AES-Togo: Experts Advance Vers Un Tarif Douanier Préférentiel

• Experts from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and Togo met in Ouagadougou from October 12-14 to harmonize customs practices and facilitate trade.
• The primary objective was to prepare a confederal preferential tariff regime, including defining rules of origin and certification procedures for goods.
• The AES, formed in July 2024 by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, came into being after their withdrawal from ECOWAS.
• Togo, though not an AES member, participated in the consultations to strengthen regional cooperation and trade facilitation.
• The agenda also covered interconnecting customs IT systems, adopting common community texts, and building capacity within customs administrations.

He emphasized that the overarching goal is to achieve greater procedural harmonization, thereby streamlining commercial exchanges and bolstering the security of public revenues for all involved states.

Experts from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and Togo convened in Ouagadougou from October 12 to 14 for a crucial preparatory meeting aimed at harmonizing customs operations and boosting commercial exchanges across the region. The gathering, which brought together representatives from the four nations, was officially opened by Yves Kafando, the Director General of Customs for Burkina Faso. A primary objective of these discussions was to lay the groundwork for a confederal preferential tariff regime, a system designed to streamline trade between the participating countries.

During their three-day session, the experts were tasked with finalizing a draft decision that would establish this preferential tariff framework. This involved meticulously defining the rules of origin for various goods, a critical step in determining which products qualify for reduced tariffs. Furthermore, they worked on establishing clear procedures for the certification of this confederal origin, ensuring transparency and compliance within the new trade arrangement. The outcomes and recommendations from this expert meeting are slated for presentation to the respective Directors General of Customs from the involved countries, as well as the Commissioner General of the Togolese Revenue Office (OTR), following the conclusion of their work.

The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) comprises Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, nations that formally established their confederation in July 2024. This formation followed their collective decision to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). While Togo is not a member of the AES, its participation in these customs consultations underscores a broader commitment to strengthening regional cooperation. This engagement highlights a strategic effort to integrate customs practices and facilitate trade beyond the immediate AES bloc.

The Ouagadougou meeting is also a precursor to the fifth gathering of the Customs Directors General of the AES, scheduled to take place in the Burkinabe capital on October 15 and 16. Prior to this, the experts were also mandated to review the progress made on recommendations from their previous meeting, which occurred in Bamako on October 2 and 3, 2025. This forward-looking review, despite the date, is part of an ongoing process to ensure continuity and implementation of agreed-upon measures.

Beyond the immediate focus on a preferential tariff, the experts' agenda encompassed several other vital areas for regional customs integration. Discussions included strategies for interconnecting the various customs information technology systems, a move expected to significantly enhance efficiency and data sharing. The adoption of common community texts was also on the table, aiming to standardize legal and procedural frameworks across the participating nations. Additionally, the meeting addressed the critical need for capacity building within customs administrations, with support from the Public Finance Institute of Burkina Faso, to ensure personnel are equipped to manage the evolving trade landscape.

During the opening remarks, Mr. Kafando strongly advocated for intensified cooperation between the customs administrations of the AES members and Togo. He emphasized that the overarching goal is to achieve greater procedural harmonization, thereby streamlining commercial exchanges and bolstering the security of public revenues for all involved states. This collaborative approach is seen as essential for fostering economic growth and stability in the region through more efficient and secure trade mechanisms.

Source: Original reporting via a regional news outlet