ISDS Case Map
Africa
African governments are deep in consultations over new annexes to the African Continental Free Trade Area, according to sources aware of the negotiations. Though what exactly is on the table remains largely opaque.
Africa’s AfCFTA quietly adopted a controversial digital trade protocol, mirroring outdated U.S. tech rules that risk undermining data sovereignty and regulatory power.
On June 12, 2025, China announced it would extend duty-free market access to 53 African countries, eliminating tariffs on 98 percent of taxable products originating from these nations.
On June 11, Cameroon officially deposited its instruments of ratification for the Samoa Agreement at the EU headquarters in Brussels. This new partnership agreement between the EU and the countries of Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific is set to replace the 2000 Cotonou Agreement, which established the framework for the Economic Partnership Agreements.
Africa offers South Korea a reliable alternative market grounded in a rules-based system and predictability, making it an attractive partner amid a shifting global trade environment, the head of the region's free trade bloc has said.
A senior US State Department official for Africa indicated on Tuesday that the future renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a significant US-African trade deal, will likely require more “reciprocity” from African nations.
Treaties and agreements should facilitate a green and equitable transition by channeling investments into renewable energy, circular economies, and sustainable infrastructure.
Nigeria has gazetted its Provisional Schedule of Tariff Concessions (PSTCs) under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), marking a major milestone in the country’s commitment to regional integration and trade facilitation across Africa.
African economies are pivoting strategies in response to renewed U.S. tariffs, leadership transitions, and escalating regional conflicts, forcing a recalibration of trade relationships across the continent.
The Energy Charter Treaty not only locks countries into outdated fossil fuel investments but also hampers their ability to pursue sustainable, climate-friendly energy policies.
