EPA : Phase II Launching
More than 900 products are exempted from paying custom duties
Since 4 August 2017, Cameroon is in phase II of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed with the European Union and ratified on 22 July 2014 by the President of the Republic. As defined, the ultimate aim of this agreement is to establish a free-trade zone between these two trade partners by the year 2023. This second phase marks the beginning of the elimination of tariffs on group 2 products imported from European Union countries.
Phase II of the bilateral EPA targets 920 products mainly comprising equipment, machines and tools meant for local production units and transport equipment. Group 2 products are eliminated at the rate of 15%, while those of group 1, of which the process began on 4 August 2016, have moved from a rate of elimination of 25 to 50% of custom duties on imported goods.
The elimination scheme is established according to the various product groups. The next elimination which is planned to start by August 2018 shall include group 3 comprising products with high tariffs.