To boost trade competitiveness: Shippers’ Council, partners lecture stakeholders on Rules of Origin.

This is the focus of a four-day workshop, which opened Monday, June 29, in Douala. In attendance are officials from public administrations, the private sector and trade support institutions under the European Union–World Customs Organization, EU-WCO, Rules of Origin in Africa Programme.

The training seeks to establish a national pool of certified trainers capable of disseminating knowledge on Rules of Origin to non-customs stakeholders, thereby improving the country's utilization of opportunities offered under the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA; the Economic Partnership Agreement, EPA; with the European Union, and regional trade agreements within the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, CEMAC, and the Economic Community of Central African States, ECCAS.

The Director General of the Cameroon National Shippers' Council, Auguste Mbappe Penda, described the initiative as a strategic investment in Cameroon’s trade competitiveness.

He thanked development partners, notably the World Customs Organisation, ECCAS, CEMAC and the Cameroon Customs Administration, for supporting the initiative.

According to the CNCC boss, the specialised training is intended to equip trainers with the technical knowledge required to guide economic operators on the opportunities available through the various trade agreements signed by Cameroon.

"Many economic operators are still unaware of the advantages offered by these agreements," Mbappe Penda said, stressing that competition has moved beyond the sub-regional level to the continental and international markets.

He noted that for Cameroonian products to compete successfully, producers must comply with international standards, including packaging and quality requirements, while mastering the trade instruments that provide preferential market access.

The Director General added that the CNCC, in line with its mandate to defend the interests of shippers and promote foreign trade, considers the training fundamental to increasing the competitiveness of Cameroonian businesses.

Dr Kotcho Bongwaha, an ECCAS expert, explained that Rules of Origin are indispensable instruments in every free trade agreement because they determine whether products qualify for reduced or zero customs duties.

He said the workshop forms part of a broader programme comprising three training sessions designed to prepare a first generation of national trainers who will subsequently transfer the knowledge to other stakeholders across the country.

According to him, the training focuses on Rules of Origin applicable under ECCAS and CEMAC, the African Continental Free Trade Area and the Economic Partnership Agreement between Cameroon and the European Union.

Dr Bongwaha disclosed that the rules apply across the entire customs nomenclature, covering more than 5,600 product tariff lines eligible for preferential treatment, provided they comply with the applicable origin requirements.

Also addressing participants, World Customs Organization expert, Guillaume Gerout, highlighted the enormous economic benefits associated with proper application of Rules of Origin.

He explained that businesses complying with the rules can export products across the ECCAS market without paying customs duties, significantly lowering production costs and improving competitiveness.

Using the example of a Cameroonian cosmetics manufacturer exporting to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gerout said avoiding customs duties that can reach 30 percent represents a major competitive advantage.

He further noted that compliance with AfCFTA Rules of Origin gives Cameroonian producers preferential access to a continental market estimated at about 1.5 billion consumers without customs duties.

Beyond facilitating market access, Gerout said Rules of Origin also serve as an important economic policy instrument by encouraging the development of regional value chains and promoting industrial transformation.

Regarding the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union, he explained that the agreement provides more flexible mechanisms, including cumulation rules that facilitate sourcing of inputs while preserving preferential access to the European market.

He emphasised that mastering Rules of Origin remains the key condition for businesses to fully benefit from the preferential regimes established under international trade agreements.

On regional integration, the WCO expert clarified that Cameroon is currently the only ECCAS member state to have fully incorporated Customs Union instruments into its national legislative framework.

He, however, noted that all ECCAS member states have ratified the AfCFTA Agreement and are progressively operationalising its Rules of Origin.

According to him, six African countries are already applying the AfCFTA Rules of Origin operationally, while about 400 products currently qualify for preferential treatment under ECCAS Rules of Origin. He expressed optimism that the number would continue to grow through capacity-building initiatives such as the Douala workshop.

Organisers, have said the training will strengthen participants' understanding of preferential and non-preferential Rules of Origin, harmonise practices among Customs, the Ministry of Trade, the CNCC and other institutions, while improving the capacity of exporters, manufacturers and professional associations to effectively utilise tariff preferences.

Expected outcomes include the establishment of a structured national network of certified trainers, improved consistency in origin certification, greater utilisation of preferential trade agreements by exporters and stronger integration of Cameroonian small and medium-sized enterprises into regional and continental value chains.

At the end of the training, participants, would have been drilled through practical sessions on origin certification, customs procedures for claiming preferential treatment, amongst others.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3835 of Thursday July 02, 2026