Trade with Côte d’Ivoire
How you import from and export to Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast).
The UK has signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Côte d’Ivoire, which is in effect.
EPAs are principally development-focused trade agreements that aim to promote increased trade and investment. They contribute to sustainable growth and poverty reduction in developing countries.
This guidance provides information on aspects of trade covered by the UK-Côte d’Ivoire Stepping Stone EPA. It is for UK businesses trading with Côte d’Ivoire.
What the agreement includes
The UK commits to providing immediate duty-free, quota-free access to goods exported from Côte d’Ivoire.
In exchange, Côte d’Ivoire commits to gradual tariff liberalisation of goods. Some domestically sensitive products in Côte d’Ivoire are excluded from tariff liberalisation.
This EPA includes provisions on:
- trade in goods - including provisions on preferential tariffs, rules of origin and sanitary and phytosanitary measures
Tariff rates on goods
Tariff rates for bilateral trade in goods between the UK and Côte d’Ivoire continue to apply as set out in the agreement.
You can use online tools UK Integrated Online Tariff and Check how to export goods to check product-specific and country-specific information on tariffs and regulations that currently apply to UK trade in goods. These tools are regularly updated to reflect any changes.
Rules of origin
Finding the correct rule of origin for export
Depending on the type of good you are seeking to export, in order to claim preferential treatment it will need to be either wholly obtained or sufficiently processed.
To be considered sufficiently processed your good will need to meet the relevant product specific rule (PSR). The PSRs for this agreement use the 2012 version of the Harmonised System (HS) nomenclature. You should apply the PSR for your good using the code in which it was classified under this nomenclature.
In a limited number of cases the code for your good may have changed during HS revisions. We are currently updating our online services to reflect these changes. In the interim correlation tables tracing these changes have been made available by the World Customs Organization and the United Nations
Claiming preferential rates for your exports from the UK
Unless you are permitted to provide an origin declaration, you will need to fill in a certificate of origin to claim preferential treatment.
The UK continues to use the EUR1 format for movement certificates with trade partners that have mutual FTAs with the EU, including Côte d’Ivoire. These movement certificates are identical to those previously in use, but the place of origin on the certificate is now marked as the United Kingdom instead of the European Community. EUR1 certificates of origin that have been updated to show the UK are now available from your usual provider, such as the chambers of commerce.
If you previously used the EUR1 form with a mutual EU trading partner, you can use the new EUR1 form that shows the UK as the place of origin.
Using EU materials and processing in your exports to Côte d’Ivoire
You can use EU materials or processing in your exports to Côte d’Ivoire. The UK and Côte d’Ivoire must have fulfilled the necessary requirements set out in the Rules of Origin Protocol. You must also ensure the working or processing you do in the UK goes beyond the minimal operations listed in the agreement and the other relevant conditions are met.
For example, you cannot simply package or label a product from the EU and export it to the Côte d’Ivoire as a good originating in the UK.
See the list of minimal operations in Article 5 of the Rules of Origin Protocol in the UK-Côte d’Ivoire Stepping Stone Economic Partnership Agreement text.
The ability to consider materials from, or processing carried out in, another country as originating when incorporated into your product is called cumulation.
Using materials and processing from other countries in your exports to Côte d’Ivoire
It is also possible to use materials from, and processing carried out in, the other countries and territories referenced in Article 7 of the Rules of Origin Protocol. Again, you must ensure that the working or processing you do in the UK goes beyond the minimal operations listed in the agreement and the other relevant conditions are fulfilled.
Sending your goods to Côte d’Ivoire through the EU and other countries
Goods transited through the EU are subject to the same requirements as those in transit through other third countries.
For example, you are able to split a consignment in the EU, as well as in other third countries, when exporting goods to Côte d’Ivoire, provided the goods comprising the consignment have not been entered into free circulation.
Origin quotas
Origin quotas in the agreement have been tailored specifically to the UK.
See table 3 listed in the agreement parliamentary report for details on the origin quotas.
Next steps
Get further guidance on:
- exporting goods from the UK: step by step
- moving goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland
- rules of origin between the UK and the EU
- using freight forwarders
Businesses can get specialist export help and support from great.gov.uk.
This guidance is for information only. You should consult your legal advisers if you wish to ensure you understand the legal implications of trading for your business.
Contact
If you have queries about trade, contact the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
Updates to this page
Last updated 1 January 2022 + show all updates
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Added guidance on finding the correct rule of origin for export.
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Updated following a content review.
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First published.