The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) aims to boost intra-African trade by providing a comprehensive and mutually beneficial trade agreement among the member states, covering trade in goods, services, investment, intellectual property rights and competition policy. It is widely anticipated that the agricultural sector would not only be the biggest contributor towards the success of the AfCFTA but also the greatest beneficiary, at least in the immediate to short-term. For the agricultural sector to make full use of the opportunities under the AfCFTA, a number of important issues need to be addressed. This Issues Paper aims to provide a short overview of the current and emerging issues pertaining to the agricultural sector in the AfCFTA, including key determinants and cross-cutting issues, with a view to highlight potential implications, challenges and opportunities and what is required for the sector to achieve its widely-anticipated potential.

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