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Venue: Online via Zoom

The AfCFTA is a trade agreement between African Union (AU) member states, aiming at creating a single continental market for goods and services as well as a customs union with free movement of capital and persons. The agreement was signed in Kigali in March 2018 by 44 member states and entered into force on 30 May 2019. Its operational phase supposed to begin in July 2019, however, due to the Covid-19 pandemic it is delayed until further notice. Once fully implemented, it becomes the largest free-trade agreement in terms of participating countries since the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The agreement is seen critical for growth and job creation for Africa and its 1.27 billion people. The AfCFTA is an ambitious continental endeavor to boost intra-African trade. It has been launched under the auspices of the AU and is anchored in an international legal regime consisting of an overarching Agreement and (when completed) six additional Protocols. The Protocols contain additional annexes and schedules. These legal instruments constitute one integrated legal compact.