• The common external tariff took effect in Cameroon on January 1, 2026

• Duties range from 0% to 40% depending on the type of product

• The move aims to align trade rules between CEEAC and CEMAC

Cameroon has begun applying the Common External Tariff (CET) adopted by the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC), according to the General Directorate of Customs. Approved on October 18, 2024, by the bloc’s 11 member states, the tariff has been in force in Cameroon since January 1, 2026.

The move marks a new step in regional integration, with the goal of harmonizing customs duties between CEEAC and the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC).

Customs duties under the new tariff range from 0% to 40%, depending on the type of product. Cereal seeds, aircraft used for air transport, and aviation-related equipment are exempt from duties. By contrast, live animals—from poultry to horses—as well as passenger vehicles and tractors are subject to rates ranging from 5% to 20%.

Duties vary widely across product categories

The same 5% to 20% range applies to dairy products, construction materials such as cement, and maritime transport equipment. Railway rolling stock is taxed at 5% to 10% upon entry into Central African ports.

Meat products, from pork to beef, along with reptile catches, fish, and crustaceans imported from outside the sub-region, are subject to a duty of 20% per kilogram.

The tariff schedule also sets duties of 10% to 20% per unit for pumps and industrial and non-industrial machinery, while medical equipment parts are taxed at 5%. Toys, musical instruments, weapons, ammunition, and furniture all carry a 20% duty.

The highest rate, set at 40%, applies in particular to cocoa powder, tobacco products, pharmaceutical waste, mineral water, and tonic drinks. It also covers cotton and polyester fabrics, ready-to-wear clothing and accessories, and hair extensions.

Negotiations backed by WCO and EU since 2019

Negotiations to establish a common external tariff between CEMAC and CEEAC countries began in 2019, with technical support from the World Customs Organization and the European Union. In 2025, member states drew up national roadmaps to operationalize the system, which is part of a broader effort to align the two regional blocs, a process under way since 2009.

Some differences remain. Value-added tax and excise duties are not included in the CET framework, and trade within the sub-region continues to face structural constraints. Intra-regional trade still accounts for only about 3% of total exchanges, weighed down by low trade volumes and persistent tariff and non-tariff barriers.

By applying uniform duties to imports from outside the region, CEEAC aims to harmonize trade policies and strengthen competitiveness. The objective is also to boost trade within Central Africa by expanding the effective market from about 50 million people in the CEMAC zone to nearly 200 million across the wider CEEAC area. Trade specialists see the move as part of a broader integration path aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Frédéric Nonos, Business in Cameroon