Trade Barriers Africa is called the online mechanism officially launched to accelerate the removal of non-tariff barriers between states, as part of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCfta). "From now on, thanks to Trade Barriers Africa, Togolese traders will be able to report these obstacles, also known as non-tariff barriers, and obtain their removal with the support of the national authorities", indicated the United Nations Conference on Trade and development (Unctad) in a press release.
The tool concretely allows merchants and exporting companies that cross the borders of Togo to denounce the various barriers that would prevent them from selling their products in the Togolese territory. “Trade Barriers Africa is a concrete answer to the daily problems of cross-border micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. For them to thrive, it is essential that non-tariff barriers disappear, which not only lengthen the procedures for transporting goods, but also cost merchants ", said Simon Ognadou, national focal point of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Consumption. premises for the AfCfta.
The initiative was developed by Unctad and the African Union and launched in January 2020 to help make trade on the continent easier and cheaper. Since its implementation, the digital platform has eliminated more than 600 non-tariff barriers. [From InfoAfrica editorial staff]
