COVID-19 Pandemic and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement

The existence of Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) is not a new phenomenon to the African continent. RTAs are founded on an unwavering desire to foster economic growth and sustainable development in Africa through trade enhancement. Accordingly, the formation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) was aimed at enabling Africa to reach trade liberalisation and ultimately sustainable development. The expectation is that the Tripartite Agreement will be a pivotal step to escape from the constraints of the split-up economies of Africa’s past. However, as inspiring as these objectives are, the existing barriers to trade within the multilateral trade system are still of concern. Trade under the AfCFTA was expected to commence in 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this timeframe was pushed back. COVID-19 has tested the fundamental principle that underpins the AfCFTA—enhanced integrated decision-making as States demonstrated the primacy of national interests at the expense of advancing regional trade. This chapter aims to examine whether the AfCFTA can indeed be considered a beacon of hope in ensuring market access for the African region. The chapter also analyzes if the impact of the global pandemic on the inception of AfCFTA trade could be a compelling reason to remodel and build a more resilient AfCFTA.