codex as generic, becaus e, in his view, in accordance with Article 4.1.1.1 
of the Codex General Standard for the Labelling of Pre-packaged Foods, it was required for a 
labelling to be specific not generic.  Furthermor e, in accordance with Article 24.6 of WTO TRIPS 
Agreement which was incorporated in the draft Intellectual Property Act, WTO Members were not 
required to protect a geographical indication of another Member if that indication had become a 
generic term for describing a good.  Second, how Liberia would treat the common name element when that name was part of a compound term containing a generic term and a geographic place name.  The representative of Liberia said that the draft Intellectual Property Act did not address 
this particular issue.  However, he said that as long as the compound term containing common 
name element and a generic term was not misleading, the geographical indication would be protected.  If the compound term containing common name element and a generic term was 
misleading and created confusion, it would be considered as unfair trade practice under the draft 
Competition Law, and would not be protected.  He added that the draft Competition Law was currently being reviewed by stakeholders before being submitted to the Legislature for enactment, 
envisaged in October 2015. 
290.  Asked to list a specific publication where geographical indications registrations could be 
found, the representative of Liberia noted the following publications: the Official Gazette, the website of the LIPO when established, an d the websites of the Executive Mansion 
(http://www.emansion.gov.lr) and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  (http://www.moci.gov.lr).    Further, asked to specify whether there was a time-frame for when 
the application for the registration of a geographical indication would be published, the representative of Liberia said that upon the impl ementation of the draft Intellectual Property Act, 
the Director-General of the LIPO would issue a regulation to specify the time-frame within which 
an application for the registration of a geographical indication would be published, if the 
application met the necessary requirements stip ulated in Sections 10.5 and 10.6 of the draft 
Intellectual Property Act.  With respect to the si tuation where any interested person or competent 
authority might give notice to the Director-General of the LIPO of opposition to the registration of 
the geographical indication specifying the gro und of the opposition, a Member asked what the 
time-frame of the prescribed period was to file an  opposition.  The representative of Liberia said 
that upon the implementation of the draft Intelle ctual Property Act in October 2015, the Director-
General of the LIPO would issue a regulation prescribing a reasonable timeframe and the manner 
in which an interested person could file his/her opposition to a registration of a geographical indication. 
291.  In response to a specific question on how Liberia intended to treat traditional wine terms 
and semi-generic wine terms under the draft Intellect ual Property Act, the representative of Liberia 
said that clearly defined traditional wine terms unique to the local wine industry would be 
protected, and semi-generic wine terms would be also protected as long as the label would not 
mislead creating confusion for consumers. 
- Industrial designs 
292.  The representative of Liberia said that the Industrial Property Act of 2003 protected 
industrial designs, and Section 12 of the draft Intellectual Property Act further enhanced the 
protection for industrial designs, which in his view, complied with Section 4 (Industrial Designs) of 
Part II of the WTO TRIPS Agreement.  He said that registered industrial designs were protected for 
a period of ten years from the filing da te of the application for registration. 
- Patents 293.  The representative of Liberia said that the Indu strial Property Act of 2003 protected patents.  
However, in his view, Section 13 of the draft Intellectual Property Act which provided for the 
promotion of inventive and innovative activities and the facilitation of the acquisition of technology through the granting and regulation of patents and utility models further enhanced the legal 
protection on patents.  He said that this Section defined the patentable inventions, and the steps and 
procedures to register inventions and grant patents. 
294.  The representative of Liberia said that a patent would expire 20 years from the filing date of 
the patent application.  Regarding compulsory licensing, the representative of Liberia said that 
Section 13 of the draft Intellectual Property Act, in his view, complied with Article 31 of the WTO TRIPS Agreement as well as the WTO General Council Decision on TRIPS and Public Health (WT/L/641).   
- Plant variety protection 
295.  Asked whether Liberia had a sui generis  system for the protection of plant varieties in line 
with Article 27.3(b) of the WTO TRIPS Agreement, the representative of Liberia said that Liberia 
was currently not a signatory to the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of 
Plants (UPOV).  However, he noted that the Gove rnment of Liberia was a member of the African 
Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), which was a member of the UPOV.  
Liberia therefore subscribed to the ARIPO's legal framework, including draft ARIPO Legal 
Framework for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, which was referred to in paragraph 277 of this Section of this Report, for the protection of new varieties of plants in accordance with Article 27.3(b) of the WTO TRIPS Agreement.  In response to a Member's question, he elaborated that on 
6 July 2015 at the ARIPO Diplomatic Conference in Arusha, Tanzania, the ARIPO had adopted, 
through the Arusha Protocol for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, the UPOV Protocol which would apply equally to all national and foreign persons and provide equal protection to plant 
varieties originating from all Members of the WTO.     WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  - Layout designs of integrated circuits 
296.  The representative of Liberia said that provisions to protect the layout-designs of 
integrated circuits had been included in Section 14 of draft Intellectual Property Act, whereas the Industrial Property Act of 2003 had not addressed the issue.   
- Requirements on undisclosed information,  including trade secrets and test data 
297.  The representative of Liberia said that th e Freedom of Information Act of 2010 provided 
protection for "trade secrets", which, in his view , qualified as "undisclosed information".  Section 
4.4 of the Freedom of Information Act of 2010 stipul ated that a document or record was exempted 
from disclosure or public access if its disclosure under the Act would reveal trade secrets belonging to a public authority or a private entity, or destroy the commercial value or affect the competitiveness of a public authority or private entity in relation to the business or work of the 
authority or entity.  In addition, the representative of Liberia said that since 1994, the Government 
of Liberia had been abided by the Paris Conventi on for the Protection of Industrial Property.  
Thus, although the draft Intellectual Property Ac t did not particularly address the protection of 
undisclosed information, the representative of Liberia said that in his view, his Government was in 
full compliance with Article 39 of the WTO TRIPS Agreement. 
- MEASURES TO CONTROL ABUSE OF  INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS 
298.  The representative of Liberia said that unlik e the Copyright Law of 1997, and the Industrial 
Property Act of 2003, Section 15 (Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights) of the draft 
Intellectual Property Act extensively set the defini tion of infringements of copyright and related 
rights; marks and trade names; geographical indications; industrial designs; patents; and 
layout-designs. 
- ENFORCEMENT 299.  The representative of Liberia said that previously enforcement of intellectual property 
rights had been minimal. A Member enquired whet her the previous situation, for example, that 
movies and music had been duplicated and sold commercially, or broadcasters had not tended to pay royalties for use of protected material, had improved.  The representative of Liberia said that 
currently, the duplication of audio-visual works was prolific in Liberia.  However, few measures had 
been instituted through the public awareness ca mpaigns, so the public became aware of the 
n e g a t i v e  i m p a c t  o f  d u p l i c a t i o n  o n  t h e  c r e a t i v i t y  o f  r i g h t s  h o l d e r s .   F u r t h e r m o r e ,  t h e  M i n i s t r y  o f  Commerce and Industry had set up the Anti-Piracy Committee (hereinafter in this Section: 
Committee) which was composed of representati ves from the Copyright Office, the Liberia 
Industrial Property Office, the Ministry of Commerc e and Industry, the Ministry of Justice, and the 
Liberia Revenue Authority.  Additionally, since 2013 the Liberia Revenue Authority had established 
an IPR unit to oversee the border enforcement of  IPR-related laws and regulations.  The basic 
objective of the Committee was to develop plans of actions in tackling duplication and piracy through judicious means.  Upon the implementati on of the draft Intellectual Property Act, the 
enforcement mechanism enshrined therein would be us ed to deal with the issues of duplication.  
In relation to the non-payment of royalties for the broadcast of protected materials, awareness campaigns by holding stakeholders' workshops an d public announcements in various news media 
were currently being conducted. 
300.  A Member asked if the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Information, 
Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Labour, the Liberia Revenue Authority,  and the Ministry of 
Justice worked together regarding enforcing intellec tual property rights, particularly, whether they 
had a consultation mechanism or rather they worked independently.  The representative of Liberia 
replied that the Committee provided the institutional platform and mechanism, whereby all the ministries and agencies concerned with the issues relating to intellectual property met and 
consulted monthly. 
- Civil judicial procedures and remedies 301.  The representative of Liberia said that civil and administrative procedures and remedies 
were governed by Section 16 of the draft Intelle ctual Property Act.  Section 16.1 set out the WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  litigation procedures.  Section 16.2 of the draft In tellectual Property Act was relevant for obtaining 
evidence from the opposing party, which did meet, in his view, the requirements of Section 2 (Civil 
and Administrative Procedures and Remedies) of Part III of the WTO TRIPS Agreement.   
- Provisional measures 
302.  The representative of Liberia said that Section 17 (Provisional Measures) of the draft 
Intellectual Property Act included provisional measures to prevent any infringement or an unlawful use from occurring, or to preserve relevant evidence in regard to an alleged infringement.  In his 
view, the compliance with the provisions of Arti cle 50 of the WTO TRIPS Agreement had been fully 
ensured in Section 17 of the draft Intellectual Property Act. 
303.  He added that where provisional measures had been ordered, the defendant could file a 
request for review with the court within two weeks from the notification of the decision.  In the 
review proceedings, the court should give the parties concerned an opportunity to be heard and 
should confirm, modify or revoke the decision with in a reasonable period after the notification of 
the decision. 
304.  Further, the representative of Liberia said that where the provisional measures were 
revoked or where the court decided on the merits of the case that there had been no infringement or threat of an infringement, the court should order the applicant, upon the request of the 
defendant, to provide the defendant appropriate compensation for any injury caused by the 
execution of the provisional measure. 
- Administrative procedures and remedies 305.  The representative of Liberia said that Section 16 (Civil and Administrative Procedures and 
Remedies) of the draft Intellectual Property Act provided for administrative procedures and 
remedies in compliance with Articles 42 through 49 of the WTO TRIPS Agreement.  Section 16 included provisions on equitable procedures; evidence; injunctions; damages;
9 other remedies; 
information to holder of the right; indemnification of the defendant; appeals; further sanctions; 
and administrative procedures. 
- Special border measures 
306.  The representative of Liberia said that Section 18 (Border Measures Requirements) of the 
draft Intellectual Property Act provided for special requirements related to border measures in compliance with Articles 51 through 60 of the WTO TRIPS Agreement.  Section 18 included provisions on: availability of border measures (suspension of release by customs authorities); 
application for suspension; request for prima facie  evidence; content of application; security;  
procedure; inspection and examination of goods; time limit for release of goods; review of decision; destruction of goods; right of inspection and information to the right holder;  
compensation for wrongful detention; de minimis  imports; goods in transit; liability of customs 
department; and appeals. 
- Criminal procedures 
307.  The representative of Liberia said that Section 19 (Criminal Sanction) of the draft 
Intellectual Property Act provided provisions on criminal procedures in relation to infringement of intellectual property rights.  If committed wilfully and knowingly on a commercial scale, the infringement of intellectual property rights was punishable by imprisonment for a period of not less 
than one year and not more than two years, or by a fine of not less than US$1,500 and not more 
than US$2,500, or both.  In his view, either of the two punishments was in accordance with Article 61 of the WTO TRIPS Agreement.  He further elaborated the meaning of a commercial scale 
as including the reproduction or distribution, includ ing by electronic means, during the period of a 
year, of at least ten copies of a work in which copyright subsisted under the draft Intellectual Property Act, with a view to gaining direct or indirect economic or commercial benefit. 
                                               
9 There were no pre-established damages for copyri ght infringements. Damage s would be determined 
based on the facts and circumstances of the case. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  308.  The representative of Liberia confirmed that Liberia would apply the WTO Agreement on 
Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights upon accession.  The Working Party took note of this commitment.   
VI. POLICIES AFFECTING TRADE IN SERVICES 
309.  The representative of Liberia said that the Li berian economy was mainly rural with natural 
resources-based production, and Liberia's services sector was under-developed.  However, he said 
that since the political and economic situation had been stabilized, there had been significant 
growth in the financial and telecommunication serv ices.  The representative of Liberia underlined 
that most other areas of services activities would require substantial new investment, which in his view, was addressed in Liberia's offer on specific commitments in services to attract foreign direct investment.   
310.  In response to a specific question on the telecommunications sector, the representative of 
Liberia said that his Government intended to divest its stake in the only Government-owned operator, thus promoting private sector ownership and control of the public telecommunications 
facilities and services in Liberia.  This policy direction, in his view, was registered in Liberia's offer 
on specific commitments in services.  
311.  Asked to explain to what extent the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning had 
regulatory tasks for financial services (both bank ing and insurance), the representative of Liberia 
said that based on the existing Law - i.e. the New Financial Institutions Act of 1999 and the Central Bank of Liberia Act of 1999, the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) was the sole regulatory 
authority for all financial institutions, financial services providers and financial products.  
312.  This authority was clearly stated under Sections 4 (functions of the Central Bank of 
Liberia) and 5 (Powers of the Central Bank of Libe ria) of the Central Bank of Liberia Act of 1999, 
which empowered the CBL to regulate and supervise banking and non-bank financial institutions, 
as well as non-bank financial service providers, including insurance underwriting.  The Central 
Bank of Liberia Act of 1999 defined financial institut ions as any person doing financial transactions 
that consisted of banking, lending, credit, loan making or rendering non-bank financial services; 
and it defined non-banking financial services, to include: insurance underwriting business, loan 
financing agency, money transfer business, etc.  In this context, the CBL had the mandate to 
ensure the stability of the financial system in keeping with international standards and best practices, and making the system more supportive to the economic development of Liberia. 
313.  The CBL used several instruments and tools to regulate and supervise the financial system.  
These included: (i) enforcement of the New Financial Institutions Act of 1999; and (ii) promulgating and issuing regulations, guidel ines, and directives setting prudent standards and 
standards for market conduct.  In addition, the CB L complemented its regulatory function with an 
effective compliance and supervisory mechanism, using both off-site and on-site examination tools. 
314.  Asked to explain about legal provisions existing in the area of utilities, the representative 
of Liberia said that the Act to Create the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) had been approved on 12 July 1973.  Its main purpose, among others, was to engage in the development, generation and transmission of electrical energy, the manufactu re, construction and installation of electrical 
equipment and devices related thereto, and the di stribution and sale of electrical energy and 
electrical equipment and devices, to cities, towns and the public in general for heating, lighting and 
power purposes and for the carrying on all business incidental to it.  
315.  The generation and distribution system of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) was 
damaged or destroyed as a result of the civil war.  Currently, the LEC endeavours in making progress on repair were undergoing with the resu lt of 22.6 MW generation capacity with plans 
underway for the restoration of Mount Coffee Hydro plant, to expand capacity to 80 MW once fully 
restored.  The LEC operated two electrical power systems before and after the civil crisis, namely: 
(i) the Monrovia Grid which served the capital, Monrovia, the surrounding areas and counties, and was the largest of the two systems; and, (ii) th e Rural Electrification Net Works which served the 
remaining leeward counties. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  316.  Similarly, the Act to Create the Liberia Wa ter and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) had been 
approved on 30 January 1973.  Its purpose, among others, was to engage in the management, development, construction, installation, manufactu re, operation, transmission, distribution, sale 
and supply to all areas of water and sewage serv ices and of equipment and facilities relating 
thereto within and everywhere inside Liberia. 
317.  These were all public corporations created by  Acts of the Legislature for the purpose of 
providing necessary utility for the public benefit without any profit motive.  In this sense, they 
were merely legal monopolies which were regulated by the Executive Branch of Government 
through a Board of Directors appointed by the Pr esident.  They did not compete on the open 
market for profit.  They were not patented.  They were authorised by law to provide these 
designated utilities services, respectively.  These Public Corporations were responsible for the 
collection of their revenues, settlement of their financial obligations, and disbursement.  
All revenues so collected were used solely for the corporations' purposes.  They were audited 
annually by Government and by independent accountants approved by the Board of Directors. 
318.  Regarding a specific question on the travel ag encies sector, the representative of Liberia 
said that in its offer on specific commitments in services, the Government of Liberia committed tour operators, excluding airline ticket issuance services (part of CPC 7471), with a limitation on 
mode 3 for market access that foreign investors were required to partner with or enter a joint 
venture with a Liberian natural or juridical person. 
319.  In response to a specific question on the franchising sector under distribution services 
whether the Government of Liberia intended to institute any legislation on franchising, the 
representative of Liberia said that if a decision was made to propose franchising legislation, it 
would be included in the revised Legislative Action Plan.  
VII. TRANSPARENCY 
- Publication of information on trade 
320.  Some Members requested Liberia to indicate whether trade rules were publicly available, 
and to provide the details on how such information was made public.  A Member particularly 
enquired where in Liberia's laws the requirements  in Article X:1 of the GATT 1994 would be found.  
The representative of Liberia responded that Section 14259 of the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended in 2011, referred to those requirements in Article X:1 of the GATT 1994. 
321.  The representative of Liberia said that Liberia had an Official Gazette under the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs.  All important government documents, including laws and regulations, were 
published in this Official Gazette, on the website of the Executive Mansion (http://www.emansion.gov.lr), which was subsequently  linked to the websites of the Ministry of 
Commerce and Industry (http://www.moci.gov.lr), the Ministry of Finance and Development 
Planning (http://www.mfdp.gov.lr), the Liberia Re venue Authority (http://www.lra.gov.lr), and the 
Ministry of Information, Culture, and To urism (http://www.micatliberia.com).     
322.  Some Members were also interested in the obligatory process of public consultations with 
stakeholders before any law was adopted.  They encouraged the Liberian authorities to regularly 
consult stakeholders on new laws and enact a solid regulatory review process to foster overall transparency of its policy-making.  The representa tive of Liberia said that it was common practice 
for stakeholder consultations to be held before a law was enacted.  However, he said that there 
was no existing law or regulatory framework in Liberia that required public consultation or input as mandatory before adopting laws.  Although his Go vernment was not legally required to give the 
public an opportunity to review draft laws and regulations, the public was regularly involved in the 
process of drafting legislation through meetings , seminars, and workshops, and their views were 
taken into account.  He stated that Liberia would abide by the transparency-related provisions in 
the WTO Agreement, and would ensure the publication of all relevant legislation or regulations 
related to the implementation of the WTO Ag reement from the date of accession.   
323.  The representative of Liberia further elaborated that, regarding extractive industries 
particularly, in April 2008, the Government of Libe ria had declared, by a presidential proclamation, 
the implementation of the International Extractive In dustries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Criteria WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  and Principles as an integral part of the Go vernment's policy of accountable and transparent 
resource governance.  Implementation of this policy was coordinated and led by the Liberia 
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI), a multi-partite partnership established by, and comprising among, the Government, civil society, the private sector, and Liberia's 
development partners (htt p://www.leiti.org.lr/).  
324.  According to this policy, the disclosure, publication and other reporting obligations, as well 
as the manner of disclosure and publication established by and/or associated with the 
implementation of the Extractive Industries Tran sparency Initiative (EITI), were binding on all 
relevant agencies of the Government as well as all extractive companies operating and/or seeking t o  o p e r a t e  i n  L i b e r i a .   A c c e p t a n c e  o f  t h e  E I T I  Criteria and Principles as well as an expressed 
commitment to comply with all EITI obligations were standard, non-negotiable conditions for the 
award of any contract or concession to extractive companies to operate in Liberia.   
325.  The policy obliged and required every extracti ve company, especially oil, mining and 
logging companies, operating in Liberia to disclose,  fully, promptly and in the manner required by 
the EITI Criteria and Principles, all payments ma de to every agency and level of the Government 
of Liberia, or to any other person or entity.  The Government ministries and agencies referred to in 
the policy included:  the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning; the Ministry of Lands, 
Mines and Energy; the National Oil Company; the Forestry Development Authority (FDA); and 
other relevant agencies of Government. 
326.  The representative of Liberia confirmed that, upon accession, Liberia would fully and 
promptly implement Article X of the General Agr eement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, Article III of 
the General Agreement on Trade in Services, Ar ticle 63 of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related 
Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, and other transparency provisions in the WTO Agreements requiring notification and/or publication.  He further confirmed that no law, regulation, judicial 
decision, administrative ruling, or other measure of  general application pertaining to or affecting 
trade in goods, services and TRIPS would become effective prior to its publication in the Official Gazette, and at least three local dailies, along with the official websites of the relevant ministries. 
The publication of such laws, regulations and other measures would include the effective date of 
these measures and list the products and/or services affected by the particular measure.  The Working Party took note of these commitments. 
- Notifications 
327.  The representative of Liberia confirmed that, at the latest, within six months of the entry 
into force of the Protocol of Accession, Liberia woul d submit all initial notifications required by the 
WTO Agreement.  Any laws, regulations, or other measures subsequently enacted by Liberia, and 
which were required to be notified pursuant to the WTO Agreement, would also be notified in a 
time and manner consistent with WTO requirements.  The Working Party took note of these commitments. 
VIII. TRADE AGREEMENTS 
328.  The representative of Liberia said that Liberia had been a member of the Economic 
Community of West African States (ECOWAS) since its inception in 1975, had signed the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme, but without ratification by the Legislature.  Liberia had been fully 
involved in all activities leading to the formation of the ECOWAS customs union with a commitment 
from all ECOWAS member States including Libe ria, for a complete migration to the ECOWAS 
Common External Tariff (CET) by 1 January 2019.   
329.  The representative of Liberia said that Liberia had been a member of the Mano River Union 
(MRU) since 1973, which had been founded by Liberia and Sierra Leone.   Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire had joined in 1980 and 2008, respectively.  The four countries were implementing a free trade 
agreement, to foster economic cooperation amongst them.    
330.  The representative of Liberia said that Liberia was part of the ECOWAS group of countries 
engaged in negotiations with the European Union towards an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) that should eventually result in a recipr ocal trade arrangement dealing with goods but not 
services or investment.  WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  331.  The representative of Liberia confirmed that his Government would observe the relevant 
provisions of the WTO Agreement, including Arti cle XXIV of the General Agreement on Tariffs and 
Trade 1994, the 1979 GATT Decision on Differential and More Favourable Treatment, Reciprocity 
and Fuller Participation of Developing Countries (Enabling Clause) and Article V of the General 
Agreement on Trade and Services in its trade ag reements and would ensure that the applicable 
provisions of the WTO Agreements for notification, consultation, and other requirements concerning free trade areas, customs unions and ot her preferential trade arrangements, of which 
Liberia was, or may become, a me mber, were met from the date of accession.  The Working Party 
took note of these commitments. 
CONCLUSIONS 
332.  The Working Party took note of the explanatio ns and statements of Liberia concerning its 
foreign trade regime, as reflected in this Report.  The Working Party took note of the commitments given by Liberia in relation to certain specific matters which are reproduced in paragraphs 38, 41, 
47, 49, 59, 64, 66, 84, 100, 110, 116, 125, 148, 156, 160, 186, 190, 195, 201, 206, 211, 222, 
243, 247, 251, 259, 267, 308, 326, 327, and 331 of this Report.  The Working Party took note that these commitments had been incorporated in paragraph 2 of the Protocol of Accession of Liberia to the WTO. 
333.  Having carried out the examination of the foreign trade regime of Liberia and in the light of 
the explanations, commitments and concessions made by the representative of Liberia, the Working Party reached the conclusion that Liberia be invited to accede to the Marrakesh 
Agreement Establishing the WTO under the provisions of Article XII.  For this purpose, the Working 
Party has prepared the draft Decision and Protocol of Accession reproduced in the Appendix to this 
Report, and takes note of Liberia's Schedule of Concessions and Commitments on Goods 
(document WT/ACC/LBR/23/Add.1) and its Schedule of Specific Commitments on Services 
(document WT/ACC/LBR/23/Add.2) that are annexed to  the draft Protocol.  It is proposed that 
these texts be adopted by the Ministerial Confer ence when it adopts the Report.  When the 
Decision is adopted, the Protocol of Accession would be open for acceptance by Liberia which 
would become a Member thirty days after it accepts the said Protocol.  The Working Party agreed, 
therefore, that it had completed its work concerning  the negotiations for the accession of Liberia to 
the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO.   
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 74 - 
 
  ANNEX 1 
Laws, Regulations and Other Information Pr ovided to the Working Party of Liberia 
Legislation/Regulation Legislative Notice 
(WT/ACC/LBR/…) 
Act Adopting a New Financial Institutions Act  WT/ACC/LBR/5 
Act Adopting the New Petroleum Law of the Republic of Liberia WT/ACC/LBR/5 
Act to Amend the Public Authorities Law to Create the Liberia Electricity Corporation WT/ACC/LBR/5 
Act to Amend the Public Authorities Law to Create the Liberia Water and Sewer 
Corporation WT/ACC/LBR/5 
 
Act to Authorize the Establishment of the Central Bank of Liberia WT/ACC/LBR/5 
Title 5 of the Liberian Codes of Laws Revised of 1976 ("Associations Law") WT/ACC/LBR/5 
Act Adopting the Environment Protection and Management Law of the Republic of Liberia WT/ACC/LBR/5 
Presidential Executive Order No. 30 on Extension of Presidential Executive Order No. 
24 Suspending Tariff on Road Constructi on Equipment, Forestry Equipment, 
Agricultural Equipment, Live Animals for Breeding, Agricultural Seeds and Specified 
Mining Equipment WT/ACC/LBR/5 
 
Presidential Executive Order No. 40 on Extension of Presidential Executive Order No. 30 Suspending Tariff on Road Constructi on Equipment, Forestry Equipment, 
Agricultural Equipment, Live Animals for Breeding, and Agricultural Seeds WT/ACC/LBR/5 
 
Chapter 1 of Title 3 of the Liberian Codes of Laws Revised of 1976 ("Agriculture Law"): Plant and Animal Quarantine Act  WT/ACC/LBR/5 
Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended in 2011 WT/ACC/LBR/5 
Amendments to the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000: Consolidated Tax 
Amendments Act WT/ACC/LBR/5 
 
Act Adopting a New General Business Law, Repealing Certain Acts Related Thereto, and Transferring to the Commercial Law the Fraudulent Conveyance Act and Act 
Providing for Voluntary Bankruptcy Proceedings WT/ACC/LBR/5 
 
Investment Act of 2010 WT/ACC/LBR/5 
Administrative Notice No. MCI/002/09/2010 "On the List of Specific Products and Commodities subject to Application of the Import Permit Declaration (IPD)" of 29 
September 2010 WT/ACC/LBR/5 
 
Food and Agriculture Policy Strategy: "Fro m Subsistence to Sufficiency" WT/ACC/LBR/6 
Press release on "Public Service Announ cement", dated 9 April 2012, concerning 
BIVAC Preshipment Inspection (PSI) Tari ff for Imports, Exports and Scanning WT/ACC/LBR/6 
Expurgated Clean Report of Findings WT/ACC/LBR/6 
Tariff of APM Terminals Liberia Ltd, dated 1 February 2012 WT/ACC/LBR/6 
National Port Authority Tariff of Dues and Charges Levied at the Port of Buchanan, 
dated 2002 WT/ACC/LBR/6 
WIPO 2-Year Development Plan for the Re public of Liberia (Cover letter, Final 
Report on the Needs Evaluation, date d May 2009, and Annex V – Sample of 
Registered Trademarks) WT/ACC/LBR/6 
Draft Competition Law WT/ACC/LBR/10 
Draft Copyright Law WT/ACC/LBR/10  
Draft Customs Code WT/ACC/LBR/10  
Draft Foreign Trade Law WT/ACC/LBR/10  
Draft Trademark Act WT/ACC/LBR/10  
Draft Geographical Indications Act WT/ACC/LBR/10  
Draft Patent Act WT/ACC/LBR/10  
Draft Protection Against Unfair  Competition Act WT/ACC/LBR/10  
Draft Layout Designs (Topographies) of  Integrated Circuit Act WT/ACC/LBR/10  
Draft Act to Establish the Liberia Intellectual Property Office WT/ACC/LBR/10  
Draft Industrial Designs Act WT/ACC/LBR/10  
Draft Intellectual Property Act WT/ACC/LBR/12 
Draft Special Economic Zones Act WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Draft Act to Repeal An Act Adopting a New Copyright Law of the Republic of Liberia 
Approved 23 July 1997; and the Industrial Property Act of Liberia Approved 20 March 2003 constituting Title 24 of the Liberian Codes of Laws Revised, and to enact in their stead a new Title 24 to be known as the Liberia Intellectual Property Act, 2014 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Draft Act to Establish Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Draft Law on Value added tax (VAT) WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Draft Law on Technical Regulations and Standards WT/ACC/LBR/15 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 75 - 
 
  Legislation/Regulation Legislative Notice 
(WT/ACC/LBR/…) 
Draft Law on Sanitary and Phytos anitary Regulations WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Draft Veterinary and Animal Disease Law WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Liberia National Livestoc k Policy WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Draft Standard Body Regulation WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Draft Supplementary Act to the Telecommunications Act of 2007 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Draft Act to Repeal All Acts as well as  Any and All Executive Orders Amendatory 
thereto and to establish the Liberian Institute of Tax Practitioners Act, Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Regulation No. CBL/RSD/004/2013 Concerning AML/CFT Regulations for Financial 
Institutions in Liberia WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Public Finance Management Act of 2009 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Constitution of Liberia WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Local Government Law WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Public Authorities Law WT/ACC/LBR/15 
General Business Law WT/ACC/LBR/15 
An Act Amending the General Business Law, Title 14 of the Liberi an Codes of Laws 
Revised by adding thereto Chapter 13 to facilitate the use of Electronic Transaction 
for Commercial and other purposes, and to provide for matters arising and related 
to such use WT/ACC/LBR/15 
An Act to Amend Further the Associations Law, Title 5 of the Liberian Codes of 
Laws, Revised, to Provide for the Incorp oration of Registered Business Companies 
and Their Conduct of Business, including Liquidation, and All Matters Incidental 
Thereto WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Liberian Commercial Code of 2010 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Labour Law WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Regulation of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning No. 16.14263-
2/MOF/R/BCE/14 of April 2014 on Pu nitive Tax on Used Vehicles WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Ministry of Commerce and Industry's Administrative Notice MCI/No.008/05/2013 on 
the Updated List  of Specific Products and Commodities Requiring Import Permit 
Declarations (IPDs) WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Presidential Executive Order No. 64 of 2014 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Executive Order No. 61 of 2014 on Extension of Executive Order No. 45 
"Suspension of Tariff in Rice" WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Regulation No.5.1204-1/MOF/R/01 APRIL 2009 on  the Surtax on Flour WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Administrative Notice of the Mini stry of Commerce and Industry 
MCI/No.006/06/2012 on the List of Specific Products and Commodities Export Permit Declaration (EPDs) Applies to WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Presidential Executive Order No. 3 of 2006 "On Government Revenues and 
Obligations" WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Public Procurement and Concessions Act of 2005, as Amended in 2010 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
An Act to Amend Chapter 29 of the Mini stry of Commerce and Industry of the 
Executive Law, Title 12, Liberian Code s of Laws Revised to Provide for the 
Establishment of a Department of  Small Business Administration WT/ACC/LBR/15 
An Act to Establish Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority (LMHRA) of 
2010 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
An Act to Repeal the 1933 Act of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants 
Limited, of Liberia and to Enact in Lieu Thereof the Liberian Institute of Certified 
Public Accountants (LICPA) WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Liberia Certified Public Accountant Regulation No. 2 (Hiring and Working with 
Foreign Firms) WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Judiciary Law WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Executive Law WT/ACC/LBR/15 
An Act Adopting a New Copyright Law WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Industrial Property Act WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Telecommunications Act of 2007 WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Agriculture Law WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Natural Resources Law WT/ACC/LBR/15 
An Act Adopting Environmental Protecti on and Management Law WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Public Health Law WT/ACC/LBR/15 
An Act to Authorize the Establishment of the National Transit Authority (NTA) WT/ACC/LBR/15 
ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Regulation C/REG.1/09/14 on Supplementary Protection Measures (SPM) for the 
Implementation of the ECOW AS Common External Tariffs WT/ACC/LBR/15 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 76 - 
 
  Legislation/Regulation Legislative Notice 
(WT/ACC/LBR/…) 
Protocol A/P1/1/03 relating to the Definition of the Concept of Products Originating from Member States of the Economic Community of West African States WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Directive C/DIR.2/06/09 of 27 May 2009 "On the Harmonization of the ECOWAS 
Member States' Legislations on Excise Duties" WT/ACC/LBR/15 
ECOWAS Regulation C/REG.4/06/13 relating to Safeguard Measures WT/ACC/LBR/15 
ECOWAS Regulation C/REG.05/06/13 relating Imposi tion of Countervailing Duties WT/ACC/LBR/15 
ECOWAS Regulation C/REG.6/06/13 relating to Defence Measures to be Imposed on 
Imports which are Dumped from Non-Member States of the Economic Community 
of West African Countries WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Supplementary Act A/SA.1/01/07 on the Harmonization of Policies and of the 
Regulatory Framework of the Informatio n and Communication Technology (ICT) 
Sector WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Draft African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) Legal Framework 
for the Protection of Ne w Varieties of Plants WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Commerce Today WT/ACC/LBR/15 
Draft Regulation on Fees for Business Registration WT/ACC/LBR/17 
Draft Regulation Establishing an Enquiry and Notification Point for Technical 
Regulations WT/ACC/LBR/17 
Draft Regulation Establishing an Enquiry an d Notification Authority for Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures WT/ACC/LBR/17 
Updated Draft Customs Code WT/ACC/LBR/17 
Presidential Executive Order No.70 of 2015 on Extension of Executive Order No. 61 
"Suspension of Tariff on Rice" WT/ACC/LBR/19 
Administrative Regulation No. MCI/NO.001/09/2015 of 3 September 2015 
Establishing an Enquiry and Notification Point for Technical Regulations WT/ACC/LBR/19 
Regulation of 18 August 2015 Establishing an  Enquiry and Notification Authority for 
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures WT/ACC/LBR/19 
Liberia's 3-year Migration Programme to the EC OWAS Common External Tariff (CET) WT/ACC/LBR/20 
Letter by the Liberia Revenue Authority on pre-shipment inspection services, dated 
10 July 2015 WT/ACC/LBR/20 
Draft Administrative Regulation to adopt ECOWAS Regulation C/REG.05/06/13 
relating to the Imposition of Countervailing Duties for the Implementation of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff,  dated 15 September 2015 WT/ACC/LBR/21 
Draft Administrative Regulation to adopt ECOWAS Regulation C/REG.4/06/13 
relating to Safeguard Measures for th e Implementation of the ECOWAS Common 
External Tariff, dated 9 September 2015 WT/ACC/LBR/21 
Draft Administrative Regulation to adopt ECOWAS Regulation C/REG/1/09/13 on 
Supplementary Protection Measures (SPM ) for the Implementation of the ECOWAS 
Common External Tariff, dated 9 September 2015 WT/ACC/LBR/21 
Draft Administrative Regulation to adopt ECOWAS Regulation C/REG.6/06/13 
relating to Anti-Dumping for the Implementation of the ECOWAS Common External 
Tariff, dated 9 September 2015 WT/ACC/LBR/21 
Bill to adopt the Three Ye ar Migration Plan to the ECOWAS Common External 
Tariff (CET) WT/ACC/LBR/21 
Arusha Protocol for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants within the Framework 
of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) WT/ACC/LBR/21 
Pre-shipment Inspection and Institution Capacity Building Services Agreement WT/ACC/LBR/22 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 77 - 
 
  ANNEX 2 
Bilateral Investment Agreements Concluded by Liberia 
Partner Status Date of signature Date of entry into force 
BLEU (Belgium-Luxembourg 
Economic Union) Signed 
(not in force) 5 June 1985  
France In force 23 March 1979 22 January1982 
Germany In force 12 December 1961 22 October 1967 
Switzerland In force 23 July 1963 22 September 1964 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 78 - 
 
  ANNEX 3 
Annual FDI Inflow in Liberia  
   US$, mln 
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 
107.9 131.6 283.8 217.8 450.0 508.0 984.6 1061.3 
Source:  World Investment Report 2014, UNCTAD.  WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 79 - 
 
  ANNEX 4(A) 
Percentage requirements for cost of investme nt placed in service in an economically 
deprived zone in Liberia, to qualify for an investment tax incentives provided for in 
Section 16 of the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended in 2011 
 
Zone Zone Characteristic  County/City Percentage 
1 Remote  counties with very little 
or no road network and accessibility and poor infrastructures River Gee, Gbarpolu, Grand Kru, Rivercess 12.5% 
2 Rural counties with unpaved bad 
roads and less developed with poor infrastructures Maryland, Grand Gedeh, Sinoe, Bong, 
Nimba, Lofa 7.5% 
3 Urban counties (not far from the 
capital – Monrovia) with road network and easy accessibility but poor infrastructures. Bomi, Margibi, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape 
Mount, Montserrado (excluding Greater 
Monrovia, as defined in regulation) 5% 
 
 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 80 - 
 
  ANNEX 4(B) 
Percentage requirements for cost of invest ment placed in service in an investment 
activity meeting standards for increase in em ployment, to qualify for an investment tax 
incentives provided for in Section 16 of th e Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended 
in 2011 
Zone Percentage Number of Jobs Added 
1 10%  
>100 2 7.5% 
3 5% WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 81 - 
 
  ANNEX 4(C) 
 
Other assets, purchased for the use directly in the investment activity in the areas 
specified in paragraph 32, which are subject to exemptions from the Goods and Services 
Tax (GST) and import duty  
 Area Assets 
1. Tourism Equipment and Machinery (inclu ding Furniture); Specialized Vehicles; 
capital Spare parts and other specialized capital goods 
2. Manufacturing Equipment and Machinery; Specialized Vehicles; capital Spare parts; 
raw materials; and other specialized capital goods  
3. Energy Equipment and Machinery; Specialized Vehicles; capital Spare parts and 
other specialized capital goods 
4. Health Services Equipment and Machinery; Specialized Vehicles; capital Spare parts and 
other specialized capital goods 
5. Real Estate Equipment and Machinery; Specialized Vehicles; capital Spare parts and 
other specialized capital goods and construction materials specified in regulations 
6. Transport Equipment and Machinery; Specialized Vehicles; capital Spare parts and 
other specialized capital goods 
7. Technology Equipment and Machinery; Specialized Vehicles; capital Spare parts and 
other specialized capital goods 
8. Agriculture Equipment and Machinery; Sp ecialized Vehicles; capital Spare parts and 
other specialized capital goods 
9. Poultry Equipment and Machinery; Specialized Vehicles; capital Spare parts and 
other specialized capital goods 
10. Horticulture Equipment and Machinery; Sp ecialized Vehicles; capital Spare parts and 
other specialized capital goods 
11. Exportation of Sea 
products Equipment and Machinery; Specialized Vehicles; capital Spare parts and 
other specialized capital goods 
12. Agriculture Food Crop 
Cultivation Equipment and Machinery; Specialized Vehicles; capital Spare parts and 
other specialized capital goods 
13. Rubber Oil Palm 
Cultivation, Processing Equipment and Machinery; Specialized Vehicles; capital Spare parts and 
other specialized capital goods 
14 Manufacturing or Assembly 
for Export Equipment and Machinery; Specialized Vehicles; capital Spare parts and 
other specialized capital goods 
15 Waste Management Equipment and Machinery; Specialized Vehicles; capital Spare parts and 
other specialized capital goods 
  
  WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2  
 
- 82 - ANNEX 5 
State Owned Enterprises in Liberia 
No. State Owned Enterprise Purpose and Activities Current Ownership Percentage Planned 
Privatization Senate 
Confirmation Subordinate to 
which Ministry / 
state body 
1 Liberia Rubber 
Development Authority To regulate the rubber 
sector 100%   No No Ministry of 
Agriculture 
2 Liberia Electricity 
Corporation (LEC) To produce and supply 
economic and reliable electric power to the entire nation 100%   No No Ministry of Lands, 
Mines and Energy 
3 Forestry Development 
Authority To sustainably manage and 
conserve all forest resource 
for the benefit of present and future generation 100%   No No Ministry of 
Agriculture 
4 Liberia Telecommunications 
Corporation (LIBTELCO) To provide 
telecommunications services for the country 100%   Yes (discussions 
on-going on full privatization, no timeline set) No Ministry of Post and 
Telecommunications 
5 Liberia Petroleum Refining 
Company (LPRC) To procure and supply 
quality petroleum and petroleum related products to the Liberian market 100%   No No Ministry of 
Commerce and Industries 
6 National Transit Authority 
(NTA) To provide transport 
services to the public (by bus or other vehicle appropriate for carriage of passengers or goods) 100%   No No Ministry of transport 
7 Liberia Water and Sewer 
Corporation To provide water and treat 
solid waste 100%   No No None 
8 National Port Authority 
(NPA) To manage the ports of 
Liberia 100%   No No None 
9 Liberia Product Marketing 
Corporation (LPMC) To support and coordinate 
the exportation of cash 
crops, such as, cocoa, 
coffee, cashews, etc. 100%   No (process 
underway to 
transform this SOE to 
a regulatory body) No Ministry of 
Agriculture 
10 Roberts International 
Airport To manage the Roberts 
International Airport 100%   No No Ministry of Transport 
11 Liberia Civil Aviation 
Authority (LCAA) To regulate all airports in 
Liberia 100%   No No Ministry of Transport  
  WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2  
 
- 83 - No. State Owned Enterprise Purpose and Activities Current Ownership Percentage Planned 
Privatization Senate 
Confirmation Subordinate to 
which Ministry / 
state body 
12 National Social Security and 
Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP) To manage the social 
security of the work force 100%   No No None 
13 National Oil Company To manage Liberia's oil and 
gas industry 100%   No (reform was to 
take place in NOCAL 
to break it into two 
separate bodies: a regulatory agency and an national oil company) No None 
14 Liberia Maritime Authority To manage Liberia's 
maritime industry and regulate the shipping industry in Liberia 100%   No No None 
15 Liberian Bank for 
Development and Investment (LBDI) To provide banking services 
for investment 100%   No No None 
16 Liberia Broadcasting 
System (LBS) To provide news media 
information to the general public 100%   No Yes None 
17 Liberia Industrial Free Zone 
Authority (LIFZA) To encourage and promote 
foreign cooperation and investments in Liberia 100%   No No National Investment 
Commission 
18 Cable Consortium of Liberia 
(CCL) To bring the first high 
speed fiber optic submarine cable 75%  25%  No No Liberia 
Telecommunications Authority 
19 Liberia Sugar Corporation 
(LSC) Defunct    No No None 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 84 - 
 
  ANNEX 6 
List of the Regulatory Bodies, Heads of whic h were Appointed by the President of Liberia 
Name of Regulatory Body Competence of the Regulatory Body Senate 
Confirmation 
Liberia Telecommunication Authority Regulation of the telecommunications sector. Required 
Liberia Civil Aviation Authority Regulation of the civil aviation sector. Not required 
Liberia Maritime Authority - Promotion of enactment of national legislation 
regarding discharge of the responsibilities of the Republic of Liberia under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982 and other maritime-related international instruments;   - administration of this  Act and development, 
coordination and implementation of the National Maritime Strategy;   - coastal zone management.  Not required 
Liberia Rubber Development 
Authority Regulation of the rubber sector. Not required 
National Port Authority Regulation of all ports in the Republic of Liberia. Not required 
National Oil Company of Liberia Development of the oil and gas industry in Liberia.  Not required 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 85 - 
 
  ANNEX 7 
Fee Structure for Registration of Business1 
Liberia Operation Fee for Liberian 
nationals,  
in L$ / US$ Fee for Foreigners, 
in L$ / US$ 
1.  Name Reservation 
New registration: Name reservation for 120 days 1400 / 16.47 1700 / 20 
Amendment: Name reservation extension for 120 days 1400 / 16.47 1700 / 20 
2.  Sole Proprietorship 
New registration 2000 / 23.53 59500 / 700  
Amendment: Renewal 2000 / 23.53 59500 / 700 
Amendment: Change of particulars 500 / 5.88 1700 / 20 
Amendment: Dissolution 500 / 5.88 1700 / 20 
Amendment: Rescission of dissolution 500 / 5.88 1700 / 20 
3.  Limited Liability Company / Business Corporat ion / Foreign corporatio n / Not – For – Profit 
Foreign Corporation 
New registration 4000 / 47.06 76500 / 900 
New registration (consolidation) 4000 / 47.06 76500 / 900 
Articles of incorporation without par value (100 shares) 1400 / 16.47 1700 / 20 
Articles of incorporation without par value (500 shares) 7000 / 82.35 8500 / 100 
Articles of incorporation without par value (1000 shares) 14000 / 164.71 17000 / 200 
Application for Authority to oper ate or do business in Liberia 
filing fee (applicable to Foreign corporations / Not – For – Profit Foreign Corporation) - 42500 / 500 
Amendment: Renewal 4000 / 47.06 76500 / 900 
Amendment: Change of particulars 1000 / 11.76 4250 / 50 
Amendment: Dissolution 1000 / 11.76  4250 / 50 
Amendment: Merger 1000 / 11.76 4250 / 50 
Amendment: Re-domiciliation 4000 / 47.06 76500 / 900 
Amendment: Re-registration 4000 / 47.06 76500 / 900 
Amendment: Rescission of dissolution 1000 / 11.76 4250 / 50 
4.  Branch / Subsidiary for Limited Liability Company / Business Corporation 
New registration 2000 / 23.53 38250 / 450 
Amendment: Change of particulars 750 / 8.82 1700 / 20 
Amendment: Dissolution 750 / 8.82 1700 / 20 
Amendment: Renewal 2000 / 23.53 38250 / 450 
5.  Partnership / Limited Partnership 
New registration: Partnership 3000 / 35.29 68000 / 800 
New registration (consolidation): Partnership 3000 / 35.29 68000 / 800 
Articles of incorporation free free 
Amendment: Renewal 3000 / 35.29  
Amendment: Change of particulars 400 / 4.71 1700 / 20 
Amendment: Dissolution 400 / 4.71 1700 / 20 
Amendment: Merger 400 / 4.71 1700 / 20 
Amendment: Re-domiciliation 400 / 4.71 1700 / 20 
Amendment: Re-registration 3000 / 35.29 68000 / 800 
Amendment: Rescission of dissolution 400 / 4.71 1700 / 20 
6.  Branch / Subsidiary for Pa rtnership / Limited Partnership 
New registration 1500 / 17.65 34000 / 400 
Amendment: Change of particulars 400 / 4.71 1700 / 20 
Amendment: Dissolution 400 / 4.71 1700 / 20 
Amendment: Renewal 1500 / 17.65 34000 / 400 
7.  Not for profit corpor ation / Trust / Foundation 
New registration 3500 / 41.18 34000 / 400 
New registration (consolidation): 3500 / 41.18 34000 / 400 
Articles of incorporation 3500 / 41.18 4250 / 50 
Amendment: Renewal 3500 / 41.18 34000 / 400 
Amendment: Change of particulars 1000 / 11.76 2550 / 30 
Amendment: Dissolution 1000 / 11.76 2550 / 30 
Amendment: Merger 1000 / 11.76 2550 / 30 
                                               
1 The fees, both for Liberians and foreigners, can be pa id either in L$ or US$. On 3 March 2015, Liberian 
dollar exchange rate was L$85 per US$.  
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 86 - 
 
  Liberia Operation Fee for Liberian 
nationals,  
in L$ / US$ Fee for Foreigners, 
in L$ / US$ 
Amendment: Re-domiciliation 1000 / 11.76 2550 / 30 
Amendment: Re-registration 3500 / 41.18 34000 / 400 
Amendment: Rescission of dissolution 1000 / 11.76 2550 / 30 
8.  Branch / Subsidiary for Not for Profit Corporation /Trust / Foundation 
New registration 1750 / 20.59 17000 / 200 
Amendment: Change of particulars 500 / 5.88 1275 / 15 
Amendment: Dissolution 500 / 5.88 1275 / 15 
Amendment: Renewal 1750 / 20.59 17000 / 200 
9.  Information Services 
Information services: online  account granting free free 
Information services: certified copy of  certificate first year free, after 
first year: 500 / 5.88 first year free, after 
first year: 1700 / 20 
Information services: certified copy of full information firs t year free, after 
first year: 500 / 5.88 first year free, after 
first year: 1700 / 20 
Information services: certified copy of report first year free, after 
first year: 500 / 5.88 first year free, after 
first year: 1700 / 20 
10.        Penalties for Late Renewal 
Sole proprietorship 500 / 5.88 14875 / 175 
Limited liability company / Business corporations 1000 / 11.76 19125 / 225 
Branch / subsidiary for Limited liability company / Business corporations 500 / 5.88 9775 / 115 
Partnership / Limited partnership 750 / 8.82 17000 / 200 
Branch/subsidiary for Partnership / Limited partnership 375 / 4.41 8500 / 100 
Not for profit corporation / Trust / Foundation 875 / 10.29 8500 / 100 
Branch/subsidiary for Not for profit corporation / Trust / 
Foundation 440 / 5.18 4250 / 50 
Source:  Liberia Business Registry. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 87 - 
 
  ANNEX 8 
The New Fees for Business Registration as Cont ained in the Draft Regulation on Fees for 
Business Registration  
Operation Fee, in US$ 
1.  Name Reservation 
New registration: Name reservation for 120 days 20 
Amendment: Name reservation extension for 120 days 20 
2.  Sole Proprietorship 
New registration 25 
Amendment: Renewal 25 
Amendment: Change of particulars 20 
Amendment: Dissolution 20 
Amendment: Rescission of dissolution 20 
3.  Limited Liability Company / Business Corporat ion / Foreign corporatio n / Not – For – Profit 
Foreign Corporation 
New registration 900 
New registration (consolidation) 400 
Articles of incorporation without par value (100 shares)  20 
Articles of incorporation without par value (500 shares)  100 
Articles of incorporation without par value (1000 shares)  200 
Application for Authority to operate or do business in Liberia filing fee (applicable to 
Foreign corporations / Not – For – Profit Foreign Corporation) 500 
Amendment: Renewal 400 
Amendment: Change of particulars 50 
Amendment: Dissolution 50 
Amendment: Merger 50 
Amendment: Re-domiciliation 900 
Amendment: Re-registration 900 
Amendment: Rescission of dissolution 50 
4.  Branch / Subsidiary for Limited Liability Company / Business Corporation 
New registration 450 
Amendment: Change of particulars 20 
Amendment: Dissolution 20 
Amendment: Renewal 450 
5.  Partnership / Limited Partnership 
New registration: Partnership 800 
New registration (consolidation): Partnership 800 
Articles of incorporation Free 
Amendment: Renewal 35 
Amendment: Change of particulars 20 
Amendment: Dissolution 20 
Amendment: Merger 20 
Amendment: Re-domiciliation 20 
Amendment: Re-registration 800 
Amendment: Rescission of dissolution 20 
6.  Branch / Subsidiary for Pa rtnership / Limited Partnership 
New registration 400 
Amendment: Change of particulars 20 
Amendment: Dissolution 20 
Amendment: Renewal 400 
7.  Not for profit corpor ation / Trust / Foundation 
New registration 400 
New registration (consolidation): 400 
Articles of incorporation 50 
Amendment: Renewal 400 
Amendment: Change of particulars 30 
Amendment: Dissolution 30 
Amendment: Merger 30 
Amendment: Re-domiciliation 30 
Amendment: Re-registration 400 
Amendment: Rescission of dissolution 30 
8.  Branch / Subsidiary for Not for Profit Corporation /Trust / Foundation 
New registration 200 
Amendment: Change of particulars 15 
Amendment: Dissolution 15 
Amendment: Renewal 200 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 88 - 
 
  Operation Fee, in US$ 
9.  Information Services 
Information services: online  account granting Free 
Information services: certified copy of certificate First year free, after first 
year: 20 
Information services: certified copy of fu ll information First year free, after first 
year: 20 
Information services: certified copy of  report First year free, after first 
year: 20 
10.  Penalties for Late Renewal 
Sole proprietorship 175 
Limited liability company / Business corporations 225 
Branch / subsidiary for Limited liabilit y company / Business corporations 115 
Partnership / Limited partnership 200 
Branch/subsidiary for Partners hip / Limited partnership 50 
Not for profit corporation / Trust / Foundation 50 
Branch/subsidiary for Not for profit corporation / Trust / Foundation 50 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 89 - 
 
  ANNEX 9 
Structure of the Schedules Contained in  the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000,  
as Amended in 2011 
Schedule Description 
Schedule I  Provided rates of all duties, taxes and penalties levied on goods imported into Liberia, 
including import duty, the Goods and Serv ices tax (GST) and the excise taxes for 
respective products.  The schedule had a total of 5,900 tariff lines.  
Schedule II Listed entities that could import goods duty free  
Schedule III Gave the present authority the right to suspend, abrogate or modify any duties on 
refined gold or other minerals .  It empowered the Mining Board to establish temporary 
duties on any mineral subject to Chapter 6 of the Natural Resources Law.  It also provided for the Ministry of Lands, Mines an d Energy to assess and determine the value 
of rough (uncut) diamonds and other precious stones.  It provided for exports of goods 
to be duty free with a customs user fee of 2.5% being levied on all unprocessed 
exportable goods (provision of export regime)  
Schedule IV Provided for the levy on goods in transit. It stipulated that the levy shall be no more 
than 2.5% on the value of goods in trans-shipment  
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 90 - 
 
  ANNEX 10 
Liberia's Ad Valorem  Tariff Rates Prior to the Introduction of the ECOWAS Common 
External Tariff (CET) 
No. Tariff Rate Number of Tariff Lines 
01 0% 2 
02 1.5% 9 
03 2.5% 473 
04 5% 1,930 
05 7.5% 870 
06 10% 440 
07 11% 99 
08 15% 989 
09 20% 607 
10 25% 311 
11 45% 1 
12 50% 57 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 91 - 
 
  ANNEX 11 
Liberia's Specific Tariff Rates Prior to the Introduction of the ECOWAS Common External 
Tariff (CET) 
 
 No. Tariff Rate Number of Tariff Lines 
01 0.10/Lt 5 
02 0.15./Lt 1 
03 0.20/Lt 1 
04 0.25/Lt 3 
05 0.50/Lt 9 
06 0.55/Lt 2 
07 0.65/Lt 4 
08 0.90/Lt 3 
09 1.1/Lt 2 
10 2.5/Lt 1 
11 5/Lt 7 
12 6/Lt 1 
13 0.10/kg 14 
14 0.20/kg 1 
15 0.25/kg 15 
16 0.40/kg 9 
17 0.50/kg 14 
18 0.75/kg 3 
19 0.044/kg 5 
20 0.25/Lb 2 
21 0.30/Lb 1 
22 0.020/Lb 1 
23 0.20/Yd 4 
24 2/50kg 2 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 92 - 
 
  ANNEX 12 
Structure of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) 
Tariff Rate Number Of Tariff Lines Categories 
0% 85 Necessaries, Special Medicaments, Industrial Machinery 
and Equipment. 
5% 2,146 Raw Materials and other capital goods 
10% 1,373 Intermediate 
20% 2,165 Finished goods 
35% 130 Selected finished produc ts with regional industrial 
production capacity 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 93 - 
 
  ANNEX 13  
Liberia's Import Tariff Waivers throug h Presidential Executive Orders,  
as of July 2015   
Executive 
Order 
Number Products Date of Waiver Announced 
end to 
waiver Estimated 
Number 
of 6-digit 
HS lines Duties 
10 Portland cement* 9/10/2007 9/9/2008 5 US$2 per 
50kg bag 
64 Agricultural equipment, live 
animals for breeding, and agricultural seeds 25/04/2014 24/04/2015 54 US$0 
61 
 
70 Rice 26/04/2014 25/04/2015  
 
24/06/2016 2 US$0.044 
per kg 
60 Unprocessed natural rubber  28/04/2014 27/04/2015  1 US$0 
* Note: Presidential Executive Orders No. 10, 60, and 64 had expired and had not been renewed.   WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 94 - 
 
  ANNEX 14(A) 
Fixed Customs Service Fees for Services at Customs Ports of Entry of Liberia 
No. Description Fee 
1 Special Delivery Permit 50.00 US$ 
2 Scanning of cargo containers (20ft) 50.00 US$ 
3 Scanning of cargo containers (40ft) 100.00 US$ 
4 Replacement of lost clearing documents 100.00 US$ 
5 Penalty for unprocessed declarations left in ASYCUDA System 100.00 US$ 
6 Amendment of submitted declarations 100.00 US$ 
Source:  Section 1802 of the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended in 2011. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 95 - 
 
  ANNEX 14(B)  
 
Fees for Services in Connection with Im ports, as Charged by "APM Terminals"  
at the Freeport of Monrovia 
 
Part 1:  Rates for Stevedoring 
Stevedoring service Import rate, in 
US$ per unit Empty 
inspection 
rate, in US$ 
per unit Gate charge 
rate, in US$ 
per unit Terminal Handling 
Charge (THC) 
rate, in US$ 
per unit 
20' Import Dry Full  210.83  36.14 108.43 
20' Import Dry Empty   42.16 6.02 12.05  42.16 
20' Import Reefer Full  
 210.83  
 36.14 
 108.43 
20' Transshipment Dry Full   60.24    
20' Transshipment Dry Empty   60.24    
20' Transshipment Reefer Full   60.24    
20' Transshipment Reefer Empty  289.15    
40' Import Dry Full  289.15  36.14 162.65 
40' Import Dry Empty   67.47 6.02 
 12.05 
  67.46 
40' Import Reefer Full  289.15  36.14 162.65 
40' Import Reefer Empty   67.47 6.02 12.05  67.46 
40' Transshipment Dry Full   90.36  
  
  
40' Transshipment Dry Empty   90.36    
40' Transshipment Reefer Full   90.36
     
40' Transshipment Reefer Empty 
    90.36    
Source :  Tariff of APM Terminals Liberia Ltd, issued by APM Terminals Liberia Ltd on 1 February 2015. 
Note on rates for stevedoring: 
 
a) The rate of transhipment is only applicable for ca rgo which enters and leaves  the Terminal by sea, 
passing over or by/through publ ic-use facilities only, on or through bill of lading; and, 
b) The charges for 'Import' are payabl e by the vessel owner, operator, charterer or agent whose vessel 
calls at the port. 
 
The charge for 'THC' and 'Gate Charge' is payable by the owner of agent of the cargo handled at the Terminal. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 96 - 
 
  Part 2: Rates for Storage 
Storage service Period 
 Rate 
Per TEU per day 
Storage Import/ Transshipment 0-7 days 
  0.00 
Storage Import/ Transshipment  8-13 days 10.25 
Storage Import/ Transshipment  14-20 days 18.07 
Storage Import/ Transshipment  >21 days 30.12 
Storage Empty  0-7 days  0.00 
Storage Empty  8-21 days  2.40 
Storage Empty  >22 days 10.25 
Per tonne per day 
Closed Storage Import  0-7 days  0.00 
Closed Storage Import  8-13 days  6.02 
Closed Storage Import   >14 days  9.64 
Open Storage Import  0-7 days  0.00 
Open Storage Import  8-13 days  4.21 
Open Storage Import  >14 days  7.83 
Per tonne per day for bagged cargo  
Closed Storage Import  0-7 days  0.00 
Closed Storage Import  8-13 days  0.85 
Closed Storage Import   >14 days  1.71 
Per tonne per day for bulk open storage  
Bulk Open Storage Import  
 0-7 days  0.00 
Bulk Open Storage Import  8-13 days  0.57 
Bulk Open Storage Import  
 >14 days 
  1.13 
Source:  Tariff of APM Terminals Liberia Ltd, issued by APM Terminals Liberia Ltd on 1 February 2015. 
Note on rates for storage:  
 
a) The storage charges are per TEU and start to accu mulate as from the actual  day of discharge;  
b) The charge for 'Storage Empty' are payable by th e vessel owner, operator, charger or agent whose 
vessel calls at the Port;  
c) The storage charges start to accumulate as from th e actual day of discharge and do not include the 
delivering or receiving of the good to the stor age area from the consignee/shipper transport;  
d) For receiving and delivering to the consignee/shipper transport from the Terminal storage area APMT 
will lease labour/equipment if available; and, 
e) Storage of vehicles will be charged in US$ per tonne with a minimum of one (1) tonne. 
 The charges for 'Storage Import' are payable by the ow ner or agent of the cargo handled at the Terminal. 
  WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 97 - 
 
  Part 3: Auxiliary Rates 
 Service Rate  
1 OOG import/export additional handling charge for 
delivering/receiving in the yard US$ 120.48/unit 
2 Hazardous import/export addi tional handling charge for 
delivering/receiving in the yard US$ 84.33/unit 
2 Positioning of containers fo r stuffing/unstuffing at the 
Terminal US$ 96.38/TEU 
4 Monitoring and power for reefers excluding storage   0-10 days: US$ 60.24/day 
>10 days: US$ 72.28/day 
5 All live reefers with special request to be unplugged in yard 
All live reefer containers will be plugged according to manifest upon discharge from vessel  Unplugging: US$ 100/unit 
 Re-plugging: US$ 100/unit 
6 OOG import/export additional handling charge for 
discharging/loading from/onto vessel US$ 120.48/unit 
7 Hazardous import/export addi tional handling charge for 
discharging/loading from/onto vessel US$ 84.34/unit 
8 Shifting on board US$ 96.38/unit 
9 Shifting via quay US$ 120.48/unit 
10 Hatch cover US$ 169.66/move 
11 Gear box US$ 168.66/move 
12 Gang idle time/Gang Standby in case the customer is 
responsible Day: 0700 – 1900. Night: 1900 -0700 US$ 544.32/hour/crane (day)  
US$ 1,089.64/hour/crane (night) 
13 Penalty charge for not vacati ng the berth within two (2) 
hours after completing operations US$ 2,177.29/hour or part thereof 
14 Sweeping empty containers upon request by the customer US$ 12.05/unit 
15 Sealing of empty containers upon request by the customer US$ 6.02/unit 
16 Placard removing US$ 6.02/unit 
17 Knocking down ends of flatbed containers US$ 14.46/unit 
18 Bundling flatbed containers US$ 60.24/bundle 
19 Single container verification upon request by the customer US$ 120.48/unit 
20 Late advice (less than twelve (12) hours before vessel, 
pod, weight, reefer status , hazardous class, etc.) US$ 120.48/shifting plus applicable 
charges for reefer servicing  
21 Additional EIR (original free of charge) US$ 24.10/interchange 
22 Change of container information (to include BL, load vessel, 
pod weight, reefer status , hazardous class, etc.) US$ 30.12/amendment 
23 Fine for undeclared weight, wrongly declared, poorly 
stowed or incorrectly packaged First offence US$ 602.38  
Subsequent offences US$ 3,011.88 each 
24 Administrative fees (for re-processing of invoices) US$ 22.75/amendment 
25 Block stowing of containers in yard  per customer request US$ 22.75/move 
26 Transport container by truck US$ 56.88/unit 
27 Truck with Mafi hire US$ 113.77/unit 
28 Shifting charge (internal yard move per customer request) US$ 22.75/move 
29 If operation plans are not in place 24 hours prior to vessel 
arrival due to customer error US$ 2,177.29 per offence 
30 Leaking container (Non-hazardous) US$ 108.86/day 
31 Leaking container (Hazardous) US$ 136.08/day  
32 OOG gear/gang charge – Break Bulk (4 hours minimum) US$ 524.90 per hour 
33 Manual update to cargo detail in the system US$ 10.50 per update 
34 General Cargo Unitized or palletized handling in CFS US$ 6.02 per tonne 
35 Amendment to manifest after vessel arrived US$ 108.86/amendment 
Source:   Tariff of APM Terminals Liberia Ltd, issued by APM Terminals Liberia Ltd on 1 February 2015.  
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 98 - 
 
  Part 4: General Cargo Operations 
Operation 
 Unit 
 Handling Rate 
Rice  
 US$/tonne  
  10.89 
Cement  US$/tonne  12.05  
Latex Liquid  
 US$/tonne  3.61 
Latex Crate  US$/tonne  3.61  
General Cargo  
 US$/tonne  12.05  
Vehicles (Roro)  
 US$/unit  90.36  
Vehicles (Lolo)  
 US$/tonne  
  12.05  
Frozen Product  US$/tonne  6.02 
Timber  
 US$/cbm  9.64  
Vegetable Oil (Bulk)  
 US$/tonne  3.61  
Clinker (Bulk)  US$/tonne  3.74  
Gypsum (Bulk)  
 US$/tonne  
  
3.74  
Limestone (Bulk)  US$/tonne  
  3.74  
Source:  Tariff of APM Terminals Liberia Ltd, issued by APM Terminals Liberia Ltd on 1 February 2015.  
Note: These rates are valid from 1 February 2015 to 31 January 2016. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 99 - 
 
  Part 5: Equipment Hire of Personnel 
Equipment 
 Charge per hour or part thereof, in US$ 
Reach Stacker up to 42 tonnes  
 524.90/ hr.  
Fork Lift up to 10 tonnes  60.24/ hr.  
  
Fork Lift 10-25 tonnes  90.36/ hr.  
Fork Lift over 25 tonnes  180.71/hr.
   
Labour can be hired in eight (8) hour shifts  30.12/ person  
Pilot boat rental  
 1,632.96/ hr.  
Tug boat rental  
 2,177.29/ hr.  
Source:   Tariff of APM Terminals Liberia Ltd, issued by APM Terminals Liberia Ltd on 1 February 2015.  
Note on Equipment Hire of Personnel: The Terminal, subject to availability, hires out equipment and operators 
for private use within the Terminal.  WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 100 - 
 
  Part 6: Auxiliary Rates for General Cargo 
 Service  Rate 
1 Imported vehicles that are unabl e to move under their own power 
and have to be pushed, towed or jump started are subject to an 
additional charge of US$ 90.36/unit 
2  Cargo discharged directly over side to barge or coaster or from 
ship to ship will incur the normal stevedoring charges as per Clause 3.2.1 and is subject to an additional charge if APMT labour 
is supplied in the barge or coaster  +50% (applies to any cargo 
Included in Part 4: "Fees for services related to Imports: General Cargo Operations") 
3  Fine for undeclared, wrongly declared, poorly stowed or 
incorrectly packaged cargo  
US$ 2,099.60 / hatch  
4  Terminal Handling Charge for vehicles  US$ 36.14/unit 
5  Terminal Handling Charge for ve hicles in access of ten (10) tonnes  US$ 126.50/unit  
6  Cargo in excess of ten (10) tonnes  +100% (applied to 12.05 
US$/tonne General Cargo rate, as shown in Part 4: "Fees for services related to Imports: General Cargo Operations") 
7  Shifting vehicles on board  US$ 108.86/unit  
8  Shifting vehicles via quay  US$ 217.73/unit  
9  General Cargo gate fees (vehicle s & loose cargo)  US$ 11.38/unit  
10  Amendment to manifest after vessel arrived  US$ 108.86/amendment  
11  Administrative fees (for re-processing of invoices)  US$ 22.75/amendment  
12  Transport cargo by truck  US$ 56.88/unit  
13  Truck with Mafi hire  US$ 113.76/unit  
14  If Operation Plans are not in pl ace 24 hours prior to vessel arrival 
due to customer error.  US$ 2,177.29 per offence  
15  Gang idle /Standby time in case the customer is responsible.   
Day: 0700 – 1900. Night: 1900 – 0700.  US$ 544.32/hour/ crane (day) 
US$ 1,089.00/hour/ crane (night)  
16  Penalty charge for not vacating the berth within two (2) hours 
after completing operations  US$ 2,177.29/hour or part 
thereof  
17  Surcharge for non-homogeneous/oversize/heavy weight general 
cargo discharge  US$ 1,000.00 per day  
18  Surcharge for non-operational carg o left on quay by Shipping lines  US$ 500.00 per day  
Source:   Tariff of APM Terminals Liberia Ltd, issued by APM Terminals Liberia Ltd on 1 February 2015.  WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 101 - 
 
  ANNEX  14(C) 
Fees for Services in Connection with Exportat ion, as Charged by "APM Terminals" at the 
Freeport of Monrovia  
Part 1: Rates for Stevedoring 
Service 
Export rate, in 
US$ per unit Empty 
inspection rate, 
in US$ per unit Gate 
charge 
rate, in 
US$ per 
unit Terminal 
Handling Charge 
(THC) rate, in 
US$ per unit 
20' Export Dry Full 
 210.83  
 36.14 
 108.43 
20' Export Dry Empty 42.16 6.02 12.05 42.16 
20' Export Reefer Full 
 210.83  36.14 108.43 
20' Export Reefer Empty 42.16 6.02 12.05  
20' Transhipment Dry Full 60.24    
20' Transshipment Dry Empty 60.24    
20' Transshipment Reefer Full 60.24    
20' Transshipment Reefer Empty 289.15    
40' Export Dry Full 
 289.15  36.14 162.65 
40' Export Dry Empty 67.47 6.02 
 12.05 
  67.46 
40' Export Reefer Full 289.15  36.14 162.65 
40' Export Reefer Empty 
 67.47 6.02 12.05 67.46 
40' Transshipment Dry Full 90.36  
  
  
40' Transshipment Dry Empty 90.36    
40' Transshipment Reefer Full 90.36    
40' Transshipment Reefer Empty 90.36    
Source:   Tariff of APM Terminals Liberia Ltd, issued by APM Terminals Liberia Ltd on 1 February 2015. 
Note on rates for stevedoring: 
 
a) The rate of transhipment is only applicable for ca rgo which enters and leaves  the Terminal by sea, 
passing over or by/through publ ic-use facilities only, on or through bill of lading; and, 
b) The charges for 'Export' and 'Export Inspection' are payable by the vessel owner, operator, charterer 
or agent whose vessel calls at the port. 
The charge for 'THC' and 'Gate Charge' is payable by the owner of agent of the cargo handled at the Terminal. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 102 - 
 
  Part 2:  Rates for Storage 
Storage service Period Rate, in US$ 
Per TEU per day 
Storage Export 0-7 days 0.00 
Storage Export 8-13 days 6.02 
Storage Export 14-20 days 12.05 
Storage Export > 21 days 24.09 
Storage Empty 0-7 days 0.00 
Storage Empty 8-21 days 2.40 
Storage Empty > 22 days 10.25 
Per tonne per day 
Closed Storage Export  0-7 days 0.00 
Closed Storage Export  8-13 days 7.83 
Closed Storage Export   >14 days 12.05 
Open Storage Export 0-7 days 0.00 
Open Storage Export  8-13 days 6.63 
Open Storage Export  > 14 days 10.84 
Per day for bagged cargo  
Closed Storage Export 0-7 days 0.00 
Closed Storage Export 8-13 days 0.81 
Closed Storage Export >14 days 1.71 
Per day for bulk open storage 
Open Storage Export 0-7 days 0.00 
Open Storage Export 8-13 days 0.57 
Open Storage Export >14 days 1.13 
Source:   Tariff of APM Terminals Liberia Ltd, issued by APM Terminals Liberia Ltd on 1 February 2015. 
 Note on rates for Storage:   
a) The storage charges are per TEU and start to accu mulate as from the actual  day of discharge;  
b) The charge for 'Storage Empty' are payable by th e vessel owner, operator, charger or agent whose 
vessel calls at the Port;  
c) The storage charges start to accumulate as from th e actual day of discharge and do not include the 
delivering or receiving of the good to the stor age area from the consignee/shipper transport;  
d) For receiving and delivering to the consignee/shipper transport from the Terminal storage area APMT will 
lease labour/equipment if available; and, 
e) Storage of vehicles will be charged in US$ per tonne with a minimum of one (1) tonne. 
 
The charges for 'Storage Export' are payable by the ow ner or agent of the cargo handled at the Terminal.  
 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 103 - 
 
  Part 3:  Auxiliary Rates  for Containers Charged to the Shipper/Consignee 
 Service Rate 
1 OOG export additional handling charge for 
delivering/receiving in the yard US$ 120.48/unit 
2 Hazardous export addition al handling charge for 
delivering/receiving in the yard US$ 84.33/unit 
2 Positioning of containers for stuffing/unstuffing at 
the Terminal US$ 96.38/TEU 
4 Monitoring and power for reefers excluding storage   0-10 days: US$60.24/day 
>10 days: US$72.28/day 
5 All live reefers with special request to be unplugged in yard 
 All live reefer containers will be plugged according to manifest upon discharge from vessel  Unplugging: US$100/unit 
 Re-plugging: US$100/unit 
6 OOG export additional handling charge for 
discharging/loading from/onto vessel US$ 120.48/unit 
7 Hazardous export addition al handling charge for 
discharging/loading from/onto vessel US$ 84.34/unit 
8 Shifting on board US$ 96.38/unit 
9 Shifting via quay US$ 120.48/unit 
10 Hatch cover US$ 169.66/move 
11 Gear box US$ 168.66/move 
12 Gang idle time/Gang Standby in case the customer is 
responsible: Day: 0700 – 1900. Night: 1900 -0700 US$ 544.32/hour/crane (day)  
US$ 1,089.64/hour/crane (night) 
13 Penalty charge for not vacati ng the berth within two (2) 
hours after completing operations US$ 2,177.29/hour or part thereof 
14 Sweeping empty containers upon request by the customer US$ 12.05/unit 
15 Sealing of empty containers upon request by the customer US$ 6.02/unit 
16 Placard removing US$ 6.02/unit 
17 Knocking down ends of flatbed containers US$ 14.46/unit 
18 Bundling flatbed containers US$ 60.24/bundle 
19 Single container verification upon request by the customer US$ 120.48/unit 
20 Late advice (less than twelve (12) hours before vessel, pod, 
weight, reefer status, hazardous class, etc.) US$ 120.48/shifting plus applicable 
charges for reefer servicing  
21 Additional EIR (original free of charge) US$ 24.10/interchange 
22 Change of container information (to include BL, load vessel, 
pod weight, reefer status , hazardous class, etc.) US$ 30.12/amendment 
23 Fine for undeclared weight, wrongly declared, poorly stowed 
or incorrectly packaged First offence US$602.38  
Subsequent offences US$3,011.88 each 
24 Administrative fees (for re-processing of invoices) US$ 22.75/amendment 
25 Block stowing of containers in yard  per customer request US$ 22.75/move 
26 Transport container by truck US$ 56.88/unit 
27 Truck with Mafi hire US$ 113.77/unit 
28 Shifting charge (internal yard move per customer request) US$ 22.75/move 
29 If operation plans are not in place 24 hours prior to vessel 
arrival due to customer error US$ 2,177.29 per offence 
30 Leaking container (Non-hazardous) US$ 108.86/day 
31 Leaking container (Hazardous) US$ 136.08/day  
32 OOG gear/gang charge – Break Bulk (4 hours minimum) US$ 524.90 per hour 
33 Manual update to cargo detail in the system US$ 10.50 per update 
34 General Cargo Unitized or palletized handling in CFS US$ 6.02 per tonne 
35 Amendment to manifest after vessel arrived US$ 108.86/amendment 
Source:   Tariff of APM Terminals Liberia Ltd, issued by APM Terminals Liberia Ltd on 1 February 2015. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 104 - 
 
  Part 4: Rates for General Quay Handling 
Product 
 Unit 
 Handling Rate, in in US$ 
Rice  
 US$/tonne  10.89 
Cement  US$/tonne  12.05  
Latex Liquid  
 US$/tonne  3.61 
Latex Crate  US$/tonne  3.61  
General Cargo  
 US$/tonne  12.05  
Vehicles (Roro)  
 US$/unit  90.36  
Vehicles (Lolo)  
 US$/tonne 12.05  
Frozen Product  US$/tonne  6.02 
Timber  
 US$/cbm  9.64  
Vegetable Oil (Bulk)  
 US$/tonne  3.61  
Clinker (Bulk)  US$/tonne  3.74  
Gypsum (Bulk)  
 US$/tonne  
 3.74  
Limestone (Bulk)  US$/tonne  3.74  
Source:   Tariff of APM Terminals Liberia Ltd, issued by APM Terminals Liberia Ltd on 1 February 2015. 
 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 105 - 
 
  Part 5: Rates for Equipment Hire or Personnel 
Equipment 
 Charge per hour or part thereof, in US$ 
Reach Stacker up to 42 tonnes  
 524.90/hour 
Fork Lift up to 10 tonnes  60.24/hour 
Fork Lift 10-25 tonnes  90.36/hour 
Fork Lift over 25 tonnes  180.71/hour 
Labour can be hired in eight (8) 
hour shifts  30.12/person  
Pilot boat rental  
 1,632.96/hour 
Tug boat rental  
 2,177.29/hour 
Source:   Tariff of APM Terminals Liberia Ltd, issued by APM Terminals Liberia Ltd on 1 February 2015. 
 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 106 - 
 
  Part 6: Auxiliary Rates 
 Service Rate, in US$ 
1 Cargo discharged directly over side to barge or coaster or from 
ship to ship will incur the normal stevedoring charges as per Clause 3.2.1 and is subject to an additi onal charge if APMT labour is 
supplied in the barge or coaster +50% (applies to any cargo 
Included in Table 4: "Rates for General Quay Handling")  
2  Fine for undeclared, wrongly decl ared, poorly stowed or incorrectly 
packaged cargo  
US$ 2,099.60/hatch 
3  Terminal Handling Charge for vehicles  US$ 36.14/unit 
4  Terminal Handling Charge for vehicles in access of ten (10) tonnes  US$ 126.50/unit  
5  Cargo in excess of ten (10) tonnes  +100% applies to 12.05 
US$/tonne (General Cargo rate), as shown in Table 4: "Rates for General Quay Handling") 
6  Shifting vehicles on board  US$ 108.86/unit  
7 Shifting vehicles via quay  US$ 217.73/unit  
8  General Cargo gate fees (vehicle s & loose cargo)  US$ 11.38/unit  
9  Amendment to manifest after vessel arrived  US$ 108.86/amendment  
10  Administrative fees (for re-processing of invoices)  US$ 22.75/amendment  
121 Transport cargo by truck  US$ 56.88/unit  
13 Truck with Mafi hire  US$ 113.76/unit  
  
13  If Operation Plans are not in pl ace 24 hours prior to vessel arrival 
due to customer error.  US$ 2,177.29 per offence  
  
14  Gang idle /Standby time in case the customer is responsible.   
Day: 0700 – 1900. Night: 1900 – 0700.  US$ 544.32/hour/crane (day) US$ 
1,089.00/hour/crane (night)  
15  Penalty charge for not vacating the berth within two (2) hours after 
completing operations  US$ 2,177.29/hour or part thereof  
16 Surcharge for non-homogeneous/oversize/heavy weight general 
cargo discharge  US$ 1,000.00 per day  
17  Surcharge for non-operational cargo left on quay by Shipping lines  US$ 500.00 per day  
Source:  Tariff of APM Terminals Liberia Ltd, issued by APM Terminals Liberia Ltd on 1 February 2015. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 107 - 
 
  ANNEX 14(D) 
Fees for Services in Connection with Importation and Exportation, as Charged 
by the National Port Authority (NPA) at the Port of Buchanan  
Handling Charges 
 
1. Charges 
 
Kind of rate Rate 
Ordinary rate US$0.048 per SDWT on each call of vessel 
Reduced Rates 50% of rate per vessel bu nkering or taking provisions only 
Anchorage Dues US$0.0255 for each 12 hours period or parts thereof per SDWT of vessel staying 
within the breakwaters 
 
Exemptions to Ordinary Rates  
i. Special vessels paying annual harbor rental - tugs, fishing boat, launches, lighter barges;  
ii. Ships of ware;  
iii. Government vessels not engaged in trade;  
iv. Vessels embarking or disembarking crewmen or sick persons and their baggage only;  
v. Small Mano River Union vessels trading only in Mano River Union Ports; 
vi. Vessels seeking safety from bad weather  
 
2. Dockage Due:  
 
Ordinary Rate: US$0.0255 per tonne of SDW will be charged for each period of an hour or part 
thereof of each day to a vessel staying moored to a wharf or another vessel itself so made fast 
 
a) Exception: 
 
Service Rate 
Vessel loading logs/sawn ti mber US$1.89 per cubic meter 
If a vessel does not work although cargo is available US$0.255 per tonne of SDW will be charged for each 
period of 6 hours the vessel is idle 
 
3. Dredging and Maintenance Dues 
 
Parameters Charge 
<1000  Free 
1000 – 6000 SDWT US$ 0.016 SDWT/0.0096 
>60000 SDWT  US$0.029/SDWT 0.0174 
Small crafts not using a pilot  US$3,000 and US$18/call 
 
4. Occupation of Berth 
 
Berthing condition Rental fee, in US$ 
Berth can be occupied for cargo traffic only. 
Occupation of berth for any other reason, including non-performance of 500 metric tonne/day. (Weight, tonnage for containers)  9/meter occupied shall be levied for 24 hours or any 
part thereof  
Berth can be occupied for cargo traffic only. Occupation of berth for any other reason, including non-performance of 1200 metric tonnes/day 8.75 per meter occupied shall be levied for each 24 
hours or any part thereof 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 108 - 
 
  5. Cargo Fees 
 
Cargo for Buchanan and transshipment: Fee shall be assessed against cargo of ship owner, agent or consignor making use of the port's facilities as follows:  
 
Ordinary rate Minimum (Bulk) Invoice Charge US$14 
per tonne 
Mineral 3.00/1.80  
Petroleum  3.00/1.80 
Other fluids 7.00/4.20 
Other dry cargo 7.00/4.00 
Logs – receiving in log yards, stacking and delivery to 
ship's hook 10.50 per cm3 
Sawn timber – boules 15.00 per cm3 
Coffee, cocoa, rice, palm kernels 9.00 per tonne 
Cargo – all others 12.50 per tonne 
Passenger cars 
Buses (small Buses (large) 60.00/200.00 per unit 
120.00/200.00 per unit 250.00/200.00 per unit 
 
6. Other Rates: 
 
Kind of Rate Charge 
Reduced Rate Any cargo passing from vessel to vessel or shifted on 
the one vessel: US$1.56 
Heavy Lift Charges  a) Cargo weighing between 3 and 5 tonnes b) Cargo weighing between 5 and 10 tonnes c) Cargo weighing over 10 tonnes  
 
50% in addition to its rate 
100% in addition to its rate 150% in addition to its rate 
 
7. Overtime: 
 
7.1. Overtime: services rendered to consignees after normal working hours: 
 
a) During working day overtime: 50% of rate 
b) Night and holiday  100% of rate 
 
7.2. Overtime on break-bulk cargo:  
CONTAINERS (flat, racks, bolster) Loaded (US$ rate) Empty (US$ rate) 
40 feet up to 37 tonnes 138 51 
20 feet up to 18 tonnes 90 18 
20 feet Ammonia tank 200 70 
10 feet up to 9 tonnes 85 17 
20 feet bolsters 115 17 
 
8. Transshipment: At 50% of normal rates: 
 
9. Reduced Rate: 
 
Reduced Rate Per unit (US$) 
Unit passing from vessel to  vessel not passing over 
the wharf 13.80 
Unit landed empty for relo ading on other vessel 17.40 
 
 10. Overtime – For services to consignees after normal working hour: 
 
Time Rate 
Work day overtime 50% of rate 
Night and holidays 100% of rate 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 109 - 
 
  11. Stuffing or Un-stuffing of containers: 
 
Containers Per unit (US$) 
40 feet 180 
20 feet  90 
10 feet  60 
 
12. Storage: 
 
Storage will be assessed against cargo landed fr om vessels and cargo deposited for shipment in 
port as follows: 
 
12.1. General Cargo:  
Ordinary rates per tonne and day or part thereof 
 
Period Covered (US$) Opened (US$) 
Day 1 – 7  Free Free 
Day 8 – 14 1.20 0.90 
Day 15 – 21 2.40 1.20 
Day 22 – 28 3.00 1.80 
Day thereafter 3.60 2.40 
 
12.2. Reduced rates – transshipment cargo shall be assessed at the following rates:  
 
Period Covered  (US$) Opened (US$) 
Day 1- 10  Free Free 
Day 11 -21 0.50 0.90 
Day 22 -28 2.50 1.20 
Day thereafter 5.00 3.00 
 13. Storage for Logs:  
 
Service Rate 
Space can be rented in the Logging Park US $1.50 per square meter pe r year with minimum 
charge of US$1.500 
 
14. Containers – Flat Rack 
At the same condition as per General Cargo 
 1. Ordinary Rates: Per unit per day: 
 
Period 40 Feet (US$) 20 feet & under racks (US$) 
Day 1 – 14 Free Free 
Day 15 – 28 12.00 3.00 
Day 29 – 42 24.00 6.00 
Day thereafter 36.00 18.00 
 
2. Reduced Rates – Transit & Transit shipment cargo shall be assessed at the following rates:  
 
Period Transit (US$) Transit shipment (US$) 
Day 1 – 14 Free Free 
Day 15 – 21 10.00  3.00 
Day 22 – 28 20.00  5.00 
Day thereafter 40.00 15.00 
Source:  National Port Authority. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 110 - 
 
  ANNEX 14(E) 
Fees for Services in Connection with Impo rtation and Exportation, as Charged by the 
National Port Authority (NPA ) at the Port of Greenville 
 
Tariff for Handling Charges 
 
1. Port Fees 
1.1.1  Ordinary Rates: 
 
Kind of Rate Rate 
Rate per vessel US$0.04 per Summer Dead Weight (SDWT) 
Reduced rates 
a) Bunkers 
b) Ship's stores and/or pr ovisions for their own use US$0.03 per SDWT 
Anchorage rate US$0.03 per SDWT fo r each 12 hour period of part 
thereof while anchored within port's limits 
 
1.1.2  Exemptions for ordinary rates: 
 
a) Vessels paying monthly or annual inclusive (se exception under mooring and 
berthing); 
b) Government vessels not engaged in trade; 
c) Ships of war; 
d) Vessels taking on or putting off seagoing  laborers and/or sick persons and their 
baggage(s) only; and, 
e) Vessels seeking the safety of the harbor from bad weather.  
 
 
1.1.3  Exemptions for anchorage rates: 
 
a) Government ship not engaged in trade; 
b) Vessels loading at its private pier; 
c) Vessels taking on or putting off seagoing  laborers and/or sick persons and their 
baggage(s) only; 
d) Vessels seeking the safety of the harbor from bad weather; and, 
e) Vessels moving to and from berth, mooring or anchorage during any 12-hour 
period before dockage payment is due. 
  
Light and Buoyage fees Charge (US$) 
Crafts and vessels over one hundred tonnes of net 
registry tonne, entering the port, either mooring 
alongside or at anchor 0.02 cents per SDWT as light and buoyage fees.  
 
Port Rent (Dockage) for vesse l berthing at the Port of 
Harper shall be charged at a rehab  US$0.05 per tonne on her SDWT for every 12 hours 
during which she remains in the Port of Greenville either alongside the wharf or moored on buoys 
Coastal Vessels Exempted fro m light and buoyage dues 
 
1.1.4  Dredging and Maintenance: 
 
Charges will be assessed against each vessel entering the port for dredging and maintenance 
as follows:   
Vessel Rate 
Up to 1,499 Free 
1,500 to 99,999 US$0.015 
100,000 and above US$0.02 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 111 - 
 
  Exemptions for Dredging and Maintenance (also apply to Pilotage/Charge for Towage and Tug 
Hire/Mooring Springs):   
 
a) Vessels changing berth at the direction of the Port Manager for the port's 
convenience, provided such direction does not arise from a contravention of or 
failure to comply with the terms of this tariff or port regulations; and,  
b) Small Manor River Union vessels engaged in trade between union ports. 
 
1.2 Charges for Marine Services: 
 
Service Rate (US$) or percentage 
Pilotage: The charges for pilotage fees to vessels, 
their owner or agents shall be payable for use of a pilot within port's limit with respect to ordinary berthing, un-berthing and shifting  0.02 per SDWT per move. 
Reduced Rates Pilotage will be assessed against a vessel at one-half 
the ordinary rate at the Greenville port 
Overtime a) For pilotage for overtime  b) For pilotage services rendered during nights overtime period (2300 – 0700) and on Sundays and Public Holidays  
a) An additional 50% of the ordinary rate  b) An additional 100% of the ordinary rate 
Detention and Cancellation of Pilotage  a) Detention of a pilot (waiting time) beyond the appointed time for which ordered  b) Cancellation of a pilot request less than (30) thirty 
minutes notice between 0700 – 1600 (office hours) 
 c) Cancellation of a pilot request less than two (2) hours' notice between 1600 – 1700 (office hours)  
 a) For each hour or part thereof, 75.00   b) 75.00 
 
 c) 100.00 
 
1.3 Charges for Towage and Tug Hire: 
 
Towage per Movement Amount (US$) 
0 – 5,000   400.00 
5,001 – 10,000   800.00 
10,000 – 20,000 1,200.00 
20,001 – 30,000 1,600.00 
30,001 – 40,000 2,000.00 
40,001 – 50,000 2,400.00 
50,001 and above 3,000.00 
 
1.3.1  Detention and Cancellation of Tugs: 
 
Charge Rate (US$) 
Detention and Cancellation of Tugs: 
 a) Detention of tugs (waiting time) beyond the appointed time   b) The master or agent of any vesse l shall give at least one hour's 
notice to the port manager of the time such vessel will be ready to leave the port. If the master intends that his vessel shall leave between 4:00PM and 7:00PM, such notice must be given to the port manager before 3:30PM preceding depa rture.  Cancellation of a tug 
with less than one (1) hours' notice during this period  
 a) 100.00 per movement per hour of part thereof  b) Flat charge of US$80 
Overtime  For any service performed or fo r any detention during weekly 
overtime hours (4:00PM – 10:00PM) 50% additional to all applicable rates  
 100% on Sunday and Holidays 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 112 - 
 
  2 Line Handling (Mooring/Berthing). 
 
2.1.1  Ordinary Rates: 
 
Summer Dead Weight (SDWT) Rate, in US$ 
Ordinary Rate 
 a) Less than 60,000  b) More than 60,000  
 50.00 per move   100.00 
Mooring Springs  a) Mooring springs per day or part of a day from 12:00 Noon per springs 
 b) Mooring springs per day or part of a day from 12:00 Noon per hurricane rope: 
  
 a) US$13.00  b) US$26.00 
 
2.1.2  Overtime – the following surcharges will apply:  
 
Days Rate 
Workdays for period 1500 – 2300 50% 
Workdays for period 2300 – 0700  100% 
Holidays for period 0000 – 2400  100% 
 
2.1.3  Ordinary Rates & detention of launch beyond the first hour: 
 
Ordinary Rates & Detention of La unch US$ per trip up to 1 hour 
Within breakwaters 60.00  
Outer roadstead 90.00 
 
2.1.4  Overtime: 
 
a) An additional 50% of the above charges will be assessed for service during the 
working day overtime; and,  
b) An additional 100% of the above charges will be assessed for services during night 
and holiday overtime. 
 
2.2      Charges for Sundry Vessel Service: 
 
Kind of Rate Rate 
Ordinary standby rate: 0700 – 1200 and 1300 – 1500 US$25 per gang per hour 
Overtime: 1200 – 1300 US$30 per gang per hour 
 
2.2.1  Sorting to Mark: the following rates will be assessed for excessive sorting to marks:  
 
Kind of Rate Rate 
During normal working hours US$0.25 per package 
During overtime hours US$0.50 per package  
 
2.3 Transshipment, Cargo Charges. 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 113 - 
 
  2.4 Ordinary Rates: 
 
Service Rate 
For receiving from vessel, giving the master or agent 
receipt, depositing warehous e or in open storage space 
or in on-carry coastwise vessel, or subsequently 
conveying to ship's side and placing the goods in the ship's sling or loading onto consignee's truck and taking a receipt from the respective  o-carrying vessel, vehicle 
for each separate consignment each US$7.00  
 
Direct from vessel-to-vessel by lig hter or truck: US$1.50 per tonne 
When landed and stored, before  re-shipment US$1.75 per tonne 
Packages and articles over the tonnages of two each 
special rate Minimum charges any one consignment each 
is US$7.00 
 
2.4.1  Late submission of shipping specification: 
 
The following charges will be assessed on agent of vessel for late submission of specification for loading logs and/or sawn timber (or any other cargo). If the specifications are not submitted to the port 48 hours before ship's arrival:  
 
Product Rate 
Logs US$3.00 per m3 
Sawn timber  US$3.00 m3 
 
2.4.2  Fresh Water:  
 
Fresh water will be supplied to vessel at the main quay and certain other berths at the 
following rates:  
 
Service Rate 
Water 1m3 10,000 liters part thereof US$5.00 
Attendance charge per connection US$15.00 
 
2.4.3  Charges for Cargo Service:  
 
Service Minimum Invoice Charge (US$) 
Loose cargo 6.00 per tonne but no less than 8.00 
Palletized cargo 5.25 per tonne but no less than 8.00 
 
2.4.4  Cargo: 
 
Product Charge per Tonne (US$) 
Rubber  
Latex  1.00 
Crated and Palletized Rubber  5.00 
Break Bulk Rubber   5.25 
Palm Oil  3.00 
Petroleum Products  1.00 
Rice  5.30 
Hose 15.00 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 114 - 
 
  ANNEX 14(F) 
Fees for Services in Connection with Impo rtation and Exportation, as Charged by the 
National Port Authority (NPA ) at the Port of Harper 
1. Charges applicable to the Port to cargo consignees for cargo discharged and to shippers for 
cargo loaded:  
 
Item Charge (US$) 
Loose Cargo 5.00 per tonne with an invoice charge of 9.00 
Palletized Cargo 4.75 per tonne with a minimum charge of 8.00 
Rubber  
a) Latex 
b) Crated and palletized rubber 
c) Break bulk rubber  
0.80 per tonne 4.50 per tonne 480 per tonne 
Petroleum products 3.00 per tonne 
Rice  4.80 per tonne 
Swan timber/plywood/receiving, warehousing, delivery and wharfage charges 5.25 per tonne 
Logs (tonnes = revenue tonnes, being the greater of weight tonne and value in m3: 
Receiving, off loading and stacking in logfield 5.00 per tonne 
Transporting to ship's hook (sinkers) 3.00 per tonne 
Handling, including supply  of cable 4.75 per tonne 
Taking unshipped logs back to log field 2.50 per tonne 
Sorting for cross-cutting, insp ection upon request for any 
loading 2.80 per tonne 
Unloading logs on Sunday an d/or holidays, exclusive of 
regular handling rates 20.50 per tonne 
Rafting and towing 2.00 
 
2. Private and Commercial Vehicles: 
 
2.1 Ordinary Rates: 
 
Vehicle Rate 
Up to 3 tonnes capacity US$50.00 
More than 3 tonnes capacity US$100.00 
 2.2. Exemptions: 
 
i. Personal baggage of passenger, excluding motor vehicles or animals;  
ii. Goods shipped which have been landed in error;  
iii. Cargoes discharged and re-shipped solely for purposes of effecting repairs to a vessel;  
iv. Transshipment cargoes;  
v. Bunker, fuel oil, stores or provisions delivered to vessel for their own consumption;  
vi. Mails. 
 3. Reduced Rates:   
Type of cargo Rate 
Cargo passing from ship to  ship US$1.50 per tonne 
Cargo landed and reloaded US$1.75 per tonne 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 115 - 
 
  4. Special Rates: 
 Heavy lifts (excluding logs and time) when port equipment or employees are involved, additional 
percentage charges will be made as follows:  
 
Weight Rate 
Up to 5 tonnes 50% of the ordinary rate 
Thereafter 100% of the ordinary rate 
 
5. Sorting:  
i. The following fees will be charged for sortin g when vessel discharges cargo mixed marks.  
 
Timing Rate 
During normal working hours US$0.25 
During overtime hours US$0.50 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 116 - 
 
  ANNEX 15 
List of Supplies Exempted from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) 
The following supplies are exempt from the Goods and Services Tax (GST):1  
 
(1)  A supply of foodstuffs for human consumption (but not when served as a meal or as 
cooked or prepared food), for the general use of educational, and philanthropic institutions certified as such by the Minister of Financ e and Development Planning excluding goods for 
the personal use of the members and employees  of such institutions and organizations; 
 (2)  A supply of goods for the relief of distressed persons in the case of natural disasters or 
other humanitarian emergencies, to the extent the Minister of Finance and Development 
Planning shall specify by notice at the time of the disaster or emergency;  
 (3)  A supply of a pharmaceutical or medicinal preparation shall be specified by regulation to be 
issued by the Minister of Finance and Development Planning; 
 (4)  A supply of a medical aids or appliances specifically designed for persons with an illness or 
disability shall be specified by regulation by the Minister of Finance and Development 
Planning; 
  (5)  A supply of textbooks or other instructional materials designed for use in schools or adult 
education programs, including items specified in regulations;  
 (6)  A supply made to a registered manufacturer;
2 a renewable resource contractor subject to 
Part II, Chapter 6, and in the business of agriculture; a mining project producer or 
petroleum project producer subject to Part II, Chapter 7; or the holder of a Forestry Resource License engaged in the business of forestry, if the supply is of: 
  
(A) raw materials or other inputs for use directly in manufacturing;  (B)  raw materials for use directly in forestry;  (C)  raw materials for use directly in a renewable resource project described in Part II, 
Chapter 6;  
(D)  raw materials for use directly in a mining project or petroleum project described in 
Part II, Chapter 7; and  
(E)  capital goods;  
 (7)  A supply of goods as part of the transfer of a manufacturing business as a going concern 
by a registered manufacturer to another registered manufacturer;  
 (8)  The supply of medical and educational equipment and supplies purchased for use directly 
in or in connection with activities described in by Part II, Chapters 6 or 7, and intended to 
be placed in service within one year of purchase, if the supply is made to:  
 
(A)  a renewable resource contractor subject to Part II, Chapter 6 and in the business 
of agriculture;  
(B)  a mining project producer subject to Part II, Chapter 7, Subchapter A; or  
(C)  a petroleum project producer subject to Part II, Chapter 7, Subchapter B. 
                                               
1 Section 1001(e) of the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000, as Amended in 2011. 
2 Where a registered manufacturer makes both taxable and exempt supp lies, a supply to the 
manufacturer of raw materials or other inputs, or of capital goods is only exempt to the extent that the raw materials or other inputs, or capital goods are used  by the manufacturer in making taxable supplies. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 117 - 
 
  ANNEX 16  
Products that are subject to Excise Tax 
Chapter Description and HS Section/Code Excise tax rate 
for domestic 
products Excise tax rate for 
imported products 
Chapter 17 Sugar and Suga r Confectionery: Codes 
1701.91.10 to 1701.91.90 5% 5% 
Chapter 21
  Miscellaneous Edible Preparation: Code 
2106.90.00 5% 10% 
Chapter 22 Mineral and aerated water: Section 2201. 0% 35% 
Non-alcoholic beverages: Section 2202. 2% 10% 
Alcoholic beverages: Sections 2203, 2204, 
2205, 2206 and 2208. 35% 35% 
Vinegar containing alcohol: Code 2209.00.10 0% 10% 
Chapter 24 Tobacco: Section 2401 35% 35% 
Chapter 25  Granite, porphy ry, basalt, sandstone, and 
other monumental or building stone, Asbestos: Codes 2516.11.00 and 2524.00.00 35% 35% 
Chapter 26
  Ores, Slag and Ash: Chapter 26 7% 7% 
Chapter 27  Mineral Fuels, mineral Oils and Products: 
Chapter 27 7% 7% 
Chapter 28 
  Inorganic and Organic Compounds: Codes 
2804.10.00 to 2804.50.00 20% 20% 
Chapter 33 
  Essential oils, perfumery of Cosmetics: 
Section 3303.00.10 to 3303.00.90, Section 3305.10.00 to 3305.90.00 10% 10% 
Chapter 38 Miscellaneous Ch emical products: Section 
3811.21.00 and 3819.00.00 7% 7% 
Chapter 68  Articles of Asphal t, Stone, Plaster, Cement, 
Asbestos etc.: Codes 6811.10.00, Section 
6812, Code 6813.20.00 35% 35% 
Articles of asphalt or of similar material: Code 
6807 7% 7% 
Chapter 85 
  Electrical instantaneous or storage water 
heaters and immersion heaters and other domestic electrical appliances, including hair dryers: Section 8516  20% 20% 
Chapter 95 
  Video Games Consoles and funfair machines, 
casino games: Section 9504 30% 30% 
Chapter 96 
  Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles: Codes 
9601.10.00, 9601.90.00 and 9602.00.00 20% 20% 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 118 - 
 
  ANNEX 17 
Vehicles subject to the Environmental Charge 
Category1 Punitive Tax 
Rate 
Used motor vehicles above ten years but less than sixteen years (11 – 15 years)  10% 
Used motor vehicles above fifteen years but not more than twenty years (16 – 20 years) 20% 
Used motor vehicles above twenty years but not more than twenty-five (21 – 25 years) 30% 
Used motor vehicles above twenty-five years  50%  
 
                                               
1 There was no environmental levy on vehicles that remained in Liberia until they were above ten years.  
These were measures to keep the vehicles environmenta lly safe. There was in place an annual road worthy and 
safety inspection that was conducted jointly by the Nati onal Police and the Ministry of Transport whereby only 
vehicles passing the test were allowed to ploy to streets. Others were impounded until the defects were remedied. WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 119 - 
 
  ANNEX 18 
Categories of Products subject to Import Permit Declaration (IPD) 
No. Category 
1 Fresh and frozen meat and meat  products, including poultry 
2 Fresh and frozen fish and crustaceans  
3 Fresh and frozen vegetables and tubers (e xcluding canned, preserved, or dried) 
4 Fresh fruits and nuts (excluding canned, preserved, or dried) 
5 Dairy produce, including milk, cream, bu tter, cheese, and eggs (excluding powder) 
6 Bottled water and alcoholic beverages 
7 Products of the milling industry, including rice, flour, and starches 
8 Live animals, all types  
9 Prescription medicines/pharmaceut icals and biological substances 
10 Specialized medical, dental, or veterinary apparatus and equipment 
11 Inorganic and organic products of the chemical industry, chemical elem ents,  acids, and chemicals (e.g. 
lead, potassium bromide, mercury, sodium, monoso dium glutamate, formaldehyde, sulphuric acid), 
including ozone-depleting substances  
12 Fertilizers containing nitrates 
13 Petroleum products, including crude and refined oil and petroleum gases 
14 Explosives, pyrotechnics, fi reworks, and combustible liquid or gas preparations 
15 Military tanks and weapons, arms and ammunition 
16 Hazardous waste (including clin ical waste, municipal waste, se wage sludge, and other wastes) 
17 Building materials (including lime, cement, steel rods, plywood, PVC pipes, sheets of zinc, and ceramic 
flooring blocks) 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 120 - 
 
  ANNEX 19 
Preshipment Inspection (PSI) Fees for Imports 
Product and value PSI fee paid 
All products: FOB value below US$3,500 & US$1,500 for seaport and 
land border/airport, respectively No fee to be paid 
FOB ranging from US$3,500 to US$15,835 (seaport only) US$190 
FOB above US$15,835 1.2% 
Crude Oil and Refined products   US$2 per metric tonne 
Rice  US$1 per metric tonne 
Source:   Customs, Ministry of Finance and Develo pment Planning, and Liberia Revenue Authority 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 121 - 
 
  ANNEX 20(A) 
Import Permit Declaration: the Form* 
 
* In English only WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 122 - 
 
   
ANNEX 20(B) 
Export Permit Declaration: the Form* 
 
* In English only WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 123 - 
 
   
ANNEX 21 
Customs User Fee Rates in connection with Exportation 
Export Regime Current Custom s User Fees Other Levies 
Export of finished/processed goods 0% None 
Export of semi-pro cessed goods 1.25% of the FOB None 
Export of unprocessed goods 2.5% of the FOB None 
Trans-shipment 2.5% of the CIF None 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 124 - 
 
  ANNEX 22 
National Laboratories of Liberia 
Laboratory Scope of Test ing Ministry Legislation 
Central Veterinary 
Diagnostic Laboratory (Ledlum Lab) Animal diseas e diagnosis 
and control Ministry of Agricultur e Chapter 1 "Plant and 
Animal Quarantine", Chapter 2 "The National Livestock Artificial Insemination Act" of Title 3 of the Liberian Codes of Laws Revised ("Agriculture Law")  
National Standards Laboratory (NSL)  Analytical testing, 
microbiological testing and calibration  Ministry of Commerce 
and Industry Chapter 29 of Title 12 of 
the Liberian Codes of Laws Revised ("Executive Law") 
Drugs Testing Laboratory  Testing medicines 
and health products for quality Ministry of Health and 
Social Welfare Section 2 of Part IV of the 
Act to Establish Liberia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority (LMHRA) of 2010  
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 125 - 
 
  ANNEX 23 
Recipients of Investment Incentives  under the Revenue Code of 2000, 
as Amended in 2011, as of 6 March 2015 
No. Company 
Name Potential 
Liberian 
Employment Sector Ownership Date 
Granted Date of Expiration  
1. Liberia Coca 
Cola Bottling Corporation (LCCBC) 28 Manufacturing 100% 
Foreign 27 June 
2014 26 June 2019 
2. Monrovia 
Breweries 26 Manufacturing 24% 
Liberian, 76% Foreign 28 June 
2014 27 June 2019 
3. Liberia Uniform 
Company 35 Manufacturing 100% 
Liberian 17 April 
2014 16 April 2019 
4. MG Forest 479 Manufacturing 100% 
Foreign 27 
February 2014 26 February 2019 
5. Zircon 55 Assembling 
Finished 
Products 100% 
Foreign 20 
February 
2014 19 February 2019 
6. MDMC Express 184 Transport 
Infrastructure  100% 
Liberia 24 October 
2014 23 October 2019 
7. ADI Contractor, 
Inc. 44 Manufacturing 100% 
Foreign 19 August 
2014 18 August 2019 
8. Jump 
Pharmaceuticals International 90 Manufacturing 20% 
Liberian, 80% Foreign 30 
September 2014 29 September 2019 
 Sub-Total 1,027     
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
- 126 - 
 
  ANNEX 24 
Liberia's Status regarding WIPO Treaties 
Treaty Status Entry into Force 
Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary 
and Artistic Works In force 8 March 1989 
Paris Convention  for the Protection of Industrial 
Property In force 27 August 1994 
Patent Cooperation Treaty In force 27 August 1994 
Madrid Agreement Concerning the International 
Registration of Marks In force 25 December 1995 
Patent Law Treaty In force  2 June 2000 
Convention for the Protec tion of Producers of 
Phonograms Against Unauthorized Duplication of Their Phonograms In force 
16 December 2005 
Madrid Protocol  Concerning 
the International Registration of Marks In force 11 December 2009 
Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to 
Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled In force 
June 28, 2013 
Convention Establishing the World Intellectual 
Property Organization In force 8 March 1989 
Washington Treaty  on Intellectual Property in 
Respect of Integrated Circuits Signature Not entered into force yet 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  ANNEX 25 
Registration Fees for Copyrights, Tradem arks, Patents, and Industrial Design 
Measure  Fee in US$  
Copyright registration 40 
Trademark registration 75 
Trademark renewal 50 
Authentication of trademark (verificatio n of the registrar trademark registry) 50 
Patent application – for Liberians 75 
Patent application – for non-Liberians 150 
Industrial design application 75 
Business merger 50 
Business assignment 50 
Amendment of the articles of incorporation 75 
Change of name of the relevant company 75 
Change of address of the relevant company 75 
 
 
_______________ 
 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  APPENDIX 
DRAFT DECISION 
ACCESSION OF LIBERIA 
Decision of [X Month 2015] 
 The Ministerial Conference,  Having regard to  paragraph 2 of Article XII and pa ragraph 1 of Article IX of the 
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (the "WTO Agreement"), and the 
Decision-Making Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the WTO Agreement agreed by the 
General Council (WT/L/93), 
 
 Taking note  of the application of Liberia for accession to the WTO Agreement dated 
13 June 2007, 
 
 Noting  the results of the negotiations directed toward the establishment of the terms of 
accession of Liberia to the WTO Agreement and having prepared a Protocol on the Accession of 
Liberia, 
 
 Decides  as follows: 
1. Liberia may accede to the WTO Agreement on the terms and conditions set out in the 
Protocol annexed to this Decision. 
_______________ 
 WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  DRAFT PROTOCOL 
ON THE ACCESSION OF LIBERIA 
Preamble 
 The World Trade Organization (hereinafter referred to as the "WTO"), pursuant to the 
approval of the Ministerial Conference of the WTO accorded under Article XII of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (hereinafter referred to as the "WTO Agreement"), and Liberia, 
 Taking note  of the Report of the Working Party on the Accession of Liberia to the 
WTO Agreement reproduced in document WT/ACC/LBR/23, dated 9 October 2015 (hereinafter referred to as the "Working Party Report"), 
 Having regard  to the results of the negotiations on the accession of Liberia to the 
WTO Agreement, 
 Agree as follows: 
PART I - GENERAL 
1. Upon entry into force of this Protocol pursuant to paragraph 8, Liberia accedes to the 
WTO Agreement pursuant to Article XII of that Agreement and thereby becomes a Member of the WTO. 
2. The WTO Agreement to which Liberia accedes shall be the WTO Agreement, including the 
Explanatory Notes to that Agreement, as rectified, amended or otherwise modified by such legal instruments as may have entered into force before the date of entry into force of this Protocol.  This 
Protocol, which shall include the commitments referred to in paragraph 332 of the Working Party 
Report, shall be an integral part of the WTO Agreement. 
3. Except as otherwise provided for in paragraph 332 of the Working Party Report, those 
obligations in the Multilateral Trade Agreements annexed to the WTO Agreement that are to be 
implemented over a period of time starting with the entry into force of that Agreement shall be implemented by Liberia as if it had accepted that Agreement on the date of its entry into force. 
4. Liberia may maintain a measure inconsistent with paragraph 1 of Article II of the GATS 
provided that such a measure was recorded in the list of Article II Exemptions annexed to this 
Protocol and meets the conditions of the Annex to the GATS on Article II Exemptions. 
PART II - SCHEDULES 
5. The Schedules reproduced in the Annex to this Protocol shall become the Schedule of 
Concessions and Commitments an nexed to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 
(hereinafter referred to as the "GATT 1994") and the Schedule of Specific Commitments annexed to 
the General Agreement on Trade in Services (hereinafter referred to as "GATS") relating to Liberia.  
The staging of the concessions and commitments listed in the Schedules shall be implemented as specified in the relevant parts of the respective Schedules. 
6. For the purpose of the reference in paragraph 6(a) of Article II of the GATT 1994 to the date 
of that Agreement, the applicable date in respect of the Schedule of Concessions and Commitments 
annexed to this Protocol shall be the date of entry into force of this Protocol. 
PART III - FINAL PROVISIONS 
7. This Protocol shall be open for acceptance, by signature or otherwise, by Liberia until 
15 June 2016 or such later date as may be decided by the Ministerial Conference. 
8. This Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day following the day upon which it shall 
have been accepted by Liberia.  WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  9. This Protocol shall be deposited with the Director-General of the WTO.  The Director-General 
of the WTO shall promptly furnish a certified copy of this Protocol and a notification of acceptance by Liberia thereto pursuant to paragraph 7 to each Member of the WTO and to Liberia.   
10. This Protocol shall be registered in accordance with the provisions of Article 102 of the 
Charter of the United Nations.   
 Done at […] this […] day of […] in a single copy in the English, French and Spanish 
languages, each text being authentic, except that a Schedule annexed hereto may specify that it is 
authentic in only one of these languages, and the Working Party Report is authentic in English only. 
_______________  WT/ACC/LBR/23 • WT/MIN(15)/2 
 
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  ANNEX 
SCHEDULE CLXXIV – LIBERIA 
Authentic only in the English language. 
(Circulated in document WT/ACC/LBR/23/Add.1) 
_______________ 
SCHEDULE OF SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS ON SERVICES 
LIST OF ARTICLE II EXEMPTIONS 
Authentic only in the English language. 
(Circulated in document WT/ACC/LBR/23/Add.2)   
 
__________