Regional Characteristics Effects on Intra-Industry Trade in Residues and Wastes from Food Mill Industry

Abstract: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been enforcing sub-regional integration through such interventions like free international trade, common external tariff wall, consolidation or freezing of custom duties, non-tariff barriers to intra-trade and gradual phasing out of duties on industrial products from community projects over a period of 6-10 years at 10-16.6% annual rates of reduction, depending on the classification of member states based on the level of development, location and importance of customs revenue. The trade co-operation Agreements of ECOWAS was aimed at expanding the volume of intra-Community trade to ensure the integration of the sub-region through trade on goods originating from member countries. The objectives of this study are to: (i) review the pattern of regional trade in prepared foodstuffs at the instance of Nigeria (ii) assess intra-industry trade in residue and wastes from food industry sub-sections (iii) evaluate the share of intra-industry trade in the total trade of residue and wastes from food industry among ECOWAS member nations (iv) determine the effects of regional characteristics on the intra-industry trade of the product sub-section. The results revealed that intra-industry trade in residues and wastes are influenced partners' (GDP), population, and national value added by manufacturing. Efforts to employ efficient methods in production of raw materials for food mill industry is recommended, while regional stakeholders should increase output as well as add value in terms of packaging to improve the trade and integration within the sub-region.