Blog

Blockchain-Driven Trade Technologies and the Potential Benefits for African Trade

21 Feb 2021 ~ John Stuart
Just over two years ago, tralac published a blog about the potential of blockchain (also referred to as distributed ledger technologies (DLT)) for trade in Africa[1]. This blog is an updat...read more

Will 2021 see African Governments negotiating with External Partners?

10 Feb 2021 ~ Gerhard Erasmus
The conclusion of trade agreements between African States and third parties is an important matter. Only 16% of the goods produced in Africa are sold in Africa. This indicates that more th...read more

Trade under AfCFTA Rules started on 1 January 2021, but hard work lies ahead

10 Feb 2021 ~ Gerhard Erasmus, Trudi Hartzenberg
At its 13th Extra Ordinary Session held virtually in Johannesburg on 5 December 2020, the Assembly of the African Union (AU) announced that trade in goods under the AfCFTA will start from ...read more

The AfCFTA Secretariat: Is the Action now in Accra?

10 Feb 2021 ~ Gerhard Erasmus
The Assembly of the African Union (AU) met virtually in Johannesburg on 5 December 2020 and adopted several important decisions about interim trade arrangements, the completion of the AfCF...read more

Speculating about Phase II of the AfCFTA Negotiations

10 Feb 2021 ~ Gerhard Erasmus, Trudi Hartzenberg
The negotiations to adopt the AfCFTA’s Phase II Protocols are being launched and Phase III negotiations should be concluded by 31 December 2021[1]. Phase II will cover investment, intell...read more

AfCFTA Phase II and III Negotiations – Update

10 Feb 2021 ~ Talkmore Chidede
The scope of the Agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) covers trade in goods, trade in services, investment, intellectual property rights (IPRs) and compe...read more

AfCFTA Parallelism and the Acquis

10 Feb 2021 ~ Gerhard Erasmus
According to the Governing Principles of the AfCFTA, the RECs’ Free Trade Areas (FTAs) are building blocks for the AfCFTA.[1] The AfCFTA shall also be governed by the preservation of the...read more

South Africa’s implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement: customs arrangements and technicalities

10 Feb 2021 ~ Willemien Viljoen
Trading under the AfCFTA was set to begin on 1 January 2021. South Africa with the rest of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU – Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, and Namibia) submitte...read more

Preferential trade with Mauritius: market access for the UK, China, and state parties of the AfCFTA

10 Feb 2021 ~ Willemien Viljoen
As of 1 January 2021, the Mauritian tariff book has three additional columns for preferential market access to the Mauritian market. These tariffs are for imports from the United Kingdom (...read more

Who is doing what in the fintech space in Africa?

10 Feb 2021 ~ David Christianson
Digital banking is driving Africa’s recovery When Vodacom, Africa’s biggest mobile telephony operator (Telco) by revenue, announced late last year that it intended expanding its insur...read more

Non-tariff barriers and related dispute resolution: Is the East African Community all hat and no cattle?

25 Jan 2021 ~ Akinyi J. Eurallyah
Introduction The East African Community (EAC) has several avenues to use to address/eliminate non-tariff barriers (NTBs) – including the East African Court of Justice. Despite this, NTB...read more

Brexit Deal concluded: Main Implications, Architecture, and Institutions

04 Jan 2021 ~ Gerhard Erasmus
On 23 June 2016, the United Kingdom (UK) voted to leave the European Union (EU). The parties then started negotiations on a Withdrawal Agreement,[1] followed by a new trade deal. Both prov...read more

Post Brexit Trade between the European Union and the United Kingdom

04 Jan 2021 ~ Gerhard Erasmus
The new EU-UK trade relationship will be very different from when the UK was a Member State. Major governance challenges lie ahead. Concluding a trade agreement is one thing, implementing ...read more

The Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods: Slow ratification by African countries

04 Jan 2021 ~ Martin Gitau (former intern)
The legal systems of African countries reflect their history, colonial heritages, customary and other norms. The differences are also evident in the area of international contracts of sale...read more

Customs modernisation in Africa and related challenges

22 Dec 2020 ~ Juliette Armelle Kouamo (former intern)
Customs administration systems have to adapt to changes in the trading environment. The modernisation of customs administration systems is fundamental to ensure that trade continues uninte...read more

What to expect when all the AfCFTA Pieces have come together?

11 Dec 2020 ~ Gerhard Erasmus, Trudi Hartzenberg
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement may be in force since 30 May 2019, but this project is still work in progress. What remains outstanding? What can be expected onc...read more

The ABC of the AfCFTA – as it stands

11 Dec 2020 ~ Gerhard Erasmus, Trudi Hartzenberg
Trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is set to begin. It has been decided to start implementing aspects of the AfCFTA on 1 January 2021, though certain matters must...read more

Preparing for the start of trade under the AfCFTA: Could Medicines be included?

11 Dec 2020 ~ Gerhard Erasmus
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement is in force since 30 May 2019. However, trade under new preferential rules has not yet begun. The reason is that the negotiations...read more

The AfCFTA will grow gradually and via measures taken in different Forums

11 Dec 2020 ~ Gerhard Erasmus
What must the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) actually bring about? How will this happen and when? The AfCFTA will be “ready for business” once he outstanding negotiations...read more

The AfCFTA in a global Context

11 Dec 2020 ~ Gerhard Erasmus
There are high expectations locally and internationally about the prospects of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The benefits for integration and rules-based trade governan...read more