bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

AfCFTA

Postpone July 1 trading date of AfCFTA ― CUTS advises African Union
16-Apr-2020 Modern Ghana
A leading research and public policy think tank is calling on the African Union to defer, the July 1st date for the commencement of trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Nigeria and the implementation of the AfCFTA: Key issues and policy options
16-Apr-2020 Premium Times
Nigeria’s trade and industrial priorities should be embedded in the ongoing dialogue for AfCFTA implementation strategies.
African Continental Free Trade Area to suffer setback - Mashakada
31-Mar-2020 Bulawayo24
Economist Tapiwa Mashakada has said the African Continental Free Trade Area is going to suffer a serious setback as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The AfCFTA and the European Union : ‘sister continents’ in the decade ahead?
25-Mar-2020 Borderlex
The European Union is investing political capital in the African Continental Free Trade Area. What’s the state of play in getting the world’s largest free trade area off the ground? And why does the project matter so much for Europe?
AfCFTA’s first deal to go ahead, despite virus complications
12-Mar-2020 Business Day
While meetings to rubber stamp details of the African trade area agreement have been affected, its first trade is still scheduled for July 1.
TDM call for papers: The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)
12-Mar-2020 TDM
TDM call for papers for a special issue on the African Continental Free Trade Agreement ("AfCFTA").
Tunisian parliament urged to pass Africa Free Trade bill
11-Mar-2020 Middle East Online
The Tunisian parliament is under increasing pressure to revisit its decision not to ratify the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
Africa may only see impact of new free-trade deal after 3 years
2-Mar-2020 Bloomberg
Target for first trade under continent-wide pact is July 1. Tariffs, rules of origin and protocols for services are yet to be agreed on.
South Africa could lose $4.5bn under new African trade deal
28-Feb-2020 Al Jazeera
The country’s tariff income is at risk under the deal, which requires African member countries to lower or cut tariffs.
Climate change poses risk to Africa’s free trade area: UN official
27-Feb-2020 China.org.cn
The recently-launched Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement faces climate change risks that could prevent the continent from gaining maximum trade benefits from the agreement.
MAN kicks as Nigeria’s priority products are omitted from AfCFTA’s sensitive, exclusive lists
26-Feb-2020 The Guardian (Nigeria)
Despite being a major market in West Africa, Nigerian manufacturers have kicked against the exclusion of Nigeria’s priority products from the sensitive and exclusive lists of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement.
A note to Kenya on its trade talks with the US: There is strength in numbers
22-Feb-2020 The East African
The FTA initiative should be seen in the context of the Trump administration’s determination to pursue bilateral deals to enhance reciprocity and American gains.
Trade Minister inaugurates seven working group to prepare country for AfCFTA
19-Feb-2020 Ghana Web
The working groups are expected to develop strategic programmes that will help the government domestically address key constraints facing intra-African trade to allow the country to harness the full benefits of the AfCFTA.
Kenya will be in breach of EAC, AfCFTA rules in proposed trade deal with America
18-Feb-2020 The East African
Kenya’s proposed free trade deal with the US has put it in the crosshairs as critics say the planned bilateral agreement would be a breach of regional and continental trade protocols.
S.Africa plans summit to finalise continental free trade agreement
14-Feb-2020 Reuters
South Africa will in May hold an extraordinary summit of the African Union to finalise a continental free trade agreement.
Uhuru, Trump agree to establish Kenya-US free trade agreement
7-Feb-2020 The Star
President Donald Trump has announced the United States intends to initiate trade agreement negotiations with Kenya.
Pakistan aims to double trade with Africa in five years
31-Jan-2020 The News
Pakistan is already in touch SACU, ECOWAS and EAC to negotiate trade agreements and also plans to take advantage of the opportunities that exists under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
Trade wars among EAC members cast doubts on summit
27-Jan-2020 The East African
Resolving these issues is crucial for EAC’s approach to opportunities from the African Continental Free Trade Agreement as a bloc.
African Free Trade Agreement: Nigeria issues strong warning
9-Dec-2019 Daily Post
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo, has warned that Nigeria will not tolerate smuggling and importation of substandard products.
Africa should focus on industrialisation. Free trade will follow
25-Nov-2019 The Conversation
It is more reasonable to concentrate on building regions and industrialising before attempting the African free trade area.