Challenges on ECOWAS borders must be addressed for effective trading under AfCFTA – Borderless Alliance
Executive Secretary of Borderless Alliance, Justin Bayili, has advised member states of the ECOWAS trade bloc to address challenges on its borders to ensure effective cross-border trading under the AfCFTA.
According to him, recent challenges encountered at the sub-region’s borders by trade actors, can be inimical to cross border trading within the bloc and the continental trade pact – AfCFTA – at large.
“ECOWAS member states must come together and address challenges on its corridors to effectively enhance trading within the bloc and also under AfCFTA.
“Also, member states must learn to build trust among themselves particularly regarding the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) on the Rules of Origin for goods traded,” he stated during an interview on the Single African Market (SAM) show.
Mr Bayili’s assertion follows allegations of harassment, corruption and difficulties in the movement of goods across the borders of West African countries.
These issues are despite the existence of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) which is meant to facilitate and enhance cross-border trade among member states.
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Given the new development, others have begun to question how successful the implementation of the AfCFTA would be given the disregard to the ETLS protocol by trade actors in the ECOWAS region.
Touching on the (ETLS), Mr Bayili averred the success of the AfCFTA is dependent on the success of the ETLS.
According to him, this is because just like the ETLS which is a trade protocol, the AfCFTA is made up of trade protocols which need to be observed and complied with by members of the AfCFTA.
“If the ETLS doesn’t work, then I don’t see the AfCFTA working also, because the AfCFTA just like the ETLS is made of protocols, and so if people, companies don’t comply with it in terms of free movement of goods and people, then the AfCFTA will face some very serious challenges [sic],” he stated.
“Areas of ETLS which need to be looked at immediately if we want to leverage on it and benefit from AfCFTA are areas on how to build trust among one another and the main tool to doing that is the certificate of origin requirements and that’s being done.
“So the ETLS now seeks to harmonize issuance of certificate of origin to improve trust among member states under the AfCFTA,” he added.
