The African Continental Free Trade Area in a Decaying Multilateral Trading System: Questioning the Relevance of the Enabling Clause

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Regis Y. Simo
Keyword(s):  
Free Trade ◽  
Free Trade Area ◽  
Trading System ◽  
Trade Area ◽  
Multilateral Trading System ◽  
Enabling Clause

Liberalizing Regional Trade Regimes Through AfCFTA: Challenges and Opportunities

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 297-318
Author(s):  
Chidebe Matthew Nwankwo ◽  
Collins Chikodili Ajibo
Keyword(s):  
Free Trade ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Free Trade Area ◽  
Trade Agreement ◽  
Trading System ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Trade Area ◽  
Multilateral Trading System ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Trade Regimes

AbstractThe ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) marked a landmark event in the quest to achieve intra-African free trade. AfCFTA is poised to represent the largest free trade area outside the World Trade Organization. Although AfCFTA aspires to liberalize intra-African trade in goods and services to foster socio-economic development, there are concerns that capacity constraints may stultify the underlying goals. AfCFTA is expected to build on the considerable successes already achieved by Africa's regional economic communities. However, it fails to clarify how the overlapping regimes will be reconciled and harmonized. Nevertheless, the agreement is laudable for its quest to facilitate intra-African trade, foster regional value chains that can facilitate integration into the global economy, and energize industrialization, competitiveness and innovation. This article examines the celebrated AfCFTA to understand its potential amid local realities and the possible implications for the multilateral trading system.

scholarly journals The Southern African Development Community Trade Legal Instruments Compliance with Certain Criteria of GATT Article XXIV

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 286
Author(s):  
A Saurombe
Keyword(s):  
Free Trade ◽  
Free Trade Area ◽  
Trade Agreements ◽  
Regional Trade Agreements ◽  
Regional Trade ◽  
Trading System ◽  
Legal Principles ◽  
Customs Unions ◽  
Trade Area ◽  
Multilateral Trading System

Article XXIV of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) lays down the legal principles with which regional trade agreements have to conform.  Based on these principles, WTO members have the mandate to determine the legality of Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) under the GATT.  Article XXIV permits both regional and bilateral preferential trade agreements leading to the formation of customs unions and free trade areas, and seeks to integrate them in the multilateral trading system envisioned for the world.  SADC is an RTA created under this Article. Notwithstanding the controversies surrounding the provisions and interpretation of Article XXIV, this paper seeks to establish the extent to which the SADC Protocol on Trade and free trade area comply with WTO rules. An analysis of selected Article XXIV provisions and the SADC Trade Protocol provisions will be undertaken in trying to establish this compliance.

Negotiating the Free Trade Area of the Americas

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zuleika Arashiro
Keyword(s):  
Free Trade ◽  
Free Trade Area ◽  
Trade Area

Does the China-Korea Free Trade Area Promote the Green Total Factor Productivity of China’s Manufacturing Industry?

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 27-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zuan-Kuo Liu ◽  
Fei-Fei Cao ◽  
Bolayog Dennis
Keyword(s):  
Total Factor Productivity ◽  
Free Trade ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Free Trade Area ◽  
Factor Productivity ◽  
Trade Area

Regional Alliances - Free Trade Area of Americas Agreement

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry Fowler
Keyword(s):  
Free Trade ◽  
Free Trade Area ◽  
Trade Area
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