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AfCFTA

What do FTAs mean for African women? A critical look into the African Continental Free Trade Area
9-Jul-2020 GRAIN
What does this trade deal mean for African women and their role in the continent’s food production and trade?
Opposition to the proposed US-Kenya free trade agreement
9-Jul-2020
Kenya should abandon or, at the very least, postpone the United States-Kenya Free Trade Agreement negotiations to a later date, civil society groups say in letter to the AfCFTA Secretariat.
Investor-state dispute settlement in Africa and the AfCFTA Investment Protocol
8-Jul-2020 Tralac
With the growing concern over the traditional ISDS system, it is highly unlikely that the AfCFTA will include an ISDS mechanism giving investors access to go to international arbitration under conventional international tribunals.
More lobbies oppose Kenya, US trade talks
8-Jul-2020 The Standard
Kenya’s negotiations for a free trade deal with America has received opposition from organisations drawn from across Africa.
PAW2020: The future of ISDS in Africa
8-Jul-2020 African Law Blog
African states need to take a unified and proactive approach to investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS), in order to make a system that is fairer to Africa and more consistent.
Africa free-trade vision clouded by virus and pace of talks
1-Jul-2020 Yahoo
A historic deal to smash down tariff barriers within Africa is being braked by the coronavirus pandemic and a thicket of negotiating problems.
Africa-wide trade deal will push ahead despite coronavirus wrath
24-Jun-2020 Al Jazeera
Even if the pandemic continues into 2021, the African Continental Free Trade Area will move ahead, a top official says.
An early assessment of the prospective Kenya-United States trade agreement
22-Jun-2020 Afronomics Law
Kenya’s negotiations with the United States while the African Union is in ongoing negotiations on a future agreement between African countries makes this a transitional moment in Africa’s trading relationship with the West.
More Kenyan flowers in US bouquets as trade talks to start
19-Jun-2020 Bloomberg
US-Kenya trade talks are due to start in the next couple of weeks, US Trade Representative, as Kenya President announced discussions have been delayed until the Africa free-trade deal comes into force.
The US apparel and footwear industry is urging Congress to renew the African Growth and Opportunity Act this year
12-Jun-2020 Politico
AGOA doesn’t expire until 2025, but the industry looks for certainty to the region in the face of the pandemic and upcoming US trade talks with Kenya.
Africa free trade zone could launch on Jan 1, says official
12-Jun-2020 Reuters
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could begin operating on January 1 next year, after the COVID-19 pandemic made its original launch date untenable.
Manufacturers pulling out of China should consider Africa to diversify their supply chain
25-May-2020 South China Morning Post
The creation of the AfCFTA could enhance the attractiveness of sub-Saharan Africa as an investment destination and manufacturing base.
Import substitution and the need for well negotiated trade agreements
18-May-2020 Nile Post
The Ministry of Trade should ensure that eventual agreements promote Uganda’s aspiration for industrialisation and provide the policy space for government to be able to use a range of trade policy instruments.
The African Union should halt African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Negotiations and launch of trading on 1st July 2020
15-May-2020
Civil society organisations statement.
African Continental Free Trade Area: hope or neo-colonialism?
5-May-2020 United World International
The AfCFTA is an opportunity for countries and companies to help each other grow, but trade liberalization and Western control can harm the poor and local producers in these countries, and Africa will repeat the mistakes of the European Union.
AfCFTA postpones launch date as focus turns to curbing virus
4-May-2020 The East African
However member states have yet to make a formal statement and arrive at a consensus pointing to a postponement.
US should avoid phased approach in trade talks with Kenya: Chamber of Commerce
27-Apr-2020 Reuters
The United States should work to achieve a single, comprehensive agreement with Kenya that removes barriers to trade and investment, instead of pursuing a phased approach, the US Chamber of Commerce said.
Africa’s free trade agreement gets locked down for the year
27-Apr-2020 Daily Maverick
The AfCFTA has been put on ice until the coronavirus has been defeated, the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA secretariat says.
Business leaders, others seek delay in AfCFTA’s implementation
23-Apr-2020 This Day
Some members of the organised private sector and experts in international trade in Nigeria have called for the postponement of the take-off of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement
E-Commerce protocol incorporated into AfCFTA phase III
21-Apr-2020 Ghana Web
The acceptance of the e-commerce protocol came about during the 33rd AU Ordinary Session recently held in Ethiopia.