Chad
As a least-developed country (LDC), Chad is a beneficiary of the EU's "Everything but Arms" (EBA) arrangement. The World Bank classifies Chad as a low-income economy with a per-capita income of $681 in 2023. Total EU imports from Chad amounted to about €1.6 billion in 2023. As all of these enter the EU market at zero duty under the normal tariff regime, EBA preferential imports were not used.
What is the EBA?
The EBA arrangement covers all LDCs as classified by the United Nations. This arrangement enables duty-free and quota-free access for all products originating in LDCs except for arms and ammunition. Unlike beneficiaries of the Standard GSP and GSP+, LDCs are not excluded from the scheme if they benefit from other preferential arrangements or agreements with the EU.
19.3M (2023)
Population
Presidential Republic
Government
4.1% (2023)
GDP Growth
10.8% (2023)
Inflation
$ 13.1B (2023)
GDP
Facts about Chad's economy
Export Products
By far the most important export product for Chad is petroleum oil, followed by gold. Other export goods, predominantly from the agricultural sector, are sesame seeds, natural gum Arabic and raw cotton.
Trade Partners
Chad's most important trading partners in 2023 were the EU (34% of total trade), China (20%), and Taiwan (8%). The EU was also the largest export destination with a share of 38%, followed by China and Turkey. China is the largest source of imports (29%), followed by the EU (22%).
Economic Structure
Chad is largely dependent on its oil revenues, which account for about 20% of the country's GDP. The cotton industry is another important pillar of the economy, and cotton is both cultivated and processed in the country. Other agricultural activities include livestock, cattle, and gum Arabic. The dependence on oil and agricultural commodities leaves the economy vulnerable to external shocks in prices or climate.
Agriculture
Agriculture remains the backbone of Chad's economy and provides a livelihood for more than 80% of the population. Agricultural activities include subsistence farming, herding, and fishing
Usage of EBA Preferences
Because almost all of Chad's exports enter the EU duty free under the normal tariff regime, EBA preferences play a marginal role. In 2023, as in previous years, no preferential imports from Chad were recorded.
Trade with the EU
Total trade with the EU amounted to €1.8 billion in 2023. The EU remained Chad's most important trading partner, accounting for a share of 34% of total trade.
Chad and the EU
Imports from Chad by product section (2023, € million)
Imports from Chad over time (€ million)
CHAD AND THE EU GSP
Economic Impact
0%
Almost no exports from Chad to the EU were eligible for EBA preferences in 2023.
0%
Since 2021, Chad has not made use of EBA preferences.
100%
Share of zero-duty imports from Chad. Most imports are duty-free under normal EU tariffs.
Preference utilisation and export diversification
EU imports from Chad (€ million)
Preference utilisation (%) vs. total eligible imports (in € million)
Although EU imports from Chad are sizeable and have increased strongly since 2019, almost all of these enter the EU duty free under the normal tariff regime. EBA-eligible imports are therefore insignificant, and no preferences have been used since 2014.
The largest product sections under EBA (€ million, 2023)
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
The preferential access to the EU market granted by the EBA scheme is not bound to the ratification of international conventions. Still, Chad upholds a high level of international conventions and has ratified 14 out of 15 fundamental conventions on the protection of human and labour rights. Additionally, Chad has ratified 8 conventions on the protection of the environment and 3 conventions on good governance.
Core international conventions on human rights and labour standards
Ratified
- International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1969)
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1976)
- International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (1976)
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1981)
- Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1987)
- Convention on the Rights of the Child (1990)
- Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour, No 29 (1930)
- Convention concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, No 87 (1948)
- Convention concerning the Application of the Principles of the Right to Organise and to Bargain Collectively, No 98 (1949)
- Convention concerning Equal Remuneration of Men and Women Workers for Work of Equal Value, No 100 (1951)
- Convention concerning the Abolition of Forced Labour, No 105 (1957)
- Convention concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation, No 111 (1958)
- Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, No 138 (1973)
- Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, No 182 (1999)
Not Ratified
- Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948)
Additional Conventions
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (1973)
- Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987)
- Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (1989)
- Convention on Biological Diversity (1992)
- The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992)
- Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2000)
- Stockholm Convention on persistent Organic Pollutants (2001)
- Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1998)
- United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971)
- United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988)
- United Nations Convention against Corruption (2004)
EU-Chad Bilateral Development Cooperation
DG INTPA
Access all info about EU-Chad relations on the International Partnerships website.