Trade Policy Review
Angola
Minutes of the Meeting
Chairperson: H.E. Mr
Saqer Abdullah Almoqbel (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
CONTENTS
1
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON.. 2
2 OPENING STATEMENT BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF aNGOLA. 4
3 STATEMENT BY THE DISCUSSANT. 7
4 STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS. 11
5 REPLIES BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF ANGOLA AND
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. 31
6 CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON.. 36
Note: Advance written questions and
additional questions by WTO Members, and the replies provided by Angola
are reproduced in document _WT/TPR/M/452/Add.1 and will be available online at http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp_rep_e.htm.
1.1.
The third Trade
Policy Review of Angola was held on 18 and 20 March 2024.
The Chairperson, H.E. Mr Saqer Abdullah Almoqbel (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia),
welcomed the delegation of Angola, headed by H.E. Mr Rui Miguêns de Oliveira,
Minister of Industry and Trade; H.E. Mrs Augusta Fortes,
Secretary of State for Trade and Services; H.E. Ambassador Margarida da Silva Izata,
Permanent Representative of Angola to the WTO; the rest of the delegation; and
the discussant, H.E. Ambassador Guilherme de Aguiar Patriota
(Brazil).
1.2.
The
Chairperson was pleased that, in addition to physical presence, the meeting
also benefited from the Interprefy online connection, allowing for a wider
participation of the Membership.
1.3.
The
Chairperson recalled the purpose of TPRs and the main elements of procedures
for the meeting. The Report by Angola is contained in document _WT/TPR/G/452, and that of the WTO Secretariat in
document _WT/TPR/S/452.
1.4.
Questions
by the following delegations were submitted in writing before the deadline: Japan,
Brazil, Singapore, United Kingdom, and United States. The following
delegations submitted written questions after the deadline: China,
European Union, Iceland, and Türkiye.
1.5.
The
Chairperson started by recalling some elements of Angola's previous Review and
developments since then. In doing so, the Chairperson also sought to identify
some key issues arising from Members' advance written questions for this TPR.
1.6.
During
Angola's previous Review, held on 2015, Members commended Angola on its
impressive recovery from its 27‑year long civil war. Angola's recovery was
driven largely by public investment in infrastructure and high world prices for
oil, Angola's main export product by far. At that time, Members noted that
Angola's dependence on oil rendered its economy highly vulnerable to external
shocks, so they encouraged Angola to step up its economic diversification
efforts.
1.7.
At the
time of Angola's previous Review, Members noted also that Angola had
implemented several measures aimed at import substitution, and that Angola's
applied tariff rates had increased significantly. At that time, Members
encouraged Angola to lower import tariffs on inputs and implement additional
trade facilitation measures, with a view to reducing trade costs, enhancing
competitiveness, and promoting local production.
1.8.
The
Chairperson was pleased to see that since then, Angola has pursued a broad
range of economic reforms with the goal of diversifying its state‑led and oil‑centred
economy. Angola's economic reform programme over the past few years covers many
areas of policymaking, from fiscal and monetary policies to investment and
competition policy, and from state‑owned enterprises and privatization to
incentives and government procurement. Moreover, Angola implemented these
reforms against particularly challenging economic conditions, not least the
COVID‑19 pandemic and the increasingly visible consequences of climate change.
1.9.
The
Chairperson was also pleased to learn that since its last Review, Angola has
taken steps to simplify and modernize its trade processes further. Moreover,
Angola has eliminated tariffs for over 40% of tariff lines, in line with
Angola's import‑substitution centred trade strategy.
1.10.
During
the previous Review of Angola, Members commended Angola on its active
participation in the WTO. Since then, the Chairperson was pleased to learn that
Angola has ratified the Trade Facilitation Agreement and has started the
process towards ratification of the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement. Many advance
written questions for the current Review address Angola's compliance with its
WTO notification and tariff binding commitments, as well as Angola's
participation in regional trade agreements, including the African Continental
Free Trade Area.
1.11.
In the
advance written questions prepared for the current Review, Members reflected a
keen interest in learning more about Angola's efforts to promote
diversification and increase the participation of Angola's nascent private
sector in the economy. For example, Members asked questions on the
privatization of state‑owned enterprises, government procurement, intellectual
property rights, access to credit, and the regulatory framework for
telecommunications. Members also posed questions on Angola's efforts to improve
conditions for foreign investors, including in the all‑important oil and gas
sector, and in sectors with the potential to reduce poverty and create jobs for
Angola's young and growing population, including agriculture, fisheries,
forestry, and renewable energy.
1.12.
Members'
advance written questions for the current Review suggest that trade policy
could do more to support Angola's trade and economic diversification agenda,
including through further tariff reductions and additional trade facilitation
measures. Members also posed several questions on Angola's import licensing
regime, including non‑automatic licensing requirement. Another area of interest
for Members is Angola's SPS regime, which is critically important to help
Angola capitalize on its huge potential as a producer and exporter of
agricultural products.
1.13.
For the
current Review, Angola received 146 advance written questions from 9 delegations.
Of these, 76 were sent within the established deadline. Prior to the meeting, Angola
provided written replies to most of the questions submitted within the
established deadline. The Chairperson looked forward to receiving Angola's
replies to other questions raised during the two‑day meeting. Any follow‑up
questions must be answered within 30 days from the second day of the meeting.
1.14.
The
meeting was a good opportunity for Members to discuss in greater detail issues
of interest to them and of systemic importance to the multilateral trading
system. It was also an opportune moment for Angola to update Members on how it
plans to deepen its efforts to make trade a greater force for diversification,
prosperity, and inclusion. The Chairperson was looking forward to a fruitful
exchange.
1.15.
The
Chairperson closed his introductory remarks by wishing Angola a very successful
third Trade Policy Review.