Expert tips governments on integration, AfCFTA
An international trade law expert has advised African governments to put in place mechanisms that would facilitate smooth trade among member states under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Gerhard Erasmus, a Law Professor at Stellenbosch University, was speaking in Cape Town, South Africa, at a training workshop for journalists on AfCFTA, organised by the Trade Law Center (Tralac).
“Member states must put their houses in order to ensure that there is a harmonised and rules-based trading,” Erasmus said.
Tralac Executive Director, Trudi Hertzenberg, said there was need to increase awareness among small and medium enterprises on the agreements.
AfCFTA would bring together 55 countries with a market of more than 1.2 billion people and a combined gross domestic product of more than $3.4 trillion.
Countries that have ratified the pact are expected to start trading under it by July 1, 2020. Malawi is yet to ratify it.
