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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Kenya-United States FTA: From AGOA towards a bilateral Free Trade Area
11 Dec 2020 ~ Eckart Naumann
In 2018, Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta paid the United States an official state visit. This lead to a Bilateral Strategic Dialogue that would meet bi-annually, followed not long after...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
How will Africa engage the new US Administration about Trade Issues?
11 Dec 2020 ~ Gerhard Erasmus
It has been announced that the African Union (AU) Ministers of Trade (AMOT) will be requested to engage the new US Administration on “negotiations” for a successor trade arrangeme...read more
South Africa-UK trade: comparing January-October 2019 and 2020
11 Dec 2020 ~ Willemien Viljoen
The United Kingdom (UK) is one of South Africa’s key trade partners. This remains so during the Covid-19 pandemic. Through cycles of social distancing measures (lockdowns) in both countr...read more
Kenya and South Africa Bilateral Trade 2019
24 Nov 2020 ~ Talkmore Chidede
Kenya and South Africa have no trade agreement currently. Trade between the two countries is conducted under the most-favoured-nation – World Trade Organization – rules. Kenya is a par...read more
Collating and disseminating FDI data and related information in Africa – Challenges and opportunities
24 Nov 2020 ~ Talkmore Chidede
Collating and disseminating foreign direct investment (FDI) statistics and related information is important for many reasons. It helps government officials and policy makers formulate appr...read more
Eswatini merchandise trade: Jan-May 2019 and Jan-May 2020 comparison
24 Nov 2020 ~ Talkmore Chidede
Eswatini is one of the few African countries that has reported their 2020 monthly trade data thus far. Eswatini is a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the Southern African Cust...read more
Madagascar trade: Jan-Jul 2019 and Jan-July 2020 comparison
24 Nov 2020 ~ Annabel Nanjira
Madagascar is one of the few African countries that has reported their monthly 2020 data thus far. Madagascar is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and two regional economic co...read more
Africa’s COVID-19 medical supplies trade: January-June 2020
24 Nov 2020 ~ Juliette Armelle Kouamo
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic brought an unprecedented demand for medical products (COVID-19 medical supplies) required to curb the spread of the virus. COVID-19 medical supplies inc...read more
Intra-SADC FTA trade and SADC FTA trade with the rest of Africa 2019
24 Nov 2020 ~ Martin Gitau
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) consists of 16 members – 13 of which are in a free trade area (FTA). The SADC FTA members are Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, M...read more
The Kenya-UK post-Brexit Trade Agreement
23 Nov 2020 ~ Gerhard Erasmus
Since the beginning of this year the United Kingdom (UK) ceased to be a member of the European Union (EU). The Withdrawal Agreement entered into force on 31 January 2020. However, the UK c...read more