The bills were approved yesterday during a plenary sitting chaired by Senate President, Marcel Niat Njifenji.

The Senate has adopted two separate bills aimed at facilitating and regulating trade activities. The bills were approved yesterday April 4, 2016 in Yaounde during a plenary sitting of the Senate chaired by its president Marcel Niat Njifenji.

The first bill to authorize the President of the Republic to ratify the Agreement on Trade facilitation concluded on December 7, 2013 in Bali, Indonesia during the 9^th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). It was adopted by the House after the reading of the report of the Foreign Affairs Committee that studied the bill. According to the explanatory statement, the bill aims at easing border procedures of member States so as to facilitate trade operations at exportation and importation. The ratification of the bill will enhance the smooth movement of goods between Cameroon and foreign countries and thus boost the economy.

Members of the Senate also adopted the bill regulating external trade in Cameroon during yesterday’s plenary attended by the Ministers of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atagana, Louis Paul Motaze of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development and Grégoire Owona sitting in for the Vice Prime Minister, Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Relations with the Parliament. The second bill adopted seek to spur economic growth by adopting the principle of freedom to import or export subject to some restrictions. The explanatory statement also indicates that the bill will protect domestic production by combatting unfair trade practices such as dumping.

Trade Minister, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana provided further details to concerns of Senators regarding the two bills. Responding to the difficulties posed by illicit goods, the Minister said measures have been put in place to check contraband goods while the importation of medical and environmental goods will be liable to authorisation and controls. He also revealed that a bill is in the making to check the importation of used cars.