1. 1 st AU customs experts forum on trade facilitation in Africa 19 th to 21 st august 2015 Brazzaville – republic of Congo THE ECOWAS TRADE FACILITATION PROGRAM

2. ECOWAS achieved programs  The Free Trade Area is effective through the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS)  The Common External Tariff (CET) is effective since the 1st of January 2015  Joint Border Post is a reality for some ECOWAS member States (Malanville, Noe, Aflao, Seme) and ECOWAS and ECCAS member state (CAMEROON)  Automation of transit system in West Affrica (Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Mali through the PACIR Program  HS code 2012 harmonized (ECOWAS +UEMOA)

3. ECOWAS Program in Progress  Automation of transit system for other member States that are joining the Automated regional Transit System (ARTS) program (Ghana, Benin, Togo and Nigeria) september this year through the PACIR program  Process in preparing customs code (draft)  Modernization of Customs Administrations  ECOWAS has endorsed the West African Customs Administration Modernisation (WACAM) program = enhance the professionalism in Customs Administration  HS 2017 migration in process

4. ECOWAS achievements Within the Member States  New regulation on no payment of transit fees in Benin Republic  Sensitization and training on ETLS  Settlement of conflict through the NAC focal point and customs officers (in case of difficulties at the border)  Authentification of Certificate of origin (automatation of certificate of origin)

5. Main challenges faced by the member States on the implementation of trade facilitation measures: Main challenges faced by the member States on the implementation of trade facilitation measures: barriers still too many in some countries are increasing the time to export goods Lack of implication of competent authorities in the implementation of legal text on trade facilitation. Lack of cooperation and confidence between the countries

6. conclusion