All Ghanaian exporters to the European Union (EU) market are now required to undergo an exporter registration process on the end-to-end single window trade facilitation system, the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS).
The new registration process has become necessary given the interim bilateral trade agreement between Ghana and the European Union known as the European Partnership Agreement (EPA).
The registration allows exporters from Ghana to enjoy preferential treatment in the form of duty-free and quota-free exports to the EU.
An exporter that registers under the interim trade agreement acquires a unique number which with it exports into the EU market for 2 years subject to renewal after its expiration.
In the document below, peruse the various registration processes under the new EPA;
EPA Exp Registration by Fuaad Dodoo on Scribd
Background
Ghana and the United Kingdom on December 31, 2020, signed a new trade agreement that sought to provide duty-free and quota-free access for exporters of both countries.
The trade agreement was reached between Alan Kyerematen, Ghana’s Minister of Trade & Industry and the Rt Hon Liz Truss MP, UK Secretary of State for International Trade via a video conference.
But the UK in a surprise move backtracked from the duty-free and quota-free trade agreement reached with the Government of Ghana.
The UK government at the time said it went back to amend statements covering the agreement stating that, talks were still ongoing with the Ghanaian government and that the trade pact will not be in force by January 1, 2021 as expected by both countries.
Ghana’s exports to the UK totaled $415.12 million in 2019, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Total exports of goods from Britain to Ghana on the other hand, totaled $978 million in the same year and imported $681 million of goods – mostly oil, fish, cocoa and fruit.
