How Important Are Non-Tariff Barriers to Agricultural Trade within ECOWAS?

Abdoulaye Seck (), Lassana Cissokho (), Kossi Makpayo () and Jonathan Haughton ()
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Abdoulaye Seck: Suffolk University & Universite Cheikh Anta Diop, Economics
Lassana Cissokho: Suffolk University, Economics

No 2010-3, Working Papers from Suffolk University, Department of Economics

Abstract: It is widely believed that the countries of Africa trade relatively little with the outside world, and among themselves, despite an extensive network of regional trade agreements. We examine this proposition by focusing on agricultural trade. Specifically, we ask whether non-tariff barriers (NTBs) are stunting agricultural trade within ECOWAS, a grouping of 15 countries in West Africa that has removed tariffs on agricultural trade among its members. Our survey of truckers in Tambacounda (Senegal) in August 2009 found evidence of extensive bribery by police and border officials, effectively representing a barrier to trading.

Keywords: Non-tariff barriers; ECOWAS; gravity model; regional trade agreements; Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F15 Q17 O55 O24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr and nep-int
Date: 2010-03-06
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