Togo: Strengthening customs relations between Togo and China, a new course for trade facilitation
The Togolese Revenue Office (OTR) continues to strengthen its cooperation with Chinese customs, marking a significant advance in economic relations between the two nations. Earlier this week, the OTR hosted a delegation from the Chinese customs, led by the Deputy Director of Customs from GongBei, a border region between mainland China and Macau. This meeting is part of deepening discussions on establishing bilateral cooperation focused on the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program.
The AEO program, which aims to provide advantages to companies meeting strict compliance and security standards, allows economic actors to access simplified customs procedures. These facilities are designed to reduce processing times, minimize costs, and accelerate trade between Togo and China. For Togolese companies, this represents an opportunity to benefit from more efficient customs processes when trading with China, an increasingly strategic trading partner.
This visit follows a previous mission by the OTR to China in May, where important groundwork was laid to harmonize customs standards and strengthen cooperation between the two countries. On that occasion, Dr. Philippe Kokou Tchodie, the OTR’s Commissioner General, emphasized the crucial importance of this collaboration for Togo’s economic development. This strategic partnership aims to support the competitiveness of Togolese businesses in the international market while stimulating bilateral trade.
According to the OTR, these discussions with Chinese customs have allowed “the groundwork for facilitating trade and harmonizing customs standards between the two countries” to be established, thereby strengthening bilateral cooperation in the customs field.
The involvement of both parties in establishing this partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to creating a more favorable environment for international trade. This rapprochement between Togo and China constitutes a major strategic advance that could ultimately energize the Togolese economy by improving its integration into global trade.
