The Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) in Africa – A Human Rights Perspective

The negotiations leading up to the continental free trade area (CFTA) present a unique opportunity to improve the livelihoods of millions of African people. The jobs and wealth that the CFTA can bring about have the potential to contribute significantly to alleviating poverty, creating jobs and promoting equality. The CFTA is more than a trade agreement. Its wide scope – covering trade in goods, trade in services, investment, competition policy and intellectual property rights – provides a platform to facilitate the inclusive structural transformation of African countries, contributing to the attainment of Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the global Agenda 2030.