Africa

Common currency is key enabler for growth of AfCFTA  (Ghana Web)

The AfCFTA Secretariat is located in Ghana-West Africa The Managing Director of Bank of Africa, Kobby Andah, has said the implementation of a common currency and digitalizing trade would go a long way to make the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) a success.

Experts call for policy reforms in Africa to promote green trade (News Ghana)

Policymakers and experts on Monday attended a webinar on green trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), convened by UNU-IRNA and Washington-based think tank, Brookings Institution.

East Africa: EAC Urged to Finalise Tariff Offers (AllAfrica)

The East African Business Council Vice-Chairman Denis Karera has urged East African Community (EAC) partner states to finalise and submit tariff offers under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) .

Africa: U.S.-Africa Trade Policy Faces Uncertain Future  (AllAfrica)

Many observers advocate new policies to increase U.S.-Africa trade and investment, especially with Agoa expiring in 2025. Without bipartisan backing in Congress, the policy path on U.S.-Africa trade policy is unclear.

The prospect of easier intra-Africa trade is boosting investments in transport and logistics (Yahoo Finance)

Africa’s transport and logistics start-ups are on track to raise more growth funds this year, in deals that could help ignite intra-Africa trade .... This points to growing investor attraction to this space, possibly to tap into the world’s single largest market-AfCFTA .

Adapt people-centered approach to boost intra-African trade, EAC urges (Kenya Broadcasting Corporation)

The East African Community (EAC) Secretary General, Dr. Peter Mathuki, urged the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat to adapt an integration approach that is people-centred, market-driven and private sector-led, to ensure African citizens benefit from the continental agreement.

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International 

Members advance work on trade and environmental sustainability ministerial declaration (World Trade Organisation)

WTO members taking part in the new initiative on trade and environmental sustainability continued to advance work on a joint statement which they intend to issue at the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) later this year.

UNCTAD projects fastest global economy growth in 50 years (Hellenic Shipping News)

The global economy is expected to bounce back this year with a growth of 5.3 percent, the fastest in nearly five decades, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said on Wednesday.

Poor countries to lose $12 trillion to corona by 2025 - UNCTAD (The Star)

An analysis by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) shows poor countries will lose a decade of development and face slow economic recovery.

China Launches Bid to Join CPTPP Trade Pact (Foreign Policy)

As was expected with China’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) 20 years ago, CPTPP participation could provide the needed external pressure for China to reform and open in these and other areas.

International trade, transport infrastructure, and COVID-19 (The Sentinel Assam)

E-businesses or E-Tails benefitted from the pandemic as it drove online shopping, for example, Amazon's reported $108.5 billion in sales in the first three months of 2021, up 44 per cent from Q1 of 2020. On the international trade side, however, two factors that determine continuity are cooperation and trust – for example, whether the market can ensure supplying essentials, and also that countries will not impose export restrictions, in addition, that imports do not pose any health risks.