WCO PUBLISHES NEW ECCAS RULES OF ORIGIN GUIDELINES
The World Customs Organization (WCO) has published a new Guide to the ECCAS Rules of Origin, offering practical support to Customs administrations and economic operators as they implement the revised rules adopted by the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) in October 2024.
The ECCAS Free Trade Area, launched in 2004, has already delivered tangible progress in reducing trade barriers, with member states eliminating tariffs on 34% of intra-ECCAS tariff lines on average. The recent revision of the Community’s rules of origin was driven by a need for simplification, aiming to strengthen trust between Customs authorities in verifying and granting community origin, while also making it easier for trade operators to comply with the requirements.
A central goal of the revision was to harmonise the ECCAS rules with those of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), given the overlapping membership of both communities. This alignment is expected to create a more cohesive and efficient trading environment across the region.
Developed through the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme, in partnership with the ECCAS Secretariat, the Guide provides clear, actionable guidance on the application of the rules. It is now available in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Source: WCO