AfCFTA e-Tariff book officially launched

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has officially launched the e-Tariff book as a key tool for African States to begin trading under the AfCFTA rules. The release of the AfCFTA Tariff Book was announced by the AfCFTA Secretariat at the beginning of January 2022. On 27 January 2022, during a virtual meeting on the review of the state of play in the implementation of the AfCFTA held by representatives of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), the AfCFTA Secretariat and the EU Commission, further details were revealed on the nature of the tariff book

On that occasion it was clarified that this tool will take the form of a web-based digital platform with updated information on tariffs applicable on goods exchanged between African countries within the AfCFTA liberalisation agenda, including  information on the tariff offers submitted by AfCFTA signatories and Rules of Origin (RoO) and customs procedures applicable to each product traded under the AfCFTA.

The tariff book therefore allows traders to identify their products with the product-specific RoO and customs procedures that is necessary to fulfil in order they can qualify for preferential trade under the AfCFTA. Its development, however, is still ongoing.