DOES INTERMEDIATE TARIFF BODE WELL FOR TRADE INTEGRATION IN ECOWAS?

This paper analyses the impact of intermediate tariffs on intraregional intermediate exports within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from 2000 to 2015. This is in order to investigate whether or not the levels of intermediate tariffs bode well for trade integration in ECOWAS. Using the Heckman Two-step technique, the empirical estimates reveal that the similarities in GDP and the presence of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), among others, are highly significant determinants of intraregional intermediate exports in ECOWAS. Contrarily, the quality of institution and the levels of intermediate tariffs are not important contributors to intraregional exports of intermediates. As the continent prepares towards the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area and considers regional value chains quintessential to development, policy makers should be informed of the unsupportive levels of intermediate tariffs in ECOWAS- a regional economic community that accounts for about thirty percent of the African population. Trade policies targeted at lowering intermediate tariffs within ECOWAS are called for.