Search

1.1. (...) Liberia has 40% of the Upper Guinea Forest with enormous biodiversity with a population size of 5.2 million, covering a land area of 111,370 km2 and a coastline of 579 km. (...)

3.6. Again, Liberia seeks to use the WTO platform as a catalyst to fully deliver on the aspiration of its national development agenda relative to youth empowerment, trade diversification, and sustainable economic development. (...)

3.18. In 2013, Liberia ratified the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the European Union with a view to controlling illegal logging and improving forest governance. Currently, Liberia is developing a system to control, verify, and license trade in timber and timber products.

8.1. The Fishery sector in Liberia has made some stride, as it plays major role in providing livelihoods for the people and contributes to food security, nutritional needs and poverty reduction. Liberia recognizes the importance of sustainability in the fishery sector and adopted the National Plan of Action to combat IUU Fishing, in accordance with the International Plan of Action (IPOA-IUU) and the regional IUU plan of action. The losses from IUU fishing in Liberian waters were estimated at USD 12 million, but punitive actions through the imposition of fines generated USD 6.7 million (2011-18) and curbed the violation. In 2019, Liberia acceded to the FAO Port State Measures Agreement, which prevents vessels engaged in IUU fishing from using ports and landing their catches.

13. Import prohibitions, restrictions, and permit requirements are applied on various grounds, such as safety, security, and environmental protection, and for SPS reasons. (...)

20. Liberia is richly endowed with forestry resources, which cover over half of the country. With the end of the civil war, significant reforms of the Liberian forestry regime were launched in terms of transparency and accountability, leading to the lifting of the UN sanctions on Liberian timber exports in 2006. The reforms involved the establishment of a traceability system to guard against illegal logging and track logging operations from stump to the point of export. The EU Liberia Voluntary Partnership Agreement (not yet operational) aims to enable Liberia to meet EU requirements for the control, verification, and licensing of timber exports. Timber and wood products are subject to export taxes.

21. (...) The country has taken steps to reform its fisheries management regime, with the fight against IUU fishing being a stated priority.

22. (...) In 2009, Liberia became a participant in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. However, unlicensed and illegal mining in the artisanal mining sector remains a challenge.

25. (...) It [Liberia] has scheduled open and non-discriminatory regimes for a range of service subsectors (i.e. "full" commitments without limitations on market access or national treatment, except mode 4), including business services, education, environment, health, and telecoms.

29. (...)The Liberian National Export Strategy on Tourism sees the greatest potential in the areas of surfing, wildlife, ecotourism, and cultural and heritage tourism.