The Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA), between Mauritius and India, signed on 22 February 2021, entered into force on 1 April 2021.
The CECPA contains 8 chapters and 16 annexes, including Trade in Goods, Rules of origin, Sanitary and phytosanitary measures, Technical barriers to Trade, Trade in services and Dispute Settlement.
On trade in goods, Mauritian exporters benefit preferential market access on a list of 615 products as follows:
Mauritius provides preferential access on 310 products, with Tariff Rate Quotas on around 100 products such as spices, tea, plastic articles, wooden furniture, parts of motor vehicles, amongst others. Both Parties also agreed to pursue negotiations after the coming into force of the Agreement to extend preferential market access on a list of products of interest to each Party.
The CECPA also contains a safeguard clause which can be triggered in the event of a sudden surge in imports to protect the local industry.
On Trade in Services, India has committed to provide market access on some 94 service sectors, including professional services, business services, financial services and telecommunications services. The Agreement also provides a framework for Professional Bodies of the two countries to negotiate mutual recognition of educational and professional qualifications, within one year from its entry into force in the fields of architecture, engineering, medical, dental, accounting and auditing, nursing, veterinary and company secretariat. This will give a boost to Mauritius as an educational hub for Indian students.
The CECPA also provides for a chapter on Economic Cooperation. The chapter covers some 25 sectors in which both Parties have agreed to enhance their collaboration such as Pharmaceuticals, Agro-industry, SMEs, Manufacturing, Ocean economy, ICT, Financial services, amongst others.
To benefit from the Agreement, potential importers and exporters will be required to meet the rules of origin requirements and to submit the certificate of origin or origin declaration. The certificate of origin shall be issued by the competent authorities of the Parties. In the case of Mauritius, the competent authority is the Mauritius Revenue Authority(MRA) Customs Department.
Tariff Quotas upon imports from India will be granted on a first come first serve basis in accordance with the date and time of validation of the bill of entry submitted for home consumption and will be managed by the MRA Customs Department.
Detailed information with respect to the Tariff Quotas will be posted on the website of the MRA.
As regards exports to India, Tariff Quotas will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis with no end date by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.
The Mauritius - India CECPA Agreement can be accessed below:
Trade Agreement between Mauritius and CECPA
Interested exporters are requested to contact
The MRA Customs Department on (230) 2020500 or email at origin.customs@mra.mu
Website: www.mra.mu
