The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) entered into force on 1 January 2021. Its ‘trade in goods’ pillar focuses on a reduction of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) in addition to tariff reduction.
The World Customs Organization (WCO) Time Release Study (TRS) is particularly relevant in addressing NTBs. The TRS is a WCO tool designed to measure the time spent for release and/or clearance of goods at borders. It has been created to help administrations identify bottlenecks in the trade flow process and to facilitate trade while ensuring compliance and revenue collection at borders.
The aim of this article is to share the importance and benefits of applying the WCO TRS methodology to identify and address NTBs that are hampering international trade. Implementation of the TRS will support AfCFTA countries in alleviating NTBs.
In this document the authors provide an overview of the current situation relating to the TRS based on WCO survey results, together with anecdotal national and regional examples within Africa and externally. The article then shows lessons that could be learned by African countries, particularly in the context of the AfCFTA.
Global Trade and Customs Journal