The West African Association for Cross-Border Trade in Food, Agricultural, Livestock, Forestry and Fisheries Products (WACTAH) is organizing a training workshop on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) from July 10 to 11, 2025, in Lomé, Togo.
The workshop, which will host around fifty participants mainly from Togo, is part of the implementation of the ECOWAS Agricultural Trade Programme (EAT), funded by German Cooperation through GIZ, with WACTAH as an implementing partner. The workshop aims to help professional organizations better understand the ETLS, master its procedures, and fully benefit from the opportunities it offers.
The objective of the training is to strengthen the capacity of actors involved in cross-border trade, enabling them to better understand the rules and procedures under ETLS and to take full advantage of regional trade opportunities. This first session will gather about thirty participants from WACTAH member organizations, mostly based in Togo. Similar workshops are planned in other member countries.
Over two days, participants will be trained on key instruments and regulations governing regional trade, including the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme, the ECOWAS Common External Tariff, the Community Customs Code, community transit procedures, axle load regulations, and goods transport standards.
The training will also address regional taxation, sanitary and phytosanitary standards, dispute resolution procedures, and the identification of administrative documents required for trade in agricultural, livestock, forestry, and fishery products.
This initiative is part of WACTAH’s ongoing efforts to facilitate trade in the region, notably through the Agro-Livestock Road Fluidity Operation, which supports traders and transporters in complying with official procedures and combating obstacles to cross-border trade.
