Republic of Guinea WT/TPR/S/153/Rev.1 
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II. LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK OF THE FOREIGN TRADE AND 
INVESTMENT REGIMES 
(1) OVERVIEW  
1. Since 1999, when Guinea’s trade policy was fi rst reviewed by the Trade Policy Review 
Body (TPRB), the 1990 Constitution has been revised  in order to do away with the limit on the 
number of consecutive terms of office which may be  served by the President of the Republic and to 
ensure that presidential authority lasts.  As far as its trade policy is concerned, since 2003 Guinea has 
had a Comité National des Négociations Internationales  – CNNCI (National Committee for 
International Negotiations), an in terministerial body whose objective is to follow up work at the WTO 
and, more generally, trade policy issues. 
2. As regards Guinea’s trade strategy, the Povert y Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) adopted in 
January 2002 gives a key role to promoting non- mining exports, whose current share is modest 
(Chapter I(4)).1  A Diagnostic Trade Integration Study  (DTIS) conducted in the context of the 
Integrated Framework (IF) identified many obstacles to the development of the private sector, in particular, a legal and regulatory framework for priv ate transactions that is still unstable, not very 
clear and thus of little incentive, the poor quality of public services, insufficient access to loans and 
inadequate investment in infrastructure (transport, water, electricity). 
3. The DTIS led to the creation of a matrix of prio rity actions to be incorporated during the first 
review of the PRSP, which is currently under way.
2  This matrix of actions will receive support from a 
WTO trade-related technical assistance programme  (Annex II.1).  The authorities are calling in 
particular for capacity building for members of the CNNCI as regards notifications, implementation 
of the WTO Agreements, the Doha Development Ag enda (DDA) and the sectoral initiative on cotton. 
4. Guinea’s access to the subregional market has im proved since the integration process within 
the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) received a boost when negotiations were initiated with the European Union (EU) w ith a view to signing an Economic Partnership 
Agreement (EPA).  The objective of ECOWAS is to  establish a customs union in 2007.  In order to 
ensure its participation in this process, Guinea in troduced a new tariff in 2005, based on the Common 
External Tariff (CET) of the West African Ec onomic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), whose 
members are also members of ECOWAS.  As regard s the protection of intellectual property, in 2001 
Guinea ratified the revised Bangui Agreement (1999) in  order to comply with the provisions of the 
TRIPS Agreement within the time-limits prescribed for least developed countries (LDCs).  The legal 
framework for investment has been amended by implementing the eight uniform acts of the 
Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) in 2000, as well as by the 
extension of exemptions from VAT on imported equipment as of 2002 for companies approved under 
the Investment Code.  With the exception of these changes, Guinea's foreign trade regulatory 
framework has changed little since the first review in 1999. 
(
2) C ONSTITUTIONAL , LEGAL AND GENERAL INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK  
5. Under the Constitution of December 1990 (known as the " Loi fondamentale " ("Basic Law")), 
the Republic of Guinea, which has been indepe ndent since 28 September 1958, is a multi-party 
democracy.  A revision of the Basic Law extending th e President’s term of office from five to seven 
                                                      
 1 Government of Guinea (2002); Government of Guin ea, Ministry of the Economy and Finance (2004a);  
IMF (2004a). 
 2The documents prepared in the context of the Integrated Framework are available at 
http://www.integratedframew ork.org [17 September 2004]. WT/TPR/S/153/Rev.1 Trade Policy Review 
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years and abolishing the limits on the number of consecutive terms that may be served by the 
President of the Republic was proposed by th e President and approved by referendum on 
11 November 2001.3  Since then, the President of the Republic, the Head of State, has been elected by 
direct universal suffrage for a renewable term of seven years. 
6. The last presidential elections were held on 21 December 2003 and resulted in the re-election 
of President Lansana Conté, elected in 1993 and 1998 and in power since 1984.4  President Conté has 
been the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces since January 2001. 
7. Executive power is vested in the President, w ho lays down the main lines of State policy and 
appoints the Prime Minister and other members of  the Government.  The current Prime Minister, 
Mr. Cellou Dalein Diallo, was appointed on 9 December 2004.5  There are 27 ministers in the 
Government. Central government em ployees in Guinea number 52,400. 
8. The National Assembly exercises legislativ e power and monitors the actions of the 
Government. It adopts legislation, including the Finan ce Law.  Its president is elected for the term of 
the legislature, which is five years.  One third of  deputies are elected by si ngle-ballot, single-member 
majority voting and two thirds from a national list by  proportional representation.  The last legislative 
elections were held on 30 June 2002. 
9. The President of the Republic and the deputies share the right to propose legislation.  Draft 
legislation is adopted after discussion by the Nati onal Assembly and becomes law after enactment by 
the Head of State.  Within eight days following th e adoption of a law, the President of the Republic or 
at least one tenth of the deputies may lodge an ap peal with the Supreme Court for the purpose of 
verifying whether it is in conformity with the Basic Law. 
10. The Government may request the National Asse mbly for authorization to adopt measures 
normally coming within the scope of ordinary law,  by issuing ordinances valid for a limited period6;  
these ordinances lapse if they are not subsequently ratified. 
11. The Economic and Social Council has the power to  examine drafts or proposals for legislation 
and draft decrees of an economic and social nature  submitted to it, with the exception of finance laws. 
It must be consulted on all draft legislation,  plans and programmes of an economic nature. 
12. The Basic Law lays down the principle of the independence of the judiciary.7  The Supreme 
Court is the highest court in Guinea.  Its president and members are appointed by decree of the President of the Republic.  Rulings by the Supreme Court are not subject to appeal and are binding on 
the public authorities and on all administrative and jurisdictional authorities. 
                                                     
 
3 According to the former Article 24 of the Constitutio n of December 1990, the President of the Republic was 
elected by direct universal suffrage for a te rm of five years, renewable once only.  This provision was intended to encourage 
rotation of the presidency and the move towards democratizat ion (see "Les articles amendés de la constitution guinéenne", 
Afrique-express , No. 239 of 20 November 2001.  Available at: http:// www.afrique-express.com [16 November 2004]. 
4 "As the leaders of the opposition cons ider that this presidential election does not offer any guarantees of 
transparency, they have decided to boycott the election."  Afrique-express , No. 289 of 9 March 2004.  Available at: 
http://www.afrique-express.com [16 November 2004]. 
5 Decree No. 2004/081/PRG/SCG of 9 December 2004. 
6 Since 1992, three enabling laws have been adopted in 1992, 1993 and 1997. 
7 "Judicial power is independent of the Executive and the Le gislature.  It is exercised solely by the courts and 
tribunals" (Article 80 of the 1990 Constitution). Republic of Guinea WT/TPR/S/153/Rev.1 
 Page 13 
 
 
13. The current judicial system dates from 19858 and was restructured in 1995 and again in 1998.9  
As Guinea does not have any commercial court, ec onomic matters are dealt with by the ordinary 
courts (with the exception of cases relating to disp utes between the State and foreigners regarding 
application of the Investment Code (see below)).  The exercise of judicial power by judges and law 
officers, particularly as regards business law, has been the subject of a capacity-building programme 
since 1998.10  Only the T ribunal de première instance  (Court of First Instance) and the Cour d'appel 
de Conakry  (Conakry Court of Appeal) have an  economic chamber, which is the Chambre nationale 
d’arbitrage  (National Arbitration Chamber).  Justices of the peace can only rule on economic matters 
if the amount involved does not exceed GF 10 million. 
14. According to the Basic Law, legislation adopt ed by the National Assembly (for example, 
concerning the adoption of the new customs tariff in 2005), opinions issued by the President of the National Assembly, rulings by the Supreme Court, th e responses which must be given by ministers to 
questions raised by deputies, are all published in the Journal Officiel de la République de Guinée  
(Official Journal of the Republic of Guinea), which is issued twice a month.
11  The authorities 
acknowledge, however, that some trade-related deci sions are not published but are communicated to 
the authority concerned. 
15. Local authorities have no powers as regards the taxation of companies or the exchange rate 
regime. 
(3) T RADE AND INVESTMENT POLICY  
(i)  Main features 
16. Guinea’s trade policy continues the economic liberalization reforms initiated in 1984 and 
described at the time of the first review of its trade policy in 1999.  In a break with the planned 
economy model applied up to 1984, the objective of these reforms is to create an environment that 
encourages the expansion of the private sector.  The State has withdrawn from the management of 
publicly-owned enterprises (in which it has a minority or majority holding), handing it over to private partners. 
17. With the support of the United Nations, in 1998, the authorities drew up a framework 
programme for support and de velopment of the private sector with the main objective of removing the 
structural, regulatory, institutional and financia l constraints impeding its development.  The 
authorities accordingly convened a Round Table on Private Sector Funding from 20 to 22 May 2002, during which the general constraints on the privat e sector were identified, namely, the absence or 
inadequacy of investment loans, a banking system which does not finance medium- and long-term 
operations, the almost total lack of national sav ings that could be mobilized through traditional 
monetary channels, high fiscal pressure, with a tax system that favours imported over domestic 
products;  the deficit, the excessively high cost of basic production factors (electricity, water, 
communications, raw materials, transport, etc.), the in adequacy of direct State aid, failure to apply the 
texts of the various codes enacted, the private sector’s difficulty in finding outlets and identifying and 
efficiently exploiting promising ch annels both within and outside Guinea, deficiencies in training and 
information of promoters (entrepreneurship, mana gement, marketing, technological and commercial 
                                                     
 
8 Ordinances No. 109/85 and No. 110/85 of 5 July 1985. 
9 Law No. L/95/021/CTRN of 6 June 1995, as ame nded by Law No. L/98/014/AN of 16 June 1998.  See 
http://www.snu-gn.org/CD-ENV/Justiceweb /Orgjudic.html [17 November 2004]. 
10 Decree No. D/98/026 of 10 February 1998 establishing the Training and Documentation Centre.  Available at:  
http://www.enm.justice.fr/relatio ns_internationales/ecoles/guinee/ guinee.htm [17 November 2004]. 
11 There is no on-line version. WT/TPR/S/153/Rev.1 Trade Policy Review 
Page 14 
 
 
information, etc.), irksome administrative proce dures and the inadequacies of the judicial system, 
insufficient basic economic infrastructures.12 
18. Specific objectives for developing trade were updated during preparation of the PRSP and 
consist of promoting exports of agricultural and fisheries products, the non-mining sector, handicrafts 
and tourism.  In addition, the Government is focusing on expansion of the mining sector, especially 
on-the-spot processing in order to increase the valu e added for the Guinean economy.  The authorities 
also hope to encourage the creation of small- and medium-sized enterprises. 
19. The DTIS attributes the poor performance of Guinea’s exports to external and internal factors.  
Among the external factors, the authorities point to the trend in bauxite prices since 1982, as well as a 
situation in the subregion that does not encour age the development of trade with neighbouring 
countries.  The DTIS, however, also highlights a number of internal factors that discourage investment and consequently impede  the expansion of exports.  These are, in particular:  a legal and 
regulatory framework for private transactions that is  still unstable, not very clear and thus of little 
incentive;  the poor quality of public services and insufficient investment in infrastructure (water, 
roads and electricity). 
(ii)  Institutional framework
13 
20. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and SMEs  (MCIPME) is responsible for defining, 
implementing, monitoring and coordinating th e Government’s trade and industrial policy.14  The 
MCIPME includes the following services:  the Direction Nationale du Commerce et de la 
Concurrence  – DNCC (National Trade and Competition De partment), which is responsible for 
monitoring trade regulations, applying the trade-rela ted provisions of international agreements and 
treaties, promoting exports, and collecting trade statistics;  the Institut National de la Normalisation et 
de la Métrologie  – INNM (National Standardization and Metr ology Institute), whic h is responsible for 
implementing policy on standardization, me trology and quality promotion;  the Service National de 
Contrôle de Qualité et des Normes  – SNCQN (National Quality Control and Standards Service), 
which verifies the quality of goods accor ding to certified standards;  and the Service de la Propriété 
Industrielle (Industrial Property Service), which acts as the national liaison structure (NLS) for the 
revised Bangui Agreement (1999).  The Comité National Consultatif Permanent de la Concurrence et 
des Prix  (National Permanent Advisory Committee on Co mpetition and Pricing), set up in 2004 under 
the MCIPME, is responsible for advising the Mini ster on the list of strategic goods and staple 
products, their prices and profit margins (Chapter III(4)(ii)). 
21. The Office de Promotion des Investissements Privés  – OPIP (Office of Private Investment 
Promotion)15 comes under the MICPME.  It assists operator s wishing to invest in Guinea, receives 
requests for approval under the Investment Code’s  preferential regimes and promotes Guinea as a 
destination.  The Centre de Promotion et de Développement Minier  – CPDM (Mining Promotion and 
Development Centre) has similar r esponsibilities for the mining sector. 
22. The CNNCI is an interministerial structur e that has been responsible for Guinea’s 
participation in the WTO since 2003 and it also mo nitors the trade components of the ECOWAS and 
ACP-EU agreements.16  A representative of the MCIPME acts as its secretariat. 
                                                      
12 Ministry of Trade, Industry and SMEs, "Contrain tes Générales du Secteur Privé".  Available at:  
http://www.mirinet.net.gn /investgn/indexfr.htm. 
13 The main source was the Integrated Framework (2003), Volume 1, Chapter 2.3. 
14 Decree No. 96/111/PRG/SGG of 29 August 1996 defining th e responsibilities of all ministerial departments. 
15 Available at:  http:// www.mirinet.net.gn/opip/. 
16 Order No. 4293/MCIPME/SGG/02 of 23 August 2002. Republic of Guinea WT/TPR/S/153/Rev.1 
 Page 15 
 
 
23. The Ministry of Cooperation (which is responsib le for defining African economic integration 
policy) and the Ministry of the Economy and Finance (which is responsible for determining duties and 
taxes, fixing their rates and administering government  procurement) are also involved in formulating 
and implementing trade and investment policy. 
24. In the area of services, the Central Bank of the Republic of Guinea (BCRG) is responsible for 
supervising the banking and insurance sector.17  Responsibility for tourism is the domain of the 
relevant Ministry and the Office National du Tourisme  – ONT (National Tourism Board).18 
25. The Guinean Copyright Office (BGDA), under the Ministry of Culture, is responsible for 
protecting the interests of authors of lite rary and artistic works and related rights. 
26. The main employers’ organizations are the Ch amber of Agriculture, the Guinean Chamber of 
Commerce, Industry and Handicrafts (CCIAG), th e Chamber of Mines, the Guinean National 
Employers’ Council (CNPG).19  The CCIAG’s opinion is sought on all matters relating to the 
formulation of trade policy and the polic y is implemented w ith its cooperation. 
27. The Centre d’Appui aux Formalités d’Exportation  – CAFEX (Centre for Export Formalities), 
set up in 1997, provides logistical support for exports  of agricultural, livestock and fisheries products, 
as well as mining products (Chapter III(3)(v)). 
28. The Government receives advice from academic institutions and other research organizations 
when drawing up trade and investment policies. 
(iii)  Instruments 
(a) International agreements and treaties20 
29. International agreements and treaties are nego tiated, signed and enacted (by decree) by the 
President of the Republic. Trade agreements, inter alia , can only be ratified through a law adopted by 
the National Assembly.  It is only the approval of th e treaties or agreements that is the subject of a 
law, but not the transposition of their provisions.  The WTO Agreement was ratified according to this 
procedure. 
30. Treaties or agreements that have been ratifie d take precedence over legislation once they have 
been published in the Official Journal, provided that  they are implemented by the other party.  Such 
acts are immediately applicable as a law of the State and are self-executing.  According to the 
monistic regime, the WTO Agreements may be dir ectly cited in judicial proceedings, although this 
has never been the case. 
31. According to information provided by the Guinean authorities, only the acts ratifying 
international agreements are published in the Offici al Journal and not the text of the agreements 
themselves. 
                                                      
17 Law No. L/94/018/CTRN of 1 June 1994. 
18 Available at:  http ://www.mirinet.com.ont. 
19 The National Private Sector Counci l (CNSP), which comprised foreign investors, was abolished in 2004. 
20 Title VI of the 1990 Constitution. WT/TPR/S/153/Rev.1 Trade Policy Review 
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(b) Trade in goods 
32. Exercise of the profession of trader, an activity essential for trade in goods and services, is 
regulated according to the eight uniform acts of the OHADA, which reflect the provisions in the 
former Code of Economic Activities.21 
33. The Customs Code is still in effect but is scheduled for revision in 2005.22  This Code, 
together with the annual finance laws, defines, inter alia , the framework under which the majority of 
import and export duties and taxes are determined and collected.  According to the information 
provided by the authorities, Guinea revised its customs tariff entirely in 2005 as part of the revival of the ECOWAS customs union project (see below).  The scope and amount of excise duties and VAT 
are determined in Guinea’s Tax Code , revised by the 2005 Finance Law. 
34. Guinea does not have any domestic legislation on anti-dumping, countervailing or safeguard 
measures.
23 
35. Since the first review, the general trade regime has remained unchanged as regards 
descriptive export applications (DDE) and descriptiv e import applications (DDI), introduced under 
the programme for guaranteeing customs revenue (PSRD) (Chapter III(2)(ii)).24  This programme was 
introduced in 1996 and entrusted to the SGS until the e nd of 2004;  it is currently the responsibility of 
the customs authorities. DDIs are issued automatical ly except for potatoes, onions and cigarettes, as 
are DDEs. 
36. Guinea has had domestic legislation on produc t standardization and certification since 1989 
and it has not changed since the first review.25  Procedures for awarding government procurement 
contracts are defined in the Government Procur ement Code enacted on 3 June 1997 and unchanged 
since the first review (Chapter III(4)(iv)).26 
37. The competition and pricing regime was drawn up in 1994 and provides for total freedom of 
pricing throughout Guinea, with the exception of pharmaceuticals and phytosanitary products (Chapter III(4)(ii)).
27  This regime, however, allows the co mpilation of a list of strategic goods and 
staple products, their prices and profit margins.  A li st of 10 products was drawn up in 2004, but in 
practice only cement is subject to fixed prices and controls throughout Guinea.28  The provisions on 
anti-competitive practices by enterpri ses have not been implemented. 
                                                      
21 Laws No. L/2/043/CTRN of 8 December 1992, No. L/ 94/017/CTRN of 1 June 1994 and No. L/94/020/CTRN of 
8 July 1994. 
22 Ordinance No. 094/PRG/SGG of 28 November 1990. 
23 WTO documents G/ADP/N/1/GIN/1; G/SCM/N/1/GI N/1; and G/SG/N/GIN/1 of 17 January 1996. 
24 Decrees No. 96/095/PRG/SGG of 27 June 1996 and No . D/99/069/PRG/SGG of 30 July 1999 (WTO document 
G/PSI/N/1/Add.10 of 19 July 2004). 
25 Ordinance No. 036/PRG/SGG/89 of 20 May 1989,  Decree No. 105/PRG/SGG/89 of 20 May 1989, 
Decree No. 93/PRG/SGG of 20 July 1993, Law No. 93/040/CT RN of 15 October 1993, and Decree No. D/93/209/PRG/SGG 
of 21 October 1993. 
26 Law No. L/97/016/AN and Decree No. D/97/250/PRG/SGG of 3 November 1997. 
27 Law No. L/94/40/CTRN and implementing decree No. D/94/119/PRG/SGG of 28 December 1994. 
28 Order No. 7058/MCIPME/SGG/04 of 1 July 2004. Republic of Guinea WT/TPR/S/153/Rev.1 
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(c) Trade in services 
38. The regulatory frameworks for banking29 and for insurance30 have not changed since the first 
review.  The authorities have, however, prepared a draft new banking law to co mply with the 25 basic 
principles of the Basel Committee. 
39. The regulatory framework for tourism dates back to 1998.31 
40. The regulatory framework governing telecommunications dates from 199232, but the 
authorities indicate that a draft new frame work is before the National Assembly. 
41. Activities in many services sectors are the responsibi lity of public enterprises partly or wholly 
controlled by the State (see Table III.4).  This is  the case for transport, port activities, posts and 
telecommunications, hotels, culture, public health an d education.  The State has, however, withdrawn 
from the management of many enterprises, which h as been handed over to strategic partners.  For 
example, the Aéroports de Paris  – ADP (Paris Airports) owns 29 per cent of the capital of the Société 
de gestion des aéroports de Guinée  – SOGEAC (Guinean Airport Management Company) and 
Telekom Malaysia has a 60 per cent stake in the Société des télécommunications de Guinée  – 
SOTELGUI (Guinean Telecommunications Company), although it plans to withdraw from this 
partnership by the end of 2005.  Activities in ot her services sectors are carried out by private 
operators, subject to the relevant provisi ons of commercial law, taxation, etc. 
(d) Intellectual property protection 42. Guinea is a member of the African Intellect ual Property Organization (OAPI) set up under the 
Bangui Agreement (1977), which was revised in 1999 to bring it into line with the TRIPS 
Agreement.
33  Guinea ratified the Bangui Agreement (1999) on 13 July 2001.34 The revised 
Agreement, together with Annexes I to VI II, entered into force on 28 February 2002 
(Chapter III(4)(i))35; the OAPI’s Administrative Council has deferred the entry into force of 
Annexes IX and X on layout-designs (topographies) of integrated circuits and new plant varieties 
respectively for reasons of technical compet ence and lack of the necessary infrastructure. 
43. For each of its member States, the OAPI acts as the national industrial property service and 
provides a common system of administrative procedures for registering rights.  The Industrial 
Property Service within the MCIPME acts as the national liaison structure (NLS) for the purposes of 
OAPI. 
44. Under the OAPI, national offices or societi es administer copyright and under the regime 
adopted in 1980 in Guinea this is the responsibility of the BGDA (Chapter III(4)(i)).36  Guinea has not 
yet adopted a new regime for copyright, neighbouring rights and related rights in order to bring the 
domestic regulations into line with thos e in the revised Bangui Agreement (1999). 
                                                      
29 Law No. L/94/017/CTRN of 1 June 1994. 
30 Law No. L/95/022/CTRN of 12 June 1995. 
31 Decree No. D/98/54/PRG/SGG of 25 March 1998. 
32 Law No. L/92/016/CTRN of 2 June 1992. 
33 The OAPI also includes Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon,  Central African Republic, Ch ad, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, 
Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Maurit ania, Niger, Senegal and Togo. See the OAPI site:  
http://www.oapi.wipo.net. 
34 Law No. L/2001/007 of 11 June2001. 
35 The texts cover patents, utility m odels, trademarks, industria l designs, trade names, geographical indications, 
literary and artistic property and protection against unfair competition. 
36 Law No. 043/APNICP/80 of 9 August 1980 and Decree No. 442/PRG/80 of 15 September 1980. WT/TPR/S/153/Rev.1 Trade Policy Review 
Page 18 
 
 
45. The national authorities are responsible for protec ting intellectual property rights.  In addition 
to the Industrial Property Service and the BGDA, the customs authorities, the police, the courts, etc. 
all have competence in this area. 
(e) Investment37 
46. The purpose of the Investment Code is to encour age foreign investment in order to foster the 
creation of a network of SMEs/SMIs to de velop local resources and promote exports.38  Companies 
engaging in mining prospection and operations are governed by the Mining Code and the provisions 
on incentives are set out in their special agreements (Chapter IV(3)(ii)).39  The authorities intend to 
harmonize the provisions on tax incentives appli cable to mining and non-mining enterprises. 
47. The Investment Code guarantees private and government enterprises, whether domestic or 
foreign, the same rights and obligations.  It also guarantees foreign natural or legal persons freedom to 
transfer capital, revenue and wages.  Guinea has concluded and ratified five  bilateral investment 
agreements40 and several more are being concluded and/or ratified. 
48. It is the task of the OPIP to receive poten tial investors in Guinea and to promote Guinea 
abroad.  The OPIP may complete administrative, le gal and tax formalities on behalf of promoters, as 
well as other requirements applicable to enterprises  and companies under the regulations in effect, 
defined by the eight uniform acts of the OHADA, which have applied in Guinea since 
20 November 2000.  In May 2002, the single window f unction was transferred to the registries of the 
courts of first instance. 
49. The OPIP meets twice a month.  It receives requests for approval under the preferential 
regimes of the Investment Code, which confer eligibi lity for tax, customs or other benefits.  The OPIP 
centralizes the procedures and examin ation of applications made to the Commission nationale des 
investissements  (National Investment Commission) and decides on the eligibility of projects to create 
or expand enterprises under the Investment Code regi mes.  Approval takes the form of a decree by the 
Minister for Industry (with no co-signatory) and is gi ven within a maximum of one month.  The list of 
goods exempt from duties and taxes is attached to  the decree to meet the requirements of the 
authorities concerned.  All releva nt information is made public. 
50. In order to receive benefits under the Investment  Code, enterprises must belong to the priority 
sectors, but the list is not exhaustive and may be amended (Table II.1).  In addition to the common 
incentives regime, four other preferential regimes are available:  the regime for small and medium-sized enterprises, the regime for exporting enterpri ses, the regime for enterprises developing local 
natural resources and raw materials, enterprises established in economically less developed zones 
(outside Conakry).  It is possible to obtain appr oval under several regimes provided that the criteria 
are met in each case and this is quite common.
41  According to the authorities, the main advantage of 
approval is exemption from VAT on imports of equipment needed during the start-up period or to extend the investment (with the exception of auto mobiles), an important amendment to the Code 
made under the 2002 Finance Law. 
                                                     
 
37 The main sources consulted were the documents provided by the OPIP. 
38 Ordinance No. 001/PRG/87 and Decree No. 001/PRG/87, revised by Law No. L/95/029/CTRN of 30 June 1995, 
the 2002 Finance Law and Law No . L/2003/005/AN of 24 March 2003. 
39 Law No. L/95/036/CTRN of 30 June 1995. 
40 Benin, Cameroon, Mali, Mauritania and Mauritius. 
41 According to the OPIP, 74 per cent of the projects approved from 1998 to 2000  qualified for two special regimes. Republic of Guinea WT/TPR/S/153/Rev.1 
 Page 19 
 
 
Table II.1 
Investment Code – benefits under preferential regimes  
 
SME regime Exporting enterprises 
regime Regime for enterprises 
developing natural resources  Enterprises established in less 
developed zones 
Criteria Assets of GF 15 to 
500 milliona 
  
At least 5 jobs 
 Enterprises whose export 
turnover accounts for 
over 22% of total 
turnover Cost of intermediate 
consumption of Guinean 
origin exceeds 50% of total costs  
 
 The country is divided into four 
zones: 1-2-3-4
b 
  
Production enterprise in which at 
least 90% of the personnel work in the zone  
Service enterprise whose actual 
head office and principal area of activity are in the zone 
Priority sectors Agriculture, industrial processing, stockbr eeding and fishing, fertili zer production, health and education enterprises, 
tourism facilities and industries, social housing promotion, investme nt banks or any other loan establishment outside 
zone 1 (Conakry) 
 
Guarantees Equal treatment for natural and legal persons, as  well as for foreigners and Guinean nationals 
 
Freedom to transfer capital 
 Freedom of establishment, management, movement  Guinea has signed the ACP-EU, ICSID, MIGA and OHADA Agreements 
Common 
benefits 
    
 Exemption from duties and taxes (i ncluding VAT) on imports of goods, equipment and tools needed for the 
investment during the start-up period or for its extension (with the exce ption of automobiles) 
A single import duty of 6 per cent on raw materials used directly in product manufacture 
Exemption from the taxable base for the Impôt sur les  Bénéfices Industriels et Commerciaux  – IBIC (Tax on Industrial 
and Commercial Profits) or the IS for 3 to 8 years dependi ng on the zone in which the en terprise is situated and a 
reduction of 50% during the first tax year and 25% during the second following the period of exemption 
Exemption from the apprenticeship tax and the flat rate on sa laries for 5 years and 50% reduction of this tax during the 
following 3 years 
Tax on 
industrial and commercial 
profits (IBIC) 
  
 
Other benefits 20% (instead of 35%) for 
5 years  
 
  
 
Exemption from the flat-rate minimum tax for 3 years 
 Exemption for 5 years 
according to the export turnover/total turnover 
ratio, but a maximum of 
60% of profits Reduction in the taxable 
base of the IBIC equivalent to 20% of the 
value of intermediate 
consumption of Guinean origin for the first 5 years Exemption from the IBIC for 3 to 
8 years depending on the zone in which the enterprise is situated  
 
  
 
Reduction of 20 to 60% of VAT for 5 years depending on the zone in which the enterp rise is situated 
a  The BCRG publishes the referen ce rate for the Guinean franc. 
b Zone 1:  the region of Conakry and the pr efectures of Coyah, Dubréka, Forécariah and Boké;  Zone 2:   the prefectures of Boffa , 
Fria, Kindia, Mamou, Dalaba, Pita, Labé, Dabola and Faranah;  Zone 3:  the pref ectures of Kissidougou, Guéckédou, Kankan, 
Macenta, N’Zérékoré, Kouroussa and Télimilé;  Zone 4:  the prefectures of Koundara, Gaoual,  Mali, Lélouna, Tougué, Koubia, 
Lola, Sguri, Dinguiraye, Mandiana, Kérouané, Beyla and Yomou. 
Source : Guinean authorities. 
51. According to data for 1999-2003 provided by the Guinean authorities, 124 projects have been 
approved under the Investment Code, representing a total of GF 202 billion and the creation of 
4,467 jobs.  In the majority of cases, the promoters of approved projects are Guinean nationals. WT/TPR/S/153/Rev.1 Trade Policy Review 
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52. The following are the requirements  for the entry and residence of  foreigners:  a Guinean visa 
must be obtained for visits of less than three months, except in the case of citizens of ECOWAS countries, Algeria, Cuba, Egypt, Morocco, Romania,  Tunisia and the United Republic of Tanzania.  A 
foreigner wishing to stay for more than three months has to obtain several documents
42;  if he wishes 
to work, he must apply to the Agence guinéenne pour la promotion de l’emploi  (Guinean Employment 
Promotion Agency) in order to obtain the necessary work permit.43 
(4) T RADE POLICY FRAMEWORK AGREEMENTS  
(i) WTO 
(a) Multilateral agreements 53. Guinea ratified the Agreement Establishing the WTO on 25 September 1995 and became a 
Member on 25 October 1995.
44  It has been recognized as a least de veloped country (LDC).  It is not a 
party to any plurilateral agreement. 
54. Guinea’s Schedule CXXXVI contains the commi tments made in the Uruguay Round, as well 
as the bindings made by France on behalf of French  West Africa (A.O.F.) during the colonial era.45  
Guinea bound its import customs duty (DDE) on agricultural products at 40 per cent (with the 
exception of those products already included in Guinea’s Schedule CXXXVI, which are subject to 
bound duties below 40 per cent).  Customs tariffs on other (non-agricultural) products have not been 
bound, with the exception of Chapters 45 (cork and articles of cork), 47 (pulp of wood or of other 
cellulosic material), 66 (umbrellas, sun umbrellas, wa lking sticks, etc.), and 86 (vehicles or equipment 
for railways or similar).  The DDE for products in  these chapters has been bound at 40, 20, 30 and 
25 per cent respectively.  Under "other duties and ta xes", Guinea applies a 2 per cent tax in the form 
of a redevance pour traitement de liquidation  – RTL (clearance fee).46 
55. The Secretariat’s analysis of the relationship between the bindings and the rates applied under 
the new customs tariff of 2005 shows that for 627 lines the bound rates have been exceeded 
(Chapter III(2)(iv)(a)). 
56. Guinea is experiencing problems in implemen ting the Agreement on Implementation of 
Article VII of the GATT 1994 (Customs Valuation Agre ement).  At the time of the first review in 
1999, the authorities had not implemented the Agreem ent and had not sought th e deferred application 
provided for developing countries under Article 20 of the Agreement.  To date, no steps have been 
taken in the WTO in this regard.  The authorities explain that they are examining the question of 
implementation. 
57. Guinea also appears to have problems in updatin g notifications (Table II.2).  At the time of 
the first review in 1999, the authorities submitted thr ee notifications indicating the absence of laws or 
                                                      
42 Multiple entry visas, valid for six months (GF 100,000 (U S$ 50));  long-stay visa, valid for one year (GF 200,000 
(US$ 100));  foreign resident’s permit or foreign expert’s permit, valid for one year (GF 400,000 and GF 100,000 (US$ 200 
and US$ 50));  a foreign resident’s authorizati on:  GF 50,000 (US$ 25), to be requested from the Direction Générale de la 
Police de l'Air et des Frontières  (General Department of Air and Border Police). 
43 A work permit is valid for one year and costs US$ 300. 
44 Guinea acquired the status of Contracting Party on 8 December 1994 (Article XXVI.5(c) of the GATT 1994) after 
having applied the GATT de facto  from 24 June 1994 onwards (WTO document L/7497 of 29 June 1994). 
45 Benin (Dahomey);  Burkina Faso (Upper Volta);  Côte d’Ivoire;  Guinea;  Mali (French Sudan);  Mauritania;  
Niger;  and Senegal. 
46 The fiscal import duty (DFE) had be en bound at 8 per cent, but was combined with the import customs duty 
(DDE) to form a single import duty (DFI) (Chapter III(2)(iv)(a)).  The turnover ta x (TCA) had been bound at 13 per cent but 
no longer applies. Republic of Guinea WT/TPR/S/153/Rev.1 
 Page 21 
 
 
regulations on countervailing, safeguard and anti-dumping measures and one notification on the 
absence of any State-trading operations.  Since th en, only one notification on preshipment inspection 
has been made, together with a notification conf irming once again that there are no State-trading 
operations.  However, two communicati ons were sent to the integrated  database (IDB) regarding tariff 
data for 1998 and statistics on imports in 2001.47 
58. Guinea’s Schedule of Specific Commitments under the GATS (GATS/SC/102) concerns the 
supply of certain professional services through the presence of natural persons and some tourism-
related services (Chapter IV(4)(iii)).  Guinea did not take part in the negotiations on basic 
telecommunications services, which ended in 1997, nor in those on financial services, concluded in 
1998. Guinea has no final list of Article 2 (MFN) exemptions under the GATS. 
59. Since 1995, Guinea has relied on the trans itional provisions under Article 66 of the 
TRIPS Agreement (applicable to LDCs) in order to defer full application of the Agreement until 2006 
(except for Articles 3, 4 and 5).  Guinea has not  yet notified the revised Bangui Agreement and 
Annexes I to VIII thereto, which ente red into force on 28 February 2002. 
Table II.2 
Main WTO documents relating to Guinea, July 2005 
Agreement WTO document Content 
Multilateral agreements on trade in goods 
GATT 1994 Schedule CXXXVI – Guinea, March 1995 Tariff concessions/bindings 
Agreement on Implementation of Article VI 
of the GATT 1994 – Article 18.5 G/ADP/N/1/GIN/1 of 17 January 1996 Absence of laws or regulations 
Agreement on Preshipment Inspection G/PSI/N/1 /Add.10 of 19 July 2004 Laws and regulations 
State trading G/STR/N/1/GIN/1 of 22 January 1996 
G/STR/N/7/GIN;  G/STR/N/8/GIN; 
G/STR/N/9/GIN of 24 March 2003 Absence of State trading 
Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing 
Measures – Article 32.6 G/SCM/N/1/GIN/1 of 17 January 1996 Ab sence of laws or regulations 
Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing 
Measures – Article 25.1 G/SCM/N/95/GIN of 20 March 2003 Absence of subsidies 
Agreement on Safeguard Measures G/SG/N/1/GIN/1 of  17 January 1996 Absence of laws or regulations 
General Agreement on Trade in Services  
 GATS/SC/102 of 30 August 1995 Schedule of Specific Commitments on 
services 
Trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights 
Article 69 IP/N/3/Rev.2 of 22 July 1996 Enquiry point 
Source:  WTO Secretariat. 
(b) Participation in WTO activities 
60. Guinean representatives took an active part in th e ministerial conferences in Doha (2001) and 
Cancún (2003).48  In the context of the Doha Devel opment Agenda (DDA), Guinea supports the 
                                                      
47 WTO document G/MA/IDB/2/Rev.20 of 17 September 2004. 
48 WTO documents WT/MIN(01)/ST/114 of 12 November  2001 and WT/MIN(03)/ST/119 of 13 September 2003. WT/TPR/S/153/Rev.1 Trade Policy Review 
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position of developing countries, LDCs and AC P countries on implementation issues as well as 
strengthening of technical cooperation. 
61. Guinea is entitled to participate in the WTO trade policy courses and has received technical 
assistance from the WTO.  Additional trade-rela ted technical assistance could be envisaged 
(Annex II.1) in order to underpin the process under the restructured IF. 
(ii) Regional economic agreements 
(a) African Union49 
62. The achievement of African unity is one of Guinea’s fundamental objectives.50 Guinea is a 
founding member of the African Union, which su cceeded the Organization of African Unity (OAU).51  
Ultimately, the African Union will be an economic and m onetary union with the following institutions 
in addition to the Conference of Heads of State an d Government and the Council of Ministers:  the 
Peace and Security Council (Protocol being ratified) , the Commission (created in July 2003), the Pan-
African Parliament (Protocol being ratified), a Central Bank, a Monetary Fund, the African 
Investment Bank, the Court of Justice (Statute pr epared), the Economic, Social and Cultural Council 
(Statute prepared) and technical commissions. 
63. The New Partnership for Africa’s Developmen t (NEPAD), adopted at the summit in Lusaka 
(Zambia), is an AU programme administered by ECOWAS at the subregional level. 
(b) Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)52 
64. Guinea is a founding member of ECOWAS, who se Treaty was revised in 1993 in order to 
revive the economic integration process.53  Following this revision, the institutional framework of the 
ECOWAS comprises the following, in addition to the Conference of Heads of State and Government:  
the Council of Ministers, the Parliament, the Ec onomic and Social Council (being established), the 
Court of Justice, the Executive Secretariat, the Bank for Investment and Development, the Central 
Bank (being established) and technical commissions. 
65. The 1993 revision of the Treaty also set the objective of a customs union in 2000 and 
envisaged the creation of an economic and monetary  union in 2004.  The timetable for the customs 
union has not been respected, except as regards the liberalization of trade in unprocessed products and 
handicrafts (although some member countries do not resp ect the relevant provisions), in particular, the 
single Trade Liberalization Scheme (TLS) covering industrial products.54 
                                                      
49 Available at: http ://www.africa-union.org. 
50 Preamble to the 1990 Constitution. 
51 The Charter establishing the OAU was signed on 25 May 1963. The Constitutive Act of the African Union was 
adopted at the summit of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in July 2000 in Lomé (Togo). The African Union, which 
has now replaced the OAU, was proclaimed on 11 July 2001 in Lu saka, Zambia, after ratificati on of the Constitutive Act by 
over 44 of the 53 members of the OAU.  The Durban Summit, held in 2002, laun ched the African Union. 
52 Available [on li ne] at:  http://www.ecowas.int. 
53 The Treaty establishing ECOWAS was signed on 28 May 1975. ECOWAS currently comprises 15 countries:  
Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bi ssau, Liberia, Mali , Niger, Nigeria, 
Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. 
54 Decision A/Dec./6/7/92.  In order to be eligible for pr eferential treatment, industrial products must be approved 
by the Executive Secretar iat.  According to the ECOWAS Ex ecutive Secretariat (2000a):  "Eight countries [out of 15] have 
lifted tariff barriers in respect of unpro cessed products under the TLS, namely, Benin,  Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, 
Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Se negal, Sierra Leone and T ogo.  However, only Benin ha s removed tariff barriers to 
trade in industrial products [fro m Ghana, Nigeria and Togo]". Republic of Guinea WT/TPR/S/153/Rev.1 
 Page 23 
 
 
66. In 2000, the Executive Secretariat noted th at " … the non-application of the trade 
liberalization scheme constitutes a most glaring failure for ECOWAS" and indicated that intra-
community trade only accounted for 11 per cent of members’ total trade.55  In order to turn the 
situation around, the economic integration process was given renewed impetus in 199956 through the 
gradual elimination of tariff barriers to industr ial products originating in ECOWAS.  The new 
timetable for the TLS includes the creation of a "free-trade zone" as of 1 January 2004. 
67. The steps taken include the creation of a mechan ism to compensate for the loss of customs 
revenue caused by the preferential regime57 and the adoption of rules of origin harmonized with those 
of the WAEMU.58  The harmonization measures also cover definition of value added, approval 
procedures and related documents (for example, certificates of origin).59  I n  J u n e  2 0 0 4 ,  
774 enterprises and 2,433 products had been approved under the TLS.60 
68. Guinea is one of the ECOWAS member countri es outside the franc zone involved in the 
establishment of the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ), which has been deferred until 
1 December 2009 in view of the poor performance by member States as regards achievement of the convergence criteria (Chapter I(3)(iii)(c)). 
69. According to the ECOWAS programme, the custom s union will come into effect in 2007, in 
line with the timetable for the Economic Partnershi p Agreement (EPA) with the EU (see below) on 
the basis of an ECOWAS CET.  In principle, ECOWAS members that do not belong to the WAEMU 
must introduce a customs tariff harmonized with the WAEMU’s CET as of 2005, and Guinea has done this.  The convergence of the national custom s tariffs of ECOWAS members towards a CET is 
planned for the period 2005-2006. 
70. Together with the WAEMU Commission, ECOWAS  is involved in negotiations with the EU 
on the conclusion of an EPA (see below).
61  ECOWAS is also the focal point for implementation of 
the NEPAD project. 
71. In cooperation with donors, ECOWAS has la unched numerous projects to complete the 
communications, energy, transport and tourism networks in the subregion and make them 
interoperable ( inter alia , the West Africa Energy Pool (WAEP) project). 
72. ECOWAS is also responsible for settling disput es in the subregion (for example, in Côte 
d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau). 
(c) Mano River Union (MRU) 73. The MRU is an economic community originally set up by Liberia and Sierra Leone on 
3 October 1973 and then expanded to include Guin ea in 1979.  The Declaration establishing the MRU 
provides for the gradual creation of a customs uni on and the promotion of community development 
projects in all sectors, including services. 
                                                     
 
55 Executive Secretariat of ECOWAS (2000a). 
56 ECOWAS Press Release No. 46/1999.  See also Ex ecutive Secretariat of EC OWAS (2000b), Chapter II. 
57 Protocol A/P.2/01/03. The Fund’s resources consist of a community solidarity levy (0.5 per cent of the value of 
imports from outside ECOWAS) paid by Guinea since 1 Janu ary 2004 and by the other members to the compensation fund 
established by ECOWAS. 
58 Protocol A/P.1/01/03. 
59 WTO document WT/TPR/S/132 of 24 May 2004, Chapter II. 
60 "Panel on ECOWAS trade scheme set up", 30 June 2004.  Available at:  http ://www.nigeriafirst.org/ 
article_2607.shtml [28 December 2004]. 
61 Decision A/Dec.11/12/01. WT/TPR/S/153/Rev.1 Trade Policy Review 
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74. Because of the situation in the subregion, th e MRU’s activities were virtually frozen in 1994, 
but it would appear that the stabilization of the s ituation could lead to a revival of the MRU in a 
broader context, with the particip ation of Côte d’Ivoire and Mali.62 
(d) ACP-EU Partnership Agreement 
75. Guinea is one of the 79 ACP countries with  which the EU has signed a Partnership 
Agreement, which provisionally en tered into force on 1 March 2000.63  The Agreement’s trade 
provisions are one of the mechanisms for coopera tion between the ACP countries and the EU.  The 
latter allows industrial products and processed agricultural products originating in 78 ACP countries 
(except South Africa) to enter duty free without reciprocity. 
76. The WTO Members have granted these countries a waiver from the EU’s obligations under 
Article I.1 of the GATT 1994 (concerning MFN treatment) for the period 1 March 2000 to 
31 December 2007, by which time new trading arrang ements consistent with the WTO’s rules must 
have been concluded.64  Under the Cotonou Agreement, these arra ngements will be in the form of an 
EPA between the EU and various regional groups.65  The EU considers that the EPA negotiations will 
strengthen the regional integration pr ocess within the ECOWAS (see above). 
77. On 27 September 2002, the EU launched the EPA negotiations:  the first stage involved all 
the ACP countries and the EU and covered horizontal issues of interest to all parties; the second stage 
began with negotiations with the Economic and M onetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) on 
4 October 2003 and with West African countries re presented by ECOWAS, in collaboration with the 
WAEMU, on 6 October 2003.66  On 4 August 2004, the ECOWAS Ministers for Trade adopted their 
roadmap for the negotiations, which envisages, inter alia , the establishment of a free-trade zone 
between ECOWAS and the EU in accordance with WT O rules over a period of 12 years starting in 
January 2008.67 
(e) Bilateral trade agreements 78. Guinea has signed bilateral trade agreements w ith the following countries:  Côte d’Ivoire, 
Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Senegal, Gambia, Turkey  and China.  Only the agreement with Morocco 
contains preferential provisions. 
                                                     
 
62 "Cinq dirigeants ouest-africains pour la renaissance de l’Union du fleuve Mano", 22 May 2004, in L’Intelligent. 
Available at:  http://www.conakr yonline.com [25 January 2005]. 
63 The Agreement was signed on 23 June 2000 in Cotonou,  Benin, and entered into force definitively on 
1 April 2003 after ratification.  It replaced the Lomé Convent ion, which had been in effect since 1975 and whose fourth 
extension expired at the end of February 2000. 
64 WTO document WT/MIN(01)/15 of 14 November 2001.  The waiver granted by the WTO (WT/L/186), which 
extended the waiver under Article I (MFN) of the GATT for the Fourth Lomé Convention between the ACP countries and 
the EEC (GATT document L/7604), ended on 29 February 2000. 
65 According to the EU, the option of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) is not on the table.  It should be 
noted that the revised GSP scheme currently in force include s the "Everything But Arms" initiative in favour of LDCs, 
which came into effect on 5 March 2001, and allows duty free en try of all products except arms , with some exceptions (rice, 
bananas and sugar, to which tr ansitional arrangements apply). 
66 Press Release by the Trade DG of th e European Commission, 3 October 2003. 
67 Executive Secretariat of ECOWAS, Press Release No. 61 of 4 August 2004. Republic of Guinea WT/TPR/S/153/Rev.1 
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ANNEX II.1:  TRADE-RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
(1) O VERVIEW  
1. Since the first trade policy review in 1999, Gu inea has benefited from many actions carried 
out by the WTO, the IMF and the World Bank, as well as organizations in the United Nations system, 
particularly UNCTAD, the ICC and UNDP, to foster the development of its international trade.  
Guinea takes part in the restructur ed Integrated Framework (IF), under which an Action Plan has been 
drawn up and endorsed by the authorities.  Under th is Plan, the WTO scheduled a number of actions 
on behalf of Guinea in 2004 and 2005 and future actions are envisaged. 
(2) A CTION CARRIED OUT BY THE WTO  SINCE 199568 
2. In order to accelerate growth and alleviate the effects of poverty, Guinea adopted a Poverty 
Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) in 2002.  One of the Strategy’s cornerstones is strong economic 
growth based in particular on the promotion of no n-mining exports.  Guinea has applied to participate 
in the restructured IF in order to identify refo rms capable of boosting growth in sectors with export 
potential and to define a plan of action, together with priorities.69  In this context, a Diagnostic Trade 
Integration Study (DTIS) was conducted in August 2003. 
3. The Study led to the preparation and endorseme nt of an action plan in November 2003 which 
is currently being incorporated into the PRSP.  The Action Plan provides for short-term, medium-term 
and long-term objectives and reforms.  The objectiv es are defined according to their contribution both 
to the development of trade and to the poverty reduction strategy, which is the essentially new 
element in the restructured IF approach.  Th e aim is to strengthen regional integration and 
competitiveness, as well as to establish an institutio nal framework that encourages growth in exports, 
to reinforce action by the customs authorities, to lessen the number of obstacles at the infrastructure 
level, which are hampering Guinea’s integration, and to exploit the export potential afforded by 
agricultural and fisheries products, as well as handicr afts and tourism, as the development of these 
sectors has a particularly marked effect on poverty reduction. 
4. The actions carried out by the WTO in Guinea focus on four main areas:  the development of 
human resources, institutional strengthening, support for the implementation of the 
WTO Agreements, and support for participation by the authorities in the Doha Development 
Agenda (DDA).  Regarding the latter, the objective is to gain a better understanding of what is at 
stake, a clearer vision of Guinea’s objectives and to  prepare a negotiating strategy.  Guinea took an 
active part in the WTO Ministerial Conferences in Doha and Cancún. 
5. Between the first review in 1999 and the e nd of 2004, Guinean officials took part in 
89 activities organized by the WTO, including 20 semi nars (three national, 17 regional), workshops 
(one national, 26 regional) , training courses (two national, 17 regional), four technical missions in 
Guinea and 19 other activities.  These activities focused on the following issues: trade and the 
environment, the Integrated Database and the Consolidated Tariff Schedule (CTS), the DDA and 
preparations for Cancún, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, the GATS, 
agriculture, dispute settlement practices and proce dures, market access, customs valuation, WTO rules 
on safeguard, anti-dumping and countervailing measures,  trade policy review, textiles, notifications, 
                                                      
 68 This Annex has been prepared using, inter alia , information available in the Technical Assistance Database kept 
by the Training and Tec hnical Cooperation Institute. 
 69 Available at:  http://www.integratedfra mework.org. Guinea was already one of  the 12 countries that participated 
in the process under the Integrated Framework (IF),  as originally designed in 1997 (see WTO document 
WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4 of 24 October 1997).  It did not participate in JITAP I (J oint Integrated Technical Assistance 
Programme) is not a participant in phase II, even though the authorities hope to participate eventually. WT/TPR/S/153/Rev.1 Trade Policy Review 
Page 26 
 
 
the reference centre, the implementation of rul es, trade and competition, trade and investment, 
government procurement, regional workshop on co tton, special and differential treatment, trade-
related intellectual property rights, and trade nego tiating techniques.  Moreover, during the same 
period, three officials took part in the trade policy courses organized by the Training Institute in 
Geneva (one additional person is envisaged in 2005).  A workshop on the trade policy review 
mechanism was held in Conakry on 8 November 2004 when the process of reviewing Guinea’s trade 
policy for the second time was initiated. 
6. At the support infrastructure level, the refere nce centre established in February 1998 was 
updated in June 2004.  The centre, located on the prem ises of the Ministry of Trade, is operational and 
is used by the Ministry’s officials. 
(3) A CTION PLANNED BY THE WTO  FOR 200570 
7. The WTO has included several activities for Fren ch-speaking African LDCs in its technical 
assistance and training plan for 2005, and Guinean o fficials may take part in these, particularly the 
trade policy courses in Geneva and a regional seminar. 
(4) A CTION REQUESTED BY THE AUTHORITIES  
8. The Guinean authorities have sent to the Secr etariat a full list of Guinea’s objectives and 
needs for trade-related technical assistance.  The main objective is to build the capacity of the Comité 
National des Négociations Internationales  – CNNCI (National Committee for International 
Negotiations), an interministerial structure whose objective is to follow work at the WTO and, more 
generally, trade policy issues.  The priority areas are:  implementation of the WTO Agreements on 
sanitary and phytosanitary measure s, geographical indications, competition, anti-dumping measures, 
intellectual property (especially questions related to  essential medicines), food security, notifications, 
as well as the DDA and the question of Guinean cott on.  Strengthening of the WTO reference centre 
and/or the establishment of a second centre would also  be welcome.  The authorities hope possibly to 
receive material support for the improvement of secu rity at the Autonomous Port of Conakry and for 
the purchase of ASYCUDA++ by Customs, which the authorities have defined as a prerequisite for 
the implementation of the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation.  The authorities would also like to 
be able to promote awareness of trade policy issu es among decision-makers dealing with trade policy 
and among economic operators. 
                                                      
 70 WTO document WT/COMTD/W/133/Rev.2 of 16 December 2004.