African free trade

New opportunities for South African agriculture: the African Continental Free Trade Area

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Tshepo Morokong, Louw Pienaar, Wandile Sihlobo on 16 February 2021

The new African Free Continental Trade Area phases out 90% of tariffs on all goods traded between African Union member states over a 5 to 10 year period. This seeks to boost intra-African trade and investment in regional value chains. The current 41% share of SA agricultural exports that goes to Africa is concentrated in SADC. The opening of other markets presents an opportunity for further expansion in goods such as oranges, apples and wine.