The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement contains detailed provisions on trade remedies and safeguards, modelled on World Trade Organisation (WTO) principles. Since only a small number of African States are active users of trade remedies and safeguards, their wider application could bring about an important trade governance development. Disputes about trade remedy investigations and measures could also become more likely. Disputes will involve domestic judicial review proceedings as well as inter-State disputes. The latter will fall under the jurisdiction of the Dispute Settlement Mechanism of the AfCFTA.

How will the AfCFTA trade remedies and safeguards arrangement work? This paper addresses this question, mentions the applicable multilateral rules, and discusses the African trade governance context, including whether there might be a more active use of trade remedies and safeguards under the AfCFTA. It starts with the question why international trade agreements provide for trade remedies and safeguards.

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