The launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area

Abstract

In 2018, 44 members of the African Union agreed to join a continental free-trade zone that, once operational, would create the largest market for goods in the world. Trading commenced under the agreement in 2021 with all but one African country agreeing (in principle) to participate. So far, however, few goods have changed hands under the terms of the agreement. Implementation problems include the fact that many states have not yet ratified the agreement, that a consensus has not been reached regarding customs documentation and rules of origin, that the quality of road and rail infrastructure on the continent is poor, and that non-tariff barriers to trade still persist.