From the tripartite to the continental free trade areas: Designs, outcomes and implications for african trade and integration

Abstract

The African pursuit of economic development through regional integration has a long history but has had mixed results. The implementation of agreements has not kept pace with political ambition, and deadlines are frequently adjusted. Most of the Regional Economic Communities have significant membership overlap, resulting in duplication and legal uncertainty. Implementation remains a problem, while regional institutions do not enjoy supra-national powers. This chapter discusses the most recent African integration endeavours, the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). They have a broader coverage and aim at consolidating and expanding existing African regional integration arrangements. Their designs, the outcomes of some of the negotiations, and the context in which they will be implemented are discussed and assessed. These developments shed light on contemporary African trade and integration endeavours and the associated difficulties.