(b) the abolition of quantitative and administrative restrictions on trade between Member States; The 15 members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d`Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. The main objective of ECOWAS is to promote economic cooperation among Member States in order to raise living standards and promote economic development. ECOWAS has also worked to address some security challenges by establishing a peacekeeping force for conflicts in the region. ECOWAS established its free trade area in 1990 and adopted a common external tariff in January 2015. In September 2016, USTR received ECOWAS officials for the second meeting of the Council of the U.S.-ECOWAS Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. Among the topics discussed was a review of ongoing activities in support of common trade and investment objectives, a vision for ECOWAS-United States. Medium- and long-term trade relations and the extension of trade and investment cooperation between ECOWAS and the United States to new areas. There are two important and beneficial trade agreements regarding trade in Nigeria: the African Growth Opportunities Act (AGOA) and the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Programme (ETLS). Check out the details of these trade deals and see why it makes importing from Nigeria even more interesting! It aims to expand the U.S.
trade and investment relationship with sub-Saharan Africa. The Act provides for trade preferences for quotas and duty-free imports into the United States for certain products. Unfettered market access allows importers in the United States to easily purchase Nigerian products at competitive prices. It also promotes economic integration between the two countries, strengthens trade relations, thus continuously improving the ease of doing business in Nigeria. The United States had a total trade of $14.1 billion in goods (in two ways) with ECOWAS countries in 2017. Exports of goods amounted to $4.8 billion; Imports of goods amounted to US$9.3 billion. The U.S. trade deficit with ECOWAS countries was $4.5 billion in 2017. `(a) the elimination of customs duties and other charges having equivalent effect on the import and export of goods between Member States; More details about the trade deal can be found on agoa`s official website. The U.S.
trade deficit with ECOWAS countries was $1.7 billion in 2016 and $4.5 billion in 2017. The U.S. goods trade deficit with ECOWAS countries increased by 169% in 2017 compared to 2016. The ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Programme (ETLS) is a trade instrument developed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The programme provides the fifteen member countries with unhindered access to markets and promotes economic relations within the subregion. The countries covered by the programme are: Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Côte d`Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde. — to harmonize the regulation of sectoral policies in the essential areas prescribed by the Treaty, namely agriculture, fisheries, industry, commerce, tourism, transport and telecommunications, energy and the environment, research, education and vocational training; (d) the removal of obstacles to the free movement of persons, services and capital between Member States; The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with West Africa covers goods and development cooperation. The EPA also provides for the possibility of further negotiations on sustainable development, services, investment and other trade-related issues in the future. . The main import categories (2-digit HS) in 2017 were: mineral fuels ($7.5 billion), cocoa and cocoa products ($1.2 billion), rubber ($160 million), edible fruits and nuts (cashew nuts) ($88 million) and artificial flowers, feathers or down ($57 million). · Zormelo, Douglas Kudzo-Kota. Theories of Integration and Economic Development: A Case Study on the Political and Social Dynamics of ECOWAS.
Dissertation/Dissertation/Documents d`archives manuscrits, 1994 · Ghana Gazette, Accra, Gov`t Printing Office, 1957- · Kwarteng, Charles Owusu. Challenges of regional economic cooperation among ECOWAS countries in West Africa. Dissertation/Dissertation/Manuscript Archival Material, 1989. · Official Journal of the Central African Republic. Bangui, 1979 – · Conferences during ECOWAS Week: Accra, Ghana, 21-25 July 1975. Accra: Department of Public Relations, Ministry of Economic Planning, 1975. Decisions are binding only on the Receiving States or persons. [lxxxviii] [88] (c) the introduction of a Common Customs Tariff and a common commercial policy vis-à-vis third countries; To obtain ETLS approval, you must complete an application form. Below are the required documents.
· Bah, Alhaji Mohamed Sirjoh. Policy Issues and Regional Integration: A Case Study of Nigeria`s Policy in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) – – 1979-1997. . Treaties, books and reports on Africa`s regional integration. · Renninger, John P. ECOWAS and other regional organizations in West Africa. Washington, D.C.: Abt. Von Staat, 1980. · Official Bulletin of the CEMAC. Bangui, CEMAC, 1994 – Your letter of application accompanied by the completed application form and attached documents should be sent to the following address: Regional Trade Agreements in Africa: Historical and Bibliographic Report of ECOWAS and CEMAC · Darlan, the guy. Regional integration: the African solution for development; a case study of the Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC). Dissertation/Dissertation/Documents d`archives manuscrits, 1973 · Baah-Dwomoh, Joseph.
ECOWAS: Impulses, potentials and obstacles. 1977 · International and regional organizations are entering the 21st century. Washington, Washington, Washington and Jefferson College, 1998 The top 5 U.S. export markets in ECOWAS countries for 2017 were: Nigeria ($2.2 billion), Ghana ($860 million), Togo ($482 million), Côte d`Ivoire ($320 million) and Benin ($250 million). . AGOA is currently in effect until 2025. Products covered by the legislation include: See how the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement benefits exporters in Côte d`Ivoire and Ghana: · Egbikuadje, John Nakpodia Igho, ECOWAS, a regional approach to development and self-reliance. Dissertation/Dissertation/Manuscript Archival Archival, 1990. (i) the establishment of a Cooperation, Compensation and Development Fund; and · Compendium of Protocols, Conventions and Decisions on the Free Movement of Persons and Goods. Lagos, ECOWAS, 1998.
· West Africa finds a new future: Address of Heads of State to the ECOWAS Summit in Lagos from 27 to 28 May 1975. Economic Community of West African States of Lagos, 1975. · Bakut tswah Bakut & Dutt, Sagarika. Millennium Africa: A Programme for Mature Dog Mills for Development, Basingstoke, Hampshire; New York: Palgrave, 2000 GMOs and CMs act through regulations, guidelines, decisions, recommendations or opinions. [lxxxiv] [84] All West African countries are members of the WTO. · Akinrinade, Olusola & Kurt J. Barling. Economic Development in Africa International Efforts, Problems and Prospects London: Pinter, 1987 Microform Recommendations and opinions have no binding effect. [lxxxix] [89] Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) [xl] [40] Ibid. Article 10(a), Article 10(c), Article 10(d) and Article 10(h) [xxix] [29] Ibid. Article 4[xxix] [29] Ibid. Article 13.
The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tafawa Balewa House, Central Business Area, Abuja. · Liberalization and Regional Integration in Africa: Proceedings of an International Conference in Arusha, Tanzania. 25-28 May 1992. Nairobi, Kenya: Friedrich Naumann Foundation, 1993. The two sides meet regularly to discuss the implementation of the EPA. For more information, please see: · Braun, Myra Leann. decision-making in developing countries on participation in regional economic organizations; Comparison of an Andean Pact, ECOWAS and the falls of ASEAN. Dissertation/Dissertation/Manuscript: Microform Archival Material · Keller, Edmond J.
and Donald S. Rothchild. Africa in the New International Order: Rethinking State Sovereignty and Regional Security Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1996 · Munu, Alhaji M. The Future of ECOWAS Lagos: Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, 1989 · Markham, Theodore Kofi. Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS): Theoretical assessment of achievements, problems and prospects. 1976. · Official Journal of the Republic of Guinea. Natinale “Patrice Lumumba”, 1984- To be included in the ETLS, these products must come from the ECOWAS region. Here are the three criteria for approving products in the system. Pending the adoption of the comprehensive regional EPA with West Africa, the Economic Partnership Agreements with Côte d`Ivoire and Ghana entered into force provisionally on 3 September 2016 and 15 December 2016 respectively. . · Stacy, Marilyn and Karen McIlvaine, ECOWAS, Select Readings, 1975-1981.
Washington: African Development Information Association U.S.A., 1982 [lxiv] [64] Mytella, Lynn Krieger, op. cit. Cit. to 136. · ECOWAS: Presentations to the Conference on the Economic Community of West African States – ECOWAS. Washington, D.C, June 9-14, 1980. Overview of the Economic Integration Experiences of LAIA, ASEAN, CACM and ECOWAS: Report. Geneva: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 1991 · Okoh, Wilfred Ijeamaka Kelechukwu.
Increase and Decline in Nigeria`s Regional Economic Activities: ECOWAS, 1979 Reconsidered 1975-1992. . .