ISDS Case Map
EAC
Members of the East African Community to implement trade facilitation reforms including reducing “non-tariff barriers”.
The deposit of the instrument means that South Africa has formally and legally committed to the TFTA.
South Africa has ratified the Tripartite Free Trade Agreement, becoming the fourth country to do so after Egypt, Uganda and Kenya. 10 more ratifications are now needed for the Agreement to enter into force.
The slow pace at which member states of the Tripartite Free Trade Area Agreement (TFTA) are committing to the bloc, has derailed the enforcement of the treaty and trade in one of Africa’s largest economic zones.
Kenya will not sign a free trade agreement that China has been negotiating with the East African Community (EAC) partner States since 2016.
The TFTA seeks to establish an enlarged market involving 27 member countries from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the East African Community and Southern African Development Community.
Despite having several trade and investment agreements from 1975, the inability for Africa to build substantial productive capacity has in effect rendered the continent a net importer, unable to meet even its own food requirements.
East African leaders call for further negotiations on EPA with their European counterparts.
Under EPAs, small-scale farmers are disadvantaged.
Botswana signed a tripartite free trade area agreement which marked a milestone in the trade agenda of the African Union.
