Generalizes on the best strategy to enter the market, e.g., visiting the country; importance of relationships to finding a good partner; use of agents.

French enterprises have a historical advantage over Americans in business relations with Malians thanks to a common business language, historical commercial links, greater Malian familiarity with French cultural and business traditions and product names, and generous French trade financing and export subsidies. Cheaper Chinese imports now dominate many markets. Mali imports consumer goods, commodities, and petroleum products from Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal, as well as from South Africa, China, Japan, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and North America. The West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) member countries (including Mali) have a common external tariff (TEC) which provides preferential advantages to member countries and harmonizes tariffs outside the WAEMU boundaries. The TEC aims to further increase trade among WAEMU countries. Visiting Mali is important for business development, to assess conditions and to make contact with potential business partners. However, security concerns—particularly in northern and central Mali—have limited business and tourist travel to Mali since 2012.
 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.