RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/TPR/G/158 
31 January 2006 
 
 (06-0437) 
Trade Policy Review Body Original: French 
  
 
   
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW 
 
Report by 
 
ANGOLA 
 
   
Pursuant to the Agreement Establishi ng the Trade Policy Review Mechanism 
(Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade 
Organization), the policy statement by Angola is attached. 
 
 
Note: This report is subject to restricted circ ulation and press embargo until the end of the first 
session of the meeting of the Trade Policy Review Body on Angola. Angola WT/TPR/G/158 
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  CONTENTS 
 
  Page 
1. ECONOMIC BACKGROUND 5 
 1.1 MACROECONOMIC POLICIES  5 
 (a) Fiscal and budgetary policy 5  (b) Monetary and foreign exchange policy 5 
 (c) Incomes and prices policy 6 
 1.2 
STRUCTURAL REFORM  6 
 (a) Financial services 6 
 (b) State-owned enterprise sector 6 
 1.3 REHABILITATION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE  6 
 (a) Transport infrastructure 6 
 (b) Social infrastructure 6 
 1.4 EXTERNAL ECONOMY  7 
 (a) Balance of trade 7 
 (b) Balance of payments 8  (c) Foreign debt 8 
 1.5 
INVESTMENT POLICY  9 
 (a) Economic development measures 9  (b) Fiscal and customs incentiv es for private investment 10 
 (c) Impact criteria 11 
 (d) Industrial development poles 11 
2. TRADE POLICY 11 
 2.1 
BY SECTOR  13 
 (a) Primary sector 13  (b) Secondary sector 14 
 (c) Tertiary sector 14 
 2.2 
IMPLEMENTATION OF TRADE POLICY  15 
 2.3 TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS  15 
 (a) Bilateral trade agreements 15  (b) Regional trade agreements 16 
 (c) International agreements 18 
 (d) Trade agreements for development and cooperation 18  (e) Preferential trade agreements 19 
3. ANGOLA AND THE MULTIL ATERAL TRADING SYSTEM 19 
 (a) Implementation 20  (b) Special and Differential Treatment (SDT) 20 
 (c) Agriculture 20 
 (d) Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) 20  (e) Services 21 
 (f) Intellectual property and public health 21 
 (g) Trade facilitation 21  (h) Rules 21 WT/TPR/G/158 Trade Policy Review 
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    Page 
 3.1 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  21 
 (a) Market access 22 
 (b) Diversification of supply and support for trade 22 
 (c) Creation of a National Executive Secretariat for the WTO 22  (d) Creation of a National Export Promotion Institute 22 
CONCLUSION  22 
 
 
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  1. ECONOMIC BACKGROUND 
1. The Luena Protocol of 4 April 2002 marked both the end of a long civil war, which cost many 
lives and resulted in the destruction of the socio-ec onomic infrastructure, and the beginning of efforts 
to mobilize the substantial financial resources essenti al to Angola's development.  The indicators in 
the tables below (1.1 and 1.2) clearly reflect the di sastrous situation created by the armed conflict and 
the improvements recorded in the course of the transition period.  In fact, the Angolan Government 
has succeeded in implementing policies and refo rms that have stabilized the national economy. 
 
Macro-economic data, 2004 
Inflation 36.4 
GDP (US$ billion) 12.5 
GDP growth rate 11.7% 
Exports (US$ billion) 12.2 
External debt, US$ billion 7.9 
Fiscal income (%GDP) 36.7 
Fiscal expenditure (%GDP) 42.0 
Export growth 29.1 
Import growth 12.5 
Sources: Angola, Millennium Goals Report Summary, 2005, UNDP; Human Developm ent Report 2005, UNDP; Law 14/04 
of 28 December: Government Gene ral Two-Year Programme 2005-2006. 
 
1.1 MACROECONOMIC POLICIES 
 
(a) Fiscal and budgetary policy 
2. There are three facets to the Angolan Government's fiscal and budgetary policy, namely, 
effective and efficient public expenditure to guara ntee the supply of public and semi-public goods and 
services, expansion of the tax base, and reduction of the tax burden.  Thus, st eps are being taken to 
ensure the strict execution of the budget by reducing the number of agencies making demands on the country's financial resources beyond the usual cy cles and ceilings.  The budget deficit is being 
financed by issuing debt securities, while every effort is being made to raise revenue without 
increasing the tax burden, in particular by expandin g the tax base.  Tax reforms have been introduced. 
At the same time, the Government is see king to increase its non-tax and non-oil revenue. 
(b) Monetary and foreign exchange policy 
3. The objectives of Angolan monetary policy are to  reduce the accumulated inflation rate (the 
estimates are 106.0 per cent for 2002, 76.7 per cent for 2003 and 36.4 per cent for 2004; the projection for 2005 is 15 per cent) and exercise direct and indi rect control over the liquidity in the economy by 
adjusting the rediscount rate.  Other policy tools include the establishment of compulsory reserves 
against bank deposits, the issue of government securi ties by the Treasury and the Central Bank, the 
application of the interest rate by the BNA in "open market" operations, etc. 
4. In the area of foreign exchange, Angola is appl ying a floating exchange rate system, while 
adjusting the limits on the foreign exchange position of the commercial banks in accordance with their 
shareholders' equity, etc.  Meanwhile, the so-ca lled "strong Kwanza" policy has made it possible to 
stabilize the nominal exchange rate while liberaliz ing the currency market and absorbing internal 
liquidity. Socio-economic data 
Population (million) 14.7 
Density (per km2) 11.8 
Population < 20 years 68% 
  
Human Development Index 2005 0.445 
Ranking by HDI, 2005 160 
Population living below poverty line 68% WT/TPR/G/158 Trade Policy Review 
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  (c) Incomes and prices policy 
5. The Angolan Government is peri odically updating civil service sala ries to reflect the expected 
rate of inflation.  At the same time, Angola intends  to draw up a fair competition law to safeguard fair 
trading practices and dealings in commercial transactions. 
1.2 STRUCTURAL REFORM 
 
(a) Financial services 
6. Angola is currently implementing an electronic Angolan Payments System (SPA) with 
arrangements for linking into the SADC countries' payments system and other global systems, such as 
VISA and MASTERCARD.  At the same time, it is  developing and improving the public services 
financial information system (PMFP) using data  communications technology.  It is planned to 
implement means of checking for fraud, operational ri sks, insolvency risks,  and payment revocability 
and conditionality risks in the settlement systems. 
7. The Angolan Government has authorized the creation of a new operator in the insurance 
sector, the company Angola Agora e Amanhã (AAA), thereby breaking up the monopoly previously 
enjoyed by the Empresa Nacional de Seguros de Angola (ENSA). 
(b) State-owned enterprise sector 
8. Aware of the role that the postal services can pl ay in domestic and foreign trade, the Angolan 
Government is creating mechanisms to make the National Post Offices and Telegraph Company 
operational in the national capital and the provi ncial capitals as a provider of new services and 
products.  Angola has opted for the privatizat ion of non-strategic public companies and is 
reorganizing the State-owned enterprises into public companies, which it is hoped will prove 
economically viable. 
1.3 REHABILITATION OF THE ECONOM IC AND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE 
 
9. Angola has succeeded in obtaining a US$2 billio n line of credit from China with a 12-year 
term and a variable grace period, depending on the project, which may not be less than 3 years nor 
more than 5 years.  This loan constitutes th e principal source of financing for the Angolan 
Government's Public Investment Programme (PIP) for the period 2005-2007. 
(a) Transport infrastructure 
10. Angola has already begun rehabilitating and buildin g roads, bridges, airports, airfields, ports 
and railway lines (Luanda Railway, Benguela Railway, Namibia Railway), with possible international 
connections (to neighbouri ng countries and others), and acquiri ng signalling equipment and means of 
transport. 
(b) Social infrastructure 
11. Angola is in the process of: 
 - Equipping the water and energy supply systems; 
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   - building schools (polytechnics, primary schools and secondary schools at levels II 
and III); 
  - rehabilitating and building health centres and hospitals; 
 
 - building medium- and high-rent housing (flats and homes) as part of the New Life 
Project; 
  - building a University City to accommodate 17,000 students. 
 
1.4 EXTERNAL ECONOMY 
 
12. Angola's external economy, which mainly depe nds on two export products, crude oil and 
diamonds, has benefited from the increase in the prices of these products on the international markets.  
However, Angola continues to import staples because of weaknesses in national agri-foodstuff 
production. 
(a) Balance of trade 
13. In 2003, as compared with 2002, Angola's trade balance was characterized by the growth of 
exports (from US$8,327.9 million to US$9,508.2 million,  i.e. by 14.2 per cent, and of imports, from 
US$3,760.1 million to US$5,480.1 million, i.e. 45.7  per cent.  The surplus, US$4,028.0 million, 
represents 29.1 per cent of Gross National Product. 
Item 2001 2002 2003 
Total exports: 6,534.3 8,327.8 9,508.1 
Crude oil 5,690.0 7,538.7 8,530.4 
Diamonds 688.6 638.4 788.1 
Other* 155.7 150.7 189.6 
Total imports: 3,179.2 3,760.1 5,480.1 
Consumer non-durables 2,173.5 2,192.5 2,927.9 
Intermediate consumption goods 303.9 437.0 671.3 
Capital goods 701.8 1,130.6 1.880.9 
Balance: 3,355.1 4,567.7 4,028.0 
*Notes: includes refinery products  and gas, coffee and timber 
Source: BNA/DEE/RBP, 2003. 
14. It should be noted that the trade surplus is due  to the 89.7 per cent share of crude oil in the 
export structure.  In 2003, the main destinations for this product were the United States, China, 
Taiwan, France, India, Italy, Thailand, Korea and Portugal, with US$3,278.7 million, 1,837.0 million, 
690.4 million, 472.4 million, 274.2 million, 266 milli on, 244 million, 159 million, and 154 million, 
respectively. 
15. In 20021, Portugal, the United States, South Afri ca, France and Belgium were the main 
sources of imports, with 20, 13.8, 12.3, 6.7 and 5.2 per cent, respectively. 
                                                      
1 Bernard Ouandji, Defusing the Remnants of War. Economic Report on Angola 2002-2004, 
UNDP, 2005, p. 22. WT/TPR/G/158 Trade Policy Review 
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  (b) Balance of payments 
16. Once again, crude oil and other exports, combined with higher prices, are having a positive 
effect on Angola's economic and financial transactions :  refined product US$51.4 per metric ton, gas 
US$8.9 per barrel, diamonds US$2.9 per carat, and coffee US$149.5 per ton.2 
Balance of Payments: Highlights 
(US$ billion) 
Item 2002 2003 2004 
Current account - 0.15 - 0.79 0.57 
Trade balance 4.5 4.0 6.1 
Exports  8.3 9.5 12.3 
Oil exports 7.5 8.5 11.2 
Other exports 0.8 0.98 1.0 
Imports - 3.7 - 5.5 - 6.1 
Services and Income - 4.7 - 4.9  - 5.6 
    
Capital account - 0.5 0.7 2.4 
FDI 1.6 1.6 1.4 
Long-term credit Net  
- 0.4  
- 0.0  
1.4 
Disbursements 1.0 1.7 2.4 
Amortization - 1.4 - 1.7 - 1.0 
Total - 0.67 - 0.07 2.9 
Note: In 2004, Angola improved almost every aspect of its bala nce of payments position as a result of the increase in exports 
(US$12.3 billion).  Thus, the curren t account had a US$570 million surplus. 
Source: OGE 2005 cited in Bernard Ouandji, Defusing the Remnants of War.  Economic Report on Angola 2002-2004, 
UNDP, 2005, p. 25.  
(c) Foreign debt 
17. There has been an easing in the external pos ition of the national economy reflected in the 
foreign debt/GDP ratio which fell from 66.4 per cent in 2003 to 48.1 per cent in 2004, the amount of 
foreign debt increased by 4.8 per cent as compared  with 14.5 per cent for GDP in current dollars.3 
                                                      
2 BNA/DEE/RBP, 2003, p. 17. 
3 8.4/12.5 for 2003 and 7.9/16.4 for 2004. Angola WT/TPR/G/158 
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  Foreign debt stock (US$ billion) 
Item 2002 2003 2004 
Total foreign debt 7.6 8.4 7.9 
Of which: principal 3.5 4.1 3.7 
Of which: arrears 4.1 4.3 4.2 
By creditor:    
Multilateral 0.3 0.3 0.3 
Bilateral 4.5 4.5 4.5 
Paris Club 2.3 2.5 2.5 
Non-Paris Club 2.2 2.0 2.0 
Commercial banks 1.9 2.5 2.1 
Credit line suppliers 0.9 1.0 0.9 
Note:  The share of commercial bank and credit line supplier debt pr ogressed between 2002 and 2004.  Moreover, the share of the 
Eastern European countries has declined with  the end of the armed conflict and especi ally with the advent of the new Angolan 
economy. 
Source: IMF citing National Bank of Angola sources, Appendix www.imf.org;  BNA/DEE/RBP, p.25. 
 
1.5 INVESTMENT POLICY 
 
(a) Economic development measures 
18. A primary role has been assigned to a number of bodies set up to encourage economic 
activity, in particular, the National Private Investme nt Agency (ANIP), the National Aid Institute for 
Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (INAPEM) an d the Economic and Social Development Fund 
(FDES). 
19. ANIP was established to facilitate and promote bot h domestic and foreign private investment 
in Angola and identify investment opportunities.  Thus, ANIP administers the procedures, including 
applications for fiscal and financial incentives, the licensing procedure and installation, and the 
negotiation of administrative investment agreements .  It takes 15 days to assess and approve projects 
if the investment amounts to less than US$5 million and 30 days if the investment is equal to or 
greater than that amount.  Moreover, ANIP gua rantees technical and legal assistance and the 
repatriation of the capital invested. 
20. The establishment of the Development Bank of An gola, capitalized out of the proceeds of the 
sale of oil, was an important bid by the Angolan Go vernment to help finance the reconstruction of the 
country and provide guarantees and credit for prior ity private-sector projects with the potential to 
broaden the available supply of g oods and services and reduce imports. 
21. In 2004, the following private intentions to  invest were registered with the ANIP4: 
                                                      
4 Ministry of Planning, Studies and Planning Directorate, Government Balance Programme 2004.  WT/TPR/G/158 Trade Policy Review 
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  Projects approved, per year 
US$      
  
Number of 
Projects Year 2003 Number of 
Projects Year 2004 % 
Agriculture 44 18,959,000.00 9 11,854,000.00 61.5 
Health and Social Action -    3 424,000.00   
Industry 226 33,023,000.00 61 77,934,000.00 235.0 
Mining and quarrying 77 13,500,000.00 6 30,603,000.00 225.7 
Commerce 110 4,164,000.00 97 60,447,000.00 1,450.7 
Fisheries 22 891,000.00 6 30,603,000.00 3,433.7 
Tourism and hotel trade 11 2,000,000.00 3 4,731,000.00 235.6 
Construction 225 67,972,000.00 53 68,242,000.00 99.4 
Provision of Services 220 19,728,000.00       
Production Distribution 
Energy and Water -    1 3,983,000.00   
Transport & Communications -    21 44,987,000.00   
Total 995 160,237,000.00 260 333,808,000.00 207.3 
Source:  ANIP Report. 
22. In 2004, investment increased as compared with 2003, reaching a total of US$333.8 million.  
The fishing, commercial, mining, processing industr y, and tourism and hotel trade sectors stand out. 
(b) Fiscal and customs incentives for private investment 
23. Law 17/03 of 25 July on Fiscal and Customs Incentives for Private Investment regulating 
another Law No. 11/03 of 13 May, the Basic Law on Foreign Investment, which defines the principles 
of the regime and the procedures, has the following objectives: 
 - The production of staples for the domestic  market to meet the basic needs of the 
population; 
 
 - The priority development of the disadvantaged regions, particularly those with high 
levels of poverty and long-term unemplo yment where the infrastructure has been 
destroyed or needs improving; 
 
 - The rehabilitation, installation or moderni zation of infrastructure for the purpose of 
developing the productio n of goods or the provision of services; 
  - Technological innovation in connection with  the production of goods or the provision 
of services and scientific development, insofar as it leads to increased efficiency, 
higher-quality goods and servi ces, and greater productivity; 
  - Increased incorporation of domestic raw materials and added value in locally 
produced goods; 
  - Increased repayment of debt and a co rresponding improvement in the balance of 
payments. 
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  (c) Impact criteria 
24. The minimum investment is US$50,000 for th e domestic investor and US$100,000 for 
foreign capital.  The impact criteria depend on: 
 - Sector of activity:  agro-pastoral production;  processing industry;  fisheries and fish 
processing;  civil construction;  health;  education;  road, rail, port and airport 
infrastructure;  telecommunications;  energy;  water;  freight and passenger transport equipment; 
  - Development zones: 
 
> Zone A, eight years' exemption from industrial tax on capital investment:  
province of Luanda, the capital municipalities of the provinces of Benguela, Cabinda and Huíla, and the municipality of Lobito; 
 
> Zone B, 12 years' exemption from the industrial tax on capital investment:  
other municipalities in the provinces of  Benguela, Cabinda and Huíla and the 
provinces of North Cuanza, South Cuanza, Bengo, Uíge, North Lunda and South Lunda; 
 
> Zone C, 15 years' exemption from the industrial tax on capital investment:  
province of Luanda and capital municipalities of the provinces of Huambo, 
Bié, Moxico, Kuando Kubango, Cune ne, Namibe, Malange and Zaire; 
  - Special economic zones.  25. There are also other concessions such as up to 6 years' exemption from the payment of 
customs duties on goods and equipment, exemption from the payment of the SISA conveyance tax on 
land and real property acquired and used in the project, and up to 15 years' exemption from industrial tax for investment profits. 
26. However, the ANIP and the Single Window for Business, structures of the one-stop shop 
type, have been set up for the purpose of speed ing up the procedures associated with company 
formation and financing. 
(d) Industrial development poles 
27. The Permanent Commission of the Council of  Ministers has approved two important 
resolutions (No. 1/98 of 10 March and 4/98 of 27 March) which address the Angolan Government's 
concerns regarding the lack of industrial sites, that is to say, sites suitable for new manufacturing 
companies and/or the expansion or relocation of do mestic industries or for projects linked with plans 
for foreign investment.  The reindustrialization of Angola is being realized and supported by, among 
others: the Angolan Industrial De velopment Institute (IDIA), the industrial development poles, the 
industrial enterprises, the Industrial Developm ent Companies (SODIs), and the free zones. 
2. TRADE POLICY 
28. The Angolan Government's successive annual tr ade policies are based on the promotion and 
diversification of exports and import substitution without recourse to protectionist measures of WT/TPR/G/158 Trade Policy Review 
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  general application.  There are no restrictions, e ither qualitative or quantitative, on imports, except for 
the goods listed in the preliminary instructions  of the Tariff Code, in particular, goods whose 
importation is expressly prohibited5 under the terms of Article 30 of Decree-Law 2/05 of 
28 February or in accordance with the special import legislation under the terms of Article 31 of the 
same text.6  Thus, goods with pirated copyright, i.e. " direct or indirect copies of an article made 
without the consent of the owner" , and with counterfeit trademarks are prohibited. 
29. The Government programme continues to stre ss export promotion and the development of 
sectors with potential comparative and competitive a dvantages.  In this connection, the measures 
taken are aimed at: 
 - Requiring public institutions to procur e goods and services on the domestic rather 
than the foreign market, all other things be ing equal:  requirement of several bids in 
public tender procedures; 
  - Promoting domestic production by granting targeted subsidies or financial and fiscal 
incentives to companies that demonstrate an actual or potential ability to meet the 
domestic demand for goods and services, to international standards, and to produce 
goods and services for export:  initiatives indispensable for infant industries in the 
post-war phase; 
  - Eliminating non-tariff barriers to trade and adjusting customs tariffs to competitive 
levels, where necessary: simplification of company licensing with the creation of the "Single Window" and the involvement of private shippers; 
 
 - Ensuring that cargo corresponding to State imports is so channelled as to protect the 
national flag.  However, the national companies are in difficulty;  thus, Angonave has gone bankrupt and Secil Maritime is e xperiencing problems of various kinds.  
Nevertheless, as a result of the liberalization of the economy, with the greater 
participation of the private sector, on the one  hand, and the restrictions on the direct 
intervention of the State in business as an operator, on the other, the freight market 
has been opened up. 
 30. The principal trade policy laws and regulations  governing the foreign trade sector are as 
follows: 
 - Law No. 13/78:  on petroleum-related activities; 
  - Law No. 6-A/04 of 8 October: on the con servation and sustainable renewal of aquatic 
biological resources, and corresponding regulatory measures; 
 
 - Decree-Law No. 2/05 of 28 February on the Import and Export Tariff Code 
corresponding to the 2002 version of the Harmonized Commodity Description and 
                                                     
 
5 Animals and animal products from areas affected  by epizootic diseases, distilled beverages or 
products recognized as harmful, crates or packs, groupe d and attached, containing various types of merchandise, 
with the same marking and forming a single volume, counterfeit coffee, counterfeit stamps, books that are national literary property, harmful medicines and foodstuffs, etc. 
6 Stills, methylated spirits, arms and ammunition,  proprietary pharmaceuti cals, explosives and 
fireworks, etc. Angola WT/TPR/G/158 
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  Coding System Nomenclature, including the preliminary instructions, the text of the 
Code, and the General Rules for the In terpretation of the Harmonized System; 
  - Decree 29/00 of 21 May:  on the registration and licensing of export operations; 
 
 - Decree 75/00:  on the rules for the regi stration and activities of economic operators; 
  - Decree 76/00:  on the procedures for the exercise of foreign trade activities.  
31. The Angolan Government's policy is to build  an actual and potential domestic production 
capacity and to ensure the competitiveness of the country 's infant industries.  To this end, a Bank of 
National Reconstruction will be es tablished and financed from oil revenues.  The objectives are to 
increase exports and reduce imports, by 24% and 12.6% respectively. 
32. In accordance with Ministry of Industry Decr ee No. 174/04 of 6 August, under cover of 
Decree-Law No. 18/99 of 12 November, worki ng groups have been set up to support the 
implementation of projects for investment in new industries incorporated in the Import Substitution 
and Export Promotion Programme and the promotio n of small and medium-sized industries under 
Angola's Reindustrialization Strategy, respectively. 
33. With respect to imports, conventional custom s duties (varying from 2% to 30% to which 
should be added the 10% consumption tax) are a pplied to goods originating both in WTO Members 
and in some third countries, except where there is  provision for special autonomous tariffs on goods 
originating in certain countries or for the applicati on of preferential duties under bilateral or regional 
agreements (Article 2 of the General Rules fo r the interpretation of the Harmonized System 
nomenclature and on duties of Decr ee-Law No. 2/05 of 28 February). 
34. However, some expressly designated goods are prohibited or may be imported only under a 
special procedure (Articles 30 and 31 of the pre liminary instructions of Decree-Law No. 2/05 of 
28 February). 
2.1 BY SECTOR 
 
(a) Primary sector 
35. Agriculture : About 66% of the population lives from agriculture which accounts for 8.2% of 
GDP.  The chief products are coffee, sugar cane, bana nas, sisal, maize, cotton, tobacco, plantain, and 
cassava.  The country's extensive climatic and hydrological resources are enabling it to improve its horticultural, agro-pastoral and livestock production.  Nevertheless, the lack of infrastructure to 
facilitate trade between the farming areas and the cities and the high proportion of food imports are 
acting as constraints on the sector's development.   The Government has defined production and 
productivity objectives that have made it possible to  improve certain crops, such as cassa va, beans, 
groundnuts, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and rice;  Angola's cereals deficit is of the order of 47%.  Moreover, it is proposed to encourage domestic produc tion by granting targeted subsidies or financial 
and fiscal incentives;  the rates vary fro m 10 to 20%, plus 10%  consumption tax. 
36. Fisheries:  The new legislation (Law No. 6-A/04 of  8 October) is intended to organize the 
fishing sector by defining regulatory measures that wi ll ensure the conservation and sustainable use of 
the aquatic biological resources of the waters  under Angolan State sovereignty, as well as by 
establishing a general basis for the exercise of the ac tivities concerned, in particular fishing and fish WT/TPR/G/158 Trade Policy Review 
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  farming.  Thus, it is the responsibility of the Minist ry of Fisheries to fix annual permissible total 
catches and the fishing quotas for e ach species or zone (Exclusive Economic Zone, terr itorial waters, 
salt or brackish waters of the estuaries and river mo uths, State tidal waters, a nd continental waters).  
Nevertheless, in this sector the trend is toward s protectionism because of the customs duties which 
vary from 18 to 30%, plus 10% consumption tax; the aim is to protect domestic industrial and non-
industrial production. 
37. Mining :  Laws Nos. 1/92, 16/94 (Law on diam onds conferring all exploration rights 
throughout the national territory) and 17/94 (Law on  the special regime for diamond-bearing reserve 
zones), together with Decrees Nos. 4/96, 4-B/96 (gener al tax regime, in particular, income tax, tax on 
the value of mineral resources, land area tax, capita l gains tax, etc.), 12/96 and 12-B/96 (customs 
concessions), are the main laws and regulati ons governing mining activities in Angola.  
Decree No. 36/03 authorizes ENDIAMA to establish stra tegic partnerships with private companies, 
domestic and foreign.  The joint venture SODIAM markets formal-sector diamonds.  In 2000, the "Kimberley Process" (South Africa), supported by the United Nations General Assembly, established 
an international rough diamond certification scheme to combat the sale of "conflict diamonds".  
Angola has not yet signed the extension to th e Kimberley Process which was accepted by the 
WTO General Council (2003) in relation to paragrap hs 1 of Articles I, XI and XII of the GATT 1994. 
38. Energy :  In the petroleum sector, Decree No. 19/99 authorizes the na tional oil company 
(SONANGOL) to negotiate contracts and transfer the exercise of exploration rights and production to 
other operators. 
39. It should be noted that goods for export are exempt from duty, with the exception of: 
 - Ivory, tortoise-shell, bone, including the hair, of whales and other marine mammals, 
horns, antlers, hooves, nails, claws and beaks, unworked or simply prepared, but not cut to shape;  powder and waste of these products; 
  - Hides and skins and articles thereof; synthetic animal hair; 
 
 - Various articles, in particular, worked ivory.  
(b) Secondary sector 
40. In this area, Angola is implementing programme s and measures aimed at: the development of 
competitive export industries;  the development of import substitution industries;  the promotion of 
industry and the provision of assistance for small and medium-sized industrial enterprises;  the 
creation of infrastructure to facilitate the location of industry;  the restoration of competitiveness;  the development and expansion of the mining sector;  the encouragement of research and technological 
development in the petroleum sector;  crude oil exploration and recovery. 
41. Under Decree-Law 13/99 of 3 September, the G overnment has acted to reformulate and apply 
the Tariff Code and this has led to a reduction in  the number and level of customs tariffs: from 
43 tariff rates, varying from 0% to 135%, to 6 tari ff rates, equal to 2%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 35%, 
respectively. 
(c) Tertiary sector 
42. In this sector, under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), Angola has given 
commitments not to maintain limitations on the exer cise of activities in banking and credit services, Angola WT/TPR/G/158 
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  hotel and restaurant services, and recreational and sp orting services.  With regard to financial services, 
the measures in question are in the process of being implemented, in particular: 
 - Development and operation of the "Angol an Payments System (APS)" in accordance 
with the "APS Project - Architecture and Implementation Strategy" with links to 
international payment systems; 
  - Approval of the Law on money laundering;   - Extension of the MULTICAIXA networ k services of the Interbank Services 
Company (EMIS); 
  - Micro-credit:  agreements worth US$10 million were recently signed between 
domestic banks (BCI, Banco Sol, etc) for financing small and micro-enterprises in 
Angola; 
 
 - Insurance and pension funds: sector characterized by the emergence of new operators 
in the market, under various pieces of legislation (Law 1/00, Decree No. 5/03 of 3 January, Executive Decrees No. 6/03 of 24 January, No. 7/03 of 24 January, Despatch No. 9/03 of 21 February), in par ticular, AAA Seguros Sarl, a subsidiary of 
the Sonangol Group, the Nova Sociedade de Seguros de Angola, AS with capital 
from BAI (Sonangol, Mutual Agricultural Cr edit Bank of Portugal), Investec (South 
Africa) and Portuguese Commercial Bank (Portugal). 
  - In the field of mobile telecommunications, two companies share the market, namely, 
Movicel, a public enterprise split off from Angola Telecom, and Unitel, a joint 
venture between Angolan and Portuguese researchers. 
 
2.2 IMPLEMENTATION OF TRADE POLICY 
 
43. The Ministries of Finance, Trade, Fisheries, Agriculture and Rural Development, Transport, 
Telecommunications and Industry are the depart ments mainly concerned with trade policy 
implementation. In addition, the Ministry of Planni ng is the department technically responsible for the 
consolidation of sectoral policies.  The agreements  signed represent an attempt by Angola to develop 
imports and exports within the context of SADC, ECCAS/CEEAC, ACP and other regional 
organizations and to establish a market economy b ased on a more abundant and diversified supply and 
the achievement of export surpluses. 
2.3 TRADE AND DEVELO PMENT AGREEMENTS 
 
(a) Bilateral trade agreements 
44. Angola has already signed trade agreements within  the context of its bilateral relations with 
several other countries, in particular, those that share the same language (PALOP and CPLP countries) or with which it has territorial (neighbouring countries) or political (Cuba, etc) ties.  
However, it has little to offer in exchange, apart from primary commodities such as fish, oil, timber, 
etc. WT/TPR/G/158 Trade Policy Review 
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  Bilateral trade agreements 
 Country Year of 
signature Observations 
1 Cape Verde 1976 Trade and Payments Agreement 
2 Bulgaria 1976  
3 Germany 1976  
4 Poland 1977  
5 Yugoslavia 1977  
6 Hungary 1977  
7 Guinea Bissau 1977  
8 Vietnam 1978  
9 Czechoslovakia 1978  
10 Cape Verde 1978 Additional protocol 
11 Zambia 1980  
12 Mozambique 1980  
13 Cape Verde 1980 Trade Agreement 
14 Democratic Korea 1980  
15 Democratic Congo (Zaire) 1981  
16 Tanzania 1981  
17 Gabon 1982  
18 Zimbabwe 1982  
19 Ghana 1983  
20 China 1984  
21 India 1986  
22 Morocco 1988  
23 Cameroon 1990  
24 Russia 1990  
25 Sao Tomé and Principe 2000  
26 Ukraine 2001  
27 Congo Brazzaville 2002  
28 Cuba 2002  
29 Algeria 2004  
30 Namibia 2004  
31 Israel 2005 Economic cooperation and trade agreement 
Source: Ministry of Trade, GII, 2005. 
 
45. A specific agreement with the European Commun ity to promote the sustainable development 
of fisheries (biological recovery period, limitations on types of vessel and fishing zones, etc.) was signed as long ago as 1987. 
(b) Regional trade agreements 
46. Within the context of: 
 SADC (Southern African Development Community)7: Angola being a member of the SADC, 
the Government has signed and ratified several prot ocols which now form part of its trade policy. 
 
                                                      
7 Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, 
Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Angola WT/TPR/G/158 
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   SADC Protocols 
1 Protocol on Immun ities and Privileges 
2 Protocol on Shared Watercourse Revised 
3 Protocol on Energy 
4 Protocol on Transport, Co mmunications and Meteorology 
5 Protocol on Illic it Drug Trafficking 
6 Protocol on Trade (amendment) 
7 Protocol on Education and Training 
8 Protocol on Mining 
9 Protocol on Tourism Development 
10 Protocol on Health 
11 Protocol on Wildlife Conservation and Law Enforcement 
12 Protocol on Legal Affairs 
13 Protocol on Tribunal and Rules of  Procedure Thereof (Amendment) 
14 Protocol on Politics, Defen ce and Security Cooperation 
15 Protocol on Control of Firearms, Am munition and Other Related Materials 
16 Protocol on Fisheries 
17 Protocol on Culture, Information and Sport 
18 Protocol Against Corruption 
19 Protocol on Extradition 
20 Protocol on Forestry 
21 Protocol on Mutual Legal Assi stance in Criminal Matters 
22 Memorandum of Understanding on Coopera tion in Taxation and Related Matters 
23 Memorandum of Understanding on Macroeconomic Convergence 
24 Memorandum of Understanding on Coopera tion in Standardization, Quality A ssurance, Accreditation and Metrology 
 
47. With regard to the Protocol on Finances and Investment, there are macroeconomic 
convergence terms, in particular concerning the eval uation of the current account of the balance of 
payments as a percentage of GDP, based on such indicators as the import reserves ratio (import coverage), economic growth rate and export growth rate.  Other noteworthy recommendations include 
(Pretoria Meeting, 1-2 April 2005):  
 - The need to create a favourable climate in the SADC for the purpose of attracting 
investment in the region; 
  - Closer cooperation with a view to sta ndardizing the measurement of inflation; 
 
 - Coordination of foreign exchange policy among the member States;   - The need to establish legal principles to  improve the cohesion and convergence of the 
central bank structures; 
 
 - The need to strengthen cooperation w ith the regional development institutions; 
  - The promotion of capital at regional level.  48. At the same time, in accordance with Article 290 of Chapter II of the Treaty Establishing the 
African Economic Community, which stipulates th at "Member States of each regional economic 
community agree to progressively establish among them during a transitional period specified in Article 6 of this Treaty, a Customs Union  (...)", the objective is to eliminate, among the Member WT/TPR/G/158 Trade Policy Review 
Page 18 
 
 
  States of each regional economic community, customs duties, quota restrictions, other restrictions or 
prohibitions and administrative trade barriers, as well as all other non-tariff barriers 
49. The Angolan legislation provides for preferential treatment for the vessels of SADC member 
countries;  moreover, the SADC Fisheries Protocol endorses the most favoured nation principle with 
respect to other members; for example, the agreem ent with Namibia provides for this clause to be 
applied to the other members of the SADC with a fishing industry. 
 Angola is a member of the  ECCAS/CEEAC  (Economic Community of Central African 
States)8, but has not yet signed any regional trade ag reements, although it has concluded individual 
agreements with various members of the Comm unity, such as Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, DRC, etc. 
 (c) International agreements 
 - Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) :  Angola is a member of the 
intergovernmental body on products such  as fibres, meat, bananas, and fish; 
  - International Coffee Organization :  a full member, Angola (Resolution of the 
National Assembly No. 18/04 of 18 May) has approved the International Coffee 
Agreement 2001 which sets out the genera l commitments undertaken by importing 
and exporting members, in particular, concerning the issue and use of certificates of origin and the provision of accurate information on re-exports; 
  - Common Fund for Commodities : Angola is a founder member; 
 
 - South East Atlantic Fisheries Organization  (SEAFO)
9:  Angola has signed the 
convention establishing this organizati on whose goal is the conservation and 
management of straddling fish stocks th rough the adoption of the United Nations 
Agreement on the conservation and management of these resources; 
 
 - International Commission for the C onservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)10:  Angola 
is a member of this intergovernmental orga nization which seeks to conserve stocks of 
tuna and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean and its adjacent seas; 
  - United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea :  Angola has ratified this 
convention. 
 (d) Trade agreements for development and cooperation 
50. Angola benefits from various agreemen ts of this kind, in particular: 
                                                     
 
8 Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo-Brazzaville, Chad , Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, 
Sao Tomé and Principe, Gabon, Rwanda, and Democratic Republic of Congo. 
9 Angola, European Community, United States, Icel and, Namibia, Norway, and United Kingdom (on 
behalf of Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha and Ascension Island). 
10 Algeria, Angola, Barbados, Brazil, Cape Verde, Canada, European Community, China, Korea, Côte 
d'Ivoire, Croatia, United States, Philippines, France (St. Pierre et Miquelon), Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea-Conakry, Equatorial Guinea, Honduras, Iceland, Japan, Libya, Morocco, Mexico, Namibia, Nicaragua, 
Norway, Panama, United Kingdom (Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha and Ascension Island), Russia, Sao Tomé 
and Principe, Senegal, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uruguay, Vanuatu, and Venezuela. Angola WT/TPR/G/158 
 Page 19 
 
 
   - Community of Portuguese-Language Countries  (CPLP)11:  there are programmes that 
provide for trade cooperation between the members of the Community; 
  - United Nations Conference on Trade and Development :  as a member and LDC, 
Angola is eligible for preferential conditio ns under the GSP, that is, with the 
developed countries, and under th e GSTP, among developing countries. 
 
(e) Preferential trade agreements 
51. Within the context of: 
 - ACP:  as a Member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, in 
association with the European Union under the Cotonou Agreement, Angola is 
participating in the Cotonou renegotia tion procedure along with other SADC 
members.  Thus, it is eligible for preferential duty-free access to the European Community market under the "Everything But Arms" (EBA) initiative; 
  - United States : in 2004, as the third source of US imports, mainly hydrocarbons, in 
Sub-Saharan Africa, under the Africa n Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), 
Angola was chosen to benefit from this United States measure for countries committed to maintaining a free-market ec onomy, the rule of law, and political 
pluralism, eliminating barriers to US trade and investment, fighting corruption, pursuing policies to reduce poverty and provide opportunities for education, and 
protecting human rights.  There is an interm inisterial group (Ministries of External 
Relations, Planning, Finance, Fisheries, Trade, Geology and Mines, Industry, and 
Agriculture and Rural Development) for implementing AGOA which brings together the main sectors of the Angolan economy;  th e aim is to attract US direct and joint-
venture investment, promote exports, etc. 
 
3. ANGOLA AND THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM 
52. Angola has been a Member of the WTO since 23 November 1996 and accords most favoured 
nation (MFN) treatment to all its trading partners. 
53. Angola reiterates its commitment to the Multilatera l Trading System and the liberalization of 
trade, which it considers to be benefici al for growth, development and wellbeing. 
54. However, Angola believes that there is a pressing need for these benefits to be distributed 
fairly among all the countries of the world. 
55. It considers that the WTO could play an impor tant role not only in improving the reputation 
of the trade liberalization process by making it more ordered, diversified and flexible but also in 
implementing a scenario based on the rules of world trade. 
56. It was with this in view that Angola joined  the WTO and argued in favour of launching a 
round of multilateral trade nego tiations during the WTO's 4th Ministerial Conference held at 
Doha (Qatar) in November 2001. 
                                                     
 
11 Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tomé and Principe, and 
West Timor. WT/TPR/G/158 Trade Policy Review 
Page 20 
 
 
  57. Angola notes, however, that the results of these nego tiations recorded so far fail to reflect the 
ambitions expressed at Doha to make these negotiations a genuine development round. 
(a) Implementation 
58. Despite its independent liberali zation and efforts to integrate into world trade, Angola is 
lagging far behind in the phase of implementation of the Uruguay Round Agreements.  The reasons 
for this are linked with the country's political evolution during recent decades. 
59. In this respect, Angola needs not only an extende d transition period within which to adapt its 
national legislation to the WTO Agreements but al so appropriate technical assistance, institutional 
capacity building, and financial and technological resources. 
60. Angola welcomes the recent decision, taken by the General Council on 6 December 2005, to 
extend the transition period for Least-Devel oped Countries (LDCs) to implement the 
TRIPS Agreement until 11 July 2013. 
(b) Special and Differential Treatment (SDT) 
61. Angola notes the importance of SDT, as a fundamental component of the negotiations 
inasmuch as it reflects the acknowledged divers ity of the WTO's Members, the asymmetry in 
economic power between indi vidual countries and the need to ensure  that the economic benefits of the 
trading system are fairly distributed among all Members. 
62. In this connection, the rules on special and di fferential treatment shoul d be strengthened and 
made more effective and operati onal and the concerns of the de veloping countries and LDCs should 
be taken into account. 
63. The agreements should be improved in order to ensure greater cohesion and prevent the 
flexibility for which the WTO's rules provide from being drained of its content, as a result of the requirements imposed by other organizations, in particular the Bretton Woods institutions. 
(c) Agriculture 
64. This sector is of fundamental importa nce for Angola's economic development. 
65. In view of the dependence of the economies of  the developing countries on both exports of 
primary commodities and imports of food products, as in the case of A ngola, it is necessary to ensure 
the fulfillment of the commitments undertaken in  favour of the developing countries and LDCs in 
order to facilitate duty-free market access without  quotas for LDC products and greater flexibility and 
moderation in the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures and other measures relating to 
technical barriers to trade. 
(d) Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) 
66. Angola attaches great importance to the current negotiations on this topic within the context 
of the Doha Round. 
67. In view of the need to create the right conditions for its indus trialization and the 
diversification of its economy, Angola is seek ing greater freedom of manoeuvre to pursue its 
development objectives. Angola WT/TPR/G/158 
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  (e) Services 
68. The provision of services is an important economic activity in almost every country, 
regardless of its level of development.  The ser vices sector is tending to expand, thereby making a 
positive contribution to economic grow th. Angola is interested in developing services and hence in the 
current negotiations relating to that sector. 
69. Angola is one of the WTO Members that have still to make an offer within the context of the 
negotiations on trade in services. 
70. The reasons for this delay are obvious  and have already been reported. 
71. Angola is requesting specific technical assistance in  order to deal with this issue as a whole 
and develop a coherent national st rategy that takes into account not only its national objectives but 
also aspects relating to independent libera lization achieved through national effort. 
(f) Intellectual property and public health 
72. Angola welcomes the approval by the General Co uncil of the Decision of 6 December 2005 
concerning the amendment of Article  31 bis of the TRIPS Agreement. 
(g) Trade facilitation 
73. Trade facilitation is of great importance for Angola as a fundamental component of trade 
policy and international trade and as a means of elim inating unjustified technical  barriers that penalize 
international trade operators.  Accordingly, Angola  has been gradually and voluntarily improving the 
performance of its customs services. 
74. Angola considers it essential that provision be made for technical assistance with human and 
institutional capacity building and that the SDT pr inciple be effectively applied in the trade 
facilitation negotiations. 
(h) Rules 
75. Angola attaches great importance to the current negotiations on rules.  Achieving worthwhile 
results on all aspects of the mandate relating to rules (anti-dumping, subsidies and countervailing 
measures (SCM), including fishing subsidies a nd regional trade agreements) is vital for the 
development of a rule-based multilateral trading syst em  and for the overall balance of the results 
obtained within the framework of the Doha Development Programme (DDP). 
76. Angola considers that trade liberalizati on within the context of regional trade 
agreements (RTA) is an important means of s upplementing the multilateral procedure, expanding 
trade and promoting development. 
3.1 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
 
77. Angola needs technical assistance in several areas and, in particular, in relation to: WT/TPR/G/158 Trade Policy Review 
Page 22 
 
 
  (a) Market access 
78. The aims are: 
 - To prepare anti-dumping legislation and define countervailing and safeguard 
measures; 
 
 - to formulate and implement trade promotion measures;   - to inform and train technical personne l and economic operators:  members of the 
Codex Angola, the social institutions , producers, traders and consumers; 
 
 - to build and equip laboratories for implementing sanitary and phytosanitary 
measures; 
  - to create a quality control system (laws on labeling, SPS, etc.).  (b) Diversification of supply and support for trade 
79. The aims are: 
 - To diversify exports, vertically and horizontally; 
  - to develop small and medium-sized en terprises to produce mass consumption goods 
with a heavy input of local raw mate rials and labour and easily assimilable 
technologies; 
  - to systematize the supply of trade information;   - to develop the hotel industry. 
 
(c) Creation of a National Executive Secretariat for the WTO 
80. In order to strengthen collaboration with th e WTO, it is planned to create a National 
Executive Secretariat for the WTO, coordinated by the Ministry of Trade and incorporating a multi-sector consultative commission.  This will serve as an indispensable interface for the promotion, 
support and coordination of all measures relati ng to the implementation of WTO and other 
agreements, in particular, in connection with the training of human resources. 
(d) Creation of a National Export Promotion Institute 
81. Angola plans to create a National Export Prom otion Institute (INAPEX) as a promotional 
body to encourage national industrial, handicraft, agricultural and agro-industry exports and provide a 
technical and administrative support structure for fore ign trade operators.  INAP EX will operate under 
the supervision of the Ministry of Trade. 
CONCLUSION 
 
82. Since the 90s, Angola has been engaged in an extensive programme of economic reforms 
characterized by the progressive introduction of a market economy. Angola WT/TPR/G/158 
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  83. Thus, the Angolan Government has taken step s to implement the measures necessary to re-
establish its reliability and credibility and create an  environment favourable for business and business 
support services, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). 
84. In general, national trade policy is structured around the following objectives : 
 - Withdrawal of the State from economic activities; 
 
 - Free pricing;   - Liberalization of trade;  
 - Adoption of laws and regulations approp riate to the current economic environment; 
  - Adoption of investment legislation;   - Promotion of the private sector.  
85. The existence since 1998 of a Government of  Unity and National Reconciliation (GURN), in 
association with a multiparty Parliament and transpar ent and discriminating institutional structures, is 
convincing evidence of the establishment of good governance and the rule of law. 
86. The end of the civil war, in April 2002, ma de it possible to consolidate the existing 
democratic structures and institutions. 
87. The Angolan Government has made clear its fi rm intention to open up the economy and fully 
participate in the initiatives and agreements on th e promotion of multilateral, regional and bilateral 
trade so as to profit from the advantages this br ings by substantially reducing unemployment and 
poverty and improving the standard of living of the people. 
 
__________