Somalia Among African Countries Eligible for Duty-Free Exports to the EU

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Somalia is among 33 African countries whose goods can enter European Union markets without customs duties or export quotas, according to the EU Delegation to Somalia.

In a social media post, the delegation said Somalia can benefit from the EU’s Everything But Arms (EBA) trade arrangement. The scheme gives eligible least-developed countries duty-free, quota-free access to the EU market for all products except arms and ammunition.

he access is provided through the EU’s Everything But Arms (EBA) arrangement, a trade preference for countries classified by the United Nations as least developed. Under the scheme, eligible goods can be exported to the EU duty-free and without quantity limits, with arms and ammunition excluded. Exporters still need to meet EU requirements, including product safety and quality rules, and provide documentation showing that goods qualify under the scheme’s rules of origin.

The EU says the arrangement has no fixed expiry date. It could give Somali businesses an incentive to expand production and exports, provided they can meet those requirements. Greater use of the scheme may support local production, trade and job creation.