Realizing the dream of unfettered trade in a post-covid19 – Manchester Trade
The positive economic stimulus and psychological impact of a critical mass of countries implementing the AfCFTA cannot be overestimated. No other step would provide the wherewith to spur African recovery from COVID-19 than the AfCFTA trade agreement being implemented in the next six to twelve months. It will spur the development of intra-African supply chains as a substitute for the expected reduction in demand for African components of global supply chains as third world countries strive for greater self-sufficiency. It would reduce and eventually eliminate discrimination in Africa under which imported from one African country to another are at a competitive disadvantage to imports from third countries under FTA regimes. Together with the Heads of State who engineered the 2019 launch of its operational phase, the AfCFTA Secretariat should announce a schedule to complete each of the steps required to implement in the next 6 and in case later than 12 months. Read more