Harmonizing and strengthening trade facilitation measures and programmes

Africa’s dependence on overseas trade of more than 80 per cent, and intra-African trade of just 10 per cent, contrast sharply with other regions: intraregional trade in North America is 40 per cent and in Western Europe is 60 per cent. If Africa trades more with itself, it can take advantage of shorter travel distances, but to make good on this natural advantage it must do more to remove tariff and non-tariff barriers and boost its industrial base.

Related Subject(s): Economic and Social Development