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Africa


EPAs, the height of the European Commission’s foolishness in perpetuating the colonisation of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by shooting itself in the foot
The imposition of Economic Partnership Agreements to ACP countries, where 94% of the population is concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa, is based on a series of 12 lies.
Tensions simmer over EU-Africa trade relations
Trade relations are likely to be at the heart of the delayed EU-Africa ‘strategic partnership’, but only if long-standing tensions can be resolved.
Trade agreements as door-openers
Bilateral trade agreements often act as door-openers for the manufactured products of multinational food companies. Milk powder with vegetable fat is an example.
Africa free trade agreement must be rolled out by January after pandemic delay - Secretariat
The AfCFTA Secretariat is at advances stages of concluding phase one of the agreement which deals with the trading of goods and services, said the Secretary General.
Rules of Origin a key issue for continuing African free trade area talks
African Union Ministers of Trade held their twelfth meeting, undertaken virtually, which was focused on concluding essential elements that remain to be agreed in the AfCFTA talks.
African countries urged to remove non-tariff barriers to realize AfCFTA
The African Union Commission called for addressing non-tariff barriers in order to realize the major aspirations of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement.
India can benefit from African Continental trade pact: MEA
Underscoring India’s commitment towards growth in relations with Africa, New Delhi said the country’s businesses could benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Agreement that was gathering pace.
AfCFTA could boost Dubai-Africa trade by 10% over next 5 years
The AfCFTA will offer a huge opportunity for UAE investors who will be able to do business on a single set of trade and investment rules across the African continent.
World’s biggest free-trade pact targets first deal in 2021
The outstanding negotiations will be finalized through a new African virtual trade-diplomacy platform that is being developed as a public-private partnership between the African Union Commission and more than 20 African multinational companies.
Pessimism surges, but many insist African free trade will take off
Initially planned to take place on 1 July 2020, the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has been indefinitely postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Africa free trade area to create new opportunities for China-Africa cooperation: expert
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will create new opportunities for China-Africa cooperation, an Ethiopian expert said on Tuesday.
Investor-state dispute settlement in Africa and the AfCFTA Investment Protocol
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.
PAW2020: The future of ISDS in Africa
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
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
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
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.
EU-Africa relations in a post-COVID world
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
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
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
The creation of the AfCFTA could enhance the attractiveness of sub-Saharan Africa as an investment destination and manufacturing base.