Scope of the African Continental Free Trade Area – Parts B (4 of 4)
We are hopeful that the detail around the Annexes will; eventually be published and we will have the opportunity to revisit this protocol.
Scope of the African Continental Free Trade Area – Part B (2 of 4)
We would like to kick this off by drawing your attention to Preamble by Member State representatives of the African Union (AU) on the Protocol on Trade in Services
Scope of the African Continental Free Trade Area – Part B (1 of 4)
The AfCFTA Agreement is made up of two phases and while the first phase of the agreement has come into effect from 01 January 2021, there is a second phase that will require a series of negotiations that will come into effect at a later date.
![Scope of the African Continental Free Trade Area – Part A [1 of 9]](https://panafreeka.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/PART-1-sCOPE.jpg)
Scope of the African Continental Free Trade Area – Part A [1 of 9]
It has been widely reported that on the 01st of January 2021, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement came into effect. While this statement is true, it does not tell the whole story.
![Scope of the African Continental Free Trade Area – Part A [2 of 9]](https://panafreeka.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/111010green-Recovered11111111.jpg)
Scope of the African Continental Free Trade Area – Part A [2 of 9]
In terms of article 3 of the (Continental Free Trade) Agreement, the principal objective of the protocol on Trade in goods is to create a liberalised market across the continent.
![Scope of the African Continental Free Trade Area – [Part A (3 of 9)]](https://panafreeka.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/acfta-goods.jpg)
Scope of the African Continental Free Trade Area – [Part A (3 of 9)]
One of the specific objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement is to progressively eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade goods.
![Scope of the African Continental Free Trade Area – [Part A (4 of 9)]](https://panafreeka.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/010green-Recoveredeee.jpg)
Scope of the African Continental Free Trade Area – [Part A (4 of 9)]
One of the Specific objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement is for State Parties to cooperate on customs matters and the implementation of trade facilitation measures (Article 4 of the Agreement). This Annex delves into the very heart of this objective.
![Scope of the African Continental Free Trade Area – [Part A (5 of 9)]](https://panafreeka.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/010green-Recovered-Recovered-Recovered.jpg)
Scope of the African Continental Free Trade Area – [Part A (5 of 9)]
The objective of this Annex is to enable State Parties to work together to identify, categorise, monitor and subsequently eliminate Non-Tariff Barriers.
Scope of the African Continental Free Trade Area – Part A (6 of 9)
In our concluding remarks for the Technical barriers to trade, we pointed out that no amount of Free Trade Concessions is worth the compromise on safety and quality.
![Scope of the African Continental Free Trade Area – Part [A (7 of 9)]](https://panafreeka.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Pana-new-trade-image.jpg)
Scope of the African Continental Free Trade Area – Part [A (7 of 9)]
One potential victim to International Trade Agreements is Domestic Industries. This is because Trade agreements tend to lower the barrier to entry into a domestic market. This is where Trade remedies come in as they are actions available to Domestic Governments to act against imports which may be causing material injury to the Domestic Industry.