Abstract
In the past couple of decades, the variety of affordable trade goods in African markets as well as the number of both African and Chinese traders who import such goods from China have grown gradually. Through interviews with travelling traders and observations made in Cameroonian markets, this article examines the trajectories of Cameroonian traders who travel to China, and other Asian countries; it also studies their experiences of rivalry with Chinese traders in Cameroon whom they accuse of unfair competition. This article argues that different categories of Cameroonian traders experience this competition with a different intensity and that travelling traders who are not yet fully established in the local market feel mostly challenged by the competition with Chinese traders. To improve their situation, all traders argue that the Cameroonian government ought to intensify its efforts in regulating trade and reducing customs fees and taxes.
Highlights
Like in other African countries, the availability of affordable goods for consumption has increased immensely in Cameroon since the 1990s
About one third of the voyageurs we talked to have studied at universities, found no job and eventually decided to become a trader. When asked about their opinion from where the successful traders who travel to China and other countries come from, our interviewees more or less univocally estimated that roughly half of them were Bamileke in the West Region, one quarter came from the two northern regions, and one quarter from the remaining regions or from other African countries, resident in Cameroon, such as Nigerians, Malians, Senegalese etc
Cameroonian traders stated that they had travelled to China to import Chinese trade goods long before Chinese traders came to Cameroon to do the same and turn into their competitors
Summary
Like in other African countries, the availability of affordable goods for consumption has increased immensely in Cameroon since the 1990s. The article begins by providing background information on the Cameroonian market and local understandings of the different categories of traders It continues with the experiences of traders who travel to Asia, mainly China, to buy products that they later sell in Cameroon. The local traders, did not use the term “entrepreneur” but businessman, commerçant or homme d’affaire These different traders constitute a universe of big and small economic actors who play an important role in the acquisition and distribution of trade goods for consumption in Cameroon and neighbouring countries. One container filled with the same type of trade goods allows them to get better conditions for customs duties and taxes, and this enhances their profit margin
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
