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Africa

EU-Africa free trade will create more imbalances, say critics
9-Aug-2018 Deutsch Welle
Germany’s development minister has sparked a debate by calling for EU tariffs to be waived on African goods. Critics question whether import duties are really the issue, or are there other barriers to trade?
Small–scale farmers of Africa and Denmark reject free trade agreements
25-Jul-2018 La Via Campesina
Free trade agreements on farm products benefits primarily transnational corporations and furthers the industrialisation of agriculture. All at the expense of local food production.
US, African officials prepare for post-AGOA trade future
20-Jul-2018 ICTSD
The United States wants to pave the way for a free trade agreement between Washington and sub-Saharan African countries.
Buhari gives condition to sign Africa free trade agreement
16-Jul-2018 Daily Post
President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria will only be signatory to the Continental Free Trade Agreement if the nation’s national interests as well as regional and international obligations are balanced.
Africa: Statement of USTR Robert Lighthizer at the opening plenary of the 2018 US-sub-Saharan Africa trade and cconomic Cooperation forum (AGOA forum)
13-Jul-2018 All Africa
USTR Robert Lighthizer believes the time is right to pursue free trade agreement negotiations with AGOA eligible countries.
Consultative workshop on market access concessions on trade in goods for CEN-SAD, ECCAS, ECOWAS and UMA Member States
6-Jul-2018 Tralac
The objective of the consultative workshop is a regional-wide consultation to finalize the outstanding issues including criteria for designation of sensitive products, percentages, etc.
Namibia finally pens Africa free trade deal
5-Jul-2018 New Era
Namibia has finally signed the trillion-dollar African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), which requires members to remove tariffs from 90 percent of goods to allow free access to commodities, goods and services across the continent.
49 AU members have signed free trade pact: AU chairperson
3-Jul-2018 Global Times
Forty-nine members of the African Union have signed the African continental free trade area (AfCFTA) agreement, said AU chairperson Paul Kagame .
MAN kicks against Nigeria’s ratification of African free trade agreement
27-Jun-2018 The Guardian.ng
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) said the issues raised by major stakeholders, including those expressed by manufacturers, still remained unattended to.
African ministers meet on free trade
5-Jun-2018 Nan
African trade ministers have deliberated on the protocols to the agreement establishing African free trade area (AfCFTA), and the modalities for tariff liberalization.
Ratification of African Continental Free Trade Area gets underway
24-May-2018 ICTSD
African Continental Free Trade Area signatories are now beginning the ratification process, while also looking at the technical work needed to make the area a reality.
Eight lessons on imperatives of private sector-driven AfCFTA
26-Apr-2018 This Day
It appears from all indications that the African private sector is either kept at the back door or yet to be given a pride of place in the AfCFTA process.
AfCFTA - Consolidated text (March 2018)
20-Apr-2018
Indonesia, Africa have great potential to strengthen economy: Kalla
10-Apr-2018 Antara News
Indonesia’s Vice President Jusuf Kalla noted that Indonesia and Africa have great potential to develop and strengthen economy.
Free trade and its pitfalls: Lessons for Africa
10-Apr-2018 Daily Monitor
Despite having several trade and investment agreements from 1975, the inability for Africa to build substantial productive capacity has in effect rendered the continent a net importer, unable to meet even its own food requirements.
Interview with Ndongo Samba Sylla
4-Apr-2018 bilaterals.org
Dr Ndongo Samba Sylla is an economist, researcher and programme officer at the Office for West Africa at the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation. In this interview, he analyses the African Continental Free Trade Area
African free trade, China’s ‘Silk Road’ big window for continent
29-Mar-2018 Daily Nation
China, being Africa’s largest trading partner, is a key factor and beneficiary of the continent’s development.
African Continental Free Trade Area: questions & answers
28-Mar-2018 Tralac
Compiled by the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in association with the African Union Commission
India proposes to negotiate trade pact with Africa: Prabhu
26-Mar-2018 The Week
India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu today pitched for a free trade agreement with Africa with a view to boosting economic ties between the two regions.
Extraordinary summit to be held on Africa’s CFTA this March
12-Feb-2018 SUNS
An extraordinary summit of the African Union is scheduled to be held in Kigali, Rwanda on 21 March 2018 to consider and sign the Framework Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA).