AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA: Revenue Service Issues New Trade Facilitation Rules

22 October 2020

All bonded goods must now be imported into South Africa in sealed containers. The new rules were announced by the South Africa Revenue Service (SARS) in a revision to the customs declaration process, following concerns and queries raised by different industry stakeholders. More

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IVORY COAST: New Container Terminal at Abidjan Port to Alter Regional Trade

20 October 2020

Construction of the Port of Abidjan’s second container terminal, the Côte d’Ivoire Terminal (CIT), officially started on 5 October 2020. More

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KENYA: KRA Raises Excise Rates on 31 Goods

19 October 2020

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has increased the tax on excisable goods in line with the average inflation rate, despite pleas from manufacturers and importers to leave rates unchanged. More

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NIGERIA: Shippers Council Threatens Closure of Terminal Operators over Unauthorised Fees

13 October 2020

The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), in a 25 September official release, ordered Nigeria’s bonded terminal and other terminal operators to stop charging fees on cargo transfer from port terminals to off-dock terminals, or face serious sanctions, including total shutdown. More

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KENYA: Higher Fees for Importers Avoiding the Standard Gauge Railway

12 October 2020

The Kenyan parliament has recommended imposing a higher levy for importers who opt to transport their goods by road from Mombasa port to the capital, Nairobi, instead of using the country’s troubled standard gauge railway (SGR) that also services the route. More

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ETHIOPIA: New rules released on sectors open to foreign investment

29 September 2020

Ethiopia’s Council of Ministers released a new investment regulation on 2 September 2020 identifying the range of sectors now open and closed to foreign investment. More

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GHANA: Trade Ministry Rolls Out Interactive Business Regulatory Portal

21 September 2020

Ghana’s Ministry of Trade and Industry has launched an interactive online portal intended to involve affected Ghanaian business stakeholders in the process of reforming existing business regulations, and in abolishing those that are ineffective or unfriendly to the business community. More

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NIGERIA: Container Deposit Charges to End by First Quarter of 2021

25 August 2020

The Nigerian government has announced that it will stop collecting container deposits from importers before the end of the first quarter of 2021. More

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GHANA: Agreement to Establish AfCFTA Secretariat in Accra Approved

17 August 2020

The parliament of Ghana has approved the agreement with the African Union (AU) for establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat in the capital, Accra. More

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AFRICA: Harmonised Rules for Movement of Goods and Services Adopted by COMESA, EAC and SADC

11 August 2020

Three regional economic blocs in south and east Africa have adopted harmonised guidelines intended to reduce supply chain disruption, facilitate easier trade and transport of goods and services between countries in the region and help combat the spread of Covid-19. More

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