Note: Advance written questions by WTO Members and the replies provided by the Republic of the 
Congo are reproduced in document WT/TPR/M/1 69/Add.1 and will be available online at 
http://www.wto.org/English/tratop_e/tp_rep_e.htm.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/TPR/M/169 
12 December 2006 
 
 (06-5933) 
Trade Policy Review Body 
27 and 29 September 2006 Original:   French 
 
 
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW 
 
REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO 
 
Minutes of Meeting  
 
Chairpersons:  HE Ms Claudia Uribe (Colombia) and 
  HE Mr Muhamad Noor Yacob (Malaysia) 
  
Page 
 
I.
 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON 2  
II. OPENING STATEMENT BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF 
THE CONGO 3  
III. STATEMENT BY THE DISCUSSANT 5  
IV. STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS 7  
V. REPLIES BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO AND ADDITIONAL COMMENTS 10
 
VI. CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON 14  
 WT/TPR/M/169 
Page 2  
 
  I. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON 
1. At the opening of the meeting on the first review  of the trade policy of the Republic of the 
Congo, held on 27 and 29 September 2006, the Chai rperson (HE Ms Claudia Uribe) welcomed the 
delegation led by Minister HE Ms Adel aide Moundele-Ngollo, and the discussant 
Ambassador Samuel Améhou, w ho as usual would speak in his personal capacity and not as a 
representative of Benin.  In accordance with the es tablished procedures, he had made available in 
advance a broad outline of the themes he in tended to raise (document WT/TPR/D/145). 
2. The Chairperson recalled the purpose of Trade Po licy Reviews and the main elements of the 
meeting's procedure.  The report by the Govern ment of the Congo was contained in document 
WT/TPR/G/169, and that of the S ecretariat in document WT/TPR/S/169.  Copies of advanced written 
questions submitted by Canada, Brazil, the European  Union, the United States, Japan, Argentina, and 
Colombia had been transmitted to the de legation of the Republic of the Congo. 
3. The Chairperson noted the steps taken by th e Republic of the Congo to reconstruct its 
economy, which was severely damaged by a decade (1992- 2002) of internal strife.  Structural reforms 
and the introduction of new investment, forestry , and mining codes had improved the investment 
climate.  These improvements, along with efforts to address macroeconomic imbalances, had enabled 
the Republic of the Congo to gain access to multilateral debt reduction initiatives. 
4. In connection with the preparation of its Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), the 
Republic of the Congo was examining its trade policy with a view to fostering growth and diversify 
the basis of the economy away from dependence on pe troleum.  As a member of the Central African 
Economic and Monetary Community (CAEMC), it applied the CAEMC Common External Tariff 
(CET), whose simple average rate was 18.7 per cent.  It also applied other taxes and duties on trade, 
an import licensing regime (linked to domestic pr ice controls) for staple foods, and import quotas on 
wheat flour and sugar.  Internal taxes were not applied uniformly to imported and local products.  
Bindings covered only 17 per cent of tariff lines , while specific services commitments were 
essentially limited to tourism.  There were bottlenecks in the supply of banking, transport, and fixed-
line telecommunication services. 
5. A programme of trade-related technical assistance, along the lines proposed by the Secretariat 
in its report, would help to build the Republic  of the Congo's capacity to implement its WTO 
commitments more effectively and would enhance its  participation in the multilateral trading system.  WT/TPR/M/169 
 Page 3 
 
 
  II. OPENING STATEMENT BY THE REPRES ENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF 
THE CONGO 
6. After expressing her thanks, the representative of the Republic of the Congo stressed that the 
socio-political crisis that her country had experi enced had led to economic  imbalances which still 
persisted, and explained the failure to comply with  certain commitments that had been noted in the 
analysis of its sectoral policies.  The Government  had launched certain ins titutional and legal reforms 
aimed at creating a new momentum for development, based on the further opening up of its economy to the outside world. 
7. The Congo had abundant natural resources, in cluding various species of timber; large 
expanses of arable land;  an extensive hydrographic ne twork;  fisheries, plant and animal resources;  
oil;  iron ore;  phosphates;  gold;  and diamonds.  Apart from oil and wood, its natural resources had 
barely been exploited.  The Congo also formed  part of a potential market of some 130 million 
consumers through the free trade agreement between  11 countries of Central Africa within the 
Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).  In spite of these assets, the Congo had not been able to create all of the necessary conditi ons for proper economic and social development. 
8. The various weaknesses boiled down to:  a lack of basic infrastructure;  a weak industrial 
fabric;  a lack of qualification-based training of wo rkers;  the inefficiency of budgetary procedures;  
and the lack of a suitable institutional framework a nd macroeconomic policy.  In order to overcome 
the last of these weaknesses, the new Constitution of 2002 guaranteed fundamental freedoms, and the 
recently initiated reforms had aimed at effectively liberalizing the various sectors of the economy and 
hence promoting the private sector;  diversifying the economy with a view to promoting non-
traditional exports;  building up supply capacity;  facilitating trade with foreign partners;  
strengthening subregional integration;  and integrating the Congo into the world economy. 
9. The Republic of the Congo had undertaken to achie ve the true liberalization of its economy.  
Almost all of the State enterprises had been privat ized.  Sectoral reforms had sought above all to 
create an attractive environment conducive to investme nt.  In the trade area, reforms had involved the 
enactment of the new law regulating the exercise of the profession of trader, the revision of the law on 
imports and exports to take ac count of the WTO and CAEMC principles and agreements, and the 
recent domestic economic policy choices.  In this  connection, there were plans to abolish import 
licensing in favour of two import regimes, name ly the import declaration regime (without any 
quantitative restrictions), and the special import aut horization regime, under which certain restrictions 
could be imposed in order to protect consumers ag ainst scourges such as avian influenza and mad cow 
disease.  The other ongoing reforms concerned the re gulation of competition and consumer protection.  
The law protected private investors, guaranteed the re patriation of profits made by foreign companies, 
and prohibited any discriminatory pract ices that hampered free competition. 
10. Abroad, the Congo was participating actively in the negotiations under the Doha Agenda.  Its 
objectives were:  elimination of the agricultural subsidies granted by the developed countries;  
reduction of tariffs taking account of the interests of  the poor countries;  free access to the markets of 
the industrialized countries;  strengthening of t echnical assistance;  access to essential medicines;  
improvement of special and differentia l treatment;  promotion of aid for trade;  and trade facilitation.  
The Congo hoped that the suspension of the Doha Round negotiations would be  short lived and urged 
WTO Members to contribute to their resumption. 
11. 
The Congo was among the countries of Central Africa that were negotiating an Economic 
Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Unio n.  A master plan for the negotiations had been 
signed, and various steps had been taken:  several impact studies had been carried out;  information 
and training seminars for negotiators had been cond ucted;  and several measures had been taken to 
strengthen subregional integration and supply capacity. WT/TPR/M/169 
Page 4  
 
  12. The agriculture and forestry sectors were v ital to poverty reduction.  The Government 
intended to diversify and process local products;  reintroduce a special mech anism to finance rural 
activities;  and to promote income-generating non- agricultural activities, in particular in the 
handicrafts and ecotourism areas.  The Government also wished to ensure sustainable management of forest ecosystems as well as the conservation of biol ogical diversity and the stability of the national 
environment as a whole. 
13. Thanks to the reforms conducted in the hydro carbons sector, it had been possible to divide 
downstream petroleum activities into eight branches (re fining, storage and transport, storage at sea, 
fuelling of aircraft, lubricants, gas, distribution, and imports);  to create the Société nationale des 
pétroles du Congo  – SNPC (Congolese National Oil Company), responsible for marketing the 
Congolese State's share of the oil;  and to restructure and reorganize the Congolaise de raffinage de 
pétrole  – CORAF (Congolese Oil Refining Company) with a view to its privatization.  The tendering 
procedure initiated in July 2001 with a view to granting concessions for the Société nationale 
d’électricité  – SNE (National Electricity Company) and the Société nationale de distribution d’eau  – 
SNDE (National Water Supply Company) having b een unsuccessful, the Government was seeking to 
upgrade their industrial infrastructure and to restructure their financial management.  
14. Reforms in the transport area had included th e project to grant a concession for the Congo-
Océan Railway;  the restructuring of the river ports;  the development of a priority financing programme for the autonomous maritime port of Pointe-Noire, the only deep water port in the 
subregion;  and fund-raising for the redevelopm ent of the autonomous river port of Brazzaville.  
Telecommunications had been liberalized, but the Société des postes et  d’épargne du Congo  – 
(Congolese Posts and Savings Company) was still State- owned, and was to be restructured with the 
help of the World Bank.  
15. The Government understood Members' concerns  regarding the Congo's trade policy, in 
particular effective compliance with its WTO commitments and the effectiveness of the ongoing 
economic reforms.  The Government had always stressed its commitment to a multilateral trading 
system based on equitable and mutually beneficial ru les.  The failures and shortcomings that had been 
revealed were due to the fragility of the Congol ese economy, which prevented the Government from 
striking a balance between compliance with its ex ternal commitments and the satisfaction of its 
domestic needs. 
16. A considerable effort was being made in conn ection with the ongoing reforms to ensure that 
the Congolese economy was modernized and made more  transparent and efficient.  The approach 
outlined in the "Outlook" section of the Government  Report would ensure that the existing legal void 
in the employment and investment areas was rapidl y filled.  This would enable the Congo's trade 
policy to create the necessary conditions for su stainable development of the Congolese economy.  WT/TPR/M/169 
 Page 5 
 
 
  III. STATEMENT BY THE DISCUSSANT 
17. The discussant noted that following signifi cant economic reforms, the Congolese economy 
had achieved an annual growth of approximately 4.2 per cent for the period 2002-2005, and inflation 
had been brought under control.  The Congo had been granted access to the multilateral debt reduction 
initiatives. 
18. The Congolese economy was heavily dependent on oil, whose production was set to decline 
as from 2007.  The discussant wished to know what measures were envisaged to contain the socio 
economic impact of that decline.  He encouraged the Congo to conti nue its reforms downstream of the 
hydrocarbons sector and to ensure the transparent management of oil revenue.  He wished to know 
how the Congo intended to raise the funds needed to  stimulate agriculture and industry and restore the 
country's infrastructure. 
19. The finalization of the PRSP provided the Go vernment with the opportunity to further 
integrate trade in its development policy, and the au thorities were encouraged to use their trade policy 
review to that end.  The Congo should clar ify the difficulties it was encountering with WTO 
notifications so that the necessary technical assistance could be gran ted.  The discussant also wished 
to know to what extent the Congo was using the preferences provided for under the Cotonou 
Agreement between the ACP and the EU. 
20. In the area of investment, it appeared that 80 per cent of the projects approved under the 
Charter in 2004 were financed by own resources.  The discussant wished to know why the Congolese 
banks were reluctant to finance this type of pr oject, and what the Government intended to do to 
remedy this situation. 
21. On the subject of trade practices, the discu ssant highlighted the problems encountered in 
effectively applying the WTO Agreement on Customs Va luation, the applied tariff on cool boxes that 
exceeded the bound rate, and the quantitative import r estrictions imposed on sugar and wheat flour in 
spite of their prohibition under the GATT 1994.  He  wished to know what measures were planned to 
correct this situation and what kind of technical as sistance was needed to that end.  He invited the 
Congo to bring its other import duties and taxes into conformity with its WTO commitments. 
22. The discussant noted the difficu lties encountered by the agricu ltural sector and the significant 
food imports;  he encouraged the Government to pursu e its efforts to revitalize the sector.  He had also 
understood that one of the constraints on the processing of agricultural products, and hence on 
manufacturing activities, was the relatively high cost of  agricultural raw materials due to the structure 
of the CAEMC's CET. 
23. Thanks to the new Forest Code, a concession had been granted eco-certification by the Forest 
Stewardship Council, testifying to the Government's  achievements in protecting the national forest 
environment.  The Government was encouraged to  reassess the strategy aimed at increasing the local 
processing of logs with a view to improving its efficiency. 
24. The Congo had several advantages in the services ar ea, such as the only deep water port in the 
subregion and a notable potential for tourism.  The discussant wished to know what measures were 
envisaged to improve the land transportation infrastru cture, the regulatory framework for tourism, and 
the supply of basic telecommunications services. 
25. The Congo's trade-related technical assistance needs covered different areas, including the 
implementation of trade-related agreements, participation in the WTO's regular activities and 
capacity-building in the area of trade negotiations , trade policy formulation, the development of 
supply capacity, and the integration of trade policy in development and povert y reduction strategies.  WT/TPR/M/169 
Page 6  
 
  The discussant hoped that Members would mobilize great er assistance in favour of the Republic of the 
Congo in order to support the ongoing reforms.  WT/TPR/M/169 
 Page 7 
 
 
  IV. STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS 
26. The representative of Canada  noted the remarkable progress made by the Republic of the 
Congo, both from the political and the economic point of view, in implementing the reform programme agreed with the international community .  This programme had enabled the country to 
reduce its external debt considerably and to impr ove the investment climate.  Several delegations 
reiterated this point during the first day of the meeting. 
27. However, the Congo still faced a number of ma jor challenges, such as achieving greater 
transparency in the management of oil revenue , introducing stronger structural, regulatory and 
financial measures in order to stimulate growth in other sectors of the economy, and, given the limits 
of the domestic market, developing trade.  Canada looked forward to replies to its written questions 
concerning intellectual property, telecommunicati on services, tourism, trade in diamonds and the 
Kimberly process, the development of a new mining code, and the management of the forestry sector. 
28. The representative of Brazil
 highlighted the Republic of th e Congo's considerable need for 
infrastructure.  Bilateral trade between the two countries had developed significantly, progressing 
from US$700,000 in 1995 to US$120 m illion in 2005.  Brazilian exports  to the Congo were diverse, 
while imports were essentially made up of oil. 
29. The Congolese authorities intended to complete the ongoing reforms by creating special 
zones, developing the private sector, integrating th eir economy into the subregional and international 
economic systems, modernizing the agricultural sector, and creating a national industry.  For these reforms to succeed, the Congo would need technical a ssistance in the capacity-building area – a point 
on which many delegations agreed during the meeting. 
30. The representative of the European Union
 spoke of the EU's close b ilateral relations with the 
Republic of the Congo;  indeed, the Community wa s one of its main trading, investment and 
development partners.  The Congo was taking part in the ongoing negotiations for an EPA between 
the European Union and Central Africa. 
31. Off-shore oil exploitation was the driving force behind the Congo's growth, but this 
dependency made the economy vulnerable and di versification was a major challenge.  The 
Community wished to know where the work on the PRSP stood.  Trade policy, and in particular the 
WTO system, were valuable tools for achieving diversification of the economy and of the export base.  Further trade liberalization would help to impr ove the performance of the services and industrial 
sectors and to progressively increase their share in the country's GDP.  Efforts in the customs, TRIPS, 
competition policy and government procurement ar eas should also be encouraged.  The Community 
hoped that the Republic of the Congo would be able to find a proper balance between economic 
development, and social and sustainable developm ent.  The Community was prepared to support the 
Congo by providing trade-related technical assistance. 
32. The representative of the United States
 pointed out that the Republic of the Congo ranked 
sixth among the beneficiaries of the AGOA and th e GSP – indeed, US imports from the Congo had 
reached US$574 million in 2005.  However, little u se had been made of the AGOA, and technical 
assistance had been provided to th at end, with a workshop scheduled for the beginning of 2007. 
33. He encouraged the Government of the Republic of the Congo to pay particular attention to 
measures aimed at improving the trading enviro nment and the foreign and domestic investment 
climate.  The World Bank Report "Doing Business in 2007" mentioned a number of obstacles to 
investment and business which needed to be removed.   The United States had also submitted a list of 
questions on other taxes and duties, SPS measures, a nd intellectual property protection.  Finally, the WT/TPR/M/169 
Page 8  
 
  US hoped to receive further information on the in volvement of the Republic of the Congo in the 
regional economic integration process unde r the CAEMC and ECCAS respectively. 
34. The representative of Japan
 recalled the Development Initiativ e for Trade introduced by his 
Government in 2005, and encouraged the Govern ment of the Republic of the Congo to submit 
requests for the improvement of agri cultural infrastructure.  He also hoped to receive complete replies 
to the questions that had been submitted on the subject  of oil production, and clarifications concerning 
the new import regime. 
35. The representative of Argentina  noted that foreign investors had shown renewed confidence 
in the future of the Republic of the Congo sin ce the reconstruction supported by the international 
community had begun.  Stimulated by the privati zation programme, this re newed confidence could 
contribute to upgrading the country's electricity , water, telecommunicati ons and land transport 
infrastructure.  These improvements, in their turn , should help the Republic of the Congo to develop 
its transit trade and to take greater advantage of  the port of Pointe Noire and of industrial and 
agriculture activities.  The elimination of certain re maining distortions, particularly in the agriculture 
and livestock sector, would contribute to the devel opment of the agri-food industries in the Congo. 
36. The representative of Colombia  noted that the presidential plan for society entitled 
"La Nouvelle Espérance" reflected the Congo's dete rmination to develop a stable macroeconomic 
framework on the basis of structural reforms in or der to combat the poverty affecting half of its 
population.  The country's abundant natural resour ces would be an advantage in that respect.  
Regional integration within the CAEMC and ECCAS would also contribute to poverty reduction, and 
to the region's growth.  While the Republic of  the Congo could also rely on assistance from the 
international community, what really counted was the firm political will of the Government.  The 
policy of protecting the agricultural sector and in particular the monopoly on sugar, as well as the import licensing regime and other import duties and ta xes, were among the concerns expressed by the 
Congo's trading partners. 
37. There was little bilateral trade between Co lombia and the Republic of the Congo, and 
Colombian exports to the Congo essentially consisted of sweets, caramels, biscuits and chocolate.  
The Congolese products that were of interest to Colombia were metallurgical, basic chemical and 
light industry products. 
38. The representative of Mauritania
 welcomed the implementation by the Government of the 
Republic of the Congo of an economic and social development policy based on the market and promotion of the private sector.  This policy had contributed significantly to building up domestic 
production capacity, diversifying the country 's economy, improving the competitiveness of 
enterprises, and finally, to attracting foreign di rect investment.  The Congo deserved the support of 
the international community, and Mauritania hoped th at the development partners would respond to 
this need and thus contribute to the country's development. 
39. The representative of the Separate Customs Te rritory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu
 
also welcomed the structural reform and macro economic stabilization programme that had enabled 
the Republic of the Congo to return to growth.  Furt her domestic political reform would be needed in 
order to maintain growth in the future, and in particular to ensure increased trade and greater 
liberalization of investment.  It would be to th e Congo's advantage to impr ove its implementation of 
the WTO Agreements and to participate more fully in the multilateral trading system.  Targeted action 
was needed in the agricultural, mining and processi ng sectors in order to develop and diversify the 
country's exports.  The Congo ranked third among hi s country's African trading partners, with 
bilateral trade worth US$778 million in 2005.  That  figure could increase considerably under the 
impact of further domestic structural reforms coupl ed with greater liberalization of the goods and 
services markets.  WT/TPR/M/169 
 Page 9 
 
 
  40. The representative of Zambia  noted the significant efforts made by the Republic of the Congo 
to integrate into regional and international trade as  reflected by is particip ation in various regional 
economic arrangements and a number of initiatives.  However, like many less developed countries, 
the Congo still faced many challenges, and poor in frastructure combined with other constraints 
prevented it from fully exploiting its trade potential.   The development partne rs should continue to 
support and encourage the Republic of the Congo in its efforts to comply with its obligations under 
the multilateral trading system, wh ile at the same time allowing it to attain its national policy 
objectives. 
41. The representative of Nigeria  noted that the macroeconomic outlook for the Congo was 
encouraging, but fragile, and that it was essential to  continue diversifying production and trade and 
upgrading the country's infrastructure.  The challe nge was not insurmountable, particularly if the 
support of the international community was forthcom ing.  His delegation hoped that the Congo would 
be able to benefit from WTO technical assistance. 
42. The representative of Gabon  stressed that the countries of Central Africa, including his own 
country and the Republic of the Congo, were faced with a number of common problems, and their 
macroeconomic situations were sim ilar.  This meant that his delegation was able to draw lessons from 
the trade policy review of the Republic of the C ongo, and he encouraged the WTO multilateral trading 
system as well as the other development partners to  provide firm support for the Congo in its ongoing 
efforts. 
43. The representative of Cameroon , whose country was also part of Central Africa, drew 
attention to the interdependence among the econom ies of the subregion, members of the CAEMC 
monetary and economic union.  The current trade policy review concerned the Republic of the Congo, 
while the review of his country's trade policy was sc heduled for 2007.  He hoped that a review could 
also be conducted of the trade policy of the CAEM C in the near future, as was done for the countries 
of East Africa.  The comprehensive examination of  the trade policy of the Republic of the Congo that 
was being conducted by Members would be beneficial  to that country as well as to Cameroon and the 
CAEMC. WT/TPR/M/169 
Page 10  
 
  V. REPLIES BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO AND 
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS 
44. After having thanked the discussant and the sp eakers for their pertinent and encouraging 
comments, the representative of the Republic of the Congo
 turned to the questions raised on the 
subject of the economic environment.  She stressed the importance for her country of participating in 
the multilateral trading system, in which it shared the concerns of the developing countries, in 
particular with respect to the Doha Round of ne gotiations.  The Republic of the Congo was also 
involved in a regional integration process, which wa s to be strengthened by the EPA that was being 
negotiated between the countries of Central Africa and the European Union. 
45. The Republic of the Congo exported some 700,000 tonnes of sugar per year under the United 
States GSP scheme.  Under the AGOA, it had an expor t visa for textiles, and had recently adopted a 
decree which validated that visa.  Other Congol ese products could be granted free access to the 
US market provided they were brought into confor mity with American standards.  Everything was 
being done to take bette r advantage of  the opportunities offered by the AGOA. 
46. The discussant  commended the Republic of the Congo for its initiatives at the multilateral, 
regional and bilateral levels  and in the EPA negotiations to favour its integration in world trade.  He 
reminded the representative of the Republic of the Congo of the interest shown by Members in the 
outlook for oil production, which was set to decline in 2007, and in the short-term measures that were 
planned to contain the socio economic impact of that decline. 
47. The representative of the Republic of the Congo  replied that the exhaustion of the oilfields 
that were currently being exploited should be off set by the exploitation of new oilfields so as to 
preserve overall State revenue and enable the social programmes to be maintained. 
48. On the subject of trade policy, she pointed to the computerization of certain customs 
procedures in the Congo since 1987, in particular th e assessment and recovery  of duties and taxes, 
accounting, the processing of declarations, and customs statistics.  There had been a profound transformation in 2003 with the introduction of the ASYCUDA software and the automatic handling 
of manifests.  The WTO Agreement on Customs Va luation had been in force since 2001, with the 
backing of the preshipment inspection compan y COTECNA, whose mission it was to certify the 
customs value of imported goods. 
49. The CAEMC's CET was introduced for fiscal reasons only, and was not economic or 
protectionist.  Other Community taxes calculated on the basis of customs value were:  the Community 
integration contribution (CCI) of 0.4 per cent for ECCAS;  the Community integration tax (TCI) of 
1 per cent for the CAEMC;  and the OHADA levy of  0.5 per cent.  VAT was a Community provision 
that was applied without distinction to all products  put up for consumption in the Congo.  For certain 
goods, VAT was applied at a zero or reduced rate.   
50. As for incentive schemes, the Investment Charter of the Republic of the Congo granted 
investors a number of advantages such as:  partia l exemption from corporation tax or profit tax for 
three years;  authorization to apply the reduced balance method or accelerated depreciation;  
authorization to carry losses over to the next three financial years;  reduction in registration fees for company formation;  application of the zero-rate VAT to exports;  and tax stability for companies for 
the duration of preferential regimes.  In addition to  the Investment Charter, there were specific codes 
such as the Customs Code, the Forestry Code, th e Mining Code, the Hydrocarbons Code, the Water 
Code and the Electricity Code.  The national la nd-use planning scheme adopted by the Government 
for the more rational development of the nati onal territory fit in with this approach.  WT/TPR/M/169 
 Page 11 
 
 
  51. Congolese law provided for an import licensing regime for ten staple products, whereas an 
import declaration regime was applied to all othe r products imported into the Congo.  There was a 
new law abolishing the import licensing regime, but that law would enter into effect only when 
promulgated.  Price authorization was an exceptiona l regime applied to certain products on the basis 
of an analysis conducted by the department concerned. 
52. On the subject of technical standards and re gulations, the Congo did not yet have a national 
standardization and quality control policy.  This was a Community issue, and had led the Congo to 
host a subregional seminar, with the help of the European Union, which concluded with the adoption 
of an operational action plan.  The partners we re asked to help support this process.   
53. Regarding transparency in government procurem ent, a number of measures had been taken to 
guarantee equal chances for economic operators.  With  respect to copyright and related rights,  the 
Congo applied Annex VII of the revised Bangui Agre ement.  This Annex covered copyright;  the 
protection of the rights of artists, perform ers, phonogramme producers and broadcasting 
organizations;  common provisions;  collective admini stration;  and measures, remedies and sanctions 
concerning piracy and other infringements.  Any domestic law provisions in that area that were 
contrary to the provisions of the Ba ngui Agreement were null and void.   
54. The representative of Brazil  thanked the delegation of the Republic of the Congo for her 
comments and replies, and hoped to receive complete  responses to all of Brazil's questions in due 
course, particularly those concerning the problem s encountered by the Republic of the Congo in 
notifying its tariff to the WTO integrated data b ase, and the use of the preferences granted under the 
Cotonou Agreement between the ACP and the EU. 
55. The representative of the Republic of the Congo  confirmed that all the questions raised by the 
delegations would be answered. 
56. She then went on to address the subject of sector al policy.  She noted that her country's sugar 
policy revolved around a single production unit which was being restructured to adapt to the European 
Union's new sugar regime.  The Congo benefited fro m two preferential regimes that enabled it to 
export 13,000 tonnes of sugar to the European market and 7,000 tonnes to the American market.  
Moreover, the Congo had participated in the in troduction of a Community arrangement for the 
common organization of the CAEMC sugar market wh ich would regulate the marketing of sugar in 
the subregion.  The issue of the opening up of the Congo's sugar market would be addressed both in 
the framework of the APE negotiations with the Eu ropean Union and within  the framework of the 
reorganization of the subregional market. 
57. The Forestry Code of 2000 laid down the oblig ation for the enterprises concerned to process 
85 per cent logging output locally.  However, beca use there was still little in the way of processing, 
enterprises could export more than 15 per cent of their logging output subject to the payment of a 
surcharge. 
58. The Republic of the Congo had proven oil r eserves of 1.5 billion barrels, and among the 
countries of sub-Saharan Africa, it ranked behind Ni geria, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in terms of 
production.  Thanks to the opening up of new oil fields, its output from 2006 onwards was estimated 
at more than 100 million barrels, i.e. an average of 250,000 barrels per day.  Transparency in the 
management of financial resources earned from pe troleum activities was one of the Government's 
priorities.  A number of activities downstream of the oil sector had been privatized, and the relevant regulatory body was in operation. 
59. One of the great challenges for the Government was electricity coverage within the country.  
Major investments (close to CFAF 10 billion) were being made to restore the existing hydroelectric WT/TPR/M/169 
Page 12  
 
  dams, to build a large hydroelectric dam producing more than 200 megawatts, and to build micro-
dams throughout the country.  The Government had also launched a vast programme to restore the 
country's infrastructure with the help of the World Bank, after which the State could withdraw from the subsector. 
60. Food security was an important component of the Government's agricultural policy, which 
had two main objectives:  to revive agricultural production in order to re duce agri-food imports by 
restoring rural roads and tracks to facilitate the tran sport of agricultural products from the farms to the 
large consumer centres;  and to lower customs duti es in order to reduce import costs and make agri-
food products more broadly available. 
61. The constricted domestic market was not an obs tacle to the development of the manufacturing 
industry, whose products had access to an impor tant subregional market of some 130 million 
consumers.  However, the high costs of the fa ctors of production and the conditions for access to 
financing did constitute obstacles.  Reforms we re under way in the framework of the PRSP to 
improve the economic environment for production. 
62. The State had partially withdrawn from the supply of services in the Congo through 
privatization and the establishment of regulator y frameworks. The Government had initiated a 
notification study to that end in conformity with the GATS. 
63. On the subject of forestry policy, the discussant
 noted that the Republic of the Congo had 
been commended for its policy of environmental conser vation.  However, it had been stressed that the 
application of a 15 per cent surcharge to discourag e lumber exports appeared not to have entirely 
lived up to its objective, since the amount of wood pr ocessed locally continued to be small.  It might 
be wise to reassess that policy to see what adjustments were needed to attain the local processing 
objectives that had been set. 
64. The representative of the Republic of the Congo  confirmed that her Government shared this 
concern and that the suggested reassessment would be conducted. 
65. The representative of the United States  encouraged the Republic of the Congo to take greater 
advantage of the AGOA with a view to supporting the diversification and modernization of its 
economy beyond the exploitation of wood and petr oleum and to focus in particular on the 
improvement of its trade and investment environment. 
66. The representative of the European Union  hoped that the positive cooperation with the 
Republic of the Congo would continue in the frame work of the EPA negotiations, the cooperation and 
development assistance programmes, and the sugar protocol. 
67. The representative of the Separate Customs Te rritory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu  
encouraged the Republic of the Congo to continue its reforms in order to be able to support its 
economic development, and assured the country of his delegation's support. 
68. The representative of the Republic of the Congo  noted the comments with interest.  Her 
country hoped to obtain the support of the United States in ensuring that certain initiatives could be 
realized on the ground.  In order to take better advantage on the oppor tunities offered by the AGOA, a 
study would be conducted with the help of the Corporate Council on Africa covering a number of 
sectors that could contribute to the diversification of the economy and could possibly be the target of 
foreign direct investment, which was encouraged under the Investment Charter. 
69. She welcomed the willingness expressed by the Eu ropean Union to support her country in the 
EPA process that would lead to the establishment of a free trade zone.  The Republic of the Congo  WT/TPR/M/169 
 Page 13 
 
 
  needed help in developing trade in order to bu ild up its supply capacity.  She noted the willingness 
expressed by the delegation of the Separate Custom s Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu  
to assist the Republic of the Congo in its efforts. 
70. More generally, the Republic of the Congo ca lled upon all of its trading partners and the 
WTO to provide support in the form of technical  assistance that could truly help it to become 
integrated in the multilateral trading system to which it was firmly committed. WT/TPR/M/169 
Page 14  
 
  VI. CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON 
71. This first Trade Policy Review of the Republic of the Congo has fostered a better 
understanding of its reconstruction efforts and the challenges it faces in building capacity to fully 
participate in the multilateral trading system.  Ou r discussions have benefited greatly from the full 
engagement of the large, high-le vel delegation of the Republic of the Congo, led by Her Excellency 
Madame Moundele-Ngollo, Minister of Trade, Cons umption and Supply, the excellent contributions 
of the discussant, Ambassador Amehou, and interventions by participants. 
72. Following the emergence of the Republic of the Congo in 2002 from a decade of socio-
political turmoil, the basis for economic reco very was established by structural reform, 
macroeconomic stabilization, and regulatory chan ge.  Privatization took place in the downstream 
petroleum industry, financial services, and touris m.  The business environment was improved by new 
investment, forestry, and mining codes.  Other reform  priorities concerned the transport infrastructure, 
electricity, water, and fixed-line telecommunicati ons.  Members sought information on plans to 
further improve the trade and business environment,  in particular the management of government 
petroleum receipts, public procurement, standards,  and competition policy.  Members enquired about 
progress on the PRSP, currently under elaboration, a nd how it takes into account the role of trade 
policy, sustainable development, and social policy.   They congratulated the Republic of the Congo on 
its sustainable forestry management and sought  clarification on specific related aspects. 
73. Members queried the consistency of the tariff exemptions for agricultural inputs with the 
common external tariff of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, of which the 
Republic of the Congo is a member.  They en couraged the Congo to phase-out other duties and 
charges on imports as well as quantitative restrictions , reduce the tariff on cool boxes, reform the 
VAT regime, and improve the administration of sanita ry and phytosanitary measures, to fully comply 
with WTO obligations.  Members queried whethe r preshipment inspection was still needed, and 
whether technical assistance was required to fully implement the WTO Customs Valuation 
Agreement or to make notifications.  Clarificati on was sought on the measures applying to trade in 
uncut diamonds, and the Republic of the Congo was encouraged to re-join the Kimberley Process. 
74. Members asked whether the Republic of the C ongo faced difficulties in implementing norms of 
intellectual property protection.  Eliminating bot tlenecks in services would help it develop transit 
trade.  On tourism, the Republic of the Congo was asked to clarify the classification criteria for hotels 
and the new regulations concerning agencies and est ablishments.  Members encouraged the Republic 
of the Congo to improve its multilate ral commitments on goods and services. 
75. Members appreciated the responses provided by  the Republic of the Congo, and looked 
forward to receiving written answers to outstanding questions. 
76. In conclusion, the Chairperson congratulated the Republic of the Congo on its commitment to 
trade integration, and encouraged it to pursue its  reform agenda.  These reforms, supported by trade-
related technical assistance, would strengthen its a dherence to WTO principles, as well as its ability to 
participate in the work of the WTO.  Trading partne rs were urged to support the diversification efforts 
of the Republic of the Congo through better market access for its exports of goods and services, and 
WTO Members and the Secretariat were invited to be receptive to its technical assistance needs. 
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