(Business in Cameroon) - Cameroon just got suspended from the World Trade organization (WTO) for non-payment of its contribution amounting to XAF180 million. Trade minister, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, has referred the matter to the Prime Minister’s office on March 5 and requested that the country complies with the requirements of WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement.

 “I have the honor to inform you, Mr. Prime Minister, Head of Government, that the arrears of our contributions to the World Trade Organization have now peaked at XAF138 million for 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018,” the trade minister wrote, stressing there is another XAF42 million to be paid for the FY2019, making an aggregate amount of XAF180 million.

According to Mbarga Atangana, Cameroon is currently subject to category III administrative sanctions, which consist of the suspension of all technical assistance activities and the denial of any access to training organized by the WTO. “Only the clearance of these arrears would allow our country to regain its rights within the Organization,” he concluded.

Sylvain Andzongo