Ghana’s Ministry of Trade and Industry has called for the elimination of non-tariff barriers to trade among African Union members.
The Ministry says attention should rather be focused on strengthening the regulatory, scientific and technological capacities for better trade.
The call was made at the opening ceremony of a forum on accelerating intra-African trade and boosting Africa’s trading position in the global animal commodities market in Accra
For efficient and smooth trading activities among member states of the African Union, Ghana’s Trade Ministry says a lot more would be achieved should non-tariff barriers be eliminated.
Non-tariff barriers to trade usually restrict import or export of goods or services through mechanisms other than the simple imposition of tariffs.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the forum on accelerating intra-African trade and boosting Africa’s trading position in the global animal commodities market in Accra, Director of Standards at the Ministry of Trade, Dr. Mustapha Kuma, called for more collaboration within the AU.
“Our collective responsibility is to eliminate non-tariff trade barriers to trade throughout value chains to facilitate innovations that will shape intra African trade and animal commodities towards greater sustainability” he said.
The meeting sought to sensitize member states on the opportunities and requirements for the operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area in animal sources trade.
It was also to update and share information among stakeholders engaged in animal commodity trade and related activities on the AfCFTA.
It was also to promote dialogue among AU member states on the operationalization of the AfCFTA with regards to the actions to be implemented at the operational, technical and administrative levels in relation to trade in animal commodities and products; and identify potential intervention areas for support and mechanisms for the efficient functioning of the African market.
Acting Director for the AU Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources, Dr. Hiver Boussini, also wants concerns about Non-Tariff Barriers looked at critically especially as it creates difficulties for cross border trade.
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