Togo

Togo benefits from the EU's "Everything but Arms" (EBA) scheme for least developed countries. Togo is considered a low-income economy by the World Bank with the per-capita income currently standing at $ 1.010 in 2022. Preferential imports from Togo amounted to about €13,1 million in 2022..

What is the EBA?

The “Everything but Arms”(EBA) scheme is a permanent arrangement covering Least Developed Countries (LDC’s) as classified by the United Nations. This arrangement enables duty-free and quota-free access for all products (7200 products in total) originating in LDC’s except for arms and ammunition. Different from the Standard GSP and GSP+, LDC’s are not excluded from the scheme if they benefit from other preferential arrangements.

Togo flag

At a glance: EBA beneficiaries' preferential imports to the EU

group

8,85 M

Population

account_balance
Presidential Republic

Government

trending_up

5.80%

GDP Growth

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2.80%

Inflation

money

$ 8,34 B

GDP

42 v

Freedomhouse index

3 ^

ITUC Global Rights Index

34 ^

Environmental Performance Index

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 are petroleum oils, calcium phosphates and other medium and light oils, as well as agricultural products like sesame seeds, raw cotton, soybeans, and cashew nuts.

Trade Partners

Togo's most important trading partners are the EU, China, and India, which together account for more than 39% of overall trade. Burkina Faso and Mali 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. The agricultural production remains the main employer for Togo's population.

Usage of EBA Preferences

About 5% of EU imports from Togo currently make use of EBA preferences. The preference utilisation rate, which represents the ratio of preferential imports to GSP eligible imports, is very high and currently stands at 82.3%.

Trade with the EU

Total trade with the EU amounted to € 2,413 million in 2022. With a share of 19.6%, the EU is Togo's most important trading partner. This is mainly driven by the importance of European imports. About 26% of overall imports originate from the EU.

Togo and the EU (2022)

Imports from Togo by product section

Imports from Togo over time (in € m)

TOGO AND THE EU’s GSP

Economic Impact

6%

Only a small fraction of Togo's exports to the EU market are eligible for EBA preferences.

82.30%

Togo makes considerable use of the EBA. The preference utilisation rate currently stands at 82.3%.

Preference utilisation and export diversification

Togo's imports to the EU

Preference Utilisation vs. total eligible imports

Overall EU imports from Togo substantially increased in recent years, which can mainly be attributed to increased imports of metals and cereals, grains and seeds. However, only a small fraction of EU imports (6% in 2022) from Togo is eligible for preferences granted by the EBA. Most of the major imports, including petroleum, coffee, cocoa, and soybeans, already benefit from zero most-favoured-nation duties. Despite eligible products only making up a small fraction of overall imports from Togo, preferences are well used. The preference utilisation rate has been consistently around 90% between 2017 and 2020, and stood at 82% in 2022.

The largest product sections under EBA

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 European 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 Assistance

DG INTPA

Access all info about EU-Togo relations on the International Partnerships website: https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/countries/togo_en

Opportunities in Togo

  • Small domestic market but central location in West Africa with the potential to develop into a regional hub for West Africa with its recently expanded port in the Togo's capital Lomé

Contact points