WCO Sensitization Workshop on Rules of Origin in Malawi - a crucial step towards AfCFTA implementation

The World Customs Organization (WCO) held a national workshop on the rules of origin (RoO) from 3 to 5 June 2025 in Blantyre, Malawi. This workshop was a result of the collaborative efforts of the WCO/JICA Joint Project and Malawi Customs and constituted part of a series of national workshops to support African Customs administrations in enhancing their competencies on the preferential rules of origin, particularly for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), involving key stakeholders.

Free Trade Agreements within the African continent, including the AfCFTA, aim to create a single market in some regions or the entire continent for goods and services. rules of origin are crucial in determining which products qualify for preferential tariff treatment under those agreements. The correct application of RoO ensures that only eligible products benefit from preferential schemes, thereby preventing trade diversion and revenue loss.

The workshop was part of a broader effort to support Malawi in leveraging the potential of the AfCFTA. By enhancing the understanding and implementation of RoO, the workshop aimed to contribute to the growth of intra-African trade and economic development in Malawi, ultimately benefitting the African continent as a whole.

Officiating the opening ceremony, the Commissioner of Customs and Excise of the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), Mr. Cornelius Kakwesa, highlighted the significance of RoO in facilitating trade and economic integration within the African continent. He emphasized the need for the effective implementation of RoO to maximize the benefits of the AfCFTA. The representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Mr. Yukinari Tanaka, highlighted the agency's commitment to supporting the WCO and specifically Malawi in implementing the AfCFTA. For her part, the representative of the WCO, Mrs. Farayi Banda, emphasized the importance of understanding RoO in promoting intra-African trade and that MRA's proactiveness in hosting this essential workshop was a testament to the Authority's commitment to enhancing capabilities for a fruitful journey in this regard.

Thirty-six Customs officials and nineteen members of the private sector participated in the three-day workshop, which was facilitated by the WCO Secretariat and three Master Trainers on RoO from Ethiopia and Tanzania. The workshop fostered a common understanding aimed at ensuring that all participants were fully aware of their respective responsibilities in the application of preferential treatment under the AfCFTA. It provided a platform for participants to engage with experts and share ideas on the implementation of RoO. Participants discussed key issues, including product-specific rules, certification and verification of origin, and best practices in implementing RoO.

The workshop was a concrete step towards realizing the benefits of the AfCFTA. It was also crucial for the implementation of the WCO's capacity-building strategy, as it utilized the pool of experts in the beneficiary region.