Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Set to Become W.T.O.’s First Female Leader Her path was cleared after Yoo Myung-hee, the South Korean trade minister, announced she was withdrawing from consideration to head the World Trade Organization. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, an economist and former finance minister of Nigeria, appears set to become the next director general of the World Trade Organization, with the Biden administration announcing its “strong support” for her candidacy on Friday. She would

South Africa may have banned cigarettes and alcohol during its lockdown but, for some, the good times kept rolling. While the rules were meant to help manage the health impact of the coronavirus pandemic — reducing alcohol-related trauma cases and cutting pressure on hospitals — they’ve allowed illegal traders to gain a foothold in the market. Tobacco and alcohol products remained readily available through the black market from when the ban first kicked in with the shutdown f

Global value chains (GVCs) have powered economic transformation by enabling developing countries to specialize and catalyze growth and job creation. But COVID-19 poses unprecedented challenges to global value chains by disrupting both the supply of goods and also the demand for them. How has the coronavirus pandemic affected firms in developing countries that are engaged in global value chains? How are firms adapting to the new normal? What is the role for policy? “This perfe

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) ratified the $3.1 billion anticipatory approval by President Muhammadu Buhari to concession the modernisation project of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to a consortium named Messers E.Customs HC Project Limited. The concession is for 20 years. The consortium is made up of Bionica Technologies W.A. Limited, Huawei, Smiths Detection, Nuctech of China, Larsen & Toubro Group, and Paramount Group. The Minister of Finance, Budget, and Nationa

A repository of real-time information on current trade negotiations is needed to track the rules that shape development outcomes in Africa, writes David Luke Trade is central to development in Africa. A long history of economic thought, theory and practice underpins this proposition. However, I do not seek to interrogate the foundational principles of international trade, but rather to highlight issues that underscore the key role of trade as a driver of growth, sustainable d

The first commercial deal under an Africa-wide free trade zone will take place on Jan. 1 as outstanding talks are set to move online, the African Union said. While the African Continental Free Trade Area entered into force legally last year, transactions that were due to start on July 1 were delayed as the virus set back negotiations on the protocol for trade in goods, including tariff concessions. The outstanding negotiations will be finalized through a new African Virtual T

WASHINGTON, July 27, 2020—The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) represents a major opportunity for countries to boost growth, reduce poverty, and broaden economic inclusion, a new World Bank report has found. If implemented fully, the trade pact could boost regional income by 7% or $450 billion, speed up wage growth for women, and lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty by 2035. The report suggests that achieving these gains will be particularly important giv

Since 1947, states of the world have been working to liberalize international trade by reducing tariffs, under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and since 1995 under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreements. The main focus initially was to reduce tariffs. However, it has become increasingly clear that tariffs are not the only impediments, and perhaps not even the most important impediments, to the movement of goods across borders. The multiplicity of border age

New Comesa plan set to ease movement of goods Kenya is among 15 African States that have agreed to pilot a new project seeking to ease movement of goods within the region’s trading bloc. The electronic certificate of origin (eCO) System, developed under the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) digital free trade area will fast-track movement of goods, enhancing intra-regional trade. The new plan will do away with registration, application and submission of c

Great news from our friends & advisory council members at UNCTAD on the launch yesterday by Secretary General, Dr Mukhisa Kituyi of the project in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on 3 March. UNCTAD partners with the African Development Bank with to provide technical assistance and capacity-building support to five countries across the region Through the project, UNCTAD will offer technical expertise on the implementation of the World Trade Organ

As Ghana moves to implement its new single window system with UNIPASS at GTDW China Trade Development Week we ask "Single Window: What Is The New Way Forward?" Leaders Panel led by Ricardo Trevino Chapa, Deputy Secretary General, World Customs Organisation & C. Donald Brasher, President, Trade Data Monitor: VIEW AGENDA Operators of Unviersal Press (Uni-Pass), Korea Customs Service (KCS) electronic customs clearance system for trade facilitation currently being piloted at Tako

The body reports that 32 manufacturers and importers who are domestic and exporters have already registered their factory lines in compliance with the Digital tax stamps. According to the tax body, large scale manufacturers including Crown Beverages, the manufacturers of Pepsi and other beverages, Mukwano industries and Riham Industries are some of those that have heeded to the call for the implementation of the Digital Stamp System. “We are continuing with the registration o

Africa heads into a historic year in which the long-awaited African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) finally becomes a reality, with trading under the scheme scheduled to begin on 1 July. The largest free trade zone to come into being since the launch of the World Trade Organisation in 1995, the AfCFTA is a bold venture, especially on a continent where intra-African trade is languishing at about 18% of total trade. And the political will behind it is unprecedented for a

The proliferation of fake medicines in Africa is a public health crisis that can no longer be ignored, according to a UK charity. There's a meeting of seven African countries, in Togo, this week, to combat the problem. Congo, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Uganda, Ghana and The Gambia will discuss measures to clamp down on trafficking in fake medicines, says the Brazzaville Foundation. But how big a problem is counterfeit medicine in Africa, and what impact does it have? How many coun

The illicit trade in tobacco, especially cigarettes, costs South Africa’s economy billions of rand annually through lost tax revenue. According to the South African Revenue Service (SARS), the estimated loss through the illegal cigarette trade for the 2015/16 financial year was R6 billion. Aside from the local economic and health impact, illicit smuggling poses a threat across the Southern African region. Tackling the problem will improve regional economic outlooks and crippl

Welcome back to the new year and a new decade for The 4th GTDW Anti Illicit Trade, Brand & IPR Protection Conference + GTDW Trade Facilitation, Compliance & Digitalisation Conference & Exhibition our biggest edition to date returns to Shanghai Pudong, China from 16-18 June, presented in English & Mandarin as part of the 19th Edition of Global Trade Development Week. Theme: Digitalization, Standardization & Interoperability of Technologies. 800 International delegates, 80 Spea

The implementation of the Uganda Electronic Single Window (UESW) system has saved traders about $85,000 (sh308.4m) annually, that was being wasted as a result of submitting the required trade documents manually. Speaking during the launch of the second phase progress report on the UESW in Kampala last week, the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) acting commissioner customs, Abel Kagumire, said the introduction of the system simplified trade procedures and processes, cutting delay

GTDW China Trade Development Week Welcomes Michael Ding, Chairman Quality Brands Assurance Committee China (QBPC) joining keynote speakers confirmed for the major program taking place Shanghai Pudong, 16-18 June 2020. With 800 international delegates, 80 speakers, 40 exhibitors and 2 major co-located conferences this years theme covers Digitalization, Standardization & Interoperability of Trade Technologies for legitimate & anti illicit trade. View Programme: http://bit.ly/2M

Ethiopia Launches Electronic Customs Processing Platform For Traders The Government of Ethiopia launches an electronic platform that will enhance efficiency in trade logistics landscape of the country by speeding the customs process for importers and exporters. Labelled, Ethiopia Electronic Single Window Service, is launched on Saturday in the presence of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed. It is said will reduce the 44 days hectic long paper work process for importers and exporte

Have you registered for GTDW China Trade Development Week Exhibition 2020? Final spaces are now limited! This year's theme: Digitalization, Standardization & Interoperability 800 International Delegates will attend the 2 days of conferences + technical workshops + 40 Exhibitors with the latest technologies and solutions for secure supply chain and anti illicit trade + Site Tours. Co-hosted with APMEN in English & Mandarin with technical translation (private event for register