African free trade boosts exports

There are challenges still to overcome despite the business opportunities created by the new African free-trade agreement, according to a new report by leading trade credit insurer Atradius (www.atradius.co.uk)

The research report, entitled ‘A long journey towards an African Free Trade Area’, forecasts multiple benefits as a result of an eventual full implementation of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).  It states that the reduction in tariffs will lower the costs of imports for consumers and producers.  This could subsequently increase the competitiveness of local producers using foreign goods as inputs, improving their position in both domestic and external markets.

However, Atradius also warns that in some countries, local production which cannot compete with relatively cheap import goods will disappear.  Most significantly, the reduction of non-tariff barriers will have the highest impact; reducing red tape, administrative procedures and improving border infrastructure will lower transport costs and the price of exports and imports.  As a result, intracontinental exports could increase by over 81%, while exports to non-African countries could increase by 19% by 2035.  Real income gains could rise by 7%, nearly USD $450 billion in this period, with a reduction in poverty.

The AfCFTA agreement has the potential to accelerate African growth rates and support international trade with a fundamental liberalisation of trade in Africa.  With 54 countries, more than 1.2 billion people and a combined GDP of $2.5tr, AfCFTA could become the largest trade bloc in the world.  The trade agreement aims to eliminate tariffs on most goods and services, liberalize trade of key services, and address non-tariff obstacles for intra-trade. Its goal is to create a single market with free movement of labour and capital.

However, while it officially started in January 2021, AfCFTA’s full implementation is still a long way off.  Many countries would first need to establish the necessary customs infrastructure and required procedures to trade.  So far, only 36 countries have ratified the agreement and only 11 have validated national action plans.

In the report, Atradius identifies several remaining challenges over the implementation of the agreement, including protectionist tendencies, insufficient capacity to expand cross-border infrastructure, political instability and weak government finances.  The report warns the agreement’s ambitions will take years to reach due to the slow speed of implementation so far.

Countries that have already implemented action plans, established customs procedures face lower barriers have a head start and therefore an advantage.  Economies which are relatively open and diversified with well-established trade links will benefit the most and are at an advantage.  This includes large economies such as South Africa, but also to regional trading hubs such as Senegal, Kenya and Cote d’Ivoire.

The full report can be downloaded at https://atradius.co.uk/reports/economic-research-a-long-journey-towards-an-african-free-trade-area.html