By DOH JAMES SONKEY on special assignment in Kribi
Cameroon’s economic and legal experts who actively participated at negations with the European Union ahead of the signing and implementation of the economic partnership accord with the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries have debunked rumours propagated in the country that Cameroon and the rest of Africa will henceforth become a dumping ground for used goods commonly referred to as second-hand goods.
The experts cleared the air last May 11 and 12, 2017 at Residence Hoteliere of Kribi, capital of the Ocean Division in the South Region of the country during a two-day capacity building seminar for civil society and members of the Economic Partnership Accord Journalists Network on the challenges and implementation of this accord.
The experts urged economic operators in the country to capitalize on the numerous opportunities brought forth by the Economic Partnership Accord with the European Union rather than speculating on its limited disadvantages.
In their various elaborate exposes, they explained that apart from machines for industrial use and tractors for agricultural use, other second hand goods will not benefit from tariff reduction and dismantling of goods spreading over a period of 13 years according to the different groups of products.
Placed under the auspices of Cameroon’s Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Louis Paul Motaze, the two-day seminar presided at by the Chairman of the Follow Up Committee of the Implementation of the Bilateral Economic Partnership Agreement between Cameroon and the European Union (CSMO/APEB/CAM-UE), Tchoffo Jean who doubles as Secretary General of the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development enabled participants to master the challenges, constraints and perspectives linked to the implementation of this accord for enterprises, national economy on the question of origin rules, development dimension of the accord, measures taken by Cameroon authorities and other actors for the implementation of the accord etc.
Speaking at the occasion, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Economy, Tchoffo Jean stressed that “the role of civil society and the media in accompanying this implementation process is uncontestable. But their contribution must be based on well mastered data given that it is the application of a judicial document of international standard which requires permanent follow up by national economic actors at multilateral trade.”
The first category of goods to benefit from 100% customs duties exemption after a period of 4 years starting with progressive 25% exemption include; drugs, lorries, papers, equipments.
The seminar held barely two months after a workshop was organized in Kribi last March 14-17, 2017 for economic operators and administrative officials in charge of trade issues on the implementation of defense-trade instruments within the framework of the EU-Cameroon partnership.
Seminars organized by the government through the Follow Up Committee of the Implementation of the Bilateral Economic Partnership Agreement between Cameroon and the European Union are geared towards frequently updating civil society actors and those of the media to accompany the implementation process of this economic partnership accord with the EU.
In order to protect local industries from being crushed by the influx of goods from the European market due to the opening of trade borders, the government of Cameroon has adopted a plan to upgrade some 600 enterprises among which 200 are said to be undergoing the upgrading process.
From August 4, 2017 when Cameroon started the implementation of the Economic Partnership Accord to April 2017, it is said to have recorded a loss in terms of state revenue evaluated at FCFA 518 million.
It should be recalled that Cameroon signed the accord on January 15, 2009 in Bruxelles and ratified it on July 22, 2014 with a target of freeing 80% of its trade with the European Union that represents 32% of Cameroon’s external trade.
Main exports of the EU to Cameroon include industrial goods, new or second hand vehicles, chemical products, drugs and food products while Cameroon’s main exports to the European Union is comprised of petroleum products, aluminum, timber, agricultural products such as cocoa, coffee, banana, rubber, vegetables, transformed fruits etc.