COMESA: Consultations on Simplification of Trade Documents Conducted in Ethiopia

In an initiative to simplify and standardize trade documents and procedures in the region, the inaugural regional consultative meeting on the implementation of measures outlined in the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The forum, which was the first of this nature and held from September 27 – 29, was organized by COMESA through the support of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) – Trade Facilitation Programme, which is facilitating various capacity-building initiatives. The initiatives span a wide range of areas, including Customs Automation, the Regional Trade Information Portal (RTIP), the Regional Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program, Coordinated Border Management, and the establishment of a Regional Single Window.

This is a significant step toward fulfilling the directive set forth during the 42nd COMESA Council of Ministers Meeting held in November 2021.

At that meeting, it was decided that the COMESA Secretariat, in collaboration with Member States and Development Partners, should mobilize both technical expertise and financial resources for the implementation of commitments falling under Category C of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.

Article 70  of the COMESA Treaty addresses issues of Trade Facilitation covering among other things, the reduction and simplification of trade documents, simplification of procedures, adoption of common standards based on international benchmarks and coordination of trade and transport facilitation interventions based on cooperation at the regional level.

“The WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement presents a unique opportunity for COMESA Member States to achieve the full realization of trade facilitation measures outlined in the COMESA Treaty and COMESA Customs Management Regulations,” said Dr Christopher Onyango, COMESA Director of Trade.

He added that compliance with the provisions of this Agreement is mandatory for WTO Members who have ratified it, and its implementation holds global and regional benefits. Participants in this meeting comprised trade facilitation experts from all COMESA Member States. The event was officially opened by Dr. Henok Seyoum Assefa, senior advisor to the State Minister of Trade Promotion and Regional Integration in Ethiopia and the COMESA Director of Trade.