African Trade Policy Centre

Transforming African economies through smart trade and industrial policy

In the 2015 Economic Report on Africa of the Economic Commission for Africa, a clear case was established for the increased and improved use of trade and trade policy as tools to drive the continent’s industrialization. The present report builds on the recommendations of the report through a thorough assessment of what is required of African economies to industrialize smartly through trade. The assessment is informed by an analysis of whether current trade policies and tariff structures positively contribute to Africa’s broader industrialization policy.

ECA Policy Brief

Critical challenges face Africa as the eleventh World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference approaches, which will be held in Buenos Aires in December 2017. Some WTO members are pushing strongly for outcomes at the Conference, which, if agreed to, could undermine the aspirations articulated in Agenda 2063 for continental transformation and the regional market that negotiations on the Continental Free Trade Area are seeking to put in place.

ECA Policy Brief

Africa’s experience with industrialization has been disappointing. Globally, the share of manufacturing in total output rises with per capita income until countries reach upper-middle-income status and declines as services become more prevalent at higher incomes (Newman, and others, 2016). This has not been the case in Africa. In 2014, Africa’s average share of manufacturing value added in gross domestic product (GDP) was 9.8 per cent, 3 percentage points less than the 12.8 per cent of 1990 (figure 1).

ECA Policy Brief

The Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA), to be concluded by the African States by the end of 2017, is expected to bring considerable benefits in terms of increased intraregional trade, the development of regional value chains, the creation of meaningful employment and, as a consequence, reduced poverty on the continent. If realized, these impacts would make the agreement truly transformational. For the initiative to deliver on these ambitions, it is crucial that progress includes all. It is in this context that the gender dimensions of African trade should be considered.

Formulating Bankable Aid for Trade Projects in Africa – Guidance Document

The purpose of this document is to introduce broad guidelines on how to develop bankable Aid for Trade (AfT) projects and programmes and successfully position these within the AfT initiative, taking into account current perspectives and requirements of key AfT development partners. The guide is not meant to be a blueprint, nor is it meant to be exhaustive.

ECA promoting infrastructure development for Africa’s industrialisation, says Soteri

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 26 October 2017 (ECA) - The Infrastructure and Industrialization Section of the Regional Integration and Trade Division of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) will on Tuesday October 31, 2017, conduct an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) to review and validate their Report on “Promoting Infrastructure Development for Africa’s Industrialization.

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Trade liberalization without enhanced production is a recipe for disaster

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, 23 October 2017 (ECA) – Trade liberalization without enhanced production is a recipe for disaster, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Southern Africa regional director Said Adejumobi has observed.

Speaking at the official opening of the Ad-hoc Expert Group Meeting (AEGM) on “Deepening Regional Integration in Southern Africa: The Role, Prospects and Progress of the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA), Mr Adejumobi said without production, trade and market liberalization is meaningless.

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2017 breakthrough year towards implementation of CFTA, says ECA’s Karingi

Addis Ababa, 16 October 2017 (ECA) – The year 2017 is the breakthrough year towards the speedy implementation of the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA), says Stephen Karingi, Acting Director of the Regional Integration and Trade Division (RITD) at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

In an interview ahead of the 10th Session of the Committee on Regional Cooperation and Integration (CRCI10) that will be held in Addis Ababa from October 31 to November 2, 2017, Mr. Karingi said important progress has been made so far towards the establishment of the CFTA.

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International Single Windows Conference & Exhibition held in Ghana

Accra, 5 October 2017 (ECA) - The 6th edition of the International Single Windows Conference and Exhibition was held in Accra, Ghana, on 3-5 October under the theme; ‘Trade Facilitation Agreement and e-commerce development: The role of Single Window as Catalyst”.

The meeting was organized by the African Alliance for Electronic Commerce (AAEC) and the Ghana Community Network Services (GCNet).

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