Senegal validates its 2020 report on trade surveillance. A report that makes it possible to analyze the evolution of trade of WAEMU member States, but also assesses the budgetary impact of trade reforms. The validation workshop was held this Thursday, November 26, 2020 in Diamniadio under the chairmanship of Mr. Samba Ndao, Secretary General of the Ministry of Commerce and SMEs. According to him, this workshop is part of this exercise whose purpose is to officially validate Senegal's report before its transmission to the WAEMU Commission, as a contribution for the development of the 2020 regional report. The WAEMU initiative thus makes it possible to improve transparency and to better understand the national trade policy and that of the Union, for a better appropriation with a view to its effective implementation.
According to the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Trade and SMEs, the document contains relevant information on Senegal's implementation of WAEMU trade policy. These include, for example, the implementation of the ECOWAS CET and its accompanying measures already in effect since 1 January 2015, the abandonment of reference values in favour of correctional values, the application of excise duties on certain products in accordance with the WAEMU regulation relating thereto. rent, etc. Thus, with regard to trade, the report makes a fairly detailed analysis of trade relations between Senegal and the other WAEMU countries, but also with the rest of the world. Data on the approvals granted to Community enterprises, on internal taxation levied at the customs cordon, on the tax impact and on the implementation of WTO agreements. Secretary General Samba Ndao remains convinced that this contribution, like those of other member countries, will allow the WAEMU Commission to have relevant elements to prepare the regional trade surveillance report within the WAEMU.   
In conclusion, he said that despite the progress made in 2019, many challenges remain, including: insufficient diversification of products and services traded with WAEMU; the persistence of numerous controls on the corridors; illegal levies and other incidental expenses; the weakness of transport infrastructure leading to long delays in the transport of goods; distortions of competition, among other barriers.