WTO Secretariat report on trade policies & practices of Togo

04 Jul '06

2 min read

Socio-political stability, ambitious reforms, and intensification of multilateral commitments on trade in goods and services could create a business friendly climate in Togo and make its trade regime more transparent, more credible and more predictable, according to a WTO Secretariat report on the trade policies and practices of Togo.

Such reforms would consolidate the current macro economic situation and stimulate much needed private investment now almost absent because of, inter alia, the socio-political instability in Togo and its poor macroeconomic performance. The report notes that such efforts would be supported by the international community through enhanced market access for Togo's goods and services, and favourable response to its technical assistance needs.

Since the first TPR, Togo's trade regime has been marked by its integration in regional blocs, in particular WAEMU. The introduction of the WAEMU CET on 1 January 2000 has reduced the simple average applied MFN tariff rate from 16.5 per cent in 1998 to 12.1 per cent. This reduction relates primarily to non-agricultural products.

The relatively high level of protection given to agricultural products is detrimental to their competitiveness on foreign markets (particularly in the case of processed agricultural products). Other import duties and taxes raise the average rate of protection at the border to 15.85 per cent.Internal taxes are also levied.

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