Africa’s customs chiefs commit to implementing new continental Covid 19 guidelines for trade facilitation UNECAAfrica’s customs experts have supported the adoption of continental guidelines to facilitate the free and timely flow of cross-border trade through the COVID-19 pandemic before the start of trade on 1 January 2021 under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). They made the promise at a virtual meeting of the Director – General of Customs on the mainland organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) today, saying that solutions must be upheld. and upgraded following the crisis. Read more “

Addis Ababa – Africa’s customs experts support the adoption of continental guidelines to facilitate free and timely flow of cross-border trade amid the COVID-19 pandemic before the start of trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA ) on 1 January 2021.

They made the promise at a virtual meeting of the Customs Directors-General on the continent organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) today, saying that solutions to the crisis should be maintained.

The meeting noted that the coronavirus pandemic offers the opportunity to overcome efforts to overcome the long-standing trade facilitation challenges by increasing Africa’s cross – border inefficiency.

Stephen Karingi, Director of Local Integration and Trade, presented the guidelines and said that they were designed to support the harmonization of Covid-19 guidelines and to promote the coordination and implementation of general guidelines. He said they would be submitted to all relevant AU subcommittees covering, among other things, customs, transport and infrastructure, for consideration for their eventual acceptance.

“The aim is to implement the continental guidelines early next year to strengthen the start of trade under the AfCFTA,” he said.

The guidelines cover a number of new subsections to respond to specific gaps in existing rules, including the regulation of small-scale cross-border and cross-border trade by fishermen, gender considerations and treatment of essential workers, including transport and humanitarian workers.

In his own remarks, AUC’s acting director for trade and industry, Mr. Hussein Hassan, said the Commission worked with the ECA and the African Union Development Agency – New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) to facilitate the continental guidelines on trade and transport. for the transportation of persons, goods and services during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Once in place, the continental guidelines are expected to ensure a harmonized approach in support of smooth and safe trade amid the pandemic, including transit trade between RECs,” he said. Hassan said.

The Secretary-General of the World Customs Organization, Mr Kunio Mikuriya, said Covid-19 had a significant adverse effect on borders and customs operations, but that the WCO acted swiftly to meet these challenges and the customs administrations provided guidance on how to secure world supplies. chains.

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