AUC-ECJOINT CUSTOMS & TRADE FACILITATION

FORUM

Brussels, Belgium

11-13 December, 2012

Outline • Introduction• Work done in Customs & Trade Facilitation• Future Plans– Establishment of the CFTA– Activities to support the CFTA & BIAT

• Conclusion

Current Position • Africa’s share in global trade is at 2.7 %• Intra- African trade 12.3%. Europe-Over 63%;• Major trading Partners- Europe and USA • A major factor in the low level of intra-African

trade has been the numerous trade facilitation constraints.

• Removal of these constraints is critical to boosting trade among African countries.

Work done• Harmonization of Rules of Origin– Draft Protocol developed

• Harmonization of Transit Procedures– Draft Protocol on Transit procedures developed

• Interconnectivity of Computerized Customs Clearance Systems– Guidelines, roadmap & strategy developed• Integrity & Ethics

• Common Tariff Nomenclature (CTN)

Future Work 2012 Assembly Decision AU/Dec.394 (XVIII)•Establish a Pan Africa Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) by an indicative date of 2017– Envisaged CFTA has the Framework, Road Map and

Architecture•Endorsed an Action Plan for Boosting Intra-African Trade– Addresses the fundamental issues , PIDA, AIDA, MIP

Organogram of the Road Map

Architecture For The CFTA

CTC

Customs Technical Committee (CTC)• Reports to & serve as the TC of the Conference of AU

Ministers of Trade - Customs matters & any other issues relating to facilitation of Intra-African Trade

• Composition– MS level - Directors General / Heads of Customs

Administrations – RECs/AUC level- Directors/Heads of Customs

Departments/Divisions

Customs Technical Committee (CTC)Functions •Develop and submit proposals to the Conference of AU Ministers of Trade on issues such as

Rules of Origin , customs regulations and procedures,• Implement the decisions of the policy organs of the

AU on the facilitation of intra-African trade.

Action Plan on Boosting Intra African Trade

Seven Clusters of the Action Plan 1.Trade Policy 2.Trade Facilitation 3.Productive Capacity 4.Trade Related Infrastructure 5.Trade Finance 6.Trade Information 7.Factor Market Integration Time Frames - ST,MT,LT

Activities for the CFTA & BIAT• Comprehensive Trade Facilitation program which will

include issues such as– Integrated border management– Rules of Origin– Revised Kyoto Convention

Conclusion • The AUC will continue to work with MS, RECs and

other Partners (like the EC) in the area of Customs and Trade Facilitation.

• Welcome more Partners to support RECs and MS in the implementation of the CFTA and BIAT

• The outcomes of the Forum will assist in the development of a Customs strategy for the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Program

Thank You For Your Kind Attention

chibayac@africa-union.org