ECOWAS to meet over Niger, B’Faso, Mali tariff

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is set to hold a meeting later in April to discuss the 0.5 per cent import levy recently imposed by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) on goods from ECOWAS member states. The Head of Communication for the ECOWAS Commission, Joel Ahofodji, confirmed that the Extraordinary Council […]

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is set to hold a meeting later in April to discuss the 0.5 per cent import levy recently imposed by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) on goods from ECOWAS member states.

The Head of Communication for the ECOWAS Commission, Joel Ahofodji, confirmed that the Extraordinary Council would convene on April 22 to discuss the matter and other related issues.

Asked whether ECOWAS would take any retaliatory action in response to the 0.5 per cent import levy imposed by the AES, Ahofodji disclosed, “ECOWAS will have an Extraordinary Council on April 22. All these issues will be discussed.”

The AES, a new alliance comprising the junta-led states of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, recently introduced the 0.5 per cent import duty on goods coming from ECOWAS countries as part of efforts to generate revenue for the alliance.

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The levy, which went into effect on March 28, applies to all goods entering these three countries, excluding humanitarian aid.

The move runs counter to the objective of ECOWAS for promoting the free movement of goods among its members, including those of the AES countries despite their official exit from the regional bloc in January 2025.

ECOWAS had previously announced that goods and services from the three countries would still be treated under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, which supports duty-free and quota-free movement of goods and services within the region.

The new import duty of the AES effectively introduces a trade barrier, challenging ECOWAS agreement and potentially raising trade costs, disrupting supply chains and inflating prices within the AES countries.