Unleashing the Benefits of Intra-African Trade Integration for the WAEMU: WAEMU

WAEMU members’ trade openness, integration into global value chains (GVCs), and export diversification remain limited.
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Volume/Issue: Volume 2025 Issue 071
Publication date: June 2025
ISBN: 9798229011556
$15.00
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Topics covered in this book

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Exports and Imports , Taxation - General , International - Economics , WAEMU , AfCFTA , Intra-African Trade , Trade Policy , Trade Integration , Trade Environment , Tariffs and Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) , Trade agreements , Trade in goods , Trade policy , Trade integration , Tariffs , Trade facilitation , Imports , Exports , Customs unions , Global value chains , Trade balance

Summary

WAEMU members’ trade openness, integration into global value chains (GVCs), and export diversification remain limited. Tariffs, non-tariff measures (NTMs, obstacles to trade that arise mainly from differences in national regulations), and a challenging trade environment (e.g., cumbersome Customs and border processes) hamper WAEMU members’ trade with countries outside of ECOWAS; while NTMs and the challenging trade environment weigh on trade even among WAEMU members and on trade between WAEMU members and other ECOWAS countries. WAEMU members should pursue greater trade integration by helping move AfCFTA discussions forward and implementing agreed steps. They should also advocate with AfCFTA partners for a more ambitious process for removing NTMs. In parallel, they should drive forward trade integration among themselves, including by addressing NTMs and seeking to strengthen the trade environment in a cost-effective manner, e.g., by streamlining Customs and border processes.