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Africa

EU-Africa relations in a post-COVID world
15-Jun-2020 Euractiv
Negotiators from the Commission and the African, Caribbean and Pacific community confirmed that talks on a trade and political cooperation deal to replace the twenty-year-old Cotonou Agreement were close to completion.
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.
Africa should resist acceding to the Energy Charter Treaty
11-Jun-2020 Daily Monitor
Joining the Energy Charter Treaty could cost developing countries money that is urgently needed to fight Covid-19 and a loaming economic crisis. The Energy Charter Treaty has become increasingly controversial.
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.
Africa must not let disputes with foreign investors undermine its Covid-19 response
7-May-2020 Business Day
There is an imminent threat of claims arising from emergency measures, so countries should review how investor-state disputes are handled.
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.
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.
Despite controversy, the Energy Charter Treaty is silently being pushed into Africa
21-Apr-2020 Euractiv
Joining the Energy Charter Treaty could cost developing countries money that is urgently needed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis.
Silent expansion
15-Apr-2020 CEO
Many countries, particularly in the global south, are in the process of joining the Energy Charter Treaty despite the sweeping powers it grants to foreign investors.
Putting an end to the EU’s neo-colonial policies in the field of trade and investment
14-Apr-2020 CADTM
The destructive effects of these free trade agreements signed with the EU are already clearly visible in the majority of countries of the South.
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.
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.
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.
Letter from Africa CSOs and trade unions to African delegates at the UNCITRAL round
31-Jan-2020
We civil society organizations and trade unions from the African continent express our concerns about the proposal presented by the European Union to establish a multilateral investment court and support further reaching reforms of ISDS.
The BIT footprints of emerging market economies in Africa: What do they portend for ISDS?
20-Jan-2020 Kluwer Arbitration Blog
Despite debates about crisis in investment treaty arbitration, most emerging market economies are concluding BITs that provide for ISDS and emerging market multinational companies appear to welcome ISDS.
As Brexit nears, Johnson pushes for deeper trade ties with Africa
20-Jan-2020 APA
Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for deeper investment ties between Britain and Africa at a summit for leaders of 21 African countries.
Africa relations are ‘not equal’, leaders warn EU
4-Dec-2019 Euractiv
African political and business leaders complained that trade deals are skewed in favour of Europe, preventing them from building up domestic processing industries.
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.
United States – African Growth And Opportunity Act: Report of the government of the United States for the year 2018 under the decision of 30 november 2015
21-Nov-2019 WTO
The following communication is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of the United States.
Africa offers a test to von der Leyen’s ‘geopolitical Commission’
7-Nov-2019 Euractiv
The African Union Commission’s high representative on Cotonou has warned that keeping the ACP framework will make it harder for the EU to agree on a ‘continent-to-continent instrument’.