Leaders and delegates gather at the Africa Union summit to discuss regional development and strategic partnerships in Africa.
As US tariffs under President Donald Trump take effect, African exporters face steep new costs that threaten their access to a major market. For most African countries, the tariffs were set at 15%. However, others faced rates as high as 30%. While trade with America has been waning in recent years, these tariffs could accelerate the continent’s shift toward alternative partners. Experts argue this could spark a pivot toward intra-African trade, tapping the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Despite the agreement’s promise of boosting intra-African trade by 52% by 2035, progress has been slowed by infrastructure gaps, non-tariff barriers, and fragmented regulations. The AfCFTA holds massive potential to transform trade on the continent, but Africa must resolve the barriers that hinder its implementation.
OkayAfrica