WT/TPR/S/183 Trade Policy Review 
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II. TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES 
(1) OVERVIEW  
1. The Central African Republic gained inde pendence (from France) on 13 August 1960.  Its 
seventh Constitution, approved by popular refe rendum on 5 December 2004, restored a multi-party 
system1, and the presidential and legislative elections held the following year succeeded in stabilizing 
the political landscape.  These elections brought to an  end the two-year transition period established 
following the coup d'état , which occurred on 15 March 2003 in the midst of a socio-political crisis 
stretching back to 1996.2  Nonetheless, the security situation remains tense in the two prefectures 
situated on the borders with Chad (to the north) and Sudan (to the east).3 
2. The President of the Republic, who serves as bot h Head of State and head of the executive 
branch, is elected by direct universal suffrage in  two rounds of voting, for a five-year mandate 
renewable for one further term.  The President a ppoints the Prime Minister (Head of Government) 
and, on the latter's recommendation, also appoints the other members of the Government, setting their 
responsibilities by decree.  The National Assembly is  a single-chamber parliament, with 105 deputies 
elected by direct universal suffrage for five-year term s.  The right to initiate legislation is shared 
between the executive and the legislature.  Once adopted by the National Assembly, a draft law 
becomes law after it has been promulgated by  the Head of State and published in the  Official Journal.  
3. The President of the Republic (or his/her dele gate) negotiates and signs international treaties 
and agreements which are sub sequently submitted to the Nati onal Assembly for ratification.4  Once 
ratified and promulgated by the Head of State, trea ties and international agreements take precedence 
over domestic laws, subject, in each case, to their being applied by the other party.  They are 
applicable as law in the Central African Republic, an d automatically enforceable.  Under this monist 
system, the WTO Agreement may be invoked directly  in the national courts, although this has never 
yet happened. 
4. After international treaties and agreements  and the Constitution come laws, ordinances5, 
decrees, orders and decisions.  The Central Afri can Republic's principal trade-related laws and 
regulations are listed in Table II.1.  The country’s trade policy is based on regulations established at 
supranational level – the result of  multilateral, regional and subreg ional integration (see section (3) 
below) – and on national regulations  which complement the supranati onal provisions and deal with all 
the aspects that lie outside their scope. 
                                                      
1 The first Constitution dates from 15 February 1959 (before independence;  the second, from 1964;  
the third, from 4 December 1977;  the fourth, from 1 February 1981;  the fifth, from 26 November 1986;  and 
the sixth, from 14 June 1995. 
2 For further details on the evolution of the socio- political situation in the Central African Republic 
since independence, see UNHCR  (2005), Fiche Pays, République Centrafricaine .  Consulted at:  
www.unhcr.org [31 July 2006]. 
3 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France (2006). 
4 Title V of the 2004 Constitution.  The Constitutional Court can be called upon, either by the President 
of the Republic, or by one third of all deputies, to rule  on the constitutionality of treaties and agreements.  When 
the Constitutional Court finds that an international commitment contains a clause that is contrary to the 
Constitution, it may not be ratified or approved until the Constitution has been amended. 
5 Under Article 29 of the 2004 Cons titution, the Presid ent of the Republic may seek authorization from 
the National Assembly to take measures by ordinance which normally require legislation.  Ordinances are 
adopted by the Council of Ministers, following a ruling by the Constitutional Court.  They enter into force upon publication, but expire if they are not ratified within the period indicated in the enabling legislation. Central African Republic WT/TPR/S/183 
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Table II.1 
Principal trade-related laws and regulations, March 2007 
Sector Instrument/law 
Customs legislation Customs Code of the Central African Economic and Monetary 
Community (CEMAC);  the CEMAC common external tariff and 
exceptions specific to the Central African Republic 
Status of trader Ordinance No. 83.083 of 31 December 1983 
 Customs valuation  CEMAC Customs Code  
Pre-shipment inspection 
- Imports 
- Wood exports BIVAC/CAR Contract of 17 November 2003 
BIVAC/CAR Contract of 1 March 2005 
Value added tax, excise duties, and cust oms border levies General Tax Code (Ja nuary 2006 edition) and Finance Laws 2006 
and 2007 
Import prohibitions and licences Decree No. 86.328 of 20 November 1986  
Sanitary and phytosanitary measures Laws Nos. 65/61 and 65/62 of 3 June 1965, Law No. 62/350 of 
4 January 1963 
Investment Law No. 01.10 of 16 July 2001 
Procedures and regulations for the establishment of private commercial enterprises Seven uniform acts of the Organi zation for the Harmonization of 
Business Law in Africa (OHADA) 
Protection of patents, industria l designs, and trademarks, new 
plant varieties Revised Bangui Agreement (1999) 
Protection of copyright and related ri ghts Ordinance No. 85.002 of 5 January 1985 
Competition and prices Law No. 92.002 of 26 May 1992;  Finance Law  2007 (Article 51) 
Privatization of State-owned enterp rises Law No. 95.007 of  15 August 1995 
Government procurement Decrees Nos.  61/135, 61/136, 61/137 and 61/138 of 
19 August 1961;  Decrees Nos. 88.078 and 88.079 of 
4 March 1988;  Decree No. 98.070 of 25 March 1998 (under review)  
Forestry Law No. 90.003 of 9 June 1990 (under review) 
Fauna Law No. 84.045 of 27 July 1984 
Fisheries Ordinance No. 71/090 of 6 August 1971 (under review)  
Mining and radioactive minerals Ordinance No. 04.001 of 1 February 2004;  Law No. 06.031 of 
27 September 2006 
Hydrocarbons Ordinance No. 93.007 of 25 May 1993 
Electricity Ordinance No. 05.001 of 1 January 2005 
Water Law No. 06.001 of 12 April 2006  
Road transport Decree No. 90.043 of 13 February 1990 
River transport CEMAC/DRC Inland Waterway Navigation Code of 
17 December 1999  
Civil aviation Law No. 65.063 of 29 July 1965;  CEMAC Civil Aviation Code 
of 21 July 2000 
Telecommunications Law No. 96.008 of 3 January 1996 
Postal services Decree No. 93.054 of 19 February 1993 
Tourism Decree No. 01.242 of 14 September 2001 
Banking and microfinance services BEAC and UMAC provisions 
Insurance Insurance Code of the Inter-African Conference on Insurance 
Markets (CIMA) 
Source : Central African authorities.  
5. The Constitution provides for the separation of powers.6  Judicial power is exercised by the 
Constitutional Court, the Court of Cassation , the Court of Auditors, the Disputes Tribunal (on 
jurisdictional issues) and the Supreme Court of Justice.  The Council of State hears appeals and 
applications for annulment against rulings issued by administrative tribunals, administrative bodies of 
                                                      
6 Article 78 of the 2004 Constitution. WT/TPR/S/183 Trade Policy Review 
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a jurisdictional nature, and the Court of Audito rs.  The Constitutional Court issues rulings on the 
conformity of laws with the Cons titution, and its decisions are final.  Commercial litigation is heard in 
the first instance by the Commercial Court, and on ap peal by the civil and commercial chamber of the 
Court of Appeal, except where recourse is made to OHADA arbitration.7  Disputes between investors 
and the State are dealt with separately (section (4) below).  Other institutions have been established 
under the Constitution, namely the Economic and Soci al Council (which is due to be operational as 
from early 2007)8, the Higher Council for Communication9, and the National Mediation Council.10 
6. At the executive level, the main function of the Mi nistry in charge of trade is to formulate and 
implement trade policy, while the Ministry in char ge of industry defines investment policy.  The 
Ministry in charge of trade deals with issues relati ng to the Central African Republic's participation in 
the WTO and in regional, subregional and bilatera l trade mechanisms;  a ministry representative is 
responsible for the Executive Secretariat of th e National Trade Negotiations Committee.  Other 
ministries are also involved in formulation and implementation of these policies, specifically:  the Ministry in charge of finance, which includes cu stoms services and handles government procurement;  
the Office of the Prime Minister, which is responsible  for privatizations;  and, on sectoral issues, the 
ministries responsible for rural development, forest ry, energy, mining, transport, telecommunications, 
postal services and tourism. 
7. The Central African Republic is organized in regions, which are subdivided into prefectures, 
sub-prefectures, communes and villages;  these subdi visions are headed by government appointees. 
8. The principal business support structure is the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mining and 
Crafts (CCIMA), whose mission was renewed in earl y 2006.  This organization also encompasses the 
Enterprise Formalities Centre.  Within the CCIMA, a permanent team for private-sector/government cooperation started to operate in January 2007.  The CCIMA and civ il society organizations consider 
themselves insufficiently involved in the formulati on of trade and investment policy in the Central 
African Republic.  There is no national organization tasked with evaluating the country's trade policy. 
(2) P
OLICY OBJECTIVES  
9. The Central African Republic' general policy obj ectives are set out in the presidential social 
project, which was presented on 11 June 2005 at the investiture of the National Assembly.  
Implementation of this project was announced in the general policy programme presented by the 
Prime Minister to the National Assembly on 8 August 2005.  The programme makes a diagnostic 
study of the country's economic and financial s ituation, which is classified as "catastrophic" 
specifically because of the unsustainable burden of the external debt, cumulative arrears of domestic 
payments, the steady decline of public and private in vestment, and the divide between the rural world 
and urban areas.  The population is living in a st ate of poverty that is considered "alarming". 
10. The Central African Republic has established a programme which has been supported since 
December 2006 by a Poverty Reduction and Growth F acility (PRGF) with the International Monetary 
                                                      
7 The OHADA's Uniform Arbitration Act was adopted on 11 July 1999 and entered into force 90 days 
later (Art. 9 of the Harmonization Treaty). 
8 Title IX of the 2004 Constitution.  The Economic  and Social Council is a consultative body, which 
must be consulted on any plan or draft law relating to an economic, social or cultural programme of action.  The 
Council may also be consulted on any draft treaty or international agreement of an economic type. 
9 Title XI of the 2004 Constitution.  The Council is tasked with upholding freedom of expression and 
equal access for all State agencies pursuant to current laws. 
10 Title XII of the 2004 Constitution.  This mechanism is directed by an independent person, with the 
title of Mediator of the Republic. Central African Republic WT/TPR/S/183 
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Fund (IMF) (Chapter I(2)).11  Its key objectives are to promote reconstruction and economic revival 
by reducing budgetary imbalances and strengthening economic governance,  particularly in relation to 
the business environment.  During 2007, the aut horities intend to finalize their Poverty Reduction 
Strategy Paper (PRSP), and hope to gain admittance to the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries 
(HIPC) initiative. 
11. In this reconstruction period, the Central Afri can Republic aims to promote the production of 
goods that are competitive on foreign markets, primarily  by giving preference to local raw materials.  
It is relying on subregional and regional economic integration to improve its access to neighbouring 
markets, and on technology transfer to establish th e necessary production capacity.  With regard to 
tariffs, at the present time fiscal concerns gene rally outweigh economic aspects (more specifically 
trade issues):  in the first nine months of 2006, taxes on international trade accounted for 65 per cent 
of all fiscal revenue (excluding grants).  Nonethel ess, in the PRSP framework, the authorities intend 
to upgrade their various trade policy instruments, for which they will draw on this WTO trade policy 
review and the Diagnostic Trade Integration St udy (DTIS) under the Integrated Framework. 
12. The country's investment policy is based on the Investment Charter (section (4) below), the 
Forestry Code (Chapter IV(2)(ii)), the Mini ng Code and the Law on Radioactive Minerals 
(Chapter IV(3)(i)), the Hydrocarbons Code (Chapter IV(3)(ii)), and the Tourism Code (Chapter IV(5)(ii)).  The Government is also implementing a privatizati on programme designed to 
attract direct foreign investment (Chapter III(3)(iv)). 
(3) T
RADE AGREEMENTS AND ARRANGEMENTS  
(i) The WTO 
13. The Central African Republic has been a member of the WTO since 31 May 199512,  in which 
it has been recognized as a "least developed country" (LDC ).  It is not a party to any of the plurilateral 
agreements or any of the protocols and other agre ements concluded under WTO auspices, but it grants 
most-favoured-nation (MFN) treatment as a mi nimum to all of its trading partners. 
14. The concessions made by the Central African  Republic during the Uruguay Round are 
contained in Schedule CIV for tariff bindings (Cha pter III(2)(iv)), and in document GATS/SC/17 as 
regards its commitments under the General Agreemen t on Trade in Services (GATS) (Chapter IV(5)).  
The country has been experiencing some difficulties in connection with its WTO notifications.  Apart 
from the treaty establishing the Central African Economic and Monetary Community ( Communauté 
économique et monétaire de l’Afrique centrale  – CEMAC) (section (ii)(d) below), the authorities have 
notified several measures to the Committee on Technical  Barriers to Trade, some of which fall within 
the jurisdiction of other WTO bodies.13  No notification has been made to the WTO Integrated 
Database (IDB).14 
                                                      
11 IMF (2007). 
12 The Central African Republic inherited the status of contracting party on 3 May 1963 
(Article XXVI:5(c) of the GATT 1994) after having applied the GATT de facto since 14 August 1960. 
13 WTO documents G/TBT/N/CAF/6 of 19 January 2006, on measures taken regarding the importation 
of poultry and poultry by-products for the purpose of combating avian influenza;  G/TBT/N/CAF/5 of 2 December 2004, establishing a regulatory body for the importation of sugar into the Central African Republic 
(see also WTO document G/TBT/N/CA F/3 of 1 December 2004);  G/TBT/ N/CAF/4 of 1 December 2004, on 
the regulation of prices of basic commodities;  G/TBT/N/CAF/3 of 1 December 2004, on the monopoly of sugar imports, with regard to which the authorities have invok ed Article XIX of the GATT 1994;  G/TBT/N/CAF/2 of WT/TPR/S/183 Trade Policy Review 
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15. The fact that the Central African Republic does not maintain a mission in Geneva hinders its 
participation in WTO activities, although it does participate in WTO ministerial conferences.15  The 
country supports the positions adopted by LDCs, the African Group and Africa Caribbean Pacific (ACP) countries on the issues of multilateral oblig ations and the strengthening of technical 
cooperation activities.  It is eligible for WTO trade policy courses and has benefited from several 
forms of technical assistance offered by the WTO.  Nonetheless, further trade-related technical 
assistance is required (Annex II.1). 
(ii) Regional agreements 
(a) African Union
16 
16. The Central African Republic is a founding member of the African Union, the successor to 
the Organization of African Unity (OAU).17  Eventually, the African Union will be an economic and 
monetary union whose institutions will include a Conference of Heads of State and Government 
(already established), a Council of Ministers (establis hed), a Peace and Security Council (established), 
a Commission (established), and a Pan-African Parliament (established), together with a Central 
Bank, a Monetary Fund, an African Investment Ba nk, a Court of Justice, an Economic, Social and 
Cultural Council (statutes already pr epared), and technical committees. 
17. The African Economic Community (AEC) was founded under the auspices of the OAU, now 
the AU, under the terms of the Treaty of Abuja in June 1991.  This treaty provides for the creation of 
an African common market in six st ages spread over 34 years.  The integration process is based on the 
coordination and harmonization of tariff and non-tariff measures, between various trade and 
subregional groups (known as regional economic comm unities (RECs), with a view to establishing a 
continental customs union. 
18. The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), adopted at the Lusaka (Zambia) 
Summit in 2001, is an AU programme  managed at Central African le vel by the Economic Community 
of Central African States ( Communauté économique des États d’Afrique centrale  – ECCAS) 
(section (c) below). 
(b) Community of Sahelan-Saharan States (CEN-SAD)18 
19. The Central African Republic is a member of CEN-SAD19, the institutional framework of 
which consists of the Conference of Heads of State and Government, the Executive Council, the 
General Secretariat, the Sahel-Sa hara Investment and Trade Bank to  be established in Bangui during 
                                                                                                                                                                     
1 December 2004, on the ban on importation of certain pr oducts containing mercury;   and G/TBT/N/CAF/1 of 
1 December 2004, on the compulsory ma rking of packaging and containers of  tobacco products offered for sale. 
14 WTO document G/MA/IDB/2/Rev.23 of 27 March 2006.  
15 WTO documents WT/MIN(03)/ST/132 of  13 September 2003 and WT/MIN(05)/ST/32 of 
14 December 2005. 
16 Consulted at:  http://www.africa-union.org. 
17 The Charter establishing the OAU was signed on 25 May 1963.  The Constitutive Act of the African 
Union was adopted at the summit held in July 2000 in Lomé (Togo).  The African Union, which has now replaced the OAU, was proclaimed on 11 July 2001 in Lu saka after ratification of the Constitutive Act by more 
than 44 of the 53 Member States of the OAU.  The Durban Summit of 9 July 2002 launched the African Union. 
18 www.cen-sad.org [12 March 2007]. 
19 CEN-SAD was created on 4 February 1978, and has its headquarters in Tripoli, Libya.  CEN-SAD 
currently has a membership of 23 countries:  Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte 
d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Gambia, Ghana, Gu inea Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Niger, 
Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, and Tunisia. Central African Republic WT/TPR/S/183 
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2007) and the Economic, Social and Cultural Council.   CEN-SAD has signed the protocol on relations 
between the AEC and the RECs (section (a) above). 
20. CEN-SAD member countries have agreed to implement a free trade zone as from 
1 January 2007.  This should be fully establishe d by 2010 and after 34 years become a customs 
union.20  As of March 2007, however, the tariff reduc tion process leading to the establishment of a 
free trade area had not yet begun. 
(c) Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)21 
21. The Central African Republic is a founder member  of the ECCAS, which is the result of an 
enlargement of the CEMAC (section (d) below) to  include the members of the Economic Community 
of the Great Lakes Countries ( Commission économique des pays des Grands Lacs  – CEPGL) and 
Sao Tomé and Principe.22  The ECCAS institutional framework c onsists of the Conference of Heads 
of State and Government (already established), th e Council of Ministers (established), a Court of 
Justice, the General Secretariat (established), the Consultative Commission (established), and specialized technical committees.  The ECCAS also  includes a specialist body, the Central African 
Power Pool ( Pool énergétique de l’Afrique centrale – PEAC), created on 2 April 2003 as a platform 
for subregional consultation a nd decisions on energy issues. 
22. After a long period of inactivity, the ECCAS is now regarded as one of the pillars of the 
African Union's AEC (section (a) a bove), and it signed the protocol on relations between the AEC and 
the RECs in October 1999.  An important achieveme nt, considering the numerous  conflicts that have 
afflicted the region, is the creation of a mechan ism for promoting peace, security and stability in 
Central Africa, known as the Council for Peace, Security and Stability in Central Africa ( Conseil de 
paix, de sécurité et de stabilité de l’Afrique centrale – COPAX).
23  On 24 January 2003, with a view 
to concluding an Economic Partne rship Agreement (EPA) with Cent ral Africa, the European Union 
signed a financial agreement with the ECCA S and the CEMAC for the purpose of supporting 
subregional integration.24  This provides for a future merger between the ECCAS and the CEMAC. 
23. ECCAS member countries have adopted a schem e for reducing tariffs on intra-community 
trade, known as the ECCAS Preferential Tariff, t ogether with rules of origin and agreement 
procedures at the community level, which were supposed to enter into force on 1 July 2004.25  The 
free trade area is due to be established no later than 31 December 2007, in accordance with the 
timetable for the EPA with the EU (section (d) below).  As of March 2007, however, the tariff 
reduction process leading to the establishment of a free trade area had not yet begun. 
24. Member countries, including the Central Afri can Republic, finance the activities of the 
ECCAS General Secretariat by levying a 0.4 per cent Community integration contribution  
                                                      
20 Consulted at:  www.bilaterals.org [12 March 2007]. 
21 NEPAD (undated). 
22 The ECCAS was created on 18 October 1975 and has its headquarters at Libreville, Gabon.  It 
currently has 11 member countries:  Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, 
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Gu inea, Gabon, Rwanda, and Sao Tomé and Principe. 
The members of the CEPGL are:  Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda. 
23 Decision No. 001Y/FEV/25/1999. 
24 European Commission (2003). 
25 Decision  No. 03/CEEAC/CCEG/XI/04.  The tariff reduction timetable envisaged is as follows:  for 
traditional handicraft and local products (other than mining products) a 100 per cent reduction from 1 July 2004;  
in the case of mining products and manufactured products with originating status, 50 per cent from 1 July 2004, 70 per cent as of 1 January 2005, 90 per cent as of 1 January 2006, and 100 per cent as of 1 January 2007. WT/TPR/S/183 Trade Policy Review 
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(Contribution communautaire d'intégration  – CCI) on imports originating in countries outside the 
ECCAS.  The CCI is collected by the customs services of the member countries. 
(d) Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC)26 
25. The Central African Republic and its neighbours share a long history of regional integration, 
which formally began with independence.  Comp lementing the Central African Monetary Union 
(Union monétaire de l’Afrique centrale – UMAC) (Chapter I(1)), the Central African Customs and 
Economic Union ( Union douanière et économique de l’Afrique centrale – UDEAC) was established 
by the Treaty of Brazzaville of 1964.  The process of economic integration within this Union was 
re-launched in the early 1990s (a period also mark ed by the devaluation of the CFA franc) under the 
treaty establishing the CEMAC, which began its activities on 1 January 1998.27 
26. The CEMAC institutional framework consists of the Conference of Heads of State and 
Government, the Council of Ministers, the Executiv e Secretariat (based at Bangui), the Inter-State 
Committee (whose chief task is to make prepara tions for the deliberations of the Council of 
Ministers), the Community Court of Justice (operational since 2000), and the Community Parliament (the relevant Convention will be ratified later), whose functions in  the meantime are fulfilled by an 
Inter-Parliamentary Commission set up on 22 June 2000. 
27. The CEMAC established the Central African Economic Union ( Union économique de 
l’Afrique centrale – UEAC), which takes over the commitments of the UDEAC, and pursues the 
following objectives:  to strengthen the compe titiveness of economic and financial activities by 
harmonizing the relevant rules;  to achieve convergence towards sust ainable performance by 
coordinating economic policies a nd aligning national budgetary polic ies with the common monetary 
policy
28;  to create a common market founded on the free movement of goods, services, capital and 
people;  and to institute coordination of national sectoral policies, implement joint measures and adopt 
common policies, particularly in the following areas :  agriculture, livestock and fisheries, industry, 
trade, tourism, transport, telecommunications , energy, environment, research, education and 
vocational training.29 
28. The achievements of the UDEAC include the following:  adoption of common customs 
regulations;  establishment of a common external tariff (CET) and a generalized preferential tariff 
(tariff préférentiel généralisé – TPG) in June 199330;  and the adoption of provisions relating to duty- 
and tax-free entry.31  The objectives of the UDEAC were to be  achieved in three five-year stages:  
from June 1999 to June 2004 – laying the groundwor k for implementation of the free movement of 
goods, services, capital and natural persons;  from June 2004 to June 200 9 – implementing free 
movement;  and from June 2009 to June 2014  – developing common sectoral policies. 
                                                      
26 Consulted at:  www.cem ac.cf [31 Ju ly 2006]. 
27 The treaty was signed on 16 March 1994 by Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, 
Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon.  On 5 February 1998, th e Heads of State proclaimed  the end of the UDEAC and 
the birth of the CEMAC (Decision No. 6/98-UDEAC-CEM AC-CE-33).  The CEMAC treaty was notified to the 
WTO in 2000 under the enabling clause by CEMAC memb ers that are also WTO members (all of them except 
for Equatorial Guinea, which has observer status).  See WTO documents WT/COMTD/N/13 and 
WT/COMTD/24 of 29 September 2000. 
28 Directive No. 01/00/UEAC-064-CM-04 concerns mu ltilateral surveillance criteria and the relevant 
modalities (Chapter I(2)). 
29 Article 2 of the UEAC Convention. 
30 Act No. 7/93-UDEAC-556-CD-SE1, as amended. 
31 Act No. 2/92-UDEAC-556-CD-SE1, as amended. Central African Republic WT/TPR/S/183 
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29. According to the report on the first stage32, CEMAC members concentrated on enhancing the 
four freedoms of movement within the common mark et.  With respect to the free movement of goods, 
the following steps were taken:  harmonization of the application of VAT and excise duties33;  
revision of the CET in 2001 to bring it into line with the 2002 version of the Harmonized System 
(HS)34 and a study for the establishment of a common th ird-country trade policy;  amendment of the 
CEMAC Customs Code with the incorporation of the Acts and Regulations relating to economic 
regimes, customs valuation under WTO rules, and rules of origin.35  Regulations applicable to 
enterprises to ensure free competition in the common market and those applicable to government aid 
are not yet in force.36 
30. For the purposes of application of the TPG, community origin is certified by the CEMAC 
movement certificate.37  Community origin status is conferre d on products which are:  (a) wholly 
obtained in a CEMAC member State38;  (b) local;  or (c) manufactured on CEMAC territory.39  In 
2006, Community origin is, in principle, conferred on  industrial products if at least 50 per cent of the 
total value of raw materials used in their manufactur e is of Community origin.  Approval is granted by 
the CEMAC Council of Ministers. 
31. CEMAC members consider it particularly impor tant to coordinate the national transport 
policies of member States 40 in order to promote trade development.  This issue is a special priority for 
a land-locked country such as the Central Africa n Republic (Chapter IV(5)(i)).  CEMAC action to 
develop large trans-African networ ks is being supported by an EU -Africa partnership launched by the 
European Commission in mid-2006.41 
32. As regards the free movement of capital, the adoption of the CEMAC Investment Charter in 
199942 has led to reviews of investment regulatory fra meworks in several member countries, including 
the Central African Republic (section (4) below).  The CEMAC has also harmonized the application 
of corporate taxation among its members.43  A CEMAC passport has been adopted but for the moment 
is only recognized in Africa.44  In addition, a "single authorization" system adopted in 
                                                      
32 CEMAC Executive Se cretariat (2005). 
33 Directive No. 1/99-CEMAC-028-CM-03. 
34Regulation No. 16/03/CEMAC-1368-CM-11.  Accord ing to the authorities, the CEMAC CET is not 
fully implemented in the Central Africa n Republic (Chapter III (2)(iv)(a)). 
35 Act No. 8/65-UDEAC-37, as amended by Regulation No. 5/01-UDEAC-097-CM-06. 
36 Regulation No. 1/99/UEAC-CM-639, and Regulation No. 4/99/UEAC-CM-639. 
37 Article 12 of Act No. 7/93-UDEAC-556-CD-SE1, the provisions of which are clarified by Circular 
No. 471/SG/DUD. 
38 For example, minerals extracted from the soil or seabed, and the products of agriculture, fishing and 
hunting or goods made wholly from these products without imported inputs. 
39 Act No. 7/93-UDEAC-556-CD-SE1, amended by Act No. 1/98-UDEAC-1505-CD-61.  Products 
obtained in UDEAC free zones and free points are subject to the CET and also liable for domestic taxes in both 
their country of production and in other member States. 
40, The main CEMAC instruments relating to the transpor t sector are as follows:  the Merchant Marine 
Code (2001);  the CEMAC/DRC Inland Waterway Navigation Code (1999);  the Air Transport Agreement between CEMAC member States (1999);  the UDEAC Highway Code (1989);  and the UDEAC International 
Certificate of Automobile Civil Liability Insurance (pink card introduced in 2000). 
41 European Commission press release IP/06/986 of 13 July 2006.  Consulted at:  europa.eu.int 
[31 July 2006]. 
42 Regulation No. 17/99/CEMAC-020-CM-03. 
43 Directive No. 02/01/UEAC-050-CM-06. 
44 Regulation No. 1/00-CEMAC-042-CM-04. WT/TPR/S/183 Trade Policy Review 
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November 2000, aims to facilitate the establishmen t of banks within the CEMAC, and to promote 
competition between them (Chapter IV(5)(iv)).45 
33. According to the conclusions drawn by th e Executive Secretariat, from the practical 
standpoint the CEMAC has to contend with numerous  constraints.  Despite implementation of the 
TPG, intra-community trade, which involves products  from the secondary sector only, barely exceeds 
3 per cent of the total value of CEMAC trade – a situ ation that is "explained mainly by the fact that 
Community's exports consist essentially of raw ma terials that are not traditionally traded among 
member countries".46  The Executive Secretariat also cites "misapplication of the tax and customs 
codes and regulations, tariff and non-tariff barriers to intra-regional trade, poor compliance with 
Community rules of origin and provisions on the regulation of competition".47  A  b a r r i e r  t o  t h e  
movement of goods which particularly affects the Central African Republic is the absence of a single 
entry point system, which results in the double taxation of products in transit through the port of Douala in Cameroon (Chapter III(2)(ii)).
48 
34. The member countries, including the Central African Republic, finance the activities of the 
Executive Secretariat through the CEMAC’s Community integration tax  (Taxe communautaire 
d'intégration – TCI) levied at a rate of 1 per cent on impor ts from third countries.  The tax has been 
levied since 2002 and is collected by the customs services of CEMAC member countries.  Nonetheless some countries are failing to transf er their TCI revenues to the CEMAC Executive 
Secretariat, which partly explains its financial difficulties.
49  Moreover, 70 per cent of the income 
obtained from the TCI is supposed to compensate for the loss of tax revenues suffered by member 
countries as a result of integration.  As the non- availability of those revenues makes compensation 
impossible, the Central African Republic has obtaine d a waiver on application of the TPG, owing to 
the cash flow problems it is experiencing. 
35. With a view to the negotiation of an EPA betw een the EU and Central Africa, consisting of 
the CEMAC countries, along with Sao Tomé and Prin cipe and the Democratic Republic of the Congo 
(section (e) below), the CEMAC is in the process of negotiating a free trade agreement with 
Sao Tomé and Principe, and expects to do the sa me with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 
(e) Relations with the European Union (EU) 
36. The Central African Republic is one of the 79 ACP countries with which the EU signed the 
Cotonou Agreement, which entered provisionally into force on 1 March 2000.50  The trade provisions 
are one of the mechanisms for cooperation between  the ACP countries and the EU, whereby the latter 
grants duty-free admission to industrial products a nd the majority of processed agricultural products 
originating in 78 ACP countries (excluding South Africa) on a non-reciprocal basis. 
37. The Members of the WTO have granted th e EU a waiver from its obligations under 
Article I:1 of the GATT 1994 (on MFN treatment) for the period extending from 1 March 2000 to 
31 December 2007, at which date new trading a rrangements consistent with WTO rules must be 
                                                      
45 Regulation No. 1/00/CEMAC/UMAC/COBAC. 
46 CEMAC Executive Se cretariat (2004). 
47 CEMAC Executive Se cretariat (2005). 
48 Zafar A., and K. Kubota (2003). 
49 ECPDM (2006).  One of the reasons for non-payment of the TCI is dissatisfaction among certain 
CEMAC member countries with the use made of such revenue. 
50 The agreement was signed on 23 June 2000 at Cotonou, in Benin, and officially entered into force on  
1 April 2003 after its ratification.  The Agreement replaced the Lomé Conv ention, in effect  since 1975, whose 
fourth extension expired at the end of February 2000. Central African Republic WT/TPR/S/183 
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concluded between the two parties.51  In accordance with the Coton ou Agreement, these arrangements 
will take the form of EPAs between the EU and various ACP regional groupings. 
38. The EU initiated the EPA negotiation process on 27 September 2002.  The first phase 
involved all the ACP countries and the EU, and concerned horizontal issues of interest to all the 
parties;  the second phase began with the start of EPA negotiations between Central Africa and the EU 
in October 2003, followed by the opening of ne gotiations on other EPAs.  The roadmap for the 
negotiations on the Economic Partne rship Agreement between Central Africa and the European Union 
was signed by the parties on 16 July 2004, and provides, among other things, for the establishment of a WTO-consistent free trade area over a 12-year  period starting in January 2008.  At their 
February 2007 meeting, the officials responsible for the EPA negotiations between Central Africa and 
the EU agreed to embark on the second phase immedi ately, which will involve "drafting of the EPA 
legislation, negotiation of market access offers , and identification and implementation of EPA 
monitoring measures."
52 
39. The EU's Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) incorporates the "Everything but Arms" 
initiative53, under which the EU has granted duty -free access since 2001, with no quantitative 
restrictions, to products (except for arms and amm unition) originating in LDCs such as the Central 
African Republic.  Nonetheless, temporary exceptions were stipulated for bananas (until the end of 
2005), and for rice and sugar (until the end of 2009).54  According to the authorities, Central African 
economic operators are not using the preferences agreed under this initiative because they have not 
mastered the procedures. 
(f) Relations with the United States of America 
40. Since 1 March 2003, the Central African Republic  has no longer been included in the list of 
African countries eligible for the programme set up by the United States under the Africa Growth and 
Opportunity Act (AGOA)55, although it does benefit from preferences under the GSP.  The United 
States is also providing financial support fo r the Congo Basin Forest Partnership ( Partenariat pour les 
forêts du Bassin du Congo – CBFP), of which the Central African Republic is a member 
(Chapter IV(2)(iii)). 
(g) Other agreements and arrangements 
41. Many countries extend (non-reciprocal) preferen tial tariff treatment to goods originating in 
the Central African Republic under the GSP. 
42.  The Central African Republic has signed fra mework trade promotion agreements with 
Egypt (2000), Morocco (1986) and Nigeria (1999). 
                                                      
51 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 treatment) of the GATT for the Fourth Lomé 
Convention between the ACP countries and the EEC (GATT document L/7604), ended on 29 February 2000. 
52 "EPA negotiations between Central Africa and the European Union – final communiqué of the 
expanded joint trade ministerial committee", 6 Februa ry 2007.  Consulted at:  www.trade.ec.europa.eu 
[12 March 2007]. 
53 WTO document WT/COMTD/57 of 29 March 2005. 
54 See WTO document WT/TPR/S/119 of 30 June 2003, Chapter II, for further details.  The exception 
has ended for bananas, for which imports into the EU from eligible LDCs have been exempt from customs 
duties since 1 January 2006.  WTO (2007), TPR-EC. 
55 USTR (2005). WT/TPR/S/183 Trade Policy Review 
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(4) INVESTMENT  
43. The Investment Charter of the Central African Republic56, adopted in 2001, implements the 
CEMAC Investment Charter (section (3)(d)) above).  The national charter covers investments in 
industrial enterprises and small and medium-size bu sinesses that engage in production, conservation 
or processing of raw materials or finished pr oducts, and provide certain services (excluding 
merchanting services).57  Enterprises undertaking mining, petroleum, forestry or tourism activities are 
covered by specific codes for those sectors.  In pr actice, however, the followi ng activities are closed 
to private investment:  water, certain transpor t services and postal and basic fixed telecommunication 
services (Chapter IV). 
44. The main objective of the national charter is to  encourage the creation of value added, at a 
rate of least 35 per cent.  This rate is the main  criterion used when evaluating projects submitted by 
promoters to the National Investment Commission ( Commission nationale des investissements – 
CNI), the body responsible for implementing government  policy in this area.  The national charter is 
supplemented by regulations defining the following  issues:  the approval procedure;  eligibility 
conditions;  project evaluation criteria;  and conditi ons for monitoring the undertakings given by the 
authorized enterprises.  The Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mining and Crafts ( Chambre de 
Commerce, d'Industrie d es Mines et de l'Artisanat  – CCIMA) houses the Enterprise Formalities 
Centre, for which a single window facility is bei ng set up to streamline and speed up the respective 
procedures. 
45. According to the authorities, the national charte r "can be summed up in terms of freedom of 
investment, absence of discrimination between dom estic and foreign investors, total autonomy of 
management and free transferability of profits."58  Disputes arising between an investor and the State 
can be resolved through an arbitration procedure specified in the authorization.59 
46. A number of tax and customs exemptions have been agreed for CNI-authorized investors.  
Legal or natural persons can submit their dossier s to the CNI for review (upon payment of the 
respective fees) and authorization (within 15 working days).60  The required dossier consists of the 
following five parts:  legal61;  market study;  technical;  financ ial;  and economic and social.  The 
                                                      
56 Law No. 01.10 of 16 July 2001. 
57 According to Article 3 of the Charter, it covers the following sectors:  manu facturing, including the 
processing of products of animal and plant origin;  energy production;  house-building of an economic, social and industrial nature;  public works and civil engineering;  collection, storage and packaging;  study and 
research;  merchandise transport undertaken by the transport industry;  laboratory analysis, testing or production 
of chemicals and pharmaceuticals;  book production and printing;  assemb ly and maintenance of industrial, 
transport, telecommunications and electronics equipment;  manufacture of chemical and food products to be 
used as inputs in other industrial enterprises. 
58 Central African Republic (2005), p. 10. 
59 This procedure could be the outcome of the OHADA treaty, or the Convention on the Settlement of 
Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of other States of 10 March 1965, established under the 
auspices of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and ratified by the Central African 
party on 23 February 1966, or the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) of 
which the Central African Republic has been a member since 1966. 
60 Decree No. 05.396 of 26 December 2005 and Order No. 06/007/MCIPME/DIR-CAB/DGCNI of 
7 June 2006. 
61 The dossier submitted by a company should contain the following:  the company's articles of 
association;  a description of its proposed activity;  certification of registration in  the Commerce and Personal 
Property Credit Register of the Cent ral African Social Security Office ( Office centrafricain de sécurité sociale – 
OCSS) and the Central African Agency for Vocational Training and Employment ( Agence centrafricaine de 
formation professionnelle et d’emploi – ACFPE);  certification of payment by bankers order (domiciliation Central African Republic WT/TPR/S/183 
 Page 21 
 
 
exemptions available to newly created ma nufacturing or processing enterprises holding 
CNI authorization are listed in Table II.2.  Some of the exemptions are applicable to all investments, 
whereas others depend on the total amount of the i nvestment or are subject to geographic criteria.  
The same advantages are available to existing enterprises undergoing expansion, as set out in 
Table II.2, albeit for a maximum two-year period.  The authorization is issued through an order from 
the Minister in charge of industry and assumes implementation of the corresponding project within two years. 
47. Between early 2001 and 3 May 2006, the CNI issu ed eight authorizations (for a total value of 
CFAF 279 billion, of which the majority related to a transport firm);  it also extended or renewed five 
authorizations, and it suspended or withdrew 16.  A further 10 authorizations have expired.  For tax 
control purposes, the 2007 Finance Law suspended a ll tax/customs allowances and exemptions agreed 
before 1
 January 2007.62 
48.  The Central African Republic has signed several bilateral agreements on investment63; and 
has other agreements in the process of conclusion and/or ratification.  It has also concluded an 
"establishment agreement" with France (1994).  Th e Central African Republic has been a member of 
the treaty establishing the Multilatera l Investment Guarantee Agency  (MIGA) since 14 October 1966, 
and of the International Centre for the Settle ment of Investment Disputes (ICSID) since 
14 October 1966.  The ACP-EU Cotonou Agreement includes provisions for protecting European investment in ACP countries (Articles 260, 261 and 262). 
Table II.2 
Investment Charter:  Benefits available for newl y created manufacturing or processing enterprises  
Common advantages 
Customs advantages 
- Relief from customs duties in the form of temporary admissi on or duty-free entry under an inward processing scheme for 
export-oriented activities 
Tax benefits: 
- Exemption from corporation tax (IS) or profits tax (IR) for a three-year period 
- Possibility of progressive and early amorti zation and authorization to carry forward losses to subs equent periods to improve 
enterprises' cash flow in the start-up phase. 
- Application of provisions granting tax relie f of up to 25 per cent of the amount of technological research contracts signed wit h a 
university or research institute based in the CEMAC, an d contracts with consultants based in a member country. 
- Maintenance of the tax burden at 25 per cent, in order to compen sate for investments and operati ng costs incurred by enterprise s in 
rural areas, with respect to social services corresponding to the State's current missions, where the latter is not in a positi on to 
provide them; 
- Maintenance of property taxes at a level corresponding to services  provided to local communities and to the State in respect of  urban 
infrastructure and public services. 
- Application of tax relief equal to 50 per cent of costs incurred in upgrading and furt her training of technical staff, up to a maximum 
of 2 per cent of annual payroll expenses ;  and 25 per cent of costs incurred in  respect of environmental protection. 
Table II.2 (cont'd)
                                                                                                                                                                     
bancaire) ;  certification of up-to-date status in relati on to Tax Administration, Customs and Treasury for 
operational enterprises;  certification of regular applicant st atus in relation to the consular chamber to which it is 
attached;  certification of registration of commercial na me;  and a certified copy of authorization to begin 
operations from the Minister in charge of trade. 
62 Articles 6 and 7 of Law No. 06.033 of 28 December 2006. 
63 Specifically, with Germany (1968) and Switzerland (1973). WT/TPR/S/183 Trade Policy Review 
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Benefits in respect of rates on St ate-owned land and registration fees: 
- A 50 per cent reduction in registration fees for company fo rmation, capital increases, mergers and share transfers. 
Locational benefits: - 100 km from Bangui:  One-year supplementary period of exemption from IS or IR 
- 100-300 km from Bangui:  Two-year supplementary period of exemption from IS or IR 
- More than 300 km from Bangui:  Three-year supplementary period of exemption from IS or IR 
Specific advantage in the case of investments of CFAF 1 billion or more 
  - Two-year supplementary period of exemption from IS or IR 
Source : Law No. 01.10 of 16 July 2001 a nd Finance Law 2007 (Article 50). 
 Central African Republic WT/TPR/S/183 
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ANNEX II.1:  TRADE-RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
1. Since July 2004, with support from the inte rnational community, the Central African 
Republic has been implementing a post-conflict macr oeconomic stabilization and structural reform 
programme to lift its economy out of the slump into which the military-political crisis had driven it.  
Within the framework of its CEMAC membership, th e Central African Republic is applying a version 
of the Community's common external tariff as its main  trade policy instrument.  It is expecting to 
improve the structure of its trade policy in the course of finalizing its P overty Reduction Strategy 
Paper (PRSP) some time in 2007.  To that en d, the authorities will draw on this TPR and the 
Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS) under the revised Integrated Framework (IF)64, and are 
seeking to strengthen trade-related technical assistance. 
2. Since joining the WTO in 1995, the Central A frican Republic has benefited from numerous 
technical assistance actions undertaken by the WTO and UN agencies (UNDP, UNCTAD, FAO, etc.) 
in support of the development of its internationa l trade.  The following WTO actions deserve special 
mention:  participation by Central African Repub lic officials in 65 seminars, workshops, courses, 
missions and other WTO activities between 1998 and 200 6, particularly the workshop held in Bangui 
on 7 and 8 August 2006 to launch the Central Africa n Republic's trade policy review process;  and 
participation by Central African Republic officials in the trade policy courses organized by the WTO.  
In terms of infrastructure support, a reference centre has been set up on the premises of the Ministry in 
charge of trade, and is now opera tional and reportedly being used by officials of that Ministry.  
Nonetheless, participation by the Central African Republic in WTO activities is unsatisfactory 
because the country does not have a mission in Geneva. 
3. The Central African Republic's trade-relate d technical assistance needs encompass a number 
of different areas, in particular:  implementation of  trade-related agreements;  participation in the 
regular activities of the WTO and strengthening of the country's capacity to participate in trade 
negotiations and trade policy formulation;  removal of supply-side constraints;  and integration of 
trade and development policies. 
(1) IMPLEMENTATION OF AGREEMENTS AND POLICY FORMULATION  
4. The Central African Republic also needs trade -related technical assistance in the following 
areas:  notifications;  harmonization of its laws a nd regulations with WTO principles and rules;  the 
strengthening of human and institutional capacities in the trade sphere;  and the formulation of 
policies to enhance the benefits and minimize the potential costs associated with implementation of 
the Agreements. 
5. The Central African Republic seems to be having some difficulties in connection with 
WTO notifications.  Several measures have been notified to the Committee on Technical Barriers to 
Trade which actually concern other WTO bodies.  Th ere has been no notification to the Integrated 
Database (IDB)65;  and the "Central African" tariff used fo r the purposes of this report is essentially a 
reconstitution based on the CEMAC's common external tariff.  Consequently, for WTO Members, the 
trade policy of the Central African Republic re mains something of an unknown quantity, and 
technical assistance is reportedly being requ ested in order to improve transparency. 
                                                      
64 http://www.integratedframework.org.  The Central African Republic is not one of the 12 countries 
having participated in the Integrated Framewor k (IF) process as initially conceived in 1997 
(WTO document WT/LDC/HL/12 of 16 October 1997). 
65 WTO document G/MA/IDB/2/Rev.23 of 27 March 2006. WT/TPR/S/183 Trade Policy Review 
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6. The implementation issues of most concern to the Central African Republic relate to tariff 
bindings;  customs valuation;  import licences and prohibitions;  sanitary and phytosanitary measures 
(SPS);  technical barriers to trade (TBT);  and copyright and related rights.  The Central African Republic levies other duties and taxes on certain pr oducts, which have been bound at a zero rate.  
With regard to customs valuation, the Central African Republic uses reference values for certain 
categories of frequently imported products, which suggests some difficulty in implementing the 
WTO Customs Valuation Agreement.  The importation of refined sugar is a monopoly, in principle, 
until 2008, for which Article XIX of the GATT 1994 h as been invoked as the legal basis without the 
competent WTO Committee on the subject being notified.  With regard to SPS, the authorities would 
like to strengthen their capacity to bring about convergence between the national regime and the 
obligations of WTO Members on the subject.  The Central African Republic also has no regulatory 
framework on standardization and quality control.  In the area of copyright and related rights, the 
Central African Republic has still not harmonized its national regime with the relevant provisions of 
the TRIPS Agreement.  At the national level, these  areas are the responsibility of the Ministry in 
charge of trade and other ministries. 
7. More generally, members of the National Trad e Negotiations Committee, most of whom are 
drawn from ministries not normally involved in trad e policy issues, would require capacity building to 
ensure that trade measures adopted in the various sectors of the economy are in conformity with multilateral commitments.  It would also be desirabl e to give members of this Committee access to the 
WTO reference centre and provide technical assistance to facilitate its use. 
8. Capacity building at the national level is necess ary in particular because the Central African 
Republic does not maintain a mission that would al low it day-to-day participation in WTO activities, 
including multilateral trade negotiations.  This woul d also enable the Central African Republic to 
participate more effectively in WTO ministerial meetings. 
(2) S
UPPLY -SIDE CONSTRAINTS  
9. The Central African Republic is emerging from a long period of internal strife which has 
aggravated its supply-side constraint s.  This is reflected in the poor state of the country's roads and the 
insecurity that persists in the interi or of the country;  the non-availa bility of inputs such as electricity 
and certain telecommunications services;  and a financial system that mainly focuses on import-export activities.  These shortcomings are compounded by th e higher costs arising from the country's land-
locked situation.  The authorities aim to make be tter use of the country's considerable agricultural 
wealth, in particular by re-energizing cash crops and developing livestock activities.  Rural poverty 
reduction could also benefit from greater value added in timber production and the expansion of 
mining activity. 
10. The revival of agricultural activity could pr ovide a chance for more advanced commodity 
processing.  Nonetheless, the high degree of prot ection afforded by the CEMAC common external 
tariff for agricultural commodities (Chapter III(2)(iv )(a)), compounded by high costs and difficulties 
in accessing inputs, do little to encourage such ac tivities.  These obstacles to economic activity also 
affect local products which struggle to compete with  the imported alternatives.  The banking system 
does not appear robust enough to provide support fo r small and medium-size enterprises that are 
considering long-term (venture) capital investme nt.  Extending microfinance among the rural 
community would also support the development of the market economy and make it possible to 
progress beyond the self-sufficiency stage of agricultural activity. 
11. Although the problematic situation of public finances, which has lasted for several years, has 
caused public investment to virtually dry up, a number of donors are gradually financing the Central African Republic WT/TPR/S/183 
 Page 25 
 
 
rehabilitation of the country's road network.  The Government could take st eps to improve transport 
security in the interior of the country.  Other infr astructure-related issues have  been incorporated in 
the programme for the State's withdrawal from econom ic activity (Chapter III(4)(iv)), and pertain to 
the privatization or putting out to concession of public  enterprises in the water, electricity, and fixed 
telecommunication subsectors.  The Government coul d also consider reducing the excess costs arising 
from the country's land-locked situ ation, specifically those relating to merchandise in transit from the 
port of Douala (Cameroon) to Bangui, and their release for consumption. 
(3) INTEGRATION OF TRADE IN DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES  
12. As mentioned above, the Central African Republic  is in the process of finalizing its PRSP.  
Taking the main conclusions of this TPR into accoun t in the final version of its PRSP should enable it 
to integrate trade concerns more effectively into its development strategy generally and its poverty 
reduction strategy in particular.  Trade-related technical assistance s hould lead to better understanding 
of the benefits that the Central African Republic can derive from its participation in the multilateral 
trading system, and from the support provided by the international community to this end.