Analysis of Agri-Food Trade Structures
To Promote Agri-Food Trade Networks
In the Islamic Countries
92
facilities concentrating on quality control.63 Pineapple is recognized as one of the seven most
promising regional value chains in Africa.64 From the views of the stakeholders through this
project the government has laid the foundation for agri-food industrialization that will be
expanded to Cameroon’s neighbors in Central Africa. For example: the production centers and
border market infrastructure have been developed in cities not too far from international
borders, the ECCAS infrastructural development programs has enabled paved road connection
between Cameroon and Gabon, Congo, Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea.
Furthermore, the Kribi deep-sea port infrastructure was planned to take the regional dimension
into consideration.
ECOWAS
Data shows Cameroon’s trade with ECOWAS is notably lower than CEMAC. In 2016 the top
exporting product to the region, tobacco, was 7.263 million USD compared to the 13.164 million
USD of exports that went to CEMAC. Trade dynamics are affected by the absence of a preferential
trade agreement between ECOWAS and CEMAC. This essentially means that countries in either
economic bloc, can in principle apply full statutory duties on bilateral trade flows, generating
significant distortions within the broader region. 65
Because of these tariff barriers, retailers and consumers are encouraged to import products
from within their own economic bloc, rather than sourcing them from across the border.
Bilateral trade flows between Cameroon and Nigeria are particularly affected by these forces,
and they lead to the isolation of border regions in both countries as they orient their economic
activity towards the industrial centers within each economic bloc.66 In Cameroon, this inability
to reap the benefits of cross-border trade with Nigeria is compounded by the fact that the
Northern region has the highest rates of poverty in the country.
The key import from Senegal is fish which has experienced a marked increase since 2010 from
13.112 million USD to 54.584 million USD in 2016. This trend reveals an essential trade flow
between the two countries despite membership in different RECs. From the views of the
stakeholders there is room for collaboration between Cameroon and fellow OIC members. For
example, the production centers and border market infrastructure have been developed in cities
not too far from international borders. Road networks such as the Enugu-Bamenda road
between Nigeria and Cameroon are one example; in fact, this road is a joint endeavor of the two
countries in coordination with ECCAS and ECOWAS.
Other Policies
Cameroon has been active in negotiating Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with other significant
trade partners. Although many of these agreements are only partial scope, they likely play some
role in shaping trade relations with more distant partners. For instance, key export markets for
particular commodities, such as Malaysia (cocoa and cotton), Bangladesh (cotton), and
Indonesia (agricultural raw materials) have FTAs in place, albeit with limited scope.
63 Ibid pp. iv
64 UNCTAD. (2017). “From Regional Economic Communities to a Continental Free Trade Area,” UNCTAD/WEB/DITC/2017/1.
65 World Bank. (2013). Cameroon: Estimating Trade Flows, Describing Trade Relationships, and Identifying Barriers to Cross-
Border Trade between Cameroon and Nigeria. Report No: 78283 and ACS2876.
66 Ibid, pp. 10.