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New UNECA report shows that complying with rules-of-origin requirements is the aspect that firms consider as the most restrictive on African trade

Monday, 16 May 2022 05:49

The Africa Country Business Index (ACBI) is a tool that describes how businesses based in Africa and/or trading/investing across African countries perceive trade under the Free Trade Agreements that are already in force across African countries, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Differently from other integration indices, the ACBI is informed entirely by private-sector perceptions, built through online surveys and telephonic and face-to-face interviews. Launched by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in 2018, the Index targets three groups of countries, corresponding to the 3 phases of its implementation. Phase 1 covered Cameroon and Zambia, while phase 2 expanded the analysis to additional seven countries, namely: Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria and South Africa, all nations that have already signed, ratified and deposited their instrument of ratification for the AfCFTA. In the third phase, the Index will be rolled out in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal and Tunisia.

Kenya lowers the age limit of imported trucks from eight to three years

Friday, 13 May 2022 06:02

In an attempt to introduce new standards aimed at increasing safety on Kenyan roads, but also to create demand for locally assembled commercial vehicles as part of the Kenyan government efforts to create jobs and boost skills and technology adoption, the Kenya Bureau of Standards has issued a notice according to which, effective 1st July 2022, the age limit of long-distance trucks allowed for import into the country will be reduced from eight to three years, while the age limit for all other vehicles will remain eight years.

Nigerian Senate approves new Customs Act

Last Updated on Thursday, 12 May 2022 12:45

On Wednesday 11 May 2022, the Nigerian Senate passed a bill to repeal and re-enact the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) 2004. The new Customs Act, whose publication in the Federation of Nigeria Official Gazette is expected by the end of this year, tries to address the needs of Customs in the digital age and to bring this administration in line with modern-day customs operations globally. The Bill incorporates some of the key provisions of the Revised Kyoto Convention and the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement on advance rulings, Authorised Economic Operators (AEO), Single Window, post clearance audits and risk management techniques for targeting customs controls.

World Bank report assesses trade facilitation challenges faced by traders and customs agents in South Africa, especially women

Wednesday, 11 May 2022 06:33

A report recently published by the World Bank presents the results of a survey on trade facilitation challenges faced by traders and customs agents (customs brokers and freight forwarders) in South Africa, especially women. The survey's objective was to identify whether women traders and customs agents experience different challenges to border processes and procedures than their men counterparts, including those related to COVID-19. The study is important because it can help the South African government (and not only) to better understand trade barriers and design policy, maximizing the benefits from trade facilitation for women, so that they can participate more fully in the economy.

Draft AfCFTA Manual on the AfCFTA Rules of Origin now available

Tuesday, 10 May 2022 06:10

The Manual on the application of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Rules of Origin is an handbook which sets out guidelines on the operationalization of Annex 2 on Rules of Origin of the Protocol on Trade in goods of the AfCFTA Agreement. Foreseen by art. 42(f) of the Annex 2 on Rules of Origin, this manual was prioritized by the 8th Meeting of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers, held on 28 January 2022 in Accra, that decided to accelerate its completion.

News

New UNECA report shows that complying with rules-of-origin requirements is the aspect that firms consider as the most restrictive on African trade

Kenya lowers the age limit of imported trucks from eight to three years

Nigerian Senate approves new Customs Act

World Bank report assesses trade facilitation challenges faced by traders and customs agents in South Africa, especially women

Draft AfCFTA Manual on the AfCFTA Rules of Origin now available

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