ECOWAS Trade Talks Wrap- Up in Lagos with Push on WTO Reforms

By Raymond Enoch

The sixth meeting of the ECOWAS Regional Trade Facilitation Committee (CRFT) concluded yesterday in Lagos, Nigeria, after three days of intensive deliberations focused on streamlining trade across West Africa.

Opened on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, the meeting brought together regional stakeholders to assess the implementation status of the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), with special emphasis on reform measures and the persistent challenge of non-tariff barriers.

In their final communiqué, participants issued a series of strategic recommendations aimed at both the ECOWAS Commission and its member states. These included accelerating trade facilitation reforms, enhancing transparency, and strengthening regional coordination to tackle trade bottlenecks.

The session closed with technical visits and a renewed commitment to operationalize decisions that would ease the flow of goods across borders, bolstering regional integration and economic growth.

The participants also examined the level of implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) including the TFA reforms and issues relating to non-tariff barriers in the Sub Region.

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