Liberia steps up digital transformation of tariff classification work

With the growing global interest in making available tariff-related information via web-based tools, the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) decided to embark on a project to implement an electronic tariff platform in the country. On 24 February 2020, a kick-off meeting to launch the project was held in Monrovia, Liberia, with the virtual attendance by representatives of the WCO, the ECOWAS Secretariat and technical experts specialized in the development of online platforms.

The project is implemented in the framework of the EU-WCO HS-Africa Programme, funded by the European Union. The main objective of the project is to develop an electronic platform where all information related to applied rates of duties and taxes imposed in connection with trade transactions will be available in an easily accessible manner. This effort will contribute not only to the implementation of the HS, but will also support the ongoing work undertaken in Liberia to meet the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement standards.

The ECOWAS Secretariat representative Mr. Felix Kwame Kwakye expressed his great satisfaction with regard to the launch of the project, highlighting its importance for the ECOWAS region as an example of digital transformation of Customs work. He emphasized that the interactive nature of the electronic platform, its comprehensive coverage and its integration with the existing IT systems used by the LRA would make information available to all interested parties in a convenient and user-friendly format.

A multi-disciplinary team has been assigned at the LRA to coordinate this project and will ensure close collaboration with the WCO and the ECOWAS. The new electronic platform is expected to go live in summer 2021. The EU-WCO HS-Africa Programme reiterated its pledge to support the LRA throughout the entire process of implementation of this important endeavor.

For more details, please contact [email protected].