Home Business AfCFTA Problems Won’t Be Solved by Having an African Director-General at WTO

AfCFTA Problems Won’t Be Solved by Having an African Director-General at WTO

by The Ghana HIT

While speaking in an interview, Maame Awinador Kanyirige, an International Trade Law expert has made it clear that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will receive a zero impact from the appointment of an African as the President of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Kanyirige expounded on her statement saying that AfCFTA is confined in the laws of the WTO and therefore having an African boss will not change the trade laws and tariffs for the subscribed countries under it.

“Having an African as the Director-General of the WTO won’t necessarily have an impact on the African Continental Free Trade Area. Countries that are party to the WTO have subscribed to the WTO law which is the general agreement on tariffs and trade. And article 24 of that law covers free trade and regional agreements. So the AfCFTA has been designed in such a way that it is in accordance with the WTO law. So the entire AfCFTA agreement is restricted within the laws of the WTO. So, an African being at the top doesn’t necessarily affect the AfCFTA.” Ms. Kanyirige stated.

The International Trade Law expert instead urged African leaders to focus on putting in place measures to enhance the AfCFTA and make it visible to draw the attention of the new president to set up policies that will settle trade disputes against the WTO.

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