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***In Abuja, today (19th June), ECOWAS-15 Regional Stakeholders commenced technical meeting to finalize the Market Access Offer (Schedule) of Tariff Concessions for Trade in Goods, for the operational launch of the AfCFTA, in July, 2019 *** The Goods Market Access Offer (Schedule) shall establish the 90% level of ambition (non-sensitive) and sensitive lists, and staging periods, for the ECOWAS-15, in the AfCFTA. In the AfCFTA, the ECOWAS-15 is negotiating, collectively, as a Customs Union (CU), with a common, undifferentiated Goods Schedule that shall preserve its integrity as a Customs Union *** Nigerian Trade Negotiators were in Addis from 20th May to 8th June to participate at technical negotiations, policy meetings and bilateral engagements, preparatory to the 12thExtraordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) for the “Operational Launch” of the Agreement Establishing the AfCFTA, scheduled for Niamey, Niger, on 7th July. Ambassador Osakwe, Nigeria’s Chief Trade Negotiator, led the Nigerian Delegation *** In Addis, the Nigerian Delegation participated at the meetings of the 15th Negotiating Forum (NF) of the AfCFTA; Senior Trade Officials (STOs) of the African Union; and, the 8th Meeting of the African Ministers of Trade (AMOT). Ambassador Osakwe, DG NOTN and Ambassador Albert Muchanga, AU Industry and Trade Commissioner, with their Teams, undertook a detailed technical review of the legal and policy status of the AfCFTA and the envisaged draft package to be submitted for decisions to the 12th Extraordinary Summit of the AU Niamey Summit *** WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo, on the margins of the OECD Ministerial Meeting in Paris, participated at the WTO Informal Ministerial meeting on 23 May. Director-General Roberto Azevêdo, at the WTO Informal Ministerial, urged Ministers to address systemic challenges and advance negotiating work in parallel. Azevêdo advised intensified work on fisheries subsidies, if there was to be a successful outcome by the agreed end-of-year deadline ***

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