Five years after its launch, the African Continental Free Trade Area has achieved significant legal and political milestones, yet its promise of continental industrialization remains largely unfulfilled. While nearly 50 countries have committed to tariff liberalization, intra-African trade remains stalled at just 16–17% of total trade, constrained by deep-seated structural barriers. Non-tariff measures, complex rules of origin, and fragmented customs systems have proven more binding than tariffs themselves, acting as hidden costs that disrupt supply chains. To move from paper agreements to practical trade, experts recommend targeted fixes: establishing rules-of-origin support centers, harmonizing regulations in key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, and scaling up trade finance and local-currency payments. The next phase must link tariff cuts to industrial policy, ensuring that legal integration translates into real economic transformation for African businesses.
IOL
