Challenges with ETLS casts doubt over successful implementation of AfCFTA
The successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement is being questioned at the moment given some challenges being encountered in the movement of goods across borders of member states of the ECOWAS region.
For sometime now, there have been 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.
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.
Speaking on the matter in an interview on the Single African Market (SAM) show, Executive Secretary of Borderless Alliance, Justin 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.
Speaking further on the matter, Mr Bayili noted the ETLS in view of the recent issues, is being worked on to build trust among member states, asserting the main tool to helping member states achieve that is the certificate of origin.
“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 remarked.
Despite the recent issues, Mr Bayili stated the ETLS is working for member states in the ECOWAS region, especially for countries such as Ghana, Nigeria and Ivory Coast which have strong and well-structured manufacturing sectors.
