Togo
As a least-developed country (LDC), Togo is a beneficiary of the EU's "Everything but Arms" (EBA) arrangement. The World Bank classifies Togo as a low-income economy with a per-capita income of $986 in 2023. Total EU imports from Togo amounted to about €134 million in 2023. As most of Togo's exports enter the EU duty-free under the EU's normal tariff regime, the scope for preferential imports is limited - these amounted to €12.3 million in 2023.
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.
At a glance: EU preferential imports from EBA beneficiary countries (2023, € million)
9.3M (2023)
Population
Presidential Republic
Government
6.4% (2023)
GDP Growth
5.3% (2023)
Inflation
$ 9.2B (2023)
GDP
Facts about Togo's economy
Phosphate Production
Togo, although one of the smallest countries on the African continent, is one of the largest phosphate producers in the world. Togo also produces iron, limestone, gravel, and sand.
Export Products
Togo's main export articles in 2023 were petroleum oils, calcium phosphates and plastics products, as well as a range of agricultural products such as sesame seeds, raw cotton, soybeans, and cashew nuts.
Trade Partners
Togo's most important trading partners are the EU, China, and India, which together accounted for about 45% of overall trade in 2023. India, the EU and Burkina Faso are the most important destinations for Togolese products, while most imports originate from the EU and China.
Economic Structure
Togo's economy benefits from its substantial phosphate deposits which made Togo one of the world's largest producers of that mineral. Additionally, the country also has considerable limestone and marble reserves. Another pillar of the economy is the agricultural sector which centres around the cultivation of coffee, cocoa beans, and peanuts. Agricultural production remains the main employer for Togo's population.
Usage of EBA Preferences
About 9% of EU imports from Togo made use of EBA preferences in 2023 (most other imports enter duty free under the EU's normal tariff regime). The preference utilisation rate, which represents the ratio of preferential imports to GSP eligible imports, decreased to 77% in 2023.
Trade with the EU
Total trade with the EU amounted to €622 million in 2022. With a share of 22%, the EU is Togo's most important trading partner. This is mainly driven by the importance of Togo's imports from the EU: About 25% of overall imports originate from the EU. Export to the EU account for slightly less than 15% of Togo's total exports.
Togo and the EU
Imports from Togo by product section (2023, € million)
Imports from Togo over time (€ million)
TOGO AND THE EU GSP
Economic Impact
13%
Only a small share of Togo's exports to the EU were eligible for EBA preferences in 2023.
73%
Togo's preference utilisation rate in 2023.
97%
Share of zero-duty imports from Togo. Most imports are duty-free under normal EU tariffs.
Preference utilisation and export diversification
EU imports from Togo (€ million)
Preference utilisation (%) vs. total eligible imports (in € million)
Overall EU imports from Togo have shown an upward trend in recent years, which can mainly be attributed to increased imports of metals and cereals, grains and seeds. However, only a small share of EU imports from Togo is eligible for preferences granted by the EBA as most of the major imports, including petroleum, coffee, cocoa, and soybeans, already benefit from zero most-favoured-nation duties. The longer-term trend for imports of eligible products is negative, although some recovery has taken place since 2020. Preference utilisation has also decreased from more than 90% in 2017 to 2019, to 73% in 2023.
The largest product sections under EBA (€ million, 2023)
The main product sections traded under the EBA are animal and vegetable fats and oils, agricultural products and headgear, umbrellas etc. The most prominent product sections make considerable use of EBA preferences. Lower preference utilisation was registered for product sections with only low shares of eligible imports. This includes for example textiles and machinery products.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Togo, as a beneficiary of the EBA scheme, is not obligated to ratify any conventions to be able to benefit from preferential access to the EU market. Nonetheless, Togo maintains a very high level of ratification and has ratified all 15 core international conventions on human and labour rights. This includes 7 UN human rights conventions and 8 ILO conventions on labour standards. Additionally, Togo has ratified 8 conventions on environmental protection and 4 conventions on good governance aspects.
Core international conventions on human rights and labour standards
Ratified
- Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948)
- 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)
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 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961)
- 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-Togo Bilateral Development Cooperation
DG INTPA
Access all info about EU-Togo relations on the International Partnerships website.