COMESA Agreement between African countries ✍️ Professor Fikri Kabbashi, Arab Secretary
The COMESA agreement started as a preferential trade zone aimed at establishing a free trade area between member states to transform into a customs union and then a common market, which culminated in the Common Market of China agreement. Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) on June 29. /1998, and customs exemptions began to be applied to imports from the rest of the member countries from February 17, 1999, based on the principle of reciprocity for goods accompanied by a certificate of origin approved by the authorities competent authorities in the country. each country. On 10/31/2000, 9 COMESA Member States signed the agreement to establish a free trade zone, including: (Egypt / Kenya / Sudan / Mauritius / Zambia / Zimbabwe / Djibouti / Malawi / Madagascar), and the Rwanda and Burundi joined them on 1/1/2004, where these countries grant total exemption from customs duties imposed on imports traded between them, provided that these products are accompanied by a COMESA certificate of origin and of the benefits provided for by the agreement, which are as follows:
1. The population of COMESA Member States is 380 million people and therefore represents an important market and outlet for many Egyptian products.
2. Benefit from mutual exemptions, as eleven countries have joined the COMESA Free Trade Area and these countries provide total exemption to their imports from other countries. According to the Egyptian state, it is possible to benefit from the import structure of member states, as these countries are willing to import many products for which Egypt has a significant production advantage. At the top of the list are rice and food products. , household appliances, dried onions, ceramics, sanitary ware, medicines, then car tires, aluminum, iron and steel products, textiles and shoes.
3. It is clear from the production structure of the Member States that they are countries that depend on the export of raw materials, raw materials and major commodities such as copper, coffee, tea , raw hides, cattle meat, sesame, corn and tobacco. .
4. Benefit from the financial assistance provided by the African Development Bank and other international financial institutions in the field of export development to African countries.
6. The agreement provides for the creation of an advanced information exchange system within Member States.
6. Further gains result from what is included in the agreement in the area of industrial and agricultural cooperation, as well as in the area of transport and communications.
The current situation of tariff reductions implemented in COMESA is as follows:
1. Egypt, Kenya, Sudan, Mauritius, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Djibouti, Malawi, Madagascar, Rwanda and Burundi mutually grant total exemption from customs duties to goods and products originating in COMESA , royalties and other taxes of similar effect.
2. Uganda, Eritrea and Comoros: apply an 80% reduction on their imports from COMESA countries
3. Ethiopia: applies a 10% customs reduction in customs duties imposed on its imports from COMESA countries.
4. Seychelles and Democratic Republic of Congo: They do not grant any customs reductions.
5. Swaziland: It does not apply any customs exemption and is granted a grace period on the grounds that it is carrying out studies on the effects of its accession to the Free Trade Agreement, taking into account its association with the country . Southern African Customs Union (SACU).
6. Angola recently suspended its membership in the organization.
7. Libya signed its membership of COMESA at the tenth COMESA Heads of State Summit in June 2005.
The Egyptian state is considered the most active country compared to other African countries, as Egyptian exports benefiting from the exemption are as follows:
1. All Egyptian goods exported to Member States enjoy full exemption from all customs duties, taxes and other charges of similar effect in accordance with the reduction rates approved by each country and based on the principle of reciprocity.
2. There are no exceptions, except for the States of Sudan, Kenya and Mauritius, because the State of Sudan submitted on 05/23/2001 a negative list (which includes 58 goods including Import from Egypt is not allowed except after payment). full fees). Sudan also reserves certain products excluded from the application of exemptions. These products are sugar, flour, cigarettes, fresh water, sauces, jams, fruit juices, biscuits, candies, tahini, vegetable oils, soap, cotton thread, cotton textiles, mixed textiles, medical cotton, ready-made clothing, knitted fabrics, leather shoes, plastic shoes, fabric shoes, terry shoes and paints (except paints (ships, automobiles), matches, tires ( except tractor tires, agricultural equipment, wheels, engines, forklifts and separate machines), liquid and dry batteries, plastic bags, perfumes, cosmetics, zinc plates, rebars, small cars, wicker , sheet metal, Zoe, refrigerators, water conditioners, electrical wires, cables, cardboard boxes and cases, cement, wood and aluminum doors and windows. And office furniture. Egypt does not maintain any negative lists except with the State of Sudan, so excluded products are chickpeas, cotton textiles, mixed textiles, ready-made garments and knitwear. The most important Egyptian exports to COMESA countries are construction materials such as building materials. iron and steel, cement, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, the most important of which are paper and human medicines, food industries, sugar, oils and fats, rice, fruits and vegetables, some engineering products, COMESA countries' most important imports to Egypt are coffee and tea, oily fruits, sesame, live animals and copper.
