Cameroon-UK cooperation: Trade minister reaffirms nation's commitment to facilitate bilateral trade.

The minister made the confirmation in Yaounde during a meeting with a UK delegation led by the British High Commissioner to Cameroon, His Excellency Barry Lowen.

The meeting, which was held Monday August 19, was in preparation for the second statutory session of the Bilateral Economic Partnership Agreement, EPA, Committee with the United Kingdom, which took place Tuesday August 20.

The meeting, held in the conference room of the Ministry of Trade, also provided an opportunity to address key issues in the trade relations between the two nations. 

Central to the discussions was the progress of negotiations and the implementation of the Cameroon-United Kingdom EPA, an agreement aimed at bolstering trade in the post-Brexit era.

Speaking at the meeting Minister Mbarga Atangana, reaffirmed Cameroon's commitment to facilitating bilateral trade. 

The talks also identified potential obstacles to the development of commercial exchanges, which was a focal point during the EPA Committee session.

It should be noted that the Cameroon-UK Bilateral EPA was signed on March 9, 2021, and ratified by Presidential Decree No. 2021/387 on June 28, 2021, in accordance with Law No. 2021/011 of June 28, 2021.

It was subsequently notified to the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa, CEMAC, and the Economic Community of Central African States, ECCAS on July 1, 2021. 

This agreement continues the trade liberalisation process initiated with the European Union, progressively opening the Cameroonian market to imports of goods originating from the United Kingdom in three phases, corresponding to three product groups set for liberalisation.

It should be noted that yesterday’s EPA delved deeper into these issues, with both parties eager to strengthen and expand their trade partnership.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3205 of Tuesday August 21, 2024