UK-ESA EPA

Mauritius along with two Eastern Southern Africa (ESA) states namely Seychelles and Zimbabwe signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the United Kingdom (UK) on 31 January 2019. The UK-ESA EPA entered into force on 1 January 2021 after the Brexit transitional period ending on 31 December 2020.

The UK-ESA EPA comprises of three chapters namely Trade in Goods, Fisheries and Development Cooperation. The Agreement also contains a Rendez-Vous clause regarding future negotiation between ESA and the UK on areas not currently covered by the EPA such as Trade in Services, Investment, Trade Facilitation, Competition Policy, Trade Facilitation amongst others.

The Agreement

UK – ESA Economic Partnership Agreement


Protocol on Originating Products (Rules of Origin)

Exporting to the UK

Duty Free Access to the UK: Mauritian exporters consigning their goods to the UK will continue to benefit from duty-free access to the EU.

Rules of Origin: The exporter must ensure that his products satisfy the Rules of Origin. The UK-ESA EPA Rules of Origin applicable are similar to EU EPA. Complete information on the Rules is available in Rules of Origin, Annex 1 and Annex IIa.

Obtaining a Certificate of Origin: The UK-ESA EUR1 Certificate of Origin can be obtained from the MRA Customs Department:

Mauritius Revenue Authority
Customs Department
Customs House
Mer Rouge
Port-Louis
Tel: (230) 202 0500
Fax: (230) 216 7784
Email: customs@mra.mu
Website: www.mra.mu

The online application for the EUR1 CoO can be made via the TradeNet System.

Scanned copies of the following documents are required for obtaining the Certificate of Origin:

Export Declaration
Export Invoice
Documentary evidence for raw materials used (such as Import Declaration, Purchase Receipts, etc)
Costing Certificate signed by a Certified Accountant (if applicable)
Any other relevant information as may be required by Customs

Importing from the UK

Imports entering Mauritius from the UK with a valid EUR1 certificate benefit from preferential tariff treatment.

Australia

June 1995
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI)

Austria

September 2014
Austrian Federal Economic Chamber

China

April 1997
China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) - Beijing
China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission - Shanghai
November 1998
CCPIT Guangdong Sub-Council
September 2008
CCPIT Qingdao
May 2007
CCPIT Qingdao

Comores

April 2017
L´Union des Chambres de Commerce, d´Industrie et d´Agriculture

Djibouti

August 2008
Chamber of Commerce of Djibouti

Estonia

September 2015
Estonia Chamber of Commerce and Industry

France

September 1996
l’Assemblée des Chambres Françaises de Commerce et d’Industrie (ACFCI)

India

November 1985
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
May 1996
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
June 1995
Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry
January 2004
India International Trade Center
May 2004
Seafood Exporters Association of India
October 2005
Seafood Exporters Association of India

Kenya

January 2011
The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI)

Madagascar

November 2004
Fédération des Chambres de Commerce, d’Industrie, d’Artisanat et d’Agriculture de Madagascar

Malaysia

August 1994
The National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia
June 2005
Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry

Mozambique

September 2012
Chamber of Commerce of Mozambique

Nigeria

June 2019
Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mines and Agriculture

Pakistan

October 2004
The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI)

Réunion

June 1995
Chambre of Commerce and d’Industrie de la Réunion
March 2002
L’Association pour le Développement Industriel de la Réunion

Russia

May 2007
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation

Seychelles

November 2005
Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry
April 2014
Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Slovakia

September 2018
Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI)

South Africa

September 2016
South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Sri Lanka

May 2004
National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka

Taiwan

September 2017
Taiwan External Trade Development Council

Tanzania

January 2011
The Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA)

Thailand

August 2004
The Federation of Thai Industries (F.T.I)
February 2013
TUSKON

Turkey

August 2014
DEIK (Foreign Economic Relations Board)
TOBB (The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey)

Trade Agreements