Are you trading with Cabo Verde? You might know it as Cape Verde – officially the Republic of Cabo Verde, an island country and archipelagic state of West Africa in the central Atlantic Ocean, consisting of ten volcanic islands with a combined land area of about 4 033 square kilometres. These islands lie between 600 and 850 kilometres (320 and 460 nautical miles) west of Cap-Vert, the westernmost point of continental Africa. The Cape Verde islands form part of the Macaronesia ecoregion, along with the Azores, the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Savage Isles.
The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) second review of its trade policies and practices took place on 14 and 16 May 2025. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of Cabo Verde.
The following documents are available at https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp571_e.htm:
- WTO Secretariat Report: A detailed report written independently by the WTO Secretariat.
- Executive summary
- Full report
- Government Report: Cape Verde Government’s policy statement.
- Full report
The WTO Secretariat and government reports were discussed by the WTO’s full membership in the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB). The chairperson’s concluding remarks will be released shortly.
Background
The WTO Trade Policy Reviews (TPRs) are an exercise mandated in the WTO Agreements where member countries’ trade and related policies are examined and evaluated at regular intervals. Significant developments that may impact the global trading system are also monitored. All WTO members are subject to review, with the frequency of review depending on the country’s size.
This begs the question: Have you ever read the WTO’s TPRs on South Africa?