Togo’s economic actors complain about UA, WAEMU and ECOWAS taxes

Economic governance

Monday, 05 February 2018 15:55

Togo’s economic actors complain about UA, WAEMU and ECOWAS taxes

(Togo First) - Togo’s economic actors are complaining about how fast taxes of regional and sub-regional integration institutions are being implemented. In fact, they denounced this to the government’s delegation presenting new provisions of the 2018 finance law.
This was last Wednesday, during a meeting organized by the Employers’ association national council.
The private actors ask the government to create a real supportive framework before implementing African Union’s tax.
Concerning the WAEMU and ECOWAS taxes, the operators demand more harmony and supporting measures for their implementation. “Customs? It applies Togolese laws when it is supposed to apply those of the ECOWAS,” deplored one of the economic operators present.
General Treasury officer of coffee-cocoa exporters’ association for his part complained about the government’ zeal, saying it inhibits the Togolese market’s performances. “What we don’t understand, at the WAEMU’s level, when laws are adopted, it seems that other nations do not immediately apply them. But in Togo, it is done and this generally penalizes economic operators. Ours customers often claim we are too expensive because they compare our prices to those used in neighboring countries, where the WAEMU tax is yet to be applied,” he said.
Other complaints include challenges related to free movement of people and goods within the integration zone and the strong presence of foreign actors (with Bolloré group openly pointed fingers at) at the Autonomous Port of Lomé.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

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