Trade · Africa
—The stakes. AfCFTA preferences are legal in 49 states but physically claimable in only about 25 countries, forcing companies to check specific corridors before assuming duty-free access.
—The date. By March 2026 South Africa reported 25 countries had gazetted tariff schedules, while 92.43 percent of rules of origin lines were already agreed by July 2025.
—The money. Intra-African trade reached between $213.8 billion and $220 billion in 2025, with 2026 forecasts ranging up to $250 billion depending on the reporting source.
—The friction. Textiles, clothing and automotive products held up the final rules of origin, leaving some high-volume industrial goods unable to reliably claim AfCFTA preferences.
