External trade is govern in Cameroon by law n° 2016/004 of 18 April 2016. This deals particularly with:
The importation and exportation of goods
The marketing of subsidized imports whose increased quantities cause or threaten to cause serious injury to the domestic industry concerned and
The practice of dumbing. This law is directly applicably to any natural or legal person engaging in international trade transactions in Cameroon.
However goods that are placed under customs taxes and duties suspension regimes on the national territory (Cameroon) shall be governed by the bilateral, regional, multilateral and international treaties, agreements or conventions in force.
The main objective of the above cited law is simply to regulate importation and exportation, as well as all other related activities in Cameroon.
Boost domestic production of goods, competitiveness and growth;
Create jobs and equally
Satisfy consumer needs.
IMPORT AND EXPORT REGIME
Law n° 2016/004 of 18 April 2016 governing external trade in Cameroon define import as act of bringing in goods or services from another country, Many goods are imported in Cameroon such as food products addresses, industrial mechires vehicles etc. whereas exportation is defend as a practice whereby goods or services are send to a foreign country.
For any goods and or services to be imported or exported in Cameroon or out Cameroon there must be an export or importation license to be issued by the competent authorities.
The conduct of international trade is free in Cameroon save for the import and export of products restricted or prohibited by law;
The conduct of import, export and transit transactions shall be based or the principle of trade facilitation; all products affecting public morality, security and order hygiene and health, protection of the environment, fauna and flora as well as the cultural heritage shall be excluded from the international trade freedom regime; and it should be noted that the list of such products has to be established by the minister in charge of external trade in conjunction with the technical ministries concerned.
However, products excluded from the trade freedom regime may be imported or exported under import and export authorization issued by the minister in charge of external trade, upon the technical approval of the ministry concerned, where necessary.
Moreover, under the 2016 law cited above, it shall be forbidden to engage in the import, export, trade brokerage, acquisition, transfer and transit of chemical weapons or any substance used for the production of chemical weapons or of any document or technological or information medium intended to enable or facilitate such activity.
In addition, any natural or legal person desiring to engage in import or export activities must be registered in the importers and exporters file in accordance with the conditions laid down by regulation, such transactions must first be declared with the competent authorities, for purposes of statistics, inspection, control and issuance of a certificate of origin, in particular with respect to exports under certain conditions laid down by the laws in force. Registration in the importers and exporters file and import declaration shall be subject to payment of fees fixed by separate instruments. Importers and exporters must comply with the customs code and with the applicable regulations relating to trade control.
Moreover invoice shall be the basic element for any import of goods for commercial purposes and transactions shall be conducted and paid for under cover of an external trade document, or a final invoice used in thereof; the invoice must specify the name and address of the buyer, the date and place of shipment, marking information and numerical order of the packaging, as appropriate, the exact description in English or French, the country of origin, the weight and price of the product, as well as the shipment and insurance fees. Export invoices shall be issued under the terms and conditions provided for by the laws and regulations in force.
The re-export of products benefiting from tax and customs exemptions shall be prohibited except upon payment of the relevant customs duties and taxes at the point of entry into the national territory, during the said re-export.
WE SHALL PROVIDE TO YOU IMPORT AND EXPORT CONTROL IN CAMEROON NEXT WEEK. REMEMBER TO CONTRACT OUR LAW FIRM INCASE YOU WANT TO DO ANY INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TRANSACTION FOR OUR ATTORNEYS WILL PROVIDE YOU WILL THE BEST LEGAL SERVICES THAT WILL LEAD YOU THROUGH YOUR COMMERCIAL TRANSACTION IN CAMEROON AND IN AFRICA IN GENERAL