Tripartite Free Trade Area

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The Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) is a partially implemented African free trade agreement between the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Southern African Development Community (SADC) and East African Community (EAC). [1] The 29 tripartite member/partner countries represent 53% of the African Union's membership, more than 60% of continental GDP ($1.88 trillion), and a combined population of 800 million. [2]

Contents

Negotiations between the three trade blocs first began in June 2011. [1] On June 10, 2015, a deal was signed in Egypt, pending ratification by the participating countries. [3]

The TFTA entered into force on July 25, 2024, after the requirement of 14 countries ratifying the agreement had been met. [2] [4] The 14 countries that now trade under the TFTA are Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Egypt, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, accounting for 75% of tripartite GDP in 2022. Djibouti has also ratified the agreement. [2]

The TFTA is intended to become part of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which was kickstarted in 2015 at the 25th African Union Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa and is to include all 54 African Union states as members of the free trade area. [5]

Partner states

CountryCurrent Trade Zone(s)
Flag of Angola.svg  Angola SADC
Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana SADC
Flag of Burundi.svg  Burundi COMESA & EAC
Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros COMESA
Flag of Djibouti.svg  Djibouti COMESA
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  Democratic Republic of the Congo COMESA & SADC
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt COMESA
Flag of Eritrea.svg  Eritrea COMESA
Flag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini COMESA & SADC
Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia COMESA
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya COMESA & EAC
Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho SADC
Flag of Libya.svg  Libya COMESA
Flag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar COMESA & SADC
Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi COMESA & SADC
Flag of Mauritius.svg  Mauritius COMESA & SADC
Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique SADC
Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia SADC
Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda COMESA & EAC
Flag of Seychelles.svg  Seychelles COMESA & SADC
Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia COMESA & EAC
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa SADC
Flag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan EAC
Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan COMESA
Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania SADC & EAC
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia COMESA
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda COMESA & EAC
Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia COMESA & SADC
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe COMESA & SADC

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References

  1. 1 2 "Tripartite Cooperation | SADC". www.sadc.int. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Trade Area to come into force 25th July, 2024". www.eac.int. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  3. "Africa creates TFTA - Cape to Cairo free-trade zone". BBC News. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  4. "EAC, Comesa, Sadc merger into seamless market begins Thursday". The East African. July 22, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  5. Luke, David; Sodipo, Babajide (June 23, 2015). "Launch of the Continental Free Trade Area: New prospects for African trade?". International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development. Retrieved December 26, 2015.