Ghana recently began implementing its economic partnership agreement with the European Union, which is expected to liberalize trade between the two countries, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Aug. 11. The agreement includes benefits for 80% of the EU’s export volume to Ghana and includes “cumulative tariff cuts” by Ghana for about 22% of tariff lines this year, 50% by the end of 2024 and 100% by the end of 2029, HKTDC said. Ghana-made products will also benefit from duty-free, quota-free access to the EU in exchange for “progressive liberalisation of tariffs for EU exports to Ghana,” the report said.

A new Egyptian rule will require importers to pay only 30% of their customs fees before the arrival of their shipment at an Egyptian port, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Aug. 9. The change, announced by Egyptian Customs Aug. 1, is meant to “fast‑track customs procedures” by allowing importers to pay the remaining 70% of their fees after the shipment arrives, HKTDC said. Companies will also “get a refund in cases where cargo is banned from entering the country, destroyed or disposed of,” the report said. The change is part of the country’s new Advanced Cargo Information system, or Nafeza, which is expected to be fully implemented in most seaports by October.

Bahrain recently updated its electronic payment process for customs fees and taxes to allow all payments to be submitted in a single transaction, KPMG said Aug. 4. The process is expected to speed up the payment process for customs charges and should see all payment submissions in a transaction completed in “less than 30 seconds,” KPMG said.

South Africa recently lifted some restrictions on the domestic transportation and sale of alcohol after a nationwide ban earlier this year (see 2102110016), but traders are uncertain about how the government may handle future alcohol bans, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service reported Aug. 3. USDA said the ban significantly affected liquor supply chains and damaged South African alcohol imports. The “uncertainty created by the ad-hoc prohibitions by South Africa has caused some alcohol brands to struggle to regain lost market share,” USDA said.

The Kenya Ports Authority again renewed the free storage period for containers at its ports to help the shipping industry as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic (see 2105060007), the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Aug. 4. The new deadline is Oct. 20. Port users are entitled to up to 15 days of free storage for domestic export containers at most ports, up from the previous nine-day limit. The number of free storage days for import containers varies by port and type of container. Traders and exporters will be required to pay $30 to $90 per container, depending on the size, for goods stored beyond the free period. Traders will also face a $25 demurrage fee per day.

Uganda recently notified a draft standard for powdered silver cyprinid to the World Trade Organization, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service said in a July 28 report. The standard specifies requirements and methods of sampling and testing for imported powdered silver cyprinid, a fish product that is intended for human consumption. Comments are due Sept. 24.

Oman recently announced new requirements for all cosmetics and personal care product imports, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported July 27. Under the measures, effective Aug. 1, all such importers must submit technical documents relating to their goods through the ministry’s digital platform for approval before the shipment arrives in Oman. The requirements will affect all importers of personal care products, including cosmetics, products for skin, dental and hair care, and deodorants. It will not apply to personal care products “used for rinsing.” The new requirements are aimed at preventing customs delays at Oman’s borders, the report said.

Egypt postponed the launch of its new advanced clearance cargo system (see 2106210004) from July 1 to Oct. 1 after requests from several companies and “diplomatic missions,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service said in a July 25 report. The cargo system, which was launched in a trial mode in April, will continue to be tested until the official launch, USDA said, adding that the delay will help traders better prepare and register with the system’s platforms. Egypt expects the new system to reduce the average clearance time from 28 days to one day.

Tanzania recently introduced a Trade Information Portal to provide step-by-step procedures for imports and exports, including what documents are needed and associated costs, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported July 26. The portal will also give traders updated and accurate information on transited goods and help “eliminate all unnecessary and redundant bottlenecks for traders,” HKTDC said. The country expects the portal to “significantly improve” intra‑regional trade in East Africa and international trade.

Pakistan recently announced plans to eliminate taxes and duties on imported raw materials used to manufacture “exportable goods,” the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported July 26. The measures, effective Aug. 14, will apply to “raw materials, spare parts, components, equipment, plant and machinery.”