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Africa

Nigeria to join Africa free trade zone, Trade Minister says
22-May-2019 Bloomberg
Nigeria will sign the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement as soon as President Muhammadu Buhari approves an impact-assessment report he asked for, the country’s trade minister said.
The AfCFTA enters into force on 30 May
20-May-2019 Tralac
The negotiations on key substantive issues related to trade in goods and trade in services that are still to be completed.
AU urges dispute settlement endeavors as AfCFTA edges closer to effect
15-May-2019 News Ghana
The African Union (AU) stressed the need to boost African countries’ capacity on both Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) and state-to-state dispute, as the African Continental Free Trade Area edges closer to entry into force.
The African single market takes a step forward as the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement becomes a reality
6-May-2019 Hogan Lovells
Negotiators still need to agree on market access offers, rules of origin and specific commitments in trade in services.
Continental free trade pact comes into effect June
6-May-2019 Business Daily
Supporting instruments to facilitate the launch of the operational phase of the AfCFTA need to be finalised, including rules of origin, schedules of tariff concessions on trade in goods.
Interview with Ken Ukaoha
2-May-2019 bilaterals.org
Ken Ukaoha is the president of the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) and shares his view on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
Africa Continental Free Trade Area to enter into force in July
30-Apr-2019 CGTN
The African Continental Free Trade Area will officially enter into force during the next Extra-Ordinary Heads of State and Government summit slated for 7th July 2019 in Niamey, Niger.
Rein in dairy exports to our continent: African farmers to EU
17-Apr-2019 Down to Earth
African dairy farmers protested outside the European Union HQ to demand that they don’t over-produce milk and then flood African markets.
Will free trade make Africans sick?
16-Apr-2019 Project Syndicate
African governments must act immediately to address the AfCFTA’s potential negative implications for Africans’ health.
The African single market takes a step forward as the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement becomes a reality
12-Apr-2019 Hogan Lovels
As a second step, negotiators will focus on rules pertaining to intellectual property rights, competition policy and investment, which they aim to finalise by June 2020.
Will Africa’s historic free trade agreement succeed?
8-Apr-2019 Al Jazeera
The African Union agreed last year to create a free trade zone on the continent but Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria, isn’t on board with the agreement.
Africa: How soon can the Continental Free Trade Agreement be implemented?
5-Apr-2019 All Africa
Among the key issues where negotiations are still needed include the rules of origin, non-tariff barriers, structure of implementation, schedule of concessions and tariff books.
Implementation of AfCFTA in Nigeria will increase unemployment among farmers – NANTS warns
3-Apr-2019 Independent.ng
The National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) has warned that the implementation of African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) in Nigeria would increase unemployment among farmers, and farm workers in the country.
Africa’s free trade deal reaches required minimum ratifications
3-Apr-2019 The New Times
The Gambia became the 22nd country to ratify the agreement effectively helping meet the minimum threshold.
The Belt and Road Initiative: Chinese agribusiness going global
29-Mar-2019 GRAIN
The Belt and Road Initiative provides a framework for Chinese investment to enhance existing infrastructure as well as build new production sites and trade routes to better connect China with the rest of the world.
NANTS backs Buhari over trade agreement
29-Mar-2019 Daily Trust
The National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) thrown its weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to signed and ratified the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
African free trade agreement one country closer to reality
25-Mar-2019 CGTN
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is nearing reality as only one country is left to ratify the Agreement for the deal to reach the 22 countries required for the Agreement to effectively come into force.
As India works on a strategy to spur Indo-African bilateral trade, Suresh Prabhu pitches for FTA
18-Mar-2019 Economic Times
India Government is working on a comprehensive strategy to boost India-Africa bilateral trade.
Winners and losers
23-Feb-2019 New Internationalist
How the Global South is affected by the current trade turmoil – and old patterns of power.
Cotonou successor: EU-Africa relations at the crossroads
13-Feb-2019 Euractiv
Negotiators are hoping to break the back on talks for the successor to the Cotonou Agreement, which expires in May 2020, between the EU and 79 countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP).