The central issue revolves around the lifting of the suspension that has been in place since January 2020 within the African Growth and Opportunity Act, a tariff mechanism offering duty-free access to over 6,500 African products on the North American market. Cameroonian negotiators link reintegration into the preferential system to obtaining technical support for the creation of a national certification laboratory for standards as well as a raw materials exchange. The goal is to increase the volume of direct trade above the 300 billion FCFA mark recorded before the commercial partnership was disrupted.

The reinstatement of AGOA's customs advantages will reduce transportation costs borne by agro-food exporting SMEs. The creation of an internationally certified certification laboratory will prevent the rejection of cocoa and wood shipments in American ports of entry. The establishment of a computerized market exchange will secure farmers' remuneration in the face of fluctuations in global prices.

The reduction in customs duties will stimulate the establishment of new local processing plants for raw materials. The acceleration of technology transfers to start-ups specializing in artificial intelligence will enhance the efficiency of digital financial services. The diversification of export markets will reduce the nation's external accounts' exposure to variations in the European economic situation.


Nlend Flore

Tags: coopération économique cameroun usa afrique commerce international développement économique partenariat agriculture technologie