Zambia

“Trade Policy Reviews” analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat a report by the government and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - “key trade facts” - provides a visual overview of the WTO member's major exports/imports main export destinations origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Zambia.

The mining sector plays a critical role in Zambia’s economy exercising a heavy influence over growth job creation poverty reduction and the external accounts. Since mid 2008 world copper prices have fallen by more than 60% and there have been cutbacks in production in Zambia. Adjusting to this external shock has confronted the Zambian Government with a major economic policy challenge.

Zambia has continued to maintain a trade policy aimed at enhancing productivity and competitiveness of Zambian products in both the domestic and international markets. This objective has been strengthened during the review period with the launch of the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) in 2006 for the period 2006-2010 and the Vision 2030 which articulates the country’s long term development objectives. The FNDP focus is to enhance rural development especially agriculture; strengthen the linkages between the resource sectors with manufacturing; foster a competitive and outward-oriented economy; and improving infrastructure and social service delivery.