As trade ministers gather for the World Trade Organization’s ministerial conference in Yaoundé this week, analysts say African countries have a chance to push for fairer global trade rules that better support development. Many nations on the continent still struggle with barriers such as farm subsidies in wealthy economies, weak implementation of support programs, and limited infrastructure that keeps them reliant on raw material exports. Experts argue the meeting could become a turning point if African leaders focus on three priorities: reforming agricultural trade, expanding opportunities in e-commerce, and pushing for green industrialization rules that allow local processing of Africa’s vast critical mineral wealth. Strengthening these areas could help African economies move up the value chain, attract investment, and reduce long-standing disadvantages in global markets.
The Conversation
