Trade Governance in Africa midst a Pandemic and other Global Challenges

Our flagship event took place virtually on 21-22 September 2020 in a series of webinars. This is one of the many consequences of COVID-19. At this occasion we discussed select trade governance matters in Africa.

There is widespread agreement that the multilateral trading system requires reform. We considered what a future World Trade Organisation (WTO) could look like, taking lessons from COVID-19, new generation plurilaterals and the one multilateral agreement concluded since the establishment of the WTO – the Trade Facilitation Agreement.

Turning to the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), a recent World Bank study concluded, as have many other studies, that significant benefits could come from reducing red tape and improving customs and border management. We provided an overview of the key features of the AfCFTA; an update on the negotiations, institutional arrangements and preparations for trade to begin; and what is necessary to achieve the objectives of the AfCFTA. Can COVID-19 provide a push to the adoption of digital trade solutions to facilitate trade under the AfCFTA?

Find out more in our 2020 Annual Conference Newsletter.

Programme overview

• Keynote Address | 21 September

  H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General, AfCFTA Secretariat

• Session 1 | A World Trade Organisation fit for 21st century trade governance: what can we learn from the COVID-19 pandemic, new generation plurilaterals and Trade Facilitation Agreement?

  pdf Mr Alan Wolff, Deputy-Director General, World Trade Organisation (168 KB)

• Keynote Address | 21 September

  pdf H.E. Ambassador Albert M. Muchanga, Commissioner for Trade and Industry, African Union Commission (292 KB)

• Session 2 | Panel discussion: Lessons from COVID-19 – what needs to be done to facilitate Africa’s trade?

  pdf Ms Lily Sommer, African Trade Policy Centre, UNECA (2.64 MB)

  pdf Mr Jason Blackman, DHL Express, Sub-Saharan Africa (671 KB)

  pdf Mr Etiyel Chibira, Cross-border Road Transport Agency, South Africa (847 KB)

  pdf Ms Mena Hassan, World Trade Organisation Secretariat (245 KB)

  Moderator: Ms Trudi Hartzenberg, tralac

• Session 3 | The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA): Overview and negotiations update, institutional arrangements and Africa’s global trade relations

  tralac Presentation

  pdf Trudi Hartzenberg and Gerhard Erasmus: AfCFTA overview (923 KB)

  pdf Willemien Viljoen: Tariff negotiations (221 KB)

  pdf John Stuart Services Trade (973 KB)

  pdf Talkmore Chidede: Investment (77 KB)

  pdf Ify Ogo: E-commerce (295 KB)

• Session 4 | Panel discussion: What do we expect the AfCFTA to deliver and what is necessary to achieve these outcomes?

  pdf Ms Valentina Mintah, Board Member – International Chamber of Commerce (339 KB)

  Ms Monica Musonda, Chief Executive Officer, Java Foods

  Mr Ahmed Bennis, Secretary General, Africa Economic Zones Organisation

  Moderator: Ms Treasure Maphanga, tralac Board Member, former Director for Trade and Industry, African Union Commission