  
  
WT/REG274/1  
16 June 2020  
(20-4248) Page: 1/34 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements    
 
FACTUAL PRESENTATION  
ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP  AGREEMENT  BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION  AND CAMEROON  
(GOODS ) 
Report by the Secretariat  
This report, prepared for the consideration of the Economic Partnership Agreement 
between the European Union  and Cameroon , has been drawn up by the WTO Secretariat 
on its own responsibility and in full consultation with the Parties. The factual 
presentation reproduces as closely as possible the terminology used in the Agreement 
and in the comments provided and d oes not imply official endorsement or acceptance 
by the Secretariat of such terminology. The report has been drawn up in accordance 
with the rules and procedures contained in the Decision for a Transparency Mechanism 
for Regional Trade Agreements (WT/L/671 ) and thus does not imply any value 
judgement by the Secretariat regarding the contents of the Agreement.  
Any technical questions arising from this report may be addressed to Ana Cristina Molina 
(tel: +41 22 739 6060) . Any statistical questions arising fro m this report may be 
addressed to  Rowena Cabos (tel: +41 22 739 5185) . 
 
 
  WT/REG274/1  
 
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  Table o f Contents  
 
1   TRADE ENVIRONMEN T ................................ ................................ ................................ . 4 
1.1   Merchandise trade  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 4 
2   CHARAC TERISTIC ELEMENTS OF  THE AGREEMENT  ................................ ......................  6 
2.1   Background Information  ................................ ................................ ...............................  6 
3   PROVISIONS ON TR ADE IN GOODS  ................................ ................................ .............  8 
3.1   Import duties and charges, and quantitative restrictions ................................ ...................  8 
3.1.1    General provisions  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 8 
3.1.2    Liberalization of trade and tariff lines  ................................ ................................ ..........  9 
3.1.3    Liberalization schedule  ................................ ................................ ............................. 10 
3.1.3.1    The European Union  ................................ ................................ .............................. 10 
3.1.3.2    Cameroon  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............ 11 
3.1.4    Tariff-rate quotas  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....13 
3.1.5    EU entry price system  ................................ ................................ .............................. 13 
3.2   Rules of origin  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............ 14 
3.2.1    Requirements for the determination of origin  ................................ .............................. 14 
3.2.2    Cumulation  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 15 
3.2.2.1    Bilateral cumulation  ................................ ................................ .............................. 15 
3.2.2.2    Diagonal cumulation  ................................ ................................ .............................. 15 
3.2.3    De minimis  rule ................................ ................................ ................................ .......16 
3.2.4    Territoriality principle and absorption rule  ................................ ................................ ...16 
3.2.5    Other factors affecting the originating status of a good  ................................ ................. 16 
3.2.6    Administration of the rules of origin  ................................ ................................ ........... 16 
3.3   Export duties and charges, and quantitative re strictions  ................................ .................. 17 
3.4   Regulatory provisions of the agreement  ................................ ................................ ........ 17 
3.4.1    Sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade  ............................. 17 
3.4.2    Safeguard mechanisms  ................................ ................................ ............................ 18 
3.4.2.1    Global safeguards  ................................ ................................ ................................ .18 
3.4.2.2    Bilateral safeguards  ................................ ................................ ............................... 18 
3.4.2.3    Infant industry safeguards  ................................ ................................ ..................... 19 
3.4.2.4    Food security safeguards  ................................ ................................ ....................... 19 
3.4.2.5    Special safeguard for sugar -based products  ................................ ............................. 19 
3.4.3    Anti-dumping and countervailing measures  ................................ ................................ .20 
3.4.4    Subsidies and State -aid ................................ ................................ ............................ 20 
3.4.5    Customs -related procedures ................................ ................................ ...................... 20 
3.5   Sector -Specific provisions  ................................ ................................ ............................ 21 
3.5.1    Sugar  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................... 21 
4   PROVISIONS ON TR ADE IN SERVICES  ................................ ................................ ....... 22 
5   GENERAL PROVISIO NS OF THE AGREEMENT  ................................ .............................  22 
5.1   Transparency  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 22 WT/REG274/1  
 
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  5.2   Current payments and capital movements  ................................ ................................ .....22 
5.3   Exceptions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 22 
5.4   Accession and withdrawal  ................................ ................................ ............................ 23 
5.5   Institutional framework  ................................ ................................ ............................... 23 
5.6   Dispute settlement  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....23 
5.7   Relationship with other agreements concluded by the Part ies ................................ ........... 24 
5.8   Government procurement  ................................ ................................ ............................ 26 
5.9   Intellectual property rights  ................................ ................................ .......................... 26 
5.10   Competition  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 26 
5.11   Environment  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............ 26 
5.12   Labour  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................... 27 
5.13   Electronic commerce  ................................ ................................ ................................ .27 
5.14   Small and medium -sized enterprises  ................................ ................................ ........... 27 
ANNEX 1  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  28 
ANNEX 2  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  29 
 
  WT/REG274/1  
 
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Key Facts  
 
Parties to the Agreement:  The European Union and Cameroon  
 
Date of Signature:  15 January  2009 
 
Date of Application : 4 August 2014   
 
Date of Notification:  24 September  2009 
 
End of tariff liberalization : 2029 
 
1  TRADE ENVIRONMENT  
1.1.  The Economic Partnership Agreement  between the European Union and its Member States 
(hereinafter the EU) and Cameroon (hereinafter referred to as the Agreement) is the EU's 4 4th and 
Cameroon's 3rd regional trade agreement (RTA) notified to the WTO Secretariat.  The Agreement 
covers trade in goods and although it does not contain liberalization commitments in trade in services 
it does include some services ' provisions. The Agreement also includes provisions in other trade -
related areas such as competition, and e -commerce.   
1.2.  The Agreement , whose negotiations started in 2003,  was to replace the unilateral preference 
scheme provided  under the Cotonou Agreement, and was intended to be an agreement between the 
EU and the Central Africa region . The Agreement  was signed  on 15 January 2009  between  the EU 
and Cameroon  only, and  as of May 2020 no other Central African State had signed  the Agreement. 
Due to its initial intention, the Agreement refers to the "Central Africa Party" or "Central African 
State (s)" in its pr ovisions, which for the time being only comprises Cameroon. For the purpose of 
this Factual Presentation, we will use "Central Africa Party", "Central Africa State"  and "Cameroon " 
interchangeably.   
1.3.  The EU and Cameroon differ substantially in the size of th eir economies and their participation 
in world trade. In 201 8, the EU's GDP amounted to €15.6 trillion compared to €32.7 billion for 
Cameroon .1 In terms of trade, in the same year, the EU was the second largest exporter and importer 
in the world (excluding intra -EU trade)  (€1.9 trillion each)  while Cameroon  ranked 93rd (€3.2 billion) 
in terms of exports and 96th (€4.9 billion) for imports.  
1.4.  At the bilateral level, the EU is Cameroon's main trading partner (exports and imports). In 
2017, it accounted for 55% of Cameroon's total exports and 32% of its imports.2 In contrast, 
Cameroon is a relatively small provider and buyer of goods for the EU. In 2018, i t account ed for 
0.1% of the EU 's total imports and exports , making Cameroon the EU's 63rd and 77th largest import 
and export partner.   
1.1  Merchandise trade  
1.5.  Chart 1.1 shows the Parties' global and bilateral merchandise trade f or the period 2011 -2019 
for the EU and 2011 -2017 for  Cameroon (based on the latest data available) . During this period, 
Cameroon registered a trade deficit with the world, which deepened in  2016, while the EU had a 
trade surplus, except in 2011-2012 and 2018-2019. At the bilateral l evel, the EU maintained a trade 
deficit  with Cameroon  which has fluctuated during this period and recently increased from €212 
million in 2018  to €726 million in 201 9.  
 
1 WTO Trade Profiles (latest data). The 2018 exchange rate EUR per USD applied was 0.85.  
2 According to the latest data available.  WT/REG274/1  
 
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  Chart 1.1 EU and Cameroon: Merchandise bilateral trade and with world  
 
Source:  Eurostat and UNSD Comtrade database as provided by the EU authorities.  
1.6.  Chart 1.2 exhibits the Parties' trade basket for the three years prior to the Agreement's 
application . Since the Parties started their tariff liberalization processes in different years , 2014 for 
the EU and 2016 for Cameroon , Chart 1.2 presents data on EU imports for the period 2011 -2013 
and on Cameroon 's imports for 2013 -2015. The data suggests that there are some 
complementarities between the Parties. The main products by HS section im ported by the EU from 
Cameroon  were m inerals , prepared food , and wood articles , which are also Cameroon  largest export 
categories. Together, these categories accounted on average for about 77% of Cameroon  total 
exports  during 201 3-2015. Cameroon  on the other hand imported machinery, chemicals , minerals, 
vegetables and vehicles from the EU, accounting for about 66% of its total imports from the EU. 
These products , except for vegetables,  were also the EU's main exports, account ing on average for 
63% of its total exports  during 2013 -2015.   
  
012345678
012345678
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017B. Cameroon 2011 -2017
(Euro billions)
Imports from EU (Right Axis)
Exports to EU (Right Axis)
Total Imports
Total Exports
012345678
05001,0001,5002,0002,500
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019A. EU 2011 -2019 
(Euro billions)
Imports from Cameroon (Right Axis)
Exports to Cameroon (Right Axis)
Total Imports
Total ExportsWT/REG274/1  
 
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  Chart 1.2 EU -Cameroon: product composition of merchandise trade, annual average  for 
2011 -2013 and 2013 -2015  
 
Note:  Cameroon: Exchange rate EUR per USD are: 0.72 (2011), 0.78 (2012), 0.75 (2013), 0.75 (2014) 
and 0.90 (2015). Annual average: 2011 -2013 (inner circle); 2013 -2015 (outer circle) . 
Source:  Eurostat and UNSD Comtrade.  
2  CHARACTERISTIC ELEME NTS OF THE AGREEMENT  
2.1  Background Information  
2.1.  The Agreement is an interim agreement  establish ing an initial framework for  an Economic 
Partnership Agreement  (EPA)  between the EU and Cameroon  (Article 1)  and was concluded as part 
of the negotiations between the EU and a group of Cen tral African countries  (see Box 1.1) . The 
Agreement was signed by the Parties on 15 January  2009 and has been applied on a provisional 
basis since 4 August 2014 . In accordance with the Parties' schedule, the EU bound all its duties to 
zero upon the Agreeme nt's date of application, while  Cameroon  began implementing its  liberalization 
commitments on 4 August 2016. The Agreement was notified to the WTO on 24 September 2009  
under Article  XXIV:7(a) of the GATT 1994. According to the Agreement, its entry  into force will 
become effective once the Parties' internal requirements have been finalized. In the meantime, the 
Parties agree to apply the Agreement on a provisional basis (Article 98).  
23
13
111193322
14
11
11835Cameroon imports from 
EU31
208652927
22
96631EU global imports
24 
16 
11 10 8 32 27 
16 
9 10 7 30 Cameroon global imports52
17121045
48
19111146EU imports from 
Cameroon
56
14104413
42 
22 13 5 4 12Cameroon global exports
CRI27
15
14773026 
16 
15 6 6 31 EU global exports
Total: 
2011 -2013: Euro 1,656 billion
2013 -2015: Euro 1,744 billionTotal: 
2011 -2013: Euro 2.2 billion
2013 -2015: Euro 2.1 billionTotal: 
2011 -2013: Euro 1,738 billion
2013 -2015: Euro 1,700 billionTotal: 
2011 -2013: Euro 3.5 billion
2013 -2015: Euro 3.2 billion
Total: 
2011 -2013: Euro 1.6 billion
2013 -2015: Euro 1.5 billionTotal: 
2011 -2013: Euro 4.6 billion
2013 -2015: Euro 5.4 billion
Prepared foodsVegetables
PlasticsChemicals
MineralsBase metalsTextiles
Wood and 
articles of woodMachineryVehicles
OtherWT/REG274/1  
 
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  Box 2.1 Central  Africa  and the EPA negotiations  
The Agreement between the EU and Cameroon , signed in 2009 , was designed  to be an agreement 
between the EU and a group of Central African countries which remains its ultimate objective.  
Negotiations were launched in 2003, and involved the EU and Cameroon, Central African Republic, 
Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea , Gabon, and Sao Tome y Principe.3 
The Agreement was to replace the unilateral preference scheme granted under the Cotonou 
Agreement, whose waiver under the WTO expired on 31 December 2007.  As of April 2020, only 
the negotiations between the EU and Cameroon had been concluded.  The text of A greement was 
signed on 15 January 2009 and has  been applied on a provisional basis since 2014.  Between  2008 
and 2014, the EU applied a temporary unilateral scheme under the Council's Market Access 
Regulations  that granted for all goods, except arms, duty a nd quotas -free access to the EU to 
countries that had concluded the EPA negotiations ( EU Regulation N o. 1528/2007  and its 
amendments ).4  
 
2.2.  The text of the Agreement, along with its schedules and annexes, is available on the EU 
website.5 The Agreement consists of eight titles: Objectives (Title I); Partnership for development 
(Title II); Trade regime for goods (Title  III); Establishment, trade in services and e -commerce (Title 
IV); Trade -related rules (Title V); Dispute avoidance and sett lement (Title VI), General exceptions 
(Title VII) and General and final provisions (Title VII I). Titles III, V and VI are further sub divided 
into chapters (Box 2. 2). The Agreement also contains one Protocol, and three Annexes.  
Box 2 .2 Structure of the Agr eement  
Title I  Objectives  
Title II  Partnership for development  
Title III  Trade regime for goods  
Chapter  1 Customs duties and non -tariff measures  
Chapter 2  Trade defence instruments  
Chapter 3  Customs and trade facilitation  
Chapter 4  Technical barriers to trade, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures  
Chapter 5  Forestry governance and trade in timber and forest products  
Title IV  Establishment, trade in services and e -commerce  
Title V  Trade -related rules  
Chapter 1 Current payments and capital movements  
Chapter 2 Competition  
Chapter 3 Intellectual property  
Chapter 4 Public procurement  
Chapter 5  Sustainable development  
Chapter 6 Protection of personal data  
Title VI  Dispute avoidance and settlement  
Chapter 1 Objective and scope  
Chapter 2 Consultations and mediation  
Chapter 3 Procedures for the settlement of disputes  
 
3 All these countries, except for Democratic Republic of Congo and Sao Tome y Principe , are members of 
the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) . 
4 The Council's Market Access Regulations  are described in EU Regulation No. 1528/2007 of 
20 December 2007 and its amendments. On  8 June  2016 EU Regulation No. 1528/2007 was repealed and 
replaced by EU Regulation No. 2016/ 1076.  
5 The text of the Agreement  can be found in  https://eur -lex.europa.eu/legal -
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1399560086045&uri=CELEX:22009A0228(01) .  WT/REG274/1  
 
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  Chapter 4 General provisions  
Title VII  General exceptions  
Title VI II General and final provisions  
Annex I  Capacity building and modernisation of the economies of Central Africa under the EPA  
Central Africa/European Union joint guidance document  
Annex II  Customs duties on products originating in the territory of the Central Africa Party  
Annex III  Customs duties on products originating in the European  Community  
Protocol  On mutual administrative assistance in customs matters  
Source:  The A greement (Official Journal of the European Union L57/2009).  
3  PROVISIONS ON TRADE IN GOODS  
3.1  Import duties and charges, and quantitative restri ctions  
3.1.1   General provisions  
3.1.  Trade in goods between the Parties is  governed by Title III  of the Agreement, its Annexes  II-
III and its Protocol  on customs matters . Title III includes provisions on tariff elimination, rules of 
origin , MFN treatment, fees and other charges, prohibition of quantitative restrictions, national 
treatment on internal regulations and taxation, agricultural export subsidies, food security , special 
provisions on administrative cooperation, management of administrative errors, and coope ration.  
The rules of o rigin applicable under the Agreement are still under negotiation. Pending the 
completion of these negotiations , the rules of origin that apply are those contained in the EU 
Regulation No. 2016/1076  of 8 June 2016  for Cameroon exports and Cameroon's Decree No. 
2016/367 of 3 August 2016  for EU exports .6  
3.2.  The Parties commit to eliminate customs duties on originating goods according to their 
respective schedules  (Annexes II and III) , and to not increase any existing duty, or introduce a ne w 
one on an originating good . The EU agree s to eliminate duties on  all goods  from Cameroon from the 
application date of the Agreement , with very few exceptions , while Cameroon will eliminate duties 
on about 77% of its tariff lines over 15 years , including two  years  (2014 -2015)  during which no tariff 
reduction was scheduled.  The Agreement follows the WTO definition for agricultural products 
(Article  24). 
3.3.  Both Parties agree to grant national treatment to each other's goods  (Article 23)7, and t he EU  
also commits to apply an MFN clause towards  imports from  Cameroon (Article 19). Under this clause 
the EU shall extend to Cameroon,  or any other signatory Central African State any more favourable 
treatment granted to a third party under a trade agreement  signed after th e Agreement .8 Moreover, 
if Cameroon concludes an agreement with a major trading partner9 and receives more favourable 
treatment from this partner than that provided by the EU, the Parties shall enter into consultations 
and decide together on the implementation of the MFN clause under th e Agreement . This clause  
does not apply to  trade agreements with third parties that existed on the date the Agreement was 
signed.   
3.4.  Neither Party  is obliged to grant  to the other Party  any more favourable treatment than that  
applied  under  their respective regional integration process. However, signatory Central African 
State s shall extend to the other signatory Central African States any more favourable treatment or 
advantage granted under this Agreement  to the EU (Article 97) . 
 
6 Decree No. 2016/367 dated 3 August 2016 "establis hing the Rules of Origin and the methods of 
administrative cooperation applicable to goods of the EU within the framework of the Interim Agreement with a 
view to an Economic Partnership Agreement ". 
7 The provisions on national treatment mirror to a large e xtent those in Article  III of GATT 1994.  
8 According to the Agreement, such trade agreements are to cover goods and services (Article 19).  
9 The Agreement defines a "major trading partner ": 1) as any developed country or any country 
accounting for more tha n 1% of world trade in the year before the entry into force of the trade agreement in 
question, or 2) as any group of countries acting accounting collectively for more than 1.5% of world trade in 
the year before the entry into force of the trade agreement in question.   WT/REG274/1  
 
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  3.5.  The Parties  shall follow  Article VII of the GATT and the corresponding WTO Agreement on its 
implementation for customs valuation  (Article 38) , and the main principle of Article VIII of the GATT 
for the application of fees and other charges (Article 18), whose amount shall be limited to the cost 
of services rendered , and shall not constitute indirect protection for domestic products or taxation 
of imports or exports for fiscal purposes. They shall take the form  of specific tariffs corresponding 
to the cost of services rendered and shall not be calculated on an ad valorem  basis.  In order to 
promote regional integration and ensure clari ty for economic operators, Cameroon  agrees to 
introduce, not later than 1  January 2013, standardi zed provisions for fees and charges .10  
3.1.2   Liberalization of trade and tariff lines  
3.6.  The Parties ' tariff elimination schedule and staging categories are detailed in Annex es II and 
III of the Agreement. The base rate is the MFN rate of 200 7. The EU commit s to eliminate duties on 
all its goods, with few exceptions, from the Agreement's date of entry into force , while Cameroon 
will gradually eliminate duties on about 77% of its tariff lines over a transition period of 15 years .11 
Cameroon  listed four different  staging categories in its tariff schedule12 and excluded 1 ,404 tariff 
lines from liberalization .  
3.7.  The EU  excluded Chapter 93 on arms on ammunition, covering  22 lines  (at the 8 -digit level) , 
of which  four had an MFN rate of zero  in 2014 . It also  applied a moratorium to rice ( product code 
1006), except for rice for sowing13, and exempt ed bananas (product code 0803.00.19) released  for 
free circulation  in its outermost regions  from liberalization for a (renewable) period of ten years .14 
For rice, the moratorium ended in 2010 as agreed under  the Agreement15 and for  bananas the 
exemption will e nd in 2024.16  
3.8.  Special conditions also apply to sugar from Cameroon  as the Parties agree d to gradually 
dismantle  the sugar scheme provided in Protocol 3 of the Cotonou Agreement  - known as the Sugar 
Protocol  - which provided preferential access to the EU for sugar originating in certain ACP countries 
based on a quota and guaranteed price system. T he Sugar Protocol  was to remain applicable until 
30 September 2009. After this date t he Parties committed to gradu ally increase the quota quantities 
and reduce the EU guaranteed price during a transition period, which was initially 6 years17 but 
subsequently extended for two more years until  30 September 2017  (see section 3.5). Sugar  
originating in Cameroon to be relea sed for free circulation in the French overseas territories is  not 
subject to these special conditions during a transition period of ten years, which like for bananas can 
be extended for a further period of ten years unless the Parties agree otherwise .18 
3.9.  Pending the Agreement 's entry into force , Cameroon benefit ed from duty and quota -free access 
to the EU on a temporary basis under EU Regulation N o. 1528/2007 , also  known as the Market 
Access Regulation ( see box 2.1.).  With the entry into force of the Agreement on 4 August 2014,  the 
EU bound all its duties to zero for goods originating in Cameroon (with very few exceptions, see 
above), while for Cameroon the reduction  of duties  started on 4 August 2016 . During 2014 -2016, 
Cameroon had no liberalization commitment s and prepare d the rules of origin to be applied to 
imports from the EU . Cameroon issued the rules of origin appli cable to goods originating in  the EU 
on 3 August 2016.  
3.10.   As of January 2020, negotiations on a common regime on the rules of origin we re still ongoing. 
Pending their completion, the EU is applying the rules of origin in EU Regulation No. 2016/1076 to 
 
10 In this regard, Cameroon indicated that the standardisation of provisions has not taken place as the 
countries that shall be involved in such process are not yet parties to the Agreement.  
11 During 2011 -2013, these lines accounted on averag e for 81% of Cameroon's total imports from the 
EU. 
12 Including a category for excluded lines.  
13 Rice for sowing (product code 1006.10.10) was liberalized  upon the Agreement's entry into force.  
14 The EU indicated that the exemption for bananas has not been renewed so far.  
15 Information provided by the authorities.  
16 According to the Agreement, rice could benefit from a moratorium until 2010 as it was planned that 
the Agreement enters into force before that (Paragraph 2 of Annex II of the Agreement).  
17 The transition period was initially agreed to go from 1 October 2 009 until 30 September 2015 . 
18 The EU indicated that the exemption for sugar has not been renewed so far and will end in 2024.  WT/REG274/1  
 
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  goods from Cameroon, while for goods from the EU Cameroon is applying the rules of origin 
contained in Decree No. 2016/367 issued in August 2016.  
3.1.3   Liberalization schedule  
3.1.3.1   The European Union  
3.11.   Table 3.1 shows the EU's tariff elimination commitments under the Agreement .19 Before the 
entry into force of the Agreement, 25. 2% of the EU's lines were already duty free on an MFN basis, 
corresponding  to 83.9% of its average imports from Cameroon  during 2011 -2013 and for the 
remaining lines, except arms, Cameroon was benefitting , pending the Agreement 's application , from 
duty and quota -free access to the EU under  EU Regulation No. 1528/2007 . In 2014, when the 
Agreement started to be applied , the EU bound  at zero the duties for all but 18 remaining lines. The 
additional  bound  lines accounted for 16.1% of its imports from Cameroon .  
Table 3.1 EU: Tariff elimination commitments under the Agreement and corresponding 
average trade  
Duty phase -out 
period  Number of 
lines  % of total lines 
in EU's tariff 
schedule  Value of EU's 
imports from 
Cameroon  
(2011 -2013)  
in Euro mil lion % of EU's 
total imports 
from  
Cameroon  
2011 -2013  
MFN duty free (2014)  2,359  25.2 1,853.2  83.9 
2014  7,002  74.7 356.4  16.1 
Remain dutiable  18 0.2 0.0 0.0 
Total  9,379  100.0  2,209.6  100.0  
Note:  Based on the HS 2012 nomenclature . 
Source:  WTO estimates based on data from WTO -IDB and information from EU authorities . 
 
3.12.   Table 3.2 show s the EU's tariff elimination by HS section  with respect to Cameroon . As 
mentioned earlier, a ll the lines that will remain dutiable  fall in Chapter 93 or S ection X IX (Arms and 
Ammunitions ). Taken together, these lines exhibit an average rate  of 2.7%.   
Table 3.2 EU: Tariff elimination under the Agreement, by HS Section  
HS 
Section  MFN av erage  
% Number  of 
lines  Duty -free 
lines under 
the MFN 
2014  Number of duty -
free lines  in 
2014 under the 
Agreement  Remain 
dutiable  Avg. Final Tariff 
(Dutiable)  
I 9.8 932 107 825   
II 5.5 552 153 399   
III 5.9 128 23 105   
IV 14.1 832 95 737   
V 0.8 234 170 64   
VI 4.3 1,149  299 850   
VII 4.6 301 62 239   
VIII 3.1 130 45 85   
IX 2.4 213 99 114   
X 0.0 195 195    
XI 8.0 1,159  39 1,120    
XII 8.2 106 2 104   
XIII 4.0 236 33 203   
XIV 0.6 56 45 11   
XV 1.8 953 500 453   
XVI 2.3 1,375  307 1,068    
XVII 4.9 269 30 239   
XVIII 2.5 322 89 233   
XIX 2.2 22 4a  18 2.7 
XX 2.6 208 55 153   
XXI 0.0 7 7    
Total  5.1 9,379  2,359  7,002  18 2.7 
 
19 Of the total number of EU tariff lines (i.e. 9,379), 987 are  subject to non -ad valorem  duties: 650  lines 
have a specific duty,  199 a compound tariff, 62 a mixed duty and 76 are subject to  other type of 
non-ad valorem  duties (e.g. entry price system).  WT/REG274/1  
 
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  a These 4 lines, classified under Chapter 93, are excluded under the Agreement.  
Note:  For the calculation of averages, specific rates are excluded, and the ad valorem  parts of alternate 
rates are included . 
 Based on the HS 2012 nomenclature . 
Source:  WTO estimates based on data from WTO -IDB and information from EU authorities . 
 
3.1.3.2   Cameroon  
3.13.   Table 3.3 shows Cameroon 's tariff elimination commitments with respect to the EU.20 In 2014, 
prior to the application of the Agreement, 1% of Cameroon 's tariff lines was already duty free on an 
MFN basis, which corresponded to 5 .4% of its average imports from the EU during 201 1-2013.21 In 
2016, in accordance with its schedule Cameroon started its tariff liberalization process.  Between 
2016 and 2018 duties were reduced but not eliminated and i n 2019, an additional 26.9% of lines 
became duty -free for imports from the EU. Subsequent tariff reductions shall take place every year 
until 2029 , with major changes occurring in  2023, when another 16.6% of tariff lines will be 
liberalized. In 2026, a fter 10 years of implementation 44.5% of tariff lines will be duty -free for 
imports from the EU, and at the end of the implementation, in 2029, this percentage will increase 
to 77.3% corresponding to 80.9% of imports by value. Of the 1,404 lines that will remain dutiable , 
84% (1,184 lines) will exhibit a tariff higher than 20%. 
Table 3.3 Cameroon: Tariff elimination and reduction commitmen ts under the Agreement 
and corresponding average trade  
Duty phase -out period  Number of 
lines  % of total 
lines in 
Cameroon 's 
tariff schedule  Value of 
Cameroon 's 
imports from EU 
(2011-2013) 
Euro  million  % of Cameroon 's 
total imports 
from EU 
2011 -2013 
MFN duty free (2014)  62 1.0 85.3 5.4 
2019 1,664  26.9 245.4  15.7 
2023 1,023  16.6 394.6  25.2 
2029 2,026  32.8 541.3  34.6 
Remain dutiable  1,403  22.7 299.2  19.1 
Totala 6,178  100.0  1,565.8  100.0  
a Tariff coverage is from HS Chapters 1 -97. 
Note:  Exchange rates used for converting from US dollars to Euros were: 0.72 (2011), 0.78 (2012) and 
0.75 (2013).  
 Based on the HS2002 nomenclature.  
Source:  WTO estimates based on data provided by the Authorities and the WTO -IDB. 
 
3.14.   Table 3.4 shows Cameroon's tariff elimination by HS section with regard s to the EU. The 
1,404 lines that remain subject to duties are found in Sections I – XV and XX and show average 
tariffs ranging from 12.3% to 30%. About 40% of these lines (554 lines) correspond to textiles 
(Section XI), another 40% refer to agricultural products (Sections I -IV) and the rest refer mainly to 
chemicals  (Section VI) , plastics  (Section VII) , wood (Section IX) and base metals  (Section XV) .  
Table 3.4 Cameroon: Tariff elimination and reduction commitments under the 
Agreement, by HS Section  
HS 
Section  MFN 
Average  
% Number  
of lines  Duty -free 
lines 
under the  
MFN 2014  Under the Agreement  Remain 
dutiable  
outside the 
Agreement  Avg. Final 
Tariff  
(Dutiable)  2019  2023  2029  
I 22.9 262  20  85 157 21.8 
II 23.1 361  65 9 101 186 26.3 
III 25.2 46  7 1 4 34 28.8 
IV 25.7 268  22 4 46 196 28.3 
 
20 All Cameroon 's tariff lines (i.e. 6,178 ) are subject to ad valorem  duties.  
21 Trade data at the tariff line level (11 -digit) was n ot available for the period 2013 -2015.  WT/REG274/1  
 
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  HS 
Section  MFN 
Average  
% Number  
of lines  Duty -free 
lines 
under the  
MFN 2014  Under the Agreement  Remain 
dutiable  
outside the 
Agreement  Avg. Final 
Tariff  
(Dutiable)  2019  2023  2029  
V 10.3 179  105 32 27 15 12.3 
VI 11.2 860 30 651 49 75 55 27.2 
VII 16.3 219 1 4 133 28 53 28.0 
VIII 19.5 77   38 39   
IX 29.6 551  3 4 496 48 29.4 
X 13.8 160 13 38 54 28 27 24.1 
XI 22.1 862  69 87 152 554 24.7 
XII 29.3 57   5 40 12 30.0 
XIII 25.2 143  16 18 95 14 30.0 
XIV 30.0 57    44 13 30.0 
XV 16.7 609  33 257 292 27 23.0 
XVI 14.2 831 2 428 235 166   
XVII 16.6 228 16 83 61 68   
XVIII 18.4 243  117 21 105   
XIX 28.2 22    22   
XX 27.6 136  3 15 106 12 30.0 
XXI 30.0 7    7   
Total  19.1 6,178a 62 1,664  1,023  2,026  1,403  25.6 
a Tariff coverage is from HS Chapters 1 -97. 
Note:  Based on the HS20 02 nomenclature.  
Source:  WTO estimates based on data provided by the Authorities and the WTO -IDB. 
 
3.15.   At the HS Chapter  level, 65 chapters will remain dutiable with an average preferential tariff  
ranging between 10% and 30% (Chart 3. 1). Out of these chapters, 25 will have a preferential rate 
of 30% at the end of implementation , with textiles  being the one with the largest number of lines  
(Chapter 61 and 62 , accounting together  for 118 lines ). In all of th e 65 chapters the average MFN 
and preferential rate are the same  showing no additional preferences .  WT/REG274/1  
 
- 13 - 
 
 
  Chart 3.1 Cameroon: Average of dutiable rates, by HS Chapter  
 
Note:  Based on the HS 2002 nomenclature.  
Source:  WTO estimates based on data provided by the Authorities and the WTO -IDB. 
 
3.1.4   Tariff -rate quotas  
3.16.   None of the Parties apply tariff rate -quotas  per se  under the Agreement . However, the EU 
was allowed to apply quantity thresholds for sugar within the transitional safeguard mechanism until 
2017.22 The mechanism  operated like a tariff rate -quota (see section 3.5).  
3.17.   At the multilateral level , only the EU applies tariff rate -quotas .23  
3.1.5   EU entry price system  
3.18.   The EU indicated that under the Agreement goods originating in Cameroon  are exempted from 
the application of  its entry-price system . Under this mechanism, which applies on an MFN basis, 
certain product s are subject to a specific duty in addition to their ad-valorem  duty if their price is 
lower than the minimum entry price set out by th e EU authorities. The ad-valorem  component can 
vary with the season, while the specific duty component depends on the difference between the 
 
22 In this regard, the EU indicated that no threshold  was applied between 2015 -2017.  
23 At the multilateral level, the EU applies TRQs to 28 product categories (at the 4 -digit level) including 
sugar live bovine animals,  meat of bovine animals, chicken meat, chocolate, biscuits, and eggs. WTO document 
G/AG/N/EU/57 of 19 December 2019.  
05101520253035
02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21Average Duty Rate (%)
HS Chapter01-24
05101520253035
2224263234384046495153555759616365687073798396Average Duty Rate (%)
HS Chapter25-97
Preferential MFNWT/REG274/1  
 
- 14 - 
 
  import price and the reference entry price.  The entry -price applies to 28 tariff lines (at the 8 -digit 
level) corresponding to 16 types of fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, apples and 
pears ( see Annex 1 ). 
3.2  Rules of origin  
3.19.   Under the Agreement, the Parties committed to negotiate and adopt a common regime on 
rules of origin  and annex it to the Agreement. Such regime was to enter into force upon the 
Agreement's date of application and to be review ed no later than three years after its effective entry 
into force with a view to simplifying it (Article 1 3).  
3.20.   In 2014, when the Agreement started to be applied, the common regime of rules of origin  
was still under negotiation.  Pending its completion, t he EU extended the application of the rules of 
origin contained in Annex II of the EU Regulation No. 2016/1076 (which replaced EU Regulation No. 
1528/2007) to Cameroonian goods exported to the EU under to the Agreement , while Cameroon  
continued to work on  the rules of origin to be appl ied to goods from the EU . In 2016 Cameroon 
finalized the rules of origin applicable to EU exports under the Agreement and published them in 
Decree N o. 2016/367 on 3 August of the same year.  As of January  2020, negotiations for a common  
protocol on rules of origin were still ongoing.  
3.21.   The majority  of the general  provisions on rules of origin described  in Cameroon's Decree N o. 
2016/367 mirror those in  Annex II of EU Regulation No. 2016/1076.  
3.2.1   Requirements for the determination of origin  
3.22.   Under Cameroon's Decree No. 2016/367  (hereafter Decree 367)  and Annex II of the EU 
Regulation No. 2016/ 1076 (hereafter  Regulation  2016/ 1076), a good qualifies as originating if it is:  
• wholly obtained in one of the Parties (Articles 3 and 4 of Decree 367, and Article 2 of 
Annex II of Regulation  2016/ 1076); 
• produced in one of the Parties using non -originating materials but which have undergone 
sufficient working or processing in the Party. The working or processin g requirements can 
take the form of a change in tariff classification (CTC); a local value content ( LVC) 
expressed as a percentage of the ex -works price24; a specific processing requirement or 
any other applicable requirement set out in A ppendix of Decree 3 67, and Appendix 2 -2A 
of Annex II of Regulation  2016/ 1076.  
3.23.   Sea fish and related products  not born or raised in the Parties ' territories can still qualif y as 
originating  provided some other requirements  are met . Sea fish and related products  taken from the 
sea outside the territorial waters of the Parties by their vessels, or made aboard their factory ships 
using exclusively such sea products  can be considered as originating if their vessels and factory 
ships comply with flag, registration, ownership and crew requirements .25 Only Cameroon imposes 
crew requirements (Article 4 of Decree 367).   
3.24.   In addition, Decree 367 and Regulation  2016/ 1076 list the operations that are considered 
insufficient to grant originating status. The list includes simple operations such  as washing, 
assembling, packing or repackaging, as well as operations that guarantee the preservation of goods 
(Article 6 of Decree 367  and Article 5 of  Annex II of Regulation  2016/ 1076). 
 
24 This criterion specifies the  maximum amount of non -originating materials that can be used as a 
percentage of the ex -work price.  
25 Vessels and factory ships  must:  (a) be matriculated or registered in one of the Parties ; (b) sail under 
the flag of  one of the Parties ; (c) be at least 50% owned by EU nationals or 30% Cameroon  nationals ; or 
owned by companies which have their head offices and their main places of business in the Parties; and which 
are at least 50% owned by an EU member State or 30% by Cameroon, by public entities or EU nationals, and 
(d) in the case of EU exports must also have a crew that consist of 10% of the nationals of  Cameroon or the 
EU. WT/REG274/1  
 
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  3.2.2   Cumulation  
3.2.2.1   Bilateral cumulation  
3.25.   Decree 367 (Article 7)  and Regulation  2016/ 1076 (Article 6 of Annex II ) allow for bilateral 
and full cumulation between  Cameroon  and the EU . 
3.26.   Under bilateral cumulation  (or cumulation based on  originating materials ), a Party can use 
materials originating in the other  Party as their own to produce  a good and claim  originating status . 
These m aterials do not need to have undergone sufficient working or processing activities provided 
they have undergone minimum operations as defined in the Decree 367  (Article 6 ) and Regulation  
2016/ 1076 (Article 5 of Annex II ), which include  washing, assembling, packing or repackaging  (see 
paragraph  3.24). 
3.27.   Under  full cumulation (or cumulation based on working operations ), the Parties  can aggregate 
the operations carried out in their territories in order to meet working or processing requirements 
when using non -originating materials  and claim originating status when export ing the final good  to 
the other Party . The operations carried ou t must go beyond the minimum operations  defined  in 
Article 6 of Decree No. 367 and Article 5 of Annex II of Regulation 2016/1076 .26 Under Article 6 of 
Decree 367, Cameroon further specifies that when the working operations carried out in the EU do 
not go beyond minimum operations, the product obtained may still be considered to be originating 
in the EU  if the value added realized there is greater than the value of non -originating materials 
used. If this is not the case, the origin of the product will be th at of the country or territory that 
provided the greater value of inputs.  
3.2.2.2   Diagonal cumulation  
3.28.   The EU allows for diagonal cumulation  between Cameroon, and the EU overseas countries and 
territories (OCT) , South Africa , and neighbouring developing countries p rovided certain conditions 
are fulfilled.  Full cumulation is also allowed with OCTs and South Africa (Article 6 of Annex II of 
Regulation 2016/1076 ).27 
3.29.   Under the cumulation provisions with OCT, Cameroon may incorporate materials originating 
in OCT as if they were originating in Cameroon, provided such working or processing goes beyond 
the minimum operations  described  in Article 5 of Annex II of Regulation 2016/1076 . Moreover, 
Cameroon  can consider  working an d processing operations carried out in OCT as having been carried 
out in its territory  when the materials undergo subsequent working or processing there beyond 
minimum  operations .28 
3.30.   Under the cumulation provisions with South Africa, Cameroon  may also incorp orate materials 
originating in South Africa as if they were originating in Cameroon, provided they have undergone 
working or processing beyond those referred in Article 5 of Annex II of Regulation 2016/1076 , and 
that the value added in Cameroon exceeds the value of the South African materials used.  Exclusions 
and other conditions  may apply . The list s of exclusions can be found in Appendices 7, 10 and 11 to 
Annex II of Regulation 2016/1076 , and include for exam ple motor vehicles and certain fruits . At the 
request  of Cameroon , the EU may also allow for full cumulation (or cumulation based on working 
operations ) between Cameroon and South Africa.29 
3.31.   Finally,  the EU may allow upon request by Cameroon that materials o riginating in a 
neighbouring developing country, other than an ACP State, be considered as materials originating 
in Cameroon when incorporated into a product obtained there. It shall not be necessary for such 
materials to have undergone sufficient working or processing, prov ided the working or processing 
 
26 For products listed in Appendix 10 of Regulation 2016/ 1076, the EU apply the provisions on bilateral 
cumulation only after 1 October 2015. These products include sugar and rice.  
27 The EU indicated that as of April 2020 the cumulatio n provisions with South Africa and neighbouring 
developing countries  had not been implemented.  
28 Decree 367  include similar cumulation provisions between Cameroon and OCTs but given their nature 
and scope of the Agreement, they are not operational accordin g to the EU.  
29 This implies that working and processing carried out in South Africa shall be considered as having 
been carried out in Cameroon when the materials undergo subsequent working or processing there within the 
context of a trade agreement (Paragr aph 10 of Article 6 of Annex II Regulation 2016/1076.  WT/REG274/1  
 
- 16 - 
 
  carried out in Cameroon exceed the minimum operations listed in Article 5 of Annex II of Regulation 
2016/1076 . These provisions do not apply to  tuna products (products under HS Chapters 3 and 16 ), 
and rice products (product code 1006).  
3.2.3   De minimis  rule 
3.32.   Decree 367 and Regulation 2016/ 1076 include a de minimis  provision, under which a good 
qualifies as originating if the value of all non -originating materials used in its production which do 
not satisfy the corresponding rules of origin do not exceed 10% of the ex -works price of a good from 
the EU and 15% of the  ex-works price of a good from Cameroon , and the corresponding LVC 
requirement, if any, is met. The de minimis  provision does not apply to textiles and clothing 
(chapters 50 -63) (Article 5 of Decree 367 and Article 4 of Annex II of Regulation 2016/ 1076). 
3.2.4   Territoriality principle  and absorption rule  
3.33.   Under the principle of territoriality any originating good exported from Cameroon, the EU or 
the OCT  to another country and re -imported by the Parties will lose its originating status unless it is 
proved to the c ustoms authorities that the returning good is the same as the one that was exported 
and has not undergone any operation beyond that necessary to preser ve it in good condition while 
abroad  (Article 12 of the Decree 367  and Article 11 of Regulation 2016/ 1076).30  
3.34.   The Agreement also allows for an absorption rule, which implies that when determining the 
origin of a final product, the Parties will not take into account the non -originating materials contained 
in an intermediate good that has acquired originating s tatus and that has been used in the 
manufacture of the final product (Article 5  of Decree 367 and Article 4 of Regulation 2016/ 1076). 
3.35.   The Agreement does not establish any outward processing mechanism.  
3.2.5   Other factors affecting the originating status of a goo d  
3.36.   Decree 367 and Regulation 2016/ 1076 also include provisions on direct transport . Under  these 
provisions , preferential treatment applies only to originating products  that are transported directly 
between Cameroon, the EU and the OCT. Transport involving trans-shipment or temporary 
warehousing in third countries may be  allowed for products constituting one single consignment 
provided that these products remain under the surveillance of the customs authorities in the country 
of transit or warehousing and do  not undergo operations other than unloading, reloading or any 
operation designed to preserve them in good condition. Originating products may be transported by 
pipeline across the territories of third parties  (Articles 1 3 of the Decree 367 and 1 2 of 
Regul ation 2016/ 1076).  
3.37.   In addition, Decree 367 (Articles 9 -11 and 14) and Regulation 2016/ 1076 (Articles 8 -10 and 
13) specif y how to determine the origin  of sets of goods; goods sent for exhibition s, accessories, 
spare parts and tools; and neutral elements (e.g. energy and fuel) used in the production of a good.  
3.2.6   Administration of the rules of origin  
3.38.   The procedures for the administration of the rules of origin are described in Articles 15 -30 of 
the Decree 367 and Articles 14 -30 of Regulation 2016/ 1076. The articles in both documents are 
essentially the same. To claim preferential treatment under the Ag reement, importers must present 
a proof of origin, namely a movement certificate (EUR.1  or EUR.1 -CMR for ms depending on the 
destination )31 or an "invoice declaration", except for private packages and travellers' personal items 
worth less than €500 and €1200  respectively . Proofs of origin are valid for 10 months. A movement 
certificate EUR.1 or EUR.1 -CMR will be issued by the customs authorities of the exporting country 
following a request by exporters, while an invoice declaration can be made out  by an appro ved 
exporter or by any exporter with a shipment consisting of originating products whose value does not 
exceed €6,000. The customs authorities can grant the status of approved exporter to any frequent 
 
30 Article 11 of the EU Regulation 2016/1076 refers to the OCTs but not Article 12 of the Decree 367.  
31 The EUR.1  form shall be used for Cameroon's exports to the EU and the EUR.1 -CMR form for the EU 
exports to Cameroon.  WT/REG274/1  
 
- 17 - 
 
 
  exporter subject to conditions they consider appropriate; and withdraw it at any time  in accordance 
with Article 21 of Decree 367 and 20 of Annex II of Regulation 2016/ 1076.  
3.39.   The Parties commit to cooperate in the verification of goods'  origin, including the authenticity 
of the movement certificate E UR.1 and the invoice declarations (Articles 33 -37 of the Decree 367 
and Articles 31 -34 of Regulation 2016/ 1076). The verification of the proof of origin and investigation 
process is to be conducted by the customs authorities, who can inter alia  call for an y evidence and 
conduct inspection visits. In the case of fraud by the exporter, the Parties can impose penalties. In 
case a dispute resulting from the verification procedures cannot be resolved between the Parties' 
customs authorities, the Parties will sub mit it to the EPA Committee. For EU exports, t he legislation 
of Cameroon will rule on any dispute between the importer and Cameroon's  customs authorities 
(Articles 3 6 of Decree 367 ). 
3.40.   Finally, Decree 367 and the EU Regulation  also contain the rules of origin (i.e. diagonal and 
full cumulation) that shall apply to determine whether products qualif y as originating in  Cameroon  
when imported into Ceuta and Melilla , and vice -versa  (Article  39 of the Decree 367 and 37 of 
Annex  II of Regulation 2016/1076) . Ceuta and Melilla  are not considered part of the European Union .   
3.3  Export duties and charges, and quantitative restrictions  
3.41.   Upon the  Agreement 's entry into force , neither Party shall introduce  or maintain any new or 
existing prohibition or restri ction on the ir bilateral export s other than customs duties, taxes fees and 
other charges  on services rendered (Articles 20 and 22) . 
3.4  Regulatory provisions of the agreement  
3.4.1   Sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade  
3.42.   The Agreement con tains a common Chapter for SPS and TBT  measures .  
3.43.   The Parties reaffirm their rights and obligations under the WTO SPS and TBT Agreements ; 
and in anticipation of other Central African States acceding  the Agreement,  the latter indicates that 
the Parties which are not Members of the WTO will also need to comply with the obligations set out 
in the SPS and TBT Agreement s with regard to all SPS and TBT matters concerning the Parties' 
relations.  
3.44.   The Parties reaffirm their  commitment to improve public health in the signatory Central 
African States by strengthening regional integration and their ability to identify unsafe products 
through capacity -building and technical assistance  activities . Such activities shall target inter alia  
priority products  for regional harmoni zation by the signatory Central African States , like for example  
live animals, fish and root crops ; and priority products  for export from a Central Africa Party to the 
EU. The latter include coffee, cocoa, vani lla, pepper, fruits, nuts, vegetables, fish and timber  
(Articles  41 and 47) . 
3.45.   In the area of transparency, the Parties commit to  inform each other of any changes to their 
import requirements for products (including products of animals and/or vegetable origin) , as well as 
of any change to the relevant standards or technical regulations in accordance with the WTO SPS 
and TBT Agreemen ts. The Parties also shall exchange information on the occurrence of pests of 
known and immediate danger to the other Party, as well as any other information of potential 
importance for  their trade relations, as and when necessary.  They further agree to co llaborate in 
epidemiological surveillance  on animal disease  (Article 45) .  
3.46.   When defining import conditions, the Parties may propose and identify zones with a defined 
sanitary or phytosanitary status taking into account international standards (Articles 44) . 
3.47.   In anticipation of other Central African States joining the Agreement, the Agreement includes 
provisions on harmonization at the regional level. In particular, the Central African Party commits to 
harmoni ze SPS and TBT measures  and other measures at the regional level within four years WT/REG274/1  
 
- 18 - 
 
  following the Agreement's entry into force.32 It also agrees on the need to harmoni ze import 
conditions applicable to products originating in the EU when these products enter a signatory Central 
African State. Pending the ha rmonization of import conditions, existing import conditions shall be  
implemented on the basis that EU product s entering a Central African Party can circulate without 
restriction s between other Central African Parties  (Article 46).33 
3.4.2   Safeguard mechanisms  
3.48.   The Agreement permits the application of global safeguard s, as well as bilateral safeguards . 
In addition to these bilateral safeguard s, the Central African Party may apply bilateral safeguards to 
protect an infant industry (Article 31)  or for food security reasons (Article 25 ), while  the EU may 
apply a special safeguard for sugar -based products  during a transition period of nine years  (Annex 
II of Article 20).34 The Agreement  also provides for negotiations of a safeguard clause for balance of 
payments reasons (Article 56) (see section 5.2).   
3.4.2.1   Global safeguards  
3.49.   The Parties retain their rights and obligations under Article XIX of GATT 1994 , the WTO 
Agreement on Safeguards  (hereafter the Safeguards Agreement) , and Article 5 of the WTO 
Agreement on Agriculture,  and do not take any additional commitment in this area  under the 
Agreement except for the  EU, which commits  to exclude imports from Central African signatories 
from the application of its global safeguards (Article 3 0). Such exclusion will be applicable for a 
period of five years from the date the Agreement ent ers into force  and can be extended upon review  
by the EPA Committee based on th e development needs of the Central African  Party. This review 
shall take place  no later than 120 days before  the end of five-year period . The EU indicated that th is 
exclusion  has not been renewed.  
3.50.    The dispute settlement mechanism under the Agreement does not apply to provisions on 
global safeguards  (see section 5.6) .  
3.4.2.2   Bilateral safeguards  
3.51.   The Parties may apply bilateral safeguards measures if as a result of the trade liberalization 
under the Agreement imports of a good  cause or  threat en to  cause : a) serious damage to the 
domestic industry  producing a like or directly competitive good ; b) disrup tion in a sector of the 
economy that could result in major social problems  thus jeopardiz ing the economic situation of the 
importing country ; or c) disruption in the market of a like or directly competitive agricultural good 
or in the mechanisms regulating those markets (article 31) .  
3.52.   The safeguard measure may consist of : a) a suspension of further tariff reductions under the 
Agreement ; b) an increase of tariffs to a level that will not exceed the MFN applied tariff ; and/or c) 
the introduction of tariff -quotas for the product in question.  In the case of imports from Central 
Africa into the EU 's outermost regions, the application of a safeguard shall  be limited to the territory 
of the regions concerned.  Similarly, f or safeguard measures regarding imports from the EU  to a 
signatory Central Af rican State,  the application shall be limited to the territory concerned.  
3.53.   The duration  of a safeguard measure cannot exceed what is necessary to remedy or prevent 
the serious damage or disruption  and depends on whether the importing country is the EU, an E U 
outermost region , or the Central African Party. If the importing country is the EU,  the bilateral 
safeguard can be applied for a maximum period of four years  (including the duration of a  provisional 
measure  and extension of a maximum of two years ), which is shorter than the eight years under 
the Safeguards Agreement.35 If the importing country is a signatory Central African State or an EU 
outermost region, the duration of the  bilateral safeguard shall be a maximum period of eight years, 
including the duration of a provisional measure and an extension of a maximum of four years . 
 
32 Cameroon indicated that such harmonization process has not taken place as it is so far the only 
Central African country having join the Agreement . 
33 Cameroon indicated that no measure has been taken yet in this regard.  
34 The transition period was initially of seven years but subsequently extended for two more years.  
35 The duration of the initial safeguard is a maximum of four years but can be exte nded, but the total 
period of application cannot exceed eight years.  WT/REG274/1  
 
- 19 - 
 
 
  3.54.    Safeguard measures applied for more than one year shall have a clear timetable for their 
termination . Like in the Safeguards Agreement, they can also be applied twice on the sa me good 
but only after a period of non -application has elapsed. Such period must be of at least one year 
since the expiry of the measure.  
3.55.   Before applying any safeguard measure, the Parties shall refer the matter to the EPA 
Committee for examination with t he view to finding  a mutually acceptable  solution . The EPA 
Committee may make recommendations to correct  the situation . If no recommendations have been 
made , or if  no satisfactory solution has been reached within 30 days of the matter being referred, 
the importing Party may adopt the appropriate measures to remedy the situation in accordance with 
the Agreement. In selecting a safeguard measure, priority must be given to those which solve the 
problem rapidly and effectively and minimize any disturbance to th e functioning of th e Agreement. 
All safeguard measures taken in accordance with the Agreement shall be notified immediately to the 
EPA Committee and shall be the subject of periodic consultations within that body  in order to 
establish a timetable for their termination as soon  as circumstances permit. The Agreement does 
not include provisions on compensation.  
Where exceptional circumstances require immediate measures, the importing Party 
concerned, may apply a safeguard measure on a provisional basis without an examination from  the 
EPA Committee. The period of application of  such measure shall not exceed 180 days for measures 
taken by the EU and 200 days for measures taken by a signatory Central African State, or by the EU  
when the safegu ard is applied only to the territory of  its outermost regions.  The duration of a 
provisional measure shall be counted as part of the period of duration of a safeguard measure and 
its extension. The importing Party concerned shall inform the other Party and refer the matter to the 
EPA Committee fo r examination.  
The WTO Agreement cannot be invoked to prevent a Party from adopting safeguard measures 
in accordance with the Agreement.   
3.4.2.3   Infant industry safeguards  
3.58.   The Central African Party may apply safeguard measures  (see section 3.4.2.2)  if as a result  
of tariff reductions under the Agreement imports from the EU cause or threaten to cause disruption 
to an infant industry producing like or directly competitive products.  Such measures can be applied 
only during a period of fifteen years from the date o f the Agreement 's entry into force .  
3.4.2.4   Food security safeguards  
3.59.   The Central African Party may apply safeguard measures under the Agreement  (see section 
3.4.2.2)  if the implementation of t he Agreement lead s to food supply problems resulting (or likely 
resulting) in major difficulties its territory (Articles 25 and 31) .  
3.4.2.5   Special  safeguard  for sugar -based products  
3.60.   The Agreement allow s the EU to apply a special safeguard for sugar -based products  during a 
transition period  from 1 Januar y 2008 to 30 September  2017, including a two-year extension  (see 
section 3.5).  Products covered by this provision are listed in Table 3.6 and were subject to a special 
surveillance  to ensure that the transition measures applied following the expiration of the Sugar 
Protocol  were not circumvented.  
Table 3.5 Products subject to an especial surveillance mechanism  
Product code  Product description  
1704 90 99  Certain sugar confectionery (not containing cocoa)  
1806 10 30  Cocoa powder sweetened containing 65% or more but less than 80 % by weight of sucrose 
(including invert sugar expressed as sucrose) or isoglucose expressed as sucrose  
1806 10 90  Cocoa powder sweetened containing 80% or more by weight of sucrose (including  invert 
sugar expressed as sucrose) or isoglucose expressed as sucrose  
2106 90 59  Certain food preparations  
2106 90 98  Certain food preparations  
Source:  Annex II of the Agreement . WT/REG274/1  
 
- 20 - 
 
  3.61.   The special safeguard was to  take the form of a duty and applied if imports of one or more of 
the listed products originating in Cameroon increased by more than 20% in volume during a period 
of 12 consecutive months compared with average annual imports in the last three years and the  EU 
concluded, following an examination, that they were used to circumvent the arrangements provided. 
In this case, the EU could suspend the preferential treatment and apply the corresponding MFN duty 
(Annex II of the Agreement).36 
3.62.   As of 1 October 201 7, the EU can no longer apply the special safeguard but may apply a 
bilateral safeguard as defined in section 3.4.2.2. In this  regard, Annex II indicates that disturbances 
in the sugar market are considered to arise when the EU average market price for white sug ar is 
lower than  80% of th e price from the previous marketing year  for two consecutive months .  
3.4.3   Anti-dumping and countervailing measures  
3.63.   Nothing in the Agreement shall be construed to prevent the Parties from adopting 
anti-dumping or countervailing measure s in accordance with WTO Agreements (Article 29). 
3.64.   Before imposing any definitive anti -dumping or countervailing duties  on the Central Africa  
Party, the E U shall consider the possibility of constructive remedies as provided for in the relevant 
WTO Agreements.  Where an anti -dumping or countervailing measure has been imposed on two 
signatory Central African States at least by a regional or sub -regional authori ty, judicial review  shall 
be conducted only in one of them .37 Where anti -dumping or countervailing measures may be 
imposed at the regional , sub-regional basis and national level, the Parties guarantee that these 
measures are not  applied simultaneously to th e same product by the regional  or sub-regional 
authorities and the national authorities . The EU shall notify the other Party of the receipt of a properly 
documented complaint before initiating an investigation.  
3.65.   The Parties grant exclusive jurisdiction to the WTO dispute settlement system over these 
issues by proscribing the use of the dispute settlement mechanism under the Agreement .  
3.4.4   Subsidies and State -aid  
3.66.   The Parties prohibit the introduction of new export subsidies on agricultural exports destined 
for the other Party as well as the increase of any existing one, unless the increase is due to variations 
in world prices (Article 24).   
3.67.   In addition, the EU commits to dismantle all existing subsidies applied to agricultural exports 
destined for Cameroon, whi ch are subject to an export refund under EU legislation, and for which 
Cameroon shall eliminate its duties. The Parties were to hold consultations by 31 December 2008 in 
order to establish the details of the dismantling process (Article 24) . The EU indicated that the 
application of subsidies was discussed during the first EPA Committee meeting in May 2015 , but by 
that date it no longer appl ied subsid ies on agricultural  exports  and no agreement  on a dismantling 
process was needed.  The EU ha s not used export subsidies since 2013 and can revert to them only 
in the event of  exceptional situations .38 
3.68.   The Agreement's provisions on export subsidies are without prejudice to the flexibilities 
granted to developing countries under Article 9.4 of the WTO  Agreement on Agriculture and Article 
27 of WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures . 
3.69.   The Agreement does not include specific provisions on State -aid. 
3.4.5   Customs -related procedures  
3.70.   In Chapter 3 on customs and trade facilitation (Articles 32-39), the Parties agree to increase  
cooperation to fulfil the objectives of the Agreement and promote the development and regional 
integration of the Parties. To do so, the Parties shall , among others, exchange information regarding 
 
36 The EU indicated that it had not applied this special safeguard.  
37 The EU indicated that this was to avoid duplication of proceedings and the risk of contradictory 
judgement s. 
38 Informa tion provided by the EU authorities and EU Regulation  No. 1308/2013 of 17 December 2013 . WT/REG274/1  
 
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  customs legislation, regulations and procedures, and develop joint initiatives relating to customs 
procedures.  They also agree to cooperate in the modernization and computeri zation of customs and 
trade procedur es, including the adoption of risk analysis  and of international  standards.  Procedures 
should be non -discriminatory, transparent, and efficient to reduce costs and increase predictability 
for economic operators .  
3.71.   The Parties also agree to use international  standards  as a basis for their legislation and 
regulations, simplified procedures for authorized traders, and apply penalties that are proportionate 
to the infringement and non -discriminatory . They shall  ensure that all their customs related 
regulations, and procedures are publicly available . They shall implement a mechanism for regular 
consultation s to engage the business community on the drafting of regulations  and allow sufficient 
time between the publication and entry into force of a regulation (Article 3 7). The Parties agree to 
further negotiate a system of mandatory pre -shipment inspection for goods  (Article 35)  and commit 
to ensure freedom of transit through their territor ies (Article 36).  
3.72.   The Agreement also contains a Protocol on mutual admin istrative assistance on customs 
matters , in which the Parties agree to assist each other to ensure the correct application of customs 
legislation  and investigate and combat its infringement . The provision of assistance can be 
spontaneous or upon request. T he Protocol also includes provisions on the exchange of information 
and confidentiality, the participation of experts and witnesses in judicial or administrative 
proceedings, and assistance expenses. In case of incompatibility  between th e Protocol and anot her 
bilateral agreement on mutual assistance  between the Parties, the former will prevail.   
3.5  Sector -Specific provisions  
3.73.    The Agreement  contains provisions for sugar  (see below) , and for timber and forest products  
originating in the Central African Party (see section 5.11).  
3.5.1   Sugar  
Under the Agreement the Parties agree d to gradually dismantle the sugar scheme  provided 
for in Protocol 3 of the Cotonou Agreement  - known as the Sugar Protocol .39 Following the expiration 
of the scheme  on 30 September 2009 , sugar exports from ACP countries to the EU were governed 
by the EPA Agreements and the " Everything But Arms " (EBA) initiative . Under the Agreement, the 
EU agreed to eliminate duties on sugar ori ginating in Cameroon (HS 1701 ) and to implement 
transitional measures during a 6 -year period from 1 October 2009 to 30 September 2015 until the 
sugar scheme is completely dismantled. This period was subsequently extended for two more years 
until 30 Septemb er 2017.40 During  this period, the EU could  apply the MFN duty to sugar originating  
in Cameroon if quantities imported exceed ed a given  threshold  (Table 3. 7) and were considered to 
cause a disturbance in the E U sugar market.41  
Table 3.6 tariff-rate quotas for sugar originating in Cameroon  
Years LDC ACP* countries  
(in million tonnes ) Non-LDCs ACP countries  
(in million tonnes ) 
2009/2010  3.5 1.38 
2010/2011  3.5 1.45 
2011/2012  3.5 1.6 
2012/2013  3.5 1.6 
2013/2014  3.5 1.6 
2014/2015  3.5 1.6 
* Signatories to the Cotonou Agreement which consists of all ACP countries except Cuba.  
Source:  Annex II of the Agreement . 
 
 
39 Under this scheme, sugar exports from certain ACP countries to the EU benefitted from preferential 
conditions based on a quota and guaranteed price system.  
40 EU Regu lation  No. 1308/2013 of 17 December 2013 . 
41 The EU indicated in this regard that d uring the extension  period (2015 -2017) no thresholds were 
applied.  WT/REG274/1  
 
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LDC Central African Parties were not subject to any threshold but could be  subject to bilateral 
safeguard measures.  From 1 October 2009 until 30 September 2012 no import licenses for sugar 
could be granted unless the importer bought such products at a price not lower than 90%  of the EU 
reference price set for the relevant marketing year.   
In addition, the Agreement allowed the EU to apply during the transition period a special 
safeguard to certain food products with sugar content to ensure that the system described above 
(paragraph 3.75) was not circumvented , and after the transition period bilateral safeguards to sugar  
(see section 3.4.2.5).  
4  PROVISIONS ON TRADE IN SERVICES  
4.1.   The Agreement does not include provisions on services liberalization but provide s for further 
negotiati ons for a gradual, reciprocal  but asymmetrical  liberali zation. Under the Agreement, such 
negotiations were to take place by January 2009 , but according to the Parties they have not started 
yet. 
4.2.  The Parties further  reaffirm their obligations  under Title II  (Part 3) on economic and trade 
cooperation of the Cotonou Agreement  (Article 54) , which include s a chapter on trade in services.   
5  GENERAL PROVISIONS O F THE AGREEMENT  
5.1  Transparency  
The Parties shall designate a coordinator to facilitate communications between them and 
ensure the implementation of the Agreement (Article 96) . They shall also ensure that their laws, 
regulations, procedures and administrative rulings on any trade matter covered by the Agreement  
are published or made publicly available. The information shall be considered to have been provided 
when it has been notified to the WTO or when it has been published on the official and fee -free 
website of the Party.  
In addition to these provisions of general application,  the Agreement include s provisions on 
transparency specific to customs procedures (Article 35), standards (Article 45), and the protection 
of personal data (Article 63). The Parties further agree to promote dialogue and transparency on tax 
policy and admin istration  (Article 104) . 
5.2  Current payments and capital movements  
5.3.  The Parties recogni ze the need to guarantee that funds flow in a free and unrestricted  manner 
between them. Any obstacle to these flows would hamper any liberali zation effort in trade or 
investment , which although permissible, could not give rise to payment or financing from abroad.  
5.4.  The Parties agree d to conclude negotiations by 1 January 2009 on the free movement of capital 
relating to investments and funds relating to  trade in goods and services  (i.e. current payments ). 
They also commit ted to negotiate a safeguard clause, granting a short -term derogation from 
freedom of capital movement, following  serious difficulties with their balance of  payments  or 
monetary  policy , as well as a development clause providing for the liberali zation of other types of 
capital movements not related to investment  (Article 56) . As of March  2020, these negotiations had 
not started .42 
5.3  Exceptions  
5.5.  The Agreement includes provisions on general and security exceptions (Article s 89 and 90 ), 
which mirror to a large extent Articles  XX and XXI of the GAT T with some differences . The provisions 
on general  exceptions  under the Agreement are less detailed than that under the GATT, while those 
on security  exceptions seem to be broader.  For instance, under the Agreement  the Parties have the 
right to take any measure to protect their essential interests including those relating to the 
 
42 Information provided by the Parties.  WT/REG274/1  
 
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  production of, or trade in arms, munitions or war materials, and those rel ating to government 
procurement indispensable for national security or national defen ce reasons .   
5.4  Accession and withdrawal  
Any State or regional grouping  in Central Africa which is not a Party to the Agreement may 
accede to the Agreement. The request for accession shall be submitted to the EPA Committee (Article 
101). In the event of an enlargement, the EU shall inform  the EPA Committee of any request for 
accession by a third country to the EU, keep informed the signatory Central Africa Party of the 
negoti ations and take into account any of its concerns. The Parties will examine the effects of such 
accession, and the EPA Committee may decide on any necessary amendments or transition 
measures (Article 102).  
Any Party can withdraw from the Agreement. The termination will take effect six months after 
the notification (Article 99).  
5.5  Institutional framework  
5.8.  The Parties agree  to create the EPA Committee , and to designate a focal point to facilitate their 
communica tions (Article 92 ). The EPA Committee  is the main institutional body of the Agreement, 
and is responsible, among others, for the administration and implementation of the Agreement.43 
The EPA Committee  shall take all its decisions by consensus . As of March 2020, the EPA Committee  
had met four times , and had taken two decisions.44 The last meeting took place  on 18 and 19 
February 2019 in  Yaoundé , and  the next one was scheduled on 17 and 18 March 2020 but was 
cancelled. The new dates for the fifth meeting had not been confirmed  yet.45 
5.9.  The Commission of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) and the 
General Secretariat of the Economic Commun ity of Central African States (CEEAC) shall be invited 
to attend all meetings of the EPA Committee (Article 93).  Any country  request ing its accession to 
the Agreement shall also attend the meetings of the EPA Committee as an observer  (Article 101) . 
5.6  Dispute  settlement  
Title V I provides for a mechanism to avoid and settle disputes between the Parties  (Article s 
66-88), which  applies to any dispute concerning the interpretation and application of the  Agreement  
unless  provided otherwise . For example, d isputes re lating to development finance cooperation shall 
be regulated by the Cotonou Agreement (Article 67).46  
In case of a dispute, the Parties shall endeavour to resolve it through consultations (Article  68) 
or mediation (Article 69) . If consultations and/or mediation fail, the complaining Party can request 
the establishment of an arbitration panel (Article 70). As a general rule, the arbitration panel will 
issue an interim report to the Parties within 120 days from the date it was es tablished . The interim 
report will contain  the findings and conclusions  on the issue under analysis (Article 72), and  the 
Parties may submit their comments to the arbitration panel  within 15 days of the publication  of the 
report . The final panel ruling mus t be notified to the Parties and  the EPA Committee within 1 50 days 
of the date of the panel's establishment (Article 73). The Parties shall take any measure necessary 
to implement the panel ruling and endeavour to agree on a deadline for compliance. In cas e of 
disagreement, the arbitration panel will determine the time for compliance , which can be extended 
if the Parties agree to do so. If the Party  complained against  fails to comply with the arbitration 
panel's ruling, it shall, upon request of the complaining Party, present an offer for temporary 
compensation. If no agreement on compensation is reached, the complaining Party can retaliate by 
 
43 Pending the establishment of the EPA Committee, the Parties were t o ensure the administration and 
implementation of the Agreement and carry out the tasks of the EPA Committee that are referred to in the 
Agreement (Article 94).  
44 The following decisions have been issued: Decision No 1/2016 of 15 December 2016 regarding th e 
adoption of the Rules of Procedure of the EPA Committee (OJ of the EU, L17, 21 January 2017); and Decision 
No 1/2019 of 18 February 2019 concerning the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union (OJ 
of the EU, L69, 11 March 2019). The Par ties further indicated that two other decisions on dispute settlement 
were pending and their signature would take place during the fifth meeting of the EPA Committee.  
45 Information provided by the Parties.  
46 Article 98 on Dispute Settlement of the Cotonou Agreement.  WT/REG274/1  
 
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  adopting measures proportionate to the infringement (Article 77) . The compensation  or appropriate 
measures shall apply until the Party complained against has complied or until the dispute has been 
resolved. The Agreement provides also for some accelerated procedures for disputes involving 
perishable and seasonal goods.  
5.12.   For disputes cov ered by both the Agreement and the WTO Agreement the complaining Party 
may select the forum for the settlement of the dispute. Once a claim has been submitted to one of 
these two fora,  the complaining  Party must wait until this proceeding has concluded before 
submit ting a claim address ing the same measure to the other  fora. Nothing in the Agreement shall 
preclude the Parties from implementing the suspension of obligations authori zed by the WTO dispute 
settlement body  (Article 86).  
5.7  Relationship with other ag reements concluded by the Parties  
5.13.   The Agreement specifies that in the event of inconsistency between its provisions and the 
provisions in Title II of Part III of the Cotonou Agreement ("Economic and Trade Cooperation"  in 
"Cooperation Strategies"), exc ept for  those on development cooperation , the Agreement  shall prevail 
(Article 106).  
5.14.   The Agreement further indicates that it cannot be construed to prevent the Parties from  
adopti ng any measure, including trade measures, in accordance with Articles 11b, 96 and 97 of the 
Cotonou Agreement  on cooperation in countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction  
(Article 11b),  human rights, democratic principles , the rule of law  (Article 96), and corruption 
(Article  97). 
5.15.   The Parties agree that nothing in the Agreement requires them to act in a manner inconsistent 
with WTO obligations , and commit to examine in 2008 whether the provisions of th e Agreement are 
consistent with the custo ms unions to which the signatories to th e Agreement belong . In this regard, 
the Parties indicated that no examination has been conducted yet.   
5.16.   Table 5 .1 lists the notified and non -notified (if any) t rade agreements that have the EU or 
Cameroon  as members (excluding the current Agreement).  
Table 5.1 European Union and Cameroon : Participation in other RTAs (notified and 
non-notified in force), as of 5 May 2020 
RTA Name  Date of 
entry into 
force  Coverage  GATT/WTO Notification  
Year WTO Provision  
EUROPEAN UNION  
EU – Singapore  21-Nov-19 Goods & 
Services  2020 GATT Art. XXIV & GATS Art. V  
EU - Japan  01-Feb-19 Goods & 
Services  2019 GATT Art. XXIV & GATS Art. V  
EU – Armenia  01-Jun-18 Services  2019 GATS Art. V  
EU - Canada  21-Sep-17 Goods & 
Services  2017 GATT Art. XXIV & GATS Art. V  
EU - Colombia and Peru - 
Accession of Ecuador  01-Jan-17 Goods & 
Services  2017 GATT Art. XXIV & GATS Art. V  
EU - Ghana  15-Dec-16 Goods  2017 GATT Art. XXIV  
EU - SADC  10-Oct-16 Goods  2017 GATT Art. XXIV  
EU - Côte d'Ivoire  03-Sep-16 Goods  2008 GATT Art. XXIV  
EU - Georgia  01-Sep-14 Goods & 
Services  2014 GATT Art. XXIV & GATS Art. V  
EU - Republic of Moldova  01-Sep-14 Goods & 
Services  2014 GATT Art. XXIV & GATS Art. V  
EU - Ukraine  23-Apr-14 Goods & 
Services  2014 GATT Art. XXIV & GATS Art. V  
EU - Central America  01-Aug-13 Goods & 
Services  2013 GATT Art. XXIV & GATS Art. V  
EU - Colombia and Peru  01-Mar-13 Goods & 
Services  2013 GATT Art. XXIV & GATS Art. V  
EU - Eastern and Southern 
Africa States Interim EPA  14-May-12 Goods  2012 GATT Art. XXIV  WT/REG274/1  
 
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  RTA Name  Date of 
entry into 
force  Coverage  GATT/WTO Notification  
Year WTO Provision  
EU - Republic of Korea  01-Jul-11 Goods & 
Services  2011 GATT Art. XXIV & GATS Art. V  
EU - Serbia  01-Feb-10 
01-Sep-13 Goods  
Services  2010 
2013 GATT Art. XXIV  
GATS Art. V  
EU - Papua New Guinea / 
Fiji 20-Dec-09 Goods  2011 GATT Art. XXIV  
EU - CARIFORUM States 
EPA 29-Dec-08 Goods & 
Services  2008 GATT Art. XXIV & GATS Art. V  
EU - Bosnia and 
Herzegovina  01-Jul-08 
01-Jun-15 Goods  
Services  2008 
2016 GATT Art. XXIV  
GATS Art. V  
EU - Montenegro  01-Jan-08 
01-May-10 Goods  
Services  2008 
2010 GATT Art. XXIV  
GATS Art. V  
EU - Albania  01-Dec-06 
01-Apr-09 Goods  
Services  2007 
2009 GATT Art. XXIV  
GATS Art. V  
EU - Algeria  01-Sep-05 Goods  2006 GATT Art. XXIV  
EU - Egypt  01-Jun-04 Goods  2004 GATT Art. XXIV  
EU - Lebanon  01-Mar-03 Goods  2003 GATT Art. XXIV  
EU - Chile 01-Feb-03 
01-Mar-05 Goods  
Services  2004 
2005 GATT Art. XXIV  
GATS Art. V  
EU - Jordan  01-May-02 Goods  2002 GATT Art. XXIV  
EU - San Marino  01-Apr-02 Goods  2010 GATT Art. XXIV  
EU - North Macedonia  01-Jun-01 
01-Apr-04 Goods  
Services  2001 
2009 GATT Art. XXIV  
GATS Art. V  
EU - Mexico  01-Jul-00 
01-Oct-00 Goods  
Services  2000 
2002 GATT Art. XXIV  
GATS Art. V  
EU - Israel  01-Jun-00 Goods  2000 GATT Art. XXIV  
EU - Morocco  01-Mar-00 Goods  2000 GATT Art. XXIV  
EU - South Africa  01-Jan-00 Goods  2000 GATT Art. XXIV  
EU - Tunisia  01-Mar-98 Goods  1999 GATT Art. XXIV  
EU - Palestinian Authority  01-Jul-97 Goods  1997 GATT Art. XXIV  
EU - Faroe Islands  01-Jan-97 Goods  1997 GATT Art. XXIV  
EU - Turkey  01-Jan-96 Goods  1995 GATT Art. XXIV  
European Economic Area 
(EEA)  01-Jan-94 Services  1996 GATS Art. V  
EU - Andorra  01-Jul-91 Goods  1998 GATT Art. XXIV  
EU - Syria 01-Jul-77 Goods  1977 GATT Art. XXIV  
EU - Norway  01-Jul-73 Goods  1973 GATT Art. XXIV  
EU - Iceland  01-Apr-73 Goods  1972 GATT Art. XXIV  
EU - Switzerland - 
Liechtenstein  01-Jan-73 Goods  1972 GATT Art. XXIV  
EU – Overseas Countries 
and Territories (OCT)  01-Jan-71 Goods  1970 GATT Art. XXIV  
EU - Kosovoa 01-Apr-16 Goods  Not notified  
CAMEROON  
Economic and Monetary 
Community of Central 
Africa (CEMAC)  24-Jun-99 Goods  1999 Enabling Clause  
Global System of Trade 
Preferences among 
Developing Countries 
(GSTP)  19-Apr-89 Goods  1989 Enabling Clause  
African Continental Free 
Trade Area (AfCFTA )b 30-May-19 Goods  Not notified  
a  Reference to Kosovo in this table should be understood to be in the context of the United Nations 
Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).  
b The AfCFTA  Agreement entered into force on 30 -May-19 for the 24 countries that had deposited 
their instruments of ratification with the African Union Commission Chairperson. The date on which 
ratification was approved for Cameroon is 31 -Oct-19. 
Source:  WTO Secretari at. Further information on these Agreements and on specific dates of entry into 
force/provisional applications may be found in the WTO Database on RTAs: http://rtais.wto.org .  
 
 
 WT/REG274/1  
 
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  5.8  Government procurement  
5.17.   The Parties agree d to negotiate by 1 January 2009 the gradual and mutual opening of their 
public procurement markets, while recogni zing their different levels of development . The outcomes 
of the negotiation shall include : (a) transparent and non -discriminatory  rules, procedures and  
guidelines ; (b) the lists of products covered and applicable thresholds; (c) effective challenge 
procedures ; (d) measures  to support the implementation of these commitments . As of March 2020, 
such negotiations had not started.47 
5.18.   The n egotiations shal l follow  a two -step approach, first focusing on the rules at the regional 
level in Central Africa and  after a transition period on the rules to be applied at the bilateral level. 
During the negotiations, the E U shall take into account the d evelopment, financial and trade needs 
of the signatory Central African States, and may provide with : (a) appropriate implementation 
periods  for the application of procurement procedures ; and (b) the adoption or retention of 
transitional measures in accorda nce with a phasing -out schedule  (Article 59) . 
5.9  Intellectual property rights  
5.19.   The Parties reaffirm their rights and obligations under the Agreement on Trade -Related 
Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs),  and further commit to undertake bilateral 
negotiations on a series of IP provisions . Negotiations were to  be concluded by 1 January 2009  and 
follow ed a two -step approach: first focusing on the rules at the regional level in Central Africa and, 
then on the rules to be applied at the bilateral level  (Article 58) . During the negotiations, the Parties 
must take into account the different levels of development of the signatory Central African States . 
As of March 2020, these negotiations had not started.48 
5.20.   The Parties also commit to strengthen their coope ration  in the area of intellectual property . 
Such cooperation shall support the implementation of each Party's commitments but also (a) 
improv e regional regulatory capacity  in Central Africa ; (b) prevent the abuse and infringement of IP 
rights; and (c) sup port the preparation of national laws and regulations in Central Africa for the 
protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights , among others .  
5.10  Competition  
5.21.   The Parties acknowledge  the importance of free and undistorted  competition and the negative 
effects of  certain anticompetitive  practices  on trade (Article 57) . They agree d to conclude a chapter 
on competition  by 1 January 2009 , which w ould address , among others : (a) anti -competi tive 
practices  considered incompatible  with the objectives of the Agreement;  (b) the implementation of 
competition  rules and regional policies in Central Africa;  and (c) technical assistance . As of March 
2020, negotiations regarding such chapter had not st arted.49 
5.22.   Negotiations shall follow a two -step approach . They shall focus  first on the application of  rules 
at the regional level  in Central Africa and after a transition period  on their application at the bilateral  
level. 
5.11  Environment  
5.23.   The Agreement contains provisions on trade in timber and forest products  originating in 
Central Africa  that promot e the sustainable management of forest resources  (Articles 48 -53). The 
Parties agree to implement measures to improve traceability and put in place an independent audit 
and surveillance system.  They also commit to  implement a Central African framework for intra -
regional trade in timber and forest products , and to cooperate in the area of  capacity -building and 
technical assistance with the view to fulfilling its commitments  under the Agreement  and under the 
Treaty on the Conservational and Sustainable Management of Forests in Central Africa . 
5.24.   Without prejudice to the Agreement , trade in timber and forest products  shall be governed in 
accordance wit h the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and 
 
47 Information provided by the Parties.  
48 Information provided by the Parties.  
49 Information provided by the Parties.  WT/REG274/1  
 
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  Flora, and any voluntary partnership agreement between the Parties under the EU's action plan on 
forest and law enforcement, governance and trade.  
5.12  Labour  
5.25.   The Agreement does no t include specific provisions on labour but refers  to labour standards 
as part of future negotiations on sustainable development. The Parties commit to undertake such 
negotiations  and to include specific chapters covering environmental and social issues , which will 
include commitments on the use of international environmental and labour standards and on the  
promotion of dec ent work.  Negotiations were to be concluded by 1 January 2009 . The EU  agree s to 
consider  the development needs of the signatory Central  African States, which may take the form 
of provisions on cooperation in this  area (Article 60) . As of March 2020, such negotiations had not 
started.50 
5.13  Electronic commerce  
5.26.   The Parties commit to expand the scope of th e Agreement, and negotiat e, no later than  
1 January 2009 , provisions for the gradual, asymmetrical and reciprocal liberali zation of 
establishment and trade in services , including provisions on e -commerce (Article 54).  As of March 
2020, negotiations had not started.51 
5.14  Small and medium -sized enterpr ises 
5.27.   The Agreement does not contain specific provisions on small and medium -sized enterprises 
but provides for their support as part of  commitments in the area of  capacity buildin g (Annex I of 
the Agreement ).  
 
50 Information provided by the Parties.  
51 Information provided by the Parties.  WT/REG274/1  
 
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  ANNEX 1  
Table A1.1 Products subject to the EU entry price system, 2019  
Product  Tariff code  Ad-valorem  component under the EU entry price system  
Tomatoes  07020000  8.8% or 14.4% depending on the season  
Cucumbers  07070005  12.8% or 16% depending on the season  
Globe artichokes  07099100  10.4%  
Courgettes  07099310  12.8%  
Sweet oranges  08051022  
08051024  
08051028  3.2%, 4.8%, 10.4% or 16% depending on the season  
Clementines (including 
mandarins, tangerines, 
and satsumas)  08052110  
08052190 
08052200 
08052900  16% 
16% 
16% 
16% 
Lemons  08055010  6.4%  
Apples  08081080  4%, 4.8%, 6.4%, 9% or 11.2% depending on the season  
Pears  08083090  2.5%, 4%, 5%, 8% or 10.4% depending on the season  
Table grapes  08061010  8%, 11.5%, 14.1%, 14.4% or 17.6% depending on the season 
and variety  
Apricots  08091000  20% 
Cherries  08092100  
08092900  12% 
12% 
Peaches (including) 
Nectarines  08093010  
08093090  17.6%  
17.6%  
Plums  08094005  6.4% or 12% depending on the season  
Grape juice  20096110  
20096919 
20096951 
20096959  22.4%  
40% 
22.4%  
22.4%  
Wine of fresh grapes  22043092  
22043094 
22043096 
22043098  22.4% +20.6 €/100kg  
22.4% +20.6 €/100kg  
40% +20.6 €/100kg  
40% +20.6 €/100kg  
Source:  EU Regulation No.  2019/1776 of 9 October 2019  amending Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) 
No. 2658/87 on the tariff and statist ical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff . 
  WT/REG274/1  
 
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  ANNEX 2 
1. Tables  A2.1-A2.2 present the Parties' tariff elimination schedule by total, agricultural and 
non-agricultural products. In the case of the EU, the overall share of  duty-free tariff lines rose from 
25.1% in 2014 to 99.8 % upon the Agreement's application and the average applied tariff faced by 
Cameroon  exporters fell from 5.1% to almost zero percent  (when not taken into account the 
unilateral preferences granted by the  EU prior to the Agreement) (Table A 2.1). Duties on all 
agricultural products were  bound to zero immediately following the Agreement's application, except 
for bananas and sugar  which were subject to specific conditions . Prior to the application of the 
Agreement, the share of MFN duty-free tariff lines for agricultural products was 15.4% and the 
average tariff 10%. For industrial  goods, the share of MFN duty-free tariff lines went from 2 8.6% to 
99.7% and the average tariff fell to  almost zero percent  from 3.7% upon the Agreement's 
application .  
Table A 2.1 EU: Indicators of MFN tariff rates and preferential rates for imports from 
Cameroon  
Origin of 
goods  Year ALL PRODUCTS  HS Chapters 1 -24 HS Chapters 25-97 
Average applied 
tariff  Share 
of 
duty-
free 
tariff 
lines 
(%) Average applied 
tariff  Share 
of 
duty-
free 
tariff 
lines 
(%) Average applied 
tariff  Share 
of 
duty-
free 
tariff 
lines 
(%) Overall 
(%) On 
dutiable 
(%) Overall 
(%) On 
dutiable 
(%) Overall 
(%) On 
dutiable 
(%) 
MFN 2014 5.05 6.93 25.15  10.06  12.78  15.47  3.77 5.28 28.57  
 2019 5.02 7.08 26.98  10.27  12.95  14.93  3.66 5.33 31.27  
Cameroon  2014 0.01 2.73 99.81  0.00 0.00 100.00  0.01 2.73 99.74  
Note:  For the calculation of averages, specific rates are excluded and the ad valorem  parts of alternate 
rates are included . 
 Based on the HS 2012 nomenclature and HS 2017 nomenclature for MFN 2019 . 
Source:  WTO estimates based on data from WTO -IDB and informati on from the EU authorities . 
 
2. For Cameroon , the overall share of duty -free tariff lines did not change immediately following 
the application of its liberalization schedule in 2016, as the schedule provided only for tariff 
reductions between 2016 and 2019. In 2019, duties were eliminated on 27.9% tariff lines, bringing 
the average applied tariff down to  15.5% from 18.5% in 2016  (Table A 2.2), giving E U exporters a 
relative margin of preference of 16%. For agricultural goods, the average tariff rate fell to 22.4% 
from 23.5%; and to 14.2% from 18.3% for industrial  products, resulting in a relative margin of 
preference for EU exporters to Cameroon  of 4.6% and 22.4%, respectively. As for the share of duty -
free lines, it went from none to 12.2% for agricultural products and from 1.2% to 30.8% for industrial  
products. At the end of the implementation period this share is expected to increase to 38.8% for 
agricultural products, 84.2% for industrial  products, and to 77.3% overall.  
Table A 2.2 Cameroon: Indicators of MFN tariff rates and preferential rates for imports 
from EU  
Origin 
of 
goods  Year ALL PRODUCTS  HS Chapters 1 -24 HS Chapters 25 -97 
Average applied 
tariff  
Share of duty -
free tariff 
lines (%)  Average applied 
tariff  
Share of duty-
free tariff 
lines (%)  Average applied 
tariff  
Share of duty -
free tariff 
lines (%)  Overall 
(%) 
On 
dutiable 
(%) 
Overall 
(%) 
On 
dutiable 
(%) 
Overall 
(%) 
On 
dutiable 
(%) 
MFN 2014 19.1 19.3 1.0 23.9 23.9 0.0 18.3 18.5 1.2 
 2019 19.2 19.4 1.1 24.6 24.6 0.0 18.0 18.3 1.4 
EU 2016 18.5 18.6 1.0 23.5 23.5 0.0 17.5 17.8 1.2 
 2017 17.5 17.6 1.0 23.2 23.2 0.0 16.4 16.6 1.2 
 2018 16.5 16.6 1.0 22.8 22.8 0.0 15.3 15.5 1.2 
 2019 15.5 21.5 27.9 22.4 25.5 12.2 14.2 20.6 30.8 WT/REG274/1  
 
- 30 - 
 
  Origin 
of 
goods  Year ALL PRODUCTS  HS Chapters 1 -24 HS Chapters 25 -97 
Average applied 
tariff  
Share of duty -
free tariff 
lines (%)  Average applied 
tariff  
Share of duty-
free tariff 
lines (%)  Average applied 
tariff  
Share of duty -
free tariff 
lines (%)  Overall 
(%) 
On 
dutiable 
(%) 
Overall 
(%) 
On 
dutiable 
(%) 
Overall 
(%) 
On 
dutiable 
(%) 
 2020 14.3 19.9 27.9 21.7 24.7 12.2 13.0 18.8 30.8 
 2021 13.2 18.3 27.9 21.0 24.0 12.2 11.7 17.0 30.8 
 2022 12.0 16.7 27.9 20.4 23.2 12.2 10.5 15.2 30.8 
 2023 10.9 19.7 44.5 19.7 22.8 13.7 9.4 18.8 50.0 
 2024 10.1 18.2 44.5 19.1 22.1 13.7 8.5 17.0 50.0 
 2025 9.2 16.6 44.5 18.4 21.3 13.7 7.6 15.2 50.0 
 2026 8.4 15.1 44.5 17.8 20.6 13.7 6.7 13.4 50.0 
 2027 7.5 13.6 44.5 17.1 19.8 13.7 5.8 11.6 50.0 
 2028 6.7 12.0 44.5 16.5 19.1 13.7 4.9 9.8 50.0 
 2029 5.8 25.6 77.3 15.9 25.9 38.8 4.0 25.4 84.2 
Note:  Based on the HS 20 02 nomenclature  and HS 2017 nomenclature for MFN 2019 .  
Source:  WTO estimates based on data provided by the Authorities and the WTO -IDB. 
 
3. Table A 2.3 shows market access opportunities for Cameroon 's top 25 goods in the European 
market. These products accounted for 85.9% of its world exports during 201 1-2013 and covered 
93 tariff lines at the HS 6-digit level. Of these lines, 42 were already duty free on a n MFN basis when 
the Agreement entered into force on a provisional basis in 2014 . For the remaining lines , duties  were 
bound to zero immediately.  
Table A 2.3 EU: Market access opportunities under the agreement for Cameroon's top 25 
exports to the world  
Cameroon 's top export products in 20 11-2013  Access Conditions to EU's import 
markets  
MFN (201 4) Duty -
free 
in 
2014  HS number and description of the product  Share in 
global 
exports 
(%) Average 
MFN 
applied 
rate 
(%) Number  of tariff 
lines  
Duty -
free Dutiable  
270900  Petroleum oils and oils obtained from 
bituminous minerals, crude  36.5 0.0 2   
180100  Cocoa beans, whole or broken, raw or 
roasted  12.6 0.0 1   
271019  Medium oils and preparations, of 
petroleum or bituminous minerals, not 
containing biodiesel, n.e.s.  4.3 2.0 12 13 13 
520100  Cotton, neither carded nor combed  4.0 0.0 2   
440349  Tropical wood specified in the 
subheading note 1 to this chapter in the 
rough, whether or not stripped of bark 
or sapwood, or roughly squared  3.8 0.0 3   
440729  Tropical wood specified in subheading 
note 1 to this chapter, sawn or chipped 
lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or 
not planed, sanded or end -jointed, of a 
thickness of > 6 mm  2.4 1.7 2 6 6 
400122  Technically specified natural rubber 
"tsnr"  2.3 0.0 1   
760110  Aluminium, not alloyed, unwrought  1.9 3.0  1 1 
271012  Light oils and preparations, of petroleum 
or bituminous minerals which >= 90% 
by volume "incl. losses" distil at 210°c 
"astm d 86 method"  1.8 3.9 2 10 10 
090111  Coffee (excl. roasted and decaffeinated)  1.8 0.0 1   WT/REG274/1  
 
- 31 - 
 
 
  Cameroon 's top export products in 20 11-2013  Access Conditions to EU's import 
markets  
MFN (201 4) Duty -
free 
in 
2014  HS number and description of the product  Share in 
global 
exports 
(%) Average 
MFN 
applied 
rate 
(%) Number  of tariff 
lines  
Duty -
free Dutiable  
440799  Wood, sawn or chipped lengthwise, 
sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, 
sanded or end -jointed, of a thickness of 
> 6 mm  1.7 0.5 4 1 1 
080390  Fresh or dried bananas (excl. plantains)  1.5 16.0  2 2 
440722  Virola, imbuia and balsa, sawn or 
chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, of a 
thickness of > 6 mm, sanded, or end -
jointed, whether or not planed  1.4 1.5 1 2 2 
440721  Mahogany "swietenia  spp.", sawn or 
chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, 
whether or not planed, sanded or end -
jointed, of a thickness of > 6 mm  1.4 1.5 1 2 2 
340119  Soap and organic surface -active 
products and preparations, in the form 
of bars, cakes, moulded pieces or 
shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and 
nonwovens, impregnated, coated or 
covered with soap or detergent  1.3 0.0 1   
271020  Petroleum oils and oils obtained from 
bituminous minerals (other than crude) 
and preparations n.e.s. or included, 
containing by weight 70  % or more of 
petroleum oils or of oils obtained from 
bituminous minerals, these oils being the 
basic constituents of t he preparations, 
containing biodiesel (excl. waste oils)  0.9 2.2 3 5 5 
180400  Cocoa butter, fat and oil  0.8 7.7  1 1 
721420  Bars and rods, of iron or non -alloy steel, 
with indentations, ribs, groves or other 
deformations produced during the rolling 
process  0.8 0.0 1   
080310  Fresh or dried plantains  0.8 16.0  2 2 
330499  Beauty or make -up preparations and 
preparations for the care of the skin 
(other than medicaments), incl. 
sunscreen or suntan preparations  0.7 0.0 1   
180310  Cocoa paste (excl. defatted)  0.7 9.6  1 1 
440890  Sheets for veneering, incl. those 
obtained by slicing laminated wood, for 
plywood or for other similar laminated 
wood and other wood, sawn lengthwise, 
sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, 
sanded, spliced or end -jointed, of a 
thickness of <= 6 mm  0.7 2.8 1 3 3 
843143  Parts for boring or sinking machinery of 
subheading 8430.41 or 8430.49, n.e.s.  0.6 0.0 1   
440727  Sapelli, sawn or chipped lengthwise, 
sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, 
sanded or end -jointed, of a thickness of 
> 6 mm  0.6 1.5 1 2 2 
400129  Natural rubber in primary forms or in 
plates, sheets or strip  0.6 0.0 1   
270900  Petroleum oils and oils obtained from 
bituminous minerals, crude  36.5 0.0 2   
Total of above  85.9  42 51 51 
Note:  Based on the HS 2012 nomenclature .  
Source:  WTO estimates based on data from WTO -IDB and UNSD, Comtrade data base.  
 WT/REG274/1  
 
- 32 - 
 
  4. Table A 2.4 shows market access opportunities for the EU's top 25 exports in the Cameroon  
market. These exports, which covered 67 lines at the HS 6-digit level, accounted for 28. 8% of the 
EU's global exports during 201 3-2015. Of the se lines,  five were already duty -free on a n MFN basis 
in 201 4 when Agreement  entered into force on a provisional basis . Duties on t he remaining  62 lines 
will be gradually eliminated  by 2029 except for two which will remain dutiable . These lines refer to 
gold and jewellery  (and faced MFN duty of 30% in 2014) . 
Table A 2.4 Cameroon: Market access opportunities under the agreement for EU's top 25 
exports to the world  
EU's top export products  
in 2013 - 2015  Access Conditions to Cameroon's 
import markets  
HS number and description of the product  Share in 
global 
exports 
(%) MFN 2014  Number   
of duty -free 
lines under 
the 
agreement  
Remain dutiable  Average MFN 
rate (%)  
Number of 
duty-free 
lines  
Number  of 
dutiable lines  
2019  
2023  
2029  
300490  Medicaments consisting of mixed or 
unmixed products for therapeutic or 
prophylactic purposes, put up in 
measured doses "incl. those in the 
form of transdermal administration" or 
in forms or packings for retail sale  3.6 0.0 1      
870323  Motor cars and other motor vehicles 
principally designed for the transport 
of persons, incl. station wagons and 
racing cars, with spark -ignition internal 
combustion reciprocating piston engine 
of a cylinder capacity > 1.500 cm³ but 
<= 3.000 cm³  3.4 30.0  9   9  
271019  Medium oils and preparations, of 
petroleum or bituminous minerals, 
n.e.s.  2.7 10.0  8   8  
710813  Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, in 
semi-manufactured forms, for non -
monetary purposes  2.3 30.0  1    1 
880240  Aeroplanes and other powered aircraft 
of an of an unladen weight > 15.000 
kg  2.3 0.0 1      
271011  Light oils and preparations, of 
petroleum or bituminous minerals 
which >= 90% by volume distil at 
210°c  2.1 10.0  10   10  
870324  Motor cars and other motor vehicles 
principally designed for the transport 
of persons, incl. station wagons and 
racing cars, with spark -ignition internal 
combustion reciprocating piston engine 
of a cylinder capacity > 3.000 cm³  1.6 30.0  4   4  
870332  Motor cars and other motor vehicles 
principally designed for the transport 
of persons, incl. station wagons and 
racing cars, with compression -ignition 
internal combustion piston engine 
"diesel or semi -diesel" of a cylinder 
capacity > 1.500 cm³ but <= 2.500  
cm³  0.9 30.0  9   9  
300210  Antisera and other blood fractions and 
modified immunological products, 
whether or not obtained by means of 
biotechnological processes  0.9 2.5 1 1 1    
841112  Turbo -jets of a thrust > 25 kn  0.7 10.0  1 1    WT/REG274/1  
 
- 33 - 
 
 
  EU's top export products  
in 2013 - 2015  Access Conditions to Cameroon's 
import markets  
HS number and description of the product  Share in 
global 
exports 
(%) MFN 2014  Number   
of duty -free 
lines under 
the 
agreement  
Remain dutiable  Average MFN 
rate (%)  
Number of 
duty-free 
lines  
Number  of 
dutiable lines  
2019  
2023  
2029  
880330  Parts of aeroplanes or helicopters,  
n.e.s.  0.7 0.0 1      
841191  Parts of turbo -jets or turbo -propellers, 
n.e.s.  0.7 10.0  1 1    
870899  Parts and accessories, for tractors, 
motor vehicles for the transport of ten 
or more persons, motor cars and other 
motor vehicles principally designed for 
the transport of persons, motor 
vehicles for the transport of goods and 
special purpose motor vehicle s, n.e.s.  0.7 20.0  1   1  
710231  Non-industrial diamonds unworked or 
simply sawn, cleaved or bruted  0.6 30.0  1   1  
848180  Appliances for pipes, boiler shells, 
tanks, vats or the like  0.6 20.0  1   1  
711319  Articles of jewellery and parts thereof, 
of precious metal other than silver, 
whether or not plated or clad with 
precious metal  0.6 30.0  1    1 
852520  Transmission apparatus incorporating 
reception apparatus, for radio -
telephony, radio-telegraphy, radio -
broadcasting or television  0.5 10.0  1   1  
870840  Gear boxes for tractors, motor vehicles 
for the transport of ten or more 
persons, motor cars and other motor 
vehicles principally designed for the 
transport of persons, motor vehicles 
for the transport of goods and special 
purpose motor vehicles  0.5 20.0  1  1   
710812  Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, 
unwrought, for non -monetary purposes  0.5 30.0  1   1  
847989  Machines and mechanical appliances, 
n.e.s.  0.5 10.0  1  1   
870322  Motor cars and other motor vehicles 
principally designed for the transport 
of persons, incl. station wagons and 
racing cars, with spark -ignition internal 
combustion reciprocating piston engine 
of a cylinder capacity > 1.000 cm³ but 
<= 1.500 cm³  0.5 30.0  4   4  
300220  Vaccines for human medicine  0.5 0.0 1      
853710  Boards, cabinets and similar 
combinations of apparatus for electric 
control or the distribution of electricity, 
for a voltage <= 1.000 v  0.5 10.0  1  1   
901890  Instruments and appliances used in 
medical, surgical or veterinary 
sciences, n.e.s.  0.4 5.0  1 1    WT/REG274/1  
 
- 34 - 
 
  EU's top export products  
in 2013 - 2015  Access Conditions to Cameroon's 
import markets  
HS number and description of the product  Share in 
global 
exports 
(%) MFN 2014  Number   
of duty -free 
lines under 
the 
agreement  
Remain dutiable  Average MFN 
rate (%)  
Number of 
duty-free 
lines  
Number  of 
dutiable lines  
2019  
2023  
2029  
870333  Motor cars and other motor vehicles 
principally designed for the transport 
of persons, incl. station wagons and 
racing cars, with compression -ignition 
internal combustion piston engine 
"diesel or semi -diesel" of a cylinder 
capacity > 2.500 cm³  0.4 30.0  4   4  
 Total of the above  28.8  5 62 4 3 53 2 
Note:  Based on the HS 2012 nomenclature .  
Source:  WTO estimates based on data from WTO -IDB and UNSD, Comtrade data base.  
 
__________  