From 2002 to 2005, AIRD was involved in the ECOTRADE project in West Africa with support from USAID's West Africa Regional Program (WARP). The team of experts, led by AIRD and International Business Initiatives (IBI), supported the extension of the Common External Tariff (CET) to all 15 ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) member states, in cooperation with the ECOWAS Executive Secretariat. 

At the national level, AIRD Senior Economist Daniel Plunkett and Chief Economist J. Dirck Stryker worked with national coordinating committees in Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, assisting them with analytical tools and logistical support to encourage implementation of the Common External Tariff.

At the regional level, ECOTRADE worked closely with the ECOWAS Executive Secretariat to help organize regional meetings, prepare research and analytical materials in French, English and Portuguese, and plan out the Roadmap to the ECOWAS Customs Union and CET.  CET implementation runs from 2005 through 2007. 

List of newspaper articles published on the CET.doc 
ECOTRADE article 5-7-04.doc  
Issues Paper rev2.doc
Gambia public info campaign story.doc
The new Sierra Leone eager for regional integration.doc
ECOWAS Trade Growing with US and World.doc
ECOTRADE-AIRD Final Report 9-30-2005.doc

In French:
CEDEAO TEC progrès.doc
ECOTRADE point par point.doc
ECOTRADE point par point.doc
ECOTRADE nouvelles.doc
La reforme des douanes au Ghana.doc
La Guinee adopte la politique tarifaire de la CEDEAO.doc
Analyse du commerce ouestafricain.doc
cedeao_ecotrade_stryker_questions_a_resoudre.pdf

In Portuguese:
Noticias CEDEAO TEC em portugues.doc 
As transacções comerciais da C.doc
AIRD article on ECOWAS CET (em portugues).doc
Nova Serra Leoa Ansiosa pel.doc
PROJECTO CEDEAO TEC.doc
Gana Melhora a sua Posição Reg.doc
ECOTRADE leva a Guiné a Cumpr.doc
Implementacao da TEC CEDEAO.doc

Useful links

USAID West Africa Regional Program

ECOWAS Secretariat