Blog
Temporary suspension of import tariffs on medical products and equipment essential amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
Talkmore Chidede
07 Apr 2020
Most African countries do not produce medical products and equipment needed to fight the Coronavirus (COVID-19) including soaps or surface-active agents, respiratory masks, protective spec... read more 
Informal Cross Border Trade in Africa in a Time of Pandemic
John Stuart
07 Apr 2020
Informal cross-border trade (ICBT) forms a significant part of intra Sub-Saharan African (SSA) trade. It contributes income, provides jobs and empowers women in some of the most fragile an... read more 
Hitting Where it Hurts – Pandemic Border Closures and SSA’s Most Vulnerable Informal Cross-Border Traders
John Stuart
07 Apr 2020
A related tralac blog, in the same series as this one, discusses the phenomenon of informal cross-border trade (ICBT) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in the context of the current Covid-19 pan... read more 
Impact of COVID-19 on poultry production – view from a woman entrepreneur
Motlatsi Tolo
07 Apr 2020
Raseto Agricultural Enterprise produces poultry on contract for Supreme Poultry. In order for us to comply with the lockdown regulations in South Africa, Supreme Poultry arranged and sent ... read more 
Trade restrictions – what is essential cargo?
Terry Gale
07 Apr 2020
The 21-day lockdown period in South Africa is having a major impact on international trade, in particular, as confusion reigns over the operation of the ports throughout this period. Init... read more 
Protecting the vulnerable and excluded in the financial sector
Ashly Hope (Volunteer)
06 Apr 2020
As the global health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, it brings with it a global economic crisis. With economies only now beginning to properly recover from the global finan... read more 
Coronavirus, food supply and demand constraints: panic-buying and logistics
Willemien Viljoen
31 Mar 2020
As South Africa’s President announced various social distancing measures as part of a Covid-19 State of Emergency to curb the spread of the virus, numerous concerns about access to impor... read more 
The AfCFTA is due for Implementation – what is to be expected?
Gerhard Erasmus
26 Mar 2020
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has been designed to boost trade on the African continent. How and when will new trade benefits for merchandise trade (lower tariffs and th... read more 
Will disputes under the AfCFTA Agreement be less “political”?
Gerhard Erasmus
26 Mar 2020
It has been observed that the dispute settlement system of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is less “political” in design than, for example, the former SADC Dispute Set... read more 
How will Phase II of the AfCFTA be negotiated, ratified and implemented?
Gerhard Erasmus
26 Mar 2020
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) aims to establish a comprehensive new trade regime for Africa. The Preamble to the AfCFTA Agreement refers to “the need to establish clea... read more 
Will there be a Phase III for the AfCFTA?
Gerhard Erasmus
26 Mar 2020
The logic and the design of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) confirm that this is not an event. It is an ambitious project and a process. That is why its institutions are s... read more 
Substantive issues the AfCFTA Investment Protocol should address
Talkmore Chidede
26 Mar 2020
The envisaged Protocol on Investment in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) would be about intra-Africa investment. At this stage the bulk of foreign direct investment (FDI) i... read more 
Cooperation on financial services regulation under the AfCFTA
Ashly Hope (Volunteer)
26 Mar 2020
As part of the negotiations on services under the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, parties will negotiate regulatory cooperation frameworks in priority sectors. What is regu... read more 
The Trade in Automotive Components and Regional Value Chain Development
John Stuart
26 Mar 2020
The development of global value chains (GVCs) has been one of the most striking features of economic globalisation. With the improvements in the efficiency of global travel and communicati... read more 
South Africa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Trudi Hartzenberg
26 Mar 2020
tralac is monitoring trade-related policy responses to COVID-19 From midnight on Thursday, 26 March 2020, South Africa is in lockdown for 21 days. This announcement was made by President ... read more 
COVID19-related export control measures – has South Africa adopted the same yet?
Talkmore Chidede
20 Mar 2020
The rapid spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID19) has increased demand for and raised concerns about the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) essential to prevent furthe... read more 
How investment disputes in Zimbabwe will be resolved under the ZIDA Act
Talkmore Chidede
13 Mar 2020
The recently enacted Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (ZIDA) Act [CHAPTER 14:37] guarantees local and foreign investors legal protection against discriminatory treatment, exprop... read more 
The ZIDA Act: An overhaul of the investment policy regime and impetus for investment in Zimbabwe?
Talkmore Chidede
09 Mar 2020
On 6 February 2020, the President of Zimbabwe signed into law the Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency Act [Chapter 14:37] (ZIDA Act). ZIDA Act deals with the promotion, entry, facilitat... read more 
Mining Indaba 2020: Vague Promises leave South Africa’s Mining Industry Insecure
David Christianson
12 Feb 2020
An article published online by the conference organisers sums up the limitations of events like the Investing in Africa Mining Indaba (‘the mining indaba’) held in Cape Town from 3-6 F... read more 
Angela Merkel’s state visit to South Africa: its significance amid the current Germany-South Africa trade relationship
Eckart Naumann
12 Feb 2020
On Thursday 6 February 2020, German Chancellor Angela Merkel landed in South Africa as part of a brief visit to Southern Africa, which also includes a visit to Angola. This is her second o... read more