Trade Policy Measures and Quality Infrastructure in the ECOWAS: investigating the inclusiveness of the intra-regional agri-food Trade

Authors

• Olayinka Idowu Kareem, Senior Researcher, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, GermanyFollow
• Christine Wieck, Professor and Head, Department of Agricultural and Food Policy, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany

Corresponding Author

Olayinka Idowu Kareem

Authors ORCID

0000-0003-4711-71, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5791-6111

Document Type

Original Article

Subject Areas

African Trade

Keywords

Trade measures, agri-food trade, women, inclusivity, quality infrastructure, ECOWAS

Abstract

The preponderance and heterogeneous trade policy measures and quality infrastructure deficiency impact agri-food trade inclusiveness in the ECOWAS. Moreover, the inappropriate activities of some border institutions such as harassment (especially for women), graft and different charges made trading along illegal trade corridors inevitable which thereby enhances the nefarious rent-seeking activities. Furthermore, the knowledge frontier in this area is extended with the exploration and exposition of the issue of trade-related quality infrastructure. Hence, this study determines the consequences of the trade policy measures and quality infrastructure on intra-regional agri-food trade inclusiveness in the ECOWAS with a consideration of the impact on women. A mixed-method approach is adopted based on a novel primary dataset collected at different border posts, border markets and trade corridors in the ECOWAS.

Evidence indicates that the intra-ECOWAS trade is low, calculated at 7% while the intra-ECOWAS agri-food trade was 9% in 2022. Further findings suggest that heterogeneous trade policy measures and deficient quality infrastructural adversely affect intra-regional agri-food trade inclusiveness. Apart from the applied 24 harmonised intra-ECOWAS agri-food trade policy measures, there are 35 additional applied heterogeneous measures across the Member states. Overall, this increases trade costs and food prices, thereby reducing competitiveness, especially for women.

How to Cite This Article

Kareem, Olayinka Idowu and Wieck, Christine (2026) "Trade Policy Measures and Quality Infrastructure in the ECOWAS: investigating the inclusiveness of the intra-regional agri-food Trade," Journal of African Trade: Vol. 13: Iss. 1, Article 4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59624/2214-8523.1153

Receive Date

15 May 2024

Accept Date

30 Aug 2026

Publication Date

2026