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Articles by Trudi Hartzenberg
Is it time for Africa? Trade integration on the African continent
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was established in 2018, among 54 out of the continent´s 55 states. It has the potential to become the largest free trade agreement in the world, creating a single market of 1.5 billion people. Since trade commenced under the agreement in 2021, progress has been mixed, but integration is moving steadily forward. What is the state of play today, and what are the main objectives on a short-term basis?
The lawfulness of Trump’s tariffs is still undecided
Blog 22 Sep 2025 Gerhard Erasmus,Trudi Hartzenberg On inauguration day (20 January 2025), President Trump issued an Executive Order – America First Trade Policy – in which he declared that US trade (in goods) imbalances constituted a national emergency. He then proceeded to issue further Executive Orders imposing additional various duties on goods imported into the US; without any effort to justify them as World Trade Organisation (WTO) compatible exemptions.
Botswana and Namibia concluded an agreement on the movement of persons
On 24 February 2023, Botswana and Namibia concluded a bilateral agreement on the movement of persons.[1] This is an important regional development. What is the context and what are the implications? Amnesty International’s Director for East and Southern Africa has written that this agreement is a step in the right direction.
With the SACU tariff offer in the bag, what happens next to AfCFTA trade?
Blog 08 Mar 2023 Gerhard Erasmus,Trudi Hartzenberg It has been reported that the five member states of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) have recently submitted their joint AfCFTA offer of tariff concessions, and that it meets the required level of ambition.[1] All SACU member states[2] have also ratified the AfCFTA Agreement. The Botswana ratification was the last outstanding one.
The start of “commercially meaningful trade” under the AfCFTA
About The Webinar In this webinar, we’ll provide an update on the recent AfCFTA developments, including the state of ratifications by Member States of the African Union, and the latest on the state of play in the trade in goods and services negotiations. We’ll discuss the outstanding issues (some rules of origin and tariff concessions) that remain on the negotiating table.
The Secretariat is pivotal to the success of the AfCFTA
Blog By Trudi Hartzenberg 17 Aug 2020 A recent World Bank study emphasises the importance of implementation and the reduction of ‘red tape and simplification of customs procedures’ as key to the success of the AfCFTA. Lack of effective implementation and the proliferation of non-tariff barriers are indeed often cited as key factors bedevilling the progress of regional integration. The comprehensive detail of the tasks and responsibilities of the Secretariat is still to be determined.
The AfCFTA creates an additional African Free Trade Area
Blog ~ Gerhard Erasmus,Trudi Hartzenberg As a legal construct, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presently consists of a founding Agreement and three Protocols. The first Protocol establishes a new Free Trade Area (FTA) on the African continent. The second Protocol provides for the liberalization, among the State Parties, of trade in a selected number of services sectors.[1] The third Protocol deals with dispute settlement.
OPINIONISTA: The looming Brexit cliff – what it means for South Africa
SA exporters will need to immediately develop plans to minimise the almost certain disruptions to existing logistical arrangements. On 30 June 2020, the United Kingdom and the European Union passed a final threshold. Although the UK formally left the EU on 31 January in terms of the Withdrawal Agreement between the EU and UK, that agreement provided for a transition phase until 31 December this year which could be extended for a further period if both parties agreed to an extension by 30 June.
AfCFTA is officially in force - now the real work begins
The founding agreement of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) enters into force today. The required number of ratifications has already been deposited and the agreement can now become a binding international legal instrument. This constitutes an important political achievement but will not usher in immediate free trade; several legal instruments must still be finalised. National legal regimes must also be updated to reflect interstate agreements.
Brexit fiasco is a cautionary tale about trying to unravel complex systems
Brexit has become a political and constitutional fiasco due to a flawed process and lack of leadership. Brexit was to have taken place on March 29. This did not happen. The European Council granted the UK an extension until April 12, and then a second extension until October 31 to secure parliamentary support for a withdrawal agreement. The prospects do not look good.
Brexit on Tour in Africa
Prime Minister Theresa May made a brief visit last week to South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria. These are the large, anchor economies of Southern, East and West Africa. They are also all members of the Commonwealth. British media reports said she was hoping to strengthen ties with growing African economies ahead of Brexit. This may prove to be rather challenging.
2018 SADC Summit - Promoting Infrastructure Development and Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development
The 38th Ordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will take place 17th to 18th August 2018 in Namibia. The occasion of the Summit also provides an opportunity to reflect, beyond this year’s specific theme, more broadly, on SADC’s founding ambitions and to appraise progress in attaining its objectives. This tralacBlog reflects on select trade-related matters currently on the SADC agenda.
Africa takes bold step forward with free-trade agreement
At the extraordinary summit of the AU that convened in Kigali on March 21, 44 of the 55 member states signed the text of a new African free-trade agreement called the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The complete package of legal instruments includes a founding agreement, protocols on trade in goods and services, with annexes on trade-related rules and procedures, and a dispute settlement mechanism. What does this development signal and what could change?
tralac’s Message on Mandela Day: Good Governance and the State
Mandela Day serves to remind and inspire us to strive for social justice. This is the complex and multi-faceted challenge to adopt policies and strategies for addressing poverty and inequality and to promote economic development; and to do so under the guidance of the right compass and within the broader regional and multilateral context. The achievement of the goals associated with the commemoration of Mandela Day requires constant action and vigilance; but also, Good Governance.
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