What complicates the negotiations is that Africa was already divided into eight separate free trade areas and/or customs unions, with different rules. [Note 1] These regional forums will continue to exist; The African Continental Free Trade Agreement aims, first, to remove barriers to trade between the various pillars of the African Economic Community and, finally, to use these regional organizations as building blocks of the ultimate goal of an Africa-wide customs union. [21] [30] [31] [32] The Kigali Summit highlighted convergences in the areas of trade protocols, dispute settlement procedures, customs cooperation, trade facilitation and rules of origin. This was part of Phase I of the agreement, which includes the liberalisation of goods and services. An agreement was also reached to reduce tariffs to 90% of all goods. Each nation may exclude 3% of the goods from this Agreement. [25] The following institutions have been established to facilitate the implementation of the free trade area. As a result of the Phase II negotiations, there is an possibility to create more committees on minutes. [38] Rwanda is an open economy.

For Rwandan companies, it is important to go beyond our borders, explore more opportunities and expand markets. Trade agreements signed by the government can help companies export. Describes the bilateral and multilateral trade agreements in which this country participates, including with the United States. Contains websites and other resources for U.S. companies to obtain additional information on how they can use these agreements The IFCFTA Secretariat is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the agreement and is an autonomous body within the AU system. Although it has an independent legal personality, it works closely with the AU Commission and receives its budget from the AU. The Council of Ministers responsible for trade decides on the location of the head office, structure, role and competences. [35] The Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union is the supreme decision-making body.

It will likely meet at AU summits. [39] The Council of Ministers responsible for trade oversees strategic trade policy and ensures the effective implementation and enforcement of the AfCFTA Agreement. [39] Several committees have been established for trade in goods, trade in services, rules of origin, trade measures, non-tariff barriers, technical barriers to trade, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures. . . .