The World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat completed the third Trade Policy Review of Sierra Leone, the third since the country acceded to the Organization. Trade Policy Reviews are an exercise, mandated in the WTO agreements, in which member countries' trade and related policies are examined and evaluated at regular intervals to verify their compliance with WTO rules. Significant developments that may have an impact on the global trading system are also monitored. The trade policy review of Sierra Leone depicts a situation of a country that is making strong efforts in implementation of reforms aimed at improving the business environment and facilitating trade. Customs transitioned from the IT system ASYCUDA++ to ASYCUDA World in January 2019, and a risk management system is in place to focus customs controls on high-risk consignments. However, a large proportion of shipments still undergo physical inspections, which undermines the intended efficiency of the risk management approach. In 2020, an Electronic Single Window was introduced to streamline procedures in import processes.
Monday, April 28, 2025
