Continental agreement, country implementation: Making the AfCFTA a reality

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement was negotiated at the continental level. However, much of its implementation and gains will be at country level. Trading under the deal is set to begin 1 July 2020 with the first installment of tariff dismantlement. Now the real test is how quickly and effectively the agreement’s state parties (as the signatories that have ratified the Agreement are known) can implement it.