INTERNATIONAL TRADE
AFRICAN TRADE AGREEMENTS
Taken as a region, Africa has not developed the plethora of trade agreements found elsewhere
around the world. Unfortunately for Web users, not all of the existing trade organizations have
created home pages for their agreements, resulting in a lack of information available through the
internet. However, this site will give a brief overview of the major African trade agreements that
have been made to date, and will provide links to these organizations when possible.
Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC)
The CEEAC was established in 1983 to end customs duties and other trade restrictions between
the 10 member countries. It also hopes to establish a common market area by the year 2000.
Common Market for Eastern & Southern Africa (COMESA)
The COMESA has 20 members that enjoy perferential access to markets within the European
Union under the Lome
Convention. COMESA members are working to establish a customs union without tariffs, a
free currency exchange zone, a common external tariff, trade liberalization, and encourage the
free movement of people and goods between member countries. COMESA aims to pool
members collective resources to support the economic development efforts of member countries.
|
| | Members (20): | | |
|
|---|
| Angola | Burundi | Comoros | Eritrea
|
| Ethiopia | Kenya | Madagascar | Malawi
|
| Mauritius | Mozambique | Namibia | Rwanda
|
| Sudan | Swaziland | Tanzania | Uganda
|
| Zaire | Zambia | Zimbabwe
|
Information about the Common Market for Eastern &
Southern Africa
Economic Community of Western African States (ECOWAS)
Between its 16 member countries, ECOWAS aims to encourage economic development.
|
| | Members (16): | | |
|
|---|
| Angola | Burundi | Comoros | Eritrea
|
| Ethiopia | Kenya | Madagascar | Malawi
|
| Mauritius | Mozambique | Namibia | Rwanda
|
| Sudan | Swaziland | Tanzania | Uganda
|
| Zaire | Zambia | Zimbabwe
|
Economic Community of Western African States
Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern African States
(PTA)
The PTA was established in 1981 to promote economic cooperation between member states,
particularly in the areas of agriculture, industry, transportation, and communications. It also aims
to facilitate international trade through the lowering of tariff barriers between states.
|
| | Members (22): | | | |
|
|---|
| Angola | Burundi | Comoros | Djibuti | Eritrea
|
| Ethiopia | Kenya | Lesotho | Madagascar | Malawi
|
| Mauritius | Mozambique | Namibia | Rwanda | Seychelles
|
| Somalia | Sudan | Swaziland | Tanzania | Uganda
|
| Zambia | Zimbabwe
|
Southern Africa Development Community (SADC)
One of the more well African known trade agreements, SADC was formed in 1992 to promote
economic development among southern African states. The 12 member states include Angola,
Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland,
Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
|
| | Members (12): | | |
|
|---|
| Angola | Botswana | Lesotho | Malawi
|
| Mauritius | Mozambique | Namibia | South Africa
|
| Swaziland | Tanzania | Zambia | Zimbabwe
|
The Southern Africa Development Community Home Page.
More Informationon the
SADC.
West African Trade Organization (WATO)
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