African Union Sets To Override Customs CET, Create Free Cargo Movement Within Africa

There are indications that the African Union (AU) might be making efforts which may eventually be in conflict with the Common‎ External Tariff (CET) which was introduced this year by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
At a function in Lagos on Wednesday, President of the African Organization for ‎Standardization; Dr. Joseph Odumodu hinted that the AU has kick-started a process of ensuring that a common market is established in Africa by 2017.

There are indications that the African Union (AU) might be making efforts which may eventually be in conflict with the Common‎ External Tariff (CET) which was introduced this year by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
At a function in Lagos on Wednesday, President of the African Organization for ‎Standardization; Dr. Joseph Odumodu hinted that the AU has kick-started a process of ensuring that a common market is established in Africa by 2017.
The idea according to Odumodu is to ensure that Africa becomes one boundary such that if a cargo lands in any African country, it can easily move around the other countries without any further barriers as seen today.
This is contrary to the provisions of the Common External Tariff (CET) which is currently being operated by the Customs authorities in West Africa where a common duty was introduced on certain consignments.
The CET however allows each country to introduce Import Adjustment Tax (IAT) on consignments in order to protect her local industries.
But the AU says that with a free African market, cargoes can be cleared from any country in Africa and it will not be subjected further to any other tariff.
"If I clear a cargo in Nigeria, it will be as good as clearing it from South Africa, the impression now is that when goods come in, they are in the same market, no more barriers, it can move around"
Odumodu who is also the Director General of the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) said that Africa currently accounts for less than 3% of world trade because it trades less than 10 per cent with each other, he said that Africans will rather trade with Europe and America.
He added that, "it is going to be a system that goes beyond what we do or Immigration or Customs; Africa is seeking free movement of people, goods and other activities"
"As President of African Organization for Standardization, the African Heads of State are already looking at Africa as one common market and by 2017, AU has started the process and we shall have a continental free trade area".
‎"No nation has ever made a difference by consuming what others made for them, but what we have always done is export opportunities for job, but this is not sustainable"‎ he said.