Togolese private-sector operators are attending a four-day meeting in Lomé on rules of origin, a key element in determining whether goods qualify for preferential trade treatment. The session opened on Monday, September 21, 2026, and runs through September 24.
The initiative is being led by the Ministry of Investment Promotion, Industry and Economic Sovereignty through the Directorate General of Industry, with support from the World Customs Organization, WCO, and the West African Economic and Monetary Union, WAEMU.
The discussions focus on the rules used to determine whether a product qualifies as originating in Togo under trade agreements. A company that processes goods in Togo using imported materials cannot automatically claim Togolese origin for the finished product to obtain preferential tariffs. It must demonstrate that the processing carried out locally meets the applicable rules of origin.
Those criteria may include the extent of processing carried out in Togo, the value added locally and the origin of the materials used.
According to the ministry, rules of origin are not merely a customs issue. They determine whether products qualify for trade benefits granted under regional and continental agreements and therefore affect companies’ access to preferential trade arrangements.
At the regional level, preferential rules of origin apply to products qualifying under WAEMU arrangements and the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Trade Liberalization Scheme. Under the ECOWAS scheme, qualifying industrial products must meet origin requirements before they can benefit from preferential treatment.
When a company imports raw materials, processes them in Togo and exports the finished goods to another country covered by a preferential trade arrangement, it must establish that the resulting products meet the relevant origin requirements. The level of local processing, locally generated value and the origin of inputs can all form part of that assessment.
A Key Issue for the AfCFTA
Rules of origin are also central to trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA. Trading under the agreement began on January 1, 2021, and its rules of origin determine the conditions under which products can qualify for preferential treatment across participating markets.
Understanding those requirements can help companies complete export procedures correctly and determine whether their products qualify for available tariff preferences. For eligible goods that meet the applicable conditions, those preferences can include reduced tariffs or duty-free treatment.
The World Customs Organization has also been supporting African countries in strengthening their capacity to implement preferential rules of origin, including under the AfCFTA and regional trade agreements.
Through the meeting, Togolese authorities are seeking to encourage businesses to move beyond import and distribution activities and expand production, processing and exports. The initiative is also intended to help investors identify potential export markets for their products and understand the requirements they must meet to qualify for preferential trade treatment.
Esaïe Edoh