Report by the WTO Secretariat

The eight countries belonging to the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), which include Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali, are also members of the larger group of 15 countries belonging to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Integration within ECOWAS is largely based on that within WAEMU. Since the review of their respective trade policies in 2004, Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali have pursued their integration and economic reform efforts within WAEMU (and ECOWAS as well). Nonetheless, the continued presence of obstacles limits the potential benefits of such integration.