Vision of an African Economic Community
Progressive approach to regional integration in Africa, the establishment of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and a plan for creating an African Economic Community by 2028 (Albert, 2019)
at the African Union’s 18th Session in Addis Ababa
AU adopts Action Plan to oost intra-African trade
at the 50 TH Anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity
Target missed
relating to the Free Movement of Persons, Right to Residence and Right to Establishment.
In Kigali, Rwanda
Signed by 44 heads of state and governments
Only one year and ten days after its signing, the threshold of 22 countries required for the entry into force of the agreement, was reached. The timelines of this ratification process are unprecedented in the AU history.
30 days after the 22-country ratification threshold
Nigeria has done much to encourage local manufacturing and expansion of agriculture in the country, concerned that low-priced goods will flood the market.
Finally signed the agreement on 7 July 2019 – big boost for AfCFTA as they represent the biggest economy
during the 12th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Niamey, Niger
BORDER CLOSURES
at the 33rd Ordinary African Union Assembly, supported by:
1. The agreed AfCFTA Rules of Origin.
2. Dashboard of the AU Trade Observatory.
3. AfCFTA Trade in Goods Password Protected Dashboard; iv) Pan-African Payments and Settlements System; and
4. Continental Online Mechanism for Monitoring, Reporting and Elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISRUPTED
PHASE 1 Negotiations are far from over!
AU Head of State and Government urged Member States to prepare national strategies for utilizing and benefiting from the AfCFTA
Agreement comes into force before negotiations have been concluded!
For political reasons - creates momentum and may sustain momentum
Unions reflect on past negotiations and their trade positioning as the AfCFTA approaches its first review.
What challenges do women traders experience and what can be done?
Unions seek to influence trade and investment outcomes for the benefit of workers.
Interview with Marie Thiam Soumaré, Continental President of the African Women Network of AfCFTA and General Secretary of the National Union of Autonomous Trade Unions of Senegal.
To inform union strategies and AfCFTA advocacy in countries.
Anthony Kwache, President of Kenya National Alliance of Street Vendors and Informal Traders (KENASVIT), on organising informal workers and what it will take to ensure fair cross-border trade for all.