AU pushes for free trade area endorsements

The AU has launched an advocacy campaign to encourage more countries to ratify the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), ahead of the January 2019 deadline to implement the agreement. A business guide developed by the International Trade Centre was launched to help the private sector and policymakers better understand and navigate the agreement. A report on the allAfrica site notes that Albert Muchanga, the AU Commissioner of Trade and Industry, said the bloc was confident of getting the 15 remaining member states to ratify the agreement by December. So far, Kenya, Rwanda, eSwatini, Chad, Niger, Guinea and Ghana have ratified the AfCFTA, while three countries – Egypt, Kenya and Uganda – have ratified the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, SADC and the East African Community Tripartite Free Trade Area. At least 22 ratifications are needed for the AfCFTA to enter into force and 14 are required for the Tripartite Free Trade Area.