ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE

The following communication, dated 18 July 2025, is being circulated at the request of the delegations of the United Kingdom and Cameroon.

This document reproduces the follow-up questions addressed to the Parties during the 113th Session of the CRTA and the responses submitted.

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Questions from the European Union

We have a few questions for the Parties regarding export duties, rules of origin, and the review clause.

1.1.  First, have the Parties negotiated a joint protocol on the rules of origin? If so, when is it expected to be ratified and implemented?

Reply from Cameroon: The Parties have not yet negotiated a joint protocol on rules of origin. Unlike the CAM-EU bilateral EPA, the Parties have attached to this CMR-UK Agreement two annexes (2A and 2B) setting out the rules of origin applicable to products originating in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (2A) and the Republic of Cameroon (2B). A joint protocol will be negotiated at a later stage, jointly adopted by Decision of the EPA Committee, then annexed to the CMR-UK Bilateral Partnership Agreement. This joint protocol on rules of origin will replace Annexes 2A and 2B.

Reply from the United Kingdom: The Parties have not negotiated any changes to the interim protocol on Rules of Origin. At present, there are no ongoing discussions regarding a joint protocol, and therefore no timeline has been established for ratification or implementation.

1.2.  Secondly, what is the UK's position on the export taxes, excise duties, and import restrictions adopted by Cameroon in its recent financial laws? Are these measures affecting UK-Cameroon trade and impacting the UK‑Cameroon EPA? If so, to what extent? What steps is Cameroon planning to take to address these measures?

Reply from Cameroon: Nothing to report.

Reply from the United Kingdom: The UK is aware of the recent financial laws introduced by Cameroon and welcomes the exclusion in Section Eight of law no. 2024/13^[1] for imports relating to our UK‑Cameroon EPA.

At this stage, we are not aware of any impact on UK-Cameroon trade.

Our EPA stipulates that no new customs duties on exports shall be introduced in trade between the Parties, except where Cameroon may, after consultation with the UK, introduce such duties for a limited number of additional goods. Should Cameroon wish to proceed with any such measures, the UK looks forward to engaging in discussions through the appropriate EPA mechanisms.

1.3.  Thirdly, do the Parties intend to negotiate additional binding provisions in areas such as current payments, movement of capital, government procurement, intellectual property rights, competition, sustainable development, e-commerce, establishment, and trade in services?

Reply from Cameroon: Negotiations on current payments, movement of capital, government procurement, intellectual property rights, competition, sustainable development, e‑commerce, establishment, and trade in services are provided for in rendezvous clauses, with no negotiation deadline. The Parties have undertaken to negotiate these matters in due course, in accordance with level of importance, their priorities and a timetable agreed by the Parties.

Reply from the United Kingdom: At this time, the Parties have not entered into discussions regarding the negotiation of additional binding provisions in the areas mentioned.

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