For decades, African countries have traded more with Europe and Asia than with each other. The structural legacies of colonialism, poor infrastructure, and complex tariff regimes all played a part. But the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which entered into force in 2021, represents a genuine break from that pattern.
By eliminating tariffs on 90% of goods and creating common rules for services and investment, the AfCFTA could add $76 billion to African incomes by 2035, according to World Bank projections. For businesses across the continent, that represents a structural shift in opportunity.
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