WCO publishes new guide to the ECCAS Rules of Origin

Today, the WCO released the "Guide to the ECCAS Rules of Origin" which aims to assist Customs administrations and economic operators with the practical implementation of the revised rules adopted in October 2024 by the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

The ECCAS Free Trade Area was launched in January 2004 and aims to enhance trade and economic integration among its member states. On average, ECCAS member States reduced 34 per cent of tariff lines on intra-ECCAS tariffs to zero.

The revision of the Community's rules of origin was prompted by an imperative of simplification, thereby increasing trust between Customs administrations in their respective capacity of verifying and granting community origin, and trust in the capacity of trade operators to comply with the rules.

The objective was also to harmonize the ECCAS rules with those of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), given that both communities have overlapping memberships.

Developed under the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme in cooperation with the ECCAS Secretariat, the Guide is a critical tool for economic operators and Customs administrations to ensure the proper understanding, implementation and use of the ECCAS Rules of Origin.

The Guide is available in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese.