Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) entered into force on July 1993, gradually eliminating import duties and other non-tariff barriers to trade for most energy products and technologies, including: 

  • Agglomerated and reduced iron;
  • Alumina and Scrap metal;
  • Ammonia; 
  • Crude steel and Aluminium;
  • Solar PV modules, Solar wafers, and Solar cells; 
  • Polysilicon, Battery packs and battery cells;
  • Electrolysers and Heat pumps;
  • Electric vehicles and ICE cars;


The Agreement also establishes common external tariffs for goods imported in the Economic Community. Rules of origin delineated in the Agreement include provisions preventing goods only undergoing minimal transformations , and goods not wholly produced in one of the signatory countries to benefit from preferential tariff treatment. 

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