Digital trade is fast taking root in Africa, with e-commerce platform businesses having emerged in recent years. This development necessarily leads to different parties interacting at the ‘e- marketplace’. This interaction involves the consumers on one hand, and e-commerce platforms and third parties- mostly owners of the merchandise, on the other. But, what is the … Continue reading Digital Trade and Competition Policy in Africa- Contextualising the Jumia Group Decision
Trade and Climate Change- Part One
World leaders are currently gathered in Egypt, attending the 27th Climate Change Conference (COP 27). COP 27 is taking place against a backdrop the devastating consequences of climate change-which have had a negative impact on the livelihoods. To underline the fact that human population faces an existential threat, Antonio Guterres the UN Chief, while at COP27 noted that … Continue reading Trade and Climate Change- Part One
Africa Trade Law and Policy Update: Calls for Reform of the Multilateral Financial Framework
Welcome to this week’s Trade Policy and Law Update which highlights developments, and issues arising in trade law and policy that are relevant to African countries. Afronomicslaw African Sovereign Debt Justice Network (ASJDN) has led these calls for IMF’s governance reforms in its thought provoking piece, which makes certain important points. First, that IMF undertake … Continue reading Africa Trade Law and Policy Update: Calls for Reform of the Multilateral Financial Framework
Trade Remedies in Kenya vis a vis Trade Remedies in the East African Community
The East African Community (EAC) has been touted as one of the most integrated Regional Economic Communities in Africa continent. This integration under the EAC treaty law extends to certain aspects of customs management and in particular trade remedies. Accordingly, all the EAC countries are expected to have uniform trade remedies. Kenya’s Trade Remedies law … Continue reading Trade Remedies in Kenya vis a vis Trade Remedies in the East African Community
Highlights Of The MC 12- WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference
What Is WTO ,and How Did It Come About?- Some Background Information Basically, The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by most of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. This … Continue reading Highlights Of The MC 12- WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference
Trade Remedies in Kenya vis- a- vis Trade Remedies in the East African Community
The East African Community (EAC) has been touted as one of the most integrated Regional Economic Communities in Africa. This integration under the EAC treaty law extends to certain aspects of customs management and in particular trade remedies. Accordingly, all the EAC countries are expected to have uniform trade remedies. However, Kenya’s Trade Remedies law … Continue reading Trade Remedies in Kenya vis- a- vis Trade Remedies in the East African Community
Commentary: Africa Regional Integration Index Report 2019
The African Union (AU) recently launched the Africa Regional Integration Index Report 2019 indication the level of integration on the African continent. As African countries ready themselves to trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), it perhaps important that occasionally we look at the status of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) more so … Continue reading Commentary: Africa Regional Integration Index Report 2019
Key Trade Policy and Trade Law Issues In December 2020: The EAC and The AfCFTA
2020 is coming to an end, albeit unceremoniously partly due to the fact that that for the most part the world has been struggling with Covid-19 pandemic. In terms of trade, the ramifications of the pandemic on business have been huge, for the trade policy makers, the multilateral trading system, the global and regional supply … Continue reading Key Trade Policy and Trade Law Issues In December 2020: The EAC and The AfCFTA
Pandemic-Related Border Measures: Is EAC Integration a Mirage?
Whereas there has generally been lack of ambition by the Partners States to fully implement the Treaty, there has been some form of trade within the region as the leadership has somehow tried to stop the simmering tension from blowing into an all-out destructive animosity.
WTO and Covid-19; A Look at Notifications Under The Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement)
In their efforts to achieve this , countries have to delicately balance the need to the goods to move into their territories without restrictions, and the enforcing measures necessary to protect human, animal or plant life or health.
Global Rush For Personal Protective Equipment; A Look at Regional Value Chains and Lessons For Africa
Africa Headed for Increased Infections As at the time of this write-up , the Covid-19 pandemic is just settling in in the African continent. with the numbers expected to rise dramatically in the coming weeks. A continent a few weeks ago that was ‘boasting’ of being blessed just as the World Health Organization (WHO) was … Continue reading Global Rush For Personal Protective Equipment; A Look at Regional Value Chains and Lessons For Africa
TRADE AND LABOUR STANDARDS
WTO Discussions, and Decisions on Labour Standards At the Multilateral level, every member of the WTO is committed to a narrower set of internationally recognized core labour standards namely freedom of association, no forced labour, no child labour, and no discrimination at work (including gender discrimination). Previously, at the Singapore Ministerial Conference, WTO members did … Continue reading TRADE AND LABOUR STANDARDS
THE BELT AND ROAD INTIATIVE, GLOBAL GATEWAY AND BLUE DOT NETWORK: WHAT DO THEY MEAN FOR AFRICA’S INFRASTRUCTURE?
Since the initiation of the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) by China in 2013, a massive infrastructure initiative stretching from East Asia to Europe, some global powers have attempted to offer competing models. First was the US through the Blue Dot Network, and most recently, the European Union’s Global Gateway announced by the EU’s President during … Continue reading THE BELT AND ROAD INTIATIVE, GLOBAL GATEWAY AND BLUE DOT NETWORK: WHAT DO THEY MEAN FOR AFRICA’S INFRASTRUCTURE?
Is The East African Community (EAC) Ready For A Customs Union? Or Is EAC Integration Nearing Collapse? Lessons From Kenya -Uganda Milk Dispute
Thoughts from the recent past…still relevant~
Background
In his recent speech Kenya’s president gave certain directions regarding agriculture and the speech read in part as follows;
“ In the agricultural sector, our farmers have continued to get high milk yields. However due to the excess supply , they are receiving very low prices for their milk. The situation has been exacerbated by the incursion of powdered milk which is smuggled into Kenya from outside our Eastern Africa Region. This has caused financial hardship to dairy farmers. As part of my intent and pledge to the milk farmers , I have given three practical directives:
One, I have directed the National Treasury to release 500 million shillings to the new KCC to purchase excess milk to convert it into powder milk for future use.
Two I have directed the National Treasury to release further 575 million shillings to new KCC for two milk plants , one…
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Africa Trade Policy and Law Update NO. 2 of 2022
Welcome Africa Trade Policy and Law Update which puts together some of the key developments in trade policy and trade law in Africa, while at the same time spotlighting what these mean for trade regional integration in Africa. Infrastructure The AfDB reports of an approval of its first strategic framework for the development of public-private … Continue reading Africa Trade Policy and Law Update NO. 2 of 2022
Patrick's Trade Digest 