UAE - Sierra Leone Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Sierra Leone represents a major milestone in strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the Middle East and West Africa. This historic trade pact is designed to accelerate sustainable growth by eliminating trade barriers, removing tariffs, and unlocking mutual investment opportunities.
By building on a solid foundation of non-oil bilateral trade, which reached approximately $153 million in 2025, the CEPA establishes a modern, high-growth roadmap for both nations. For the UAE, the agreement expands its strategic footprint in West Africa and secures vital supply chains for critical minerals and agricultural goods. For Sierra Leone, the partnership offers unprecedented access to capital, advanced infrastructure development, and a powerful launchpad into global markets.
Ultimately, this trade deal extends far beyond standard commerce. It combines economic integration with social and infrastructural advancement, focusing on key sectors like logistics, green energy, tourism, and talent exchange to drive long-term prosperity for both nations.
The UAE has become a major trade and investment partner for Africa, driven by its strategic interests in logistics, energy, agriculture, and digital infrastructure. Several African countries have signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) with the UAE, signalling a shift toward deeper bilateral economic integration.
The UAE signed its first bilateral trade agreement in February 2022 and aims to deepen ties with strategic partners around the world. The latest to join the list of partners are Nigeria and Sierra Leone, which signed their CEPAs on 13 January 2026 and 2 February 2026, respectively.
The CEPAs are meant to expand markets access opportunities, while facilitating investment flows through the lowering or eliminating tariffs, simpler customs procedures, clear and transparent rules etc.
Events
7th Regional Trade Facilitation Committee
THE ECOWAS REGIONAL TRADE FACILITATION MEETS TO EXAMINE THE STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF TRADE FACILITATION REFORMS AND ACCELRATE THE ELIMINATION OF NON-TARIFF BARRIERS
The ECOWAS Commission organized the 7th Meeting of the ECOWAS Regional Trade Facilitation Committee (RTFC) in Banjul, The Gambia from 15th to 17th June 2026. The objective of the meeting was to strengthen regional coordination and advance the implementation of trade facilitation reforms in ECOWAS by enhancing border management, addressing non-tariff barriers, and promoting digitalization of cross-border trade.
In his remarks on behalf of the Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment of the Gambia, Mr Lamin CAMARA, Permanent Secretary, welcomed delegates to the 7th Meeting of the RTFC in Banjul and expressed appreciation to the ECOWAS Commission for selecting The Gambia to host the Meeting. He underscored that trade facilitation remains central to the ECOWAS integration agenda and highlighted the importance of reducing the cost and time associated with cross-border trade.
Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire have entered into Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA) with the European Union
Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire have entered into separate Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA) with the European Union
Ghana and the European Union iEPA have entered into a good only based bilateral market access agreement. The interim economic partnership agreement between Ghana and the EU was negotiated in 2007 and ratified by Ghana in 2016 and went into effect 1 July 2021.
Under the Agreement, Ghana would progressively liberalise tariffs for 80% of the total volume of exports from the EU to Ghana, with cumulative tariff cuts for approximately 22% of applicable tariff lines in 2021, 50% by 2024 and 100% by 2029.
The Interim Economic Partnership Agreement between Côte d’Ivoire and the EU was negotiated in 2008. Côte d’Ivoire ratified the Agreement in 2016. Under it, the EU provides duty-free, quota-free access for Côte d’Ivoire’s exports to the EU. For its part, Côte d’Ivoire is progressively reducing its tariffs to zero for 85 percent of its EU imports by 2029.
The gradual liberalization of Cote d’Ivoire’s market for EU products commenced 1 January 2019 with the process scheduled in five phases over a 10-year period, from 2019 to 2029. Côte d'Ivoire has liberalised 1080 tariff lines effective 1 January 2024, bringing the total number of liberalised tariff lines to 3385 or 55%.
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