The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) is a project of the African Union (AU). Founded in 2018, it ambitiously aims ‘to create a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of business persons and investments’. Virtually all of the 55 AU member states have signed the agreement.

 

While some negotiations still have to be finalised, ACFTA officially commenced on 1 January this year. The idea is that the continental project will be phased in.

 

In this video, Prof Raymond Parsons talks to Minister Ebrahim Patel about his views of the Trade Agreement.