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The implementation of the import-substitution policy cuts across different sectors of Cameroon's economic fabric.

Since 2021, some provisions of the Finance Law seek to promote local production in different economic sectors. In the agricultural sector, for example, prefabricated constructions for greenhouses and improved agricultural seeds are exempt from customs duties and taxes. For the livestock sector, this measure only applies to improved animal seeds, vaccines, and medications for veterinary use. As concerns human health, vaccines and software for medical use shall be exempt from paying customs duties and taxes. The measure shall for the next two years include appliances, equipment and medical supplies meant to improve the technical infrastructure of public and private health facilities. These exemptions further apply to the wood exploitation sector and particularly concerns imported appliances, equipment, materials and tools intended to develop local "advanced wood processing" activities. The objective is to strengthen local wood value chains, increase the availability of wood products on the local market and limit wood log exports.

Moreover, the government has also increased the excise duty on certain products at importation to 12.5%. Article 6 of the finance law explains that the aim is to reduce and discourage imports of products for which Cameroon has enough resources to produce. This includes meat and edible animal offal of bovine, caprine, ovine and poultry species; and cocoa butter even when it is used as an input.

Home-made products meant for the international market were not left out. According to Article 9 of the 2022 Finance Law, exported home-made products like the Penja pepper and Oku honey, which have geographic indications and are leading Made in Cameroon products, are exempt from export duties. As for wood logs, export duty has been increased from 35% to 50% of the FOB (free on board) value of the species.

Source: Cameroon Tribune, 14 January 2022