Africa Trade Foundation

🌍  The AfCFTA has the potential to address Africa's Triple Nexus of humanitarian, development, and peace challenges   A new report by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) explores the steps that are needed to ensure that trade and related economic development initiatives, particularly AfCFTA, effectively contribute to the Triple Nexus. 🚀 For AfCFTA to fully deliver on the development dimension, key policy levers as part of national and regional AfCFTA implementation strategies must be considered. The report recommends below nine key policy levers to advance the Triple Nexus in the context of the AfCFTA: ✅ Improving the business climate & promoting competitiveness – Removing bureaucratic barriers such as customs delays and restrictive licensing to facilitate seamless trade and fostering innovation in all sectors. ✅ Removing supply-side constraints – Closing Africa’s infrastructure gap, particularly for landlocked countries, by mobilising investment and enhancing private sector participation. ✅ Eliminating tariff and non-tariff barriers and restrictions on investment – Creating a more integrated regional market by removing trade and investment restrictions. ✅ Strengthening value chains & promoting economic diversification – Facilitating technology transfer and boosting local production through strategic partnerships. ✅ Ensuring a stable and growth-oriented macroeconomic environment – Complementing sound macroeconomic policies with measures to improve supply capabilities of the economy and improve the competitiveness of the private sector. ✅ Strengthening the capacity of the private sector – Strengthening African enterprises to compete regionally and globally. ✅ Enhancing governance & institutional capacity – Promoting effective and competent states that guide development and provide support services to producers and exporters. ✅ Building a strong financial sector – Promoting the presence of strong and well-capitalised banks, backed by an effective regulatory and supervisory system, to promote private sector engagement in regional trade and investment. ✅ Aligning the social dimension with trade policy – Upholding labour rights and decent working conditions under AfCFTA agreements. The full report can be accessed here: 👇

🌍Global Trade Update - December 2024 📈 As we wrap up 2024, the global trade landscape is rapidly evolving! Here are the key highlights you need to know: 🔹 Global trade has added a remarkable US$ 1 trillion this year, reaching nearly US$ 33 trillion, driven by strong growth in services. 🔹 Developed countries led trade growth in Q3, while developing regions struggled, with East Asia's growth stalling. 🔹 The ICT and apparel sectors were the key drivers of trade growth in Q3, while the automotive sector faced a decline. 🔹 As we look ahead to 2025, we face growing uncertainty amid risks of trade wars and ongoing geopolitical challenges. For further information, dive into the report👉  https://bit.ly/3OZ6oql #GlobalTrade #TradeTrends #2024Highlights #TradeGrowth

🌍 Exciting News for Africa’s Digital Future! 🌍 The AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol (AfCFTA DTP) is set to revolutionize digital trade across Africa! Adopted earlier this year, this comprehensive framework aims to: 🔗Streamline Digital Trade with electronic trust services, paperless transactions, and interoperable digital payments. 🔒Strengthen Data Governance & Cybersecurity to protect businesses and consumers. 💼Empower MSMEs & Drive Innovation by promoting digital inclusion and skills development across the continent. While the protocol is adopted, negotiations are still ongoing—marking a critical step in unlocking Africa's digital economy, which could contribute up to $712 billion to GDP by 2050! Let’s bridge the digital gap and unlock Africa’s digital economy! 🚀💻 #AfCFTA #DigitalTrade #AfricaDigitalEconomy #ECommerce #DigitalTransformation #TradeProtocol #DigitalAfrica #ICT #Innovation #EconomicGrowth

🌍Breaking Down Barriers to Trade! The AfCFTA is focused on removing barriers to trade across the continent – helping drive exports and investment within, into and across Africa! ▶️ Learn more about the Protocol on Trade in Goods on our website 👉 https://bit.ly/4fg9664 Did you know that the AfCFTA Non-Tariff Barriers (NTB) Reporting App is your go-to tool for addressing trade obstacles across Africa? Non-tariff barriers (NTBs) refer to any measures, other than tariffs, that can act as a barrier to international trade between countries. These can include a range of measures such as government subsidies, customs procedures, and rules of origin, among others. With the NTB Reporting App, you can easily report these barriers and track the progress being made to address your complaint. 📱 Register now and start using the NTB App 👉 https://bit.ly/4fCgusb #AfCFTA #TradeinGoods #NonTariffBarriers #AfricaTrade

The IMF's latest #WorldEconomicOutlook highlights stable yet modest global growth, projected at 3.2% for 2024 and 2025: 📈Regional Growth Revisions: While the U.S. outlook is revised upward, Europe’s largest economies face downgrades. Emerging Asia shows resilience, with surging demand for semiconductors and AI-driven electronics, bolstered by significant investments in China and India. However, disruptions in commodity production, civil unrest, and extreme weather are dampening growth expectations for the Middle East, Central Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. 📉 Persistent Inflation and Trade Dynamics: Global inflation is easing; however services price inflation remains high in many regions, signaling a need for precise sectoral and monetary strategies. Despite geopolitical tensions, trade volumes are stable, with a growing trend of intraregional trade. However, ongoing fragmentation risks straining global supply chains and reducing efficiency, underscoring the importance of multilateral cooperation. Check out the latest World Economic Outlook 👇 #GlobalEconomy #Trade #EconomicOutlook #FiscalPolicy #EmergingMarkets #IMF

📢 Exciting update on the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)!  🌍 In June 2023, the EU rolled out the European Union Deforestation Regulation, famously known as (EUDR) to boost the consumption of "deforestation-free" products and lessen its global deforestation footprint. This initiative is part of a broader policy strategy called the European Green Deal, launched in 2020, which aims for climate neutrality by 2050. While the provisions were initially set to be applied from December 30, 2024, there’s good news for large operators, traders, and SMEs! On October 16, 2024, the EU Council decided to extend the application timeline by a year. If approved by the European Parliament, the new deadlines will be: 🔹 December 30, 2025 (large operators and traders)  🔹 June 30, 2026, (micro and small enterprises) The EUDR focuses on seven key commodities: oil palm, soya, wood, cocoa, coffee, cattle, and rubber and by products of the target commodities. 🌿 Want to understand how trade impacts anti-deforestation efforts? Click the link to dive deeper! 🌍✨ #Sustainability #Deforestation #sustainabletrade #EUDR #Sustainability #EUDR #EuropeanGreenDeal  #SustainableProducts

Exciting developments for inclusive trade in Africa! 🌍 Did you know that one of the innovative features of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a groundbreaking initiative on empowering women and youth in trade? 🙌👩💼 The Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade makes the AfCFTA the first trade agreement with a binding legal framework to supporting women and youth traders. Despite their significant potential contribution, women and youth traders face several challenges. This Protocol aims to empower them to participate effectively in the market, promoting value addition and innovation for increased imports and exports, while supporting their inclusion in regional and continental value chains. Discover more about the Protocol here 👉 https://bit.ly/3NJ5pd9 To find out more about our work and initiatives, check out our website here 👉https://bit.ly/48MV8F1 #AfCFTA #InclusiveTrade #WomenInTrade #YouthEmpowerment