Intra-regional trade - CEDEAO

The ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) is a tool designed to effectively implement the free trade area. The ETLS mechanism ensures the free movement of goods originating in ECOWAS without the payment of customs duties and taxes equivalent to those levied on imports and exports within the ECOWAS region. This exemption does not include Value Added Tax (VAT) and excise duties if they are in force in any of the member states.

The ETLS was established in 1979 and initially covered only agricultural products and handmade crafts. Then, in 1990, it was extended to include manufactured goods. This expansion necessitated the formulation of rules defining the concept of “originating products” within ECOWAS and the establishment of “Rules of Origin”.

The SLEC is open to any company located and operating in one of the ECOWAS member states that intends to export its products within the region.

UPDATED LEGAL BASIS

ALL COMPANIES ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THE RULES SET FORTH IN THE PROTOCOLS AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE ECOWAS LEGAL SECURITY SYSTEM (ELS), IN PARTICULAR:

1. Additional Act A/SA.7/12/18 of 22 December 2018 establishing the Community rules of origin and procedures applicable to goods originating in ECOWAS
2. Regulation C/REG.18/12/21 of 10 December 2021 relating to the determination of the components of the ex-works price and the value content of non-originating materials
3. Regulation C/REG.17/12/21 of 10 December 2021 relating to the procedures for recognition and certification of the origin of ECOWAS products
4. Regulation C/REG.4/07/23 of July 2023 relating to the control, verification of origin and mutual administrative assistance between customs authorities

PRODUCTS CONCERNED

Two main groups of products are Products covered by the SLE (Simplified Free Trade Area) are:

Wholly obtained products as defined in Article 4 of the 2018 Additional Act establishing the rules of origin;

Sufficiently processed products as defined in Article 5 of the 2018 Additional Act establishing the rules of origin.

PRODUCTS EXCLUDED FROM THE SCOPE OF THE SLE

Two types of products are excluded from the scope of the SLE. These are:

Insufficiently processed products as defined in Article 6 of the 2018 Additional Act establishing the rules of origin;

Products manufactured in free trade zones or under special economic, suspensive, or special regimes as defined in Article 9 of the 2018 Additional Act establishing the rules of origin.