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Symposium on WTO Trade Facilitation for African Countries AU’s Action Plan for Fast Tracking the CFTA Nairobi, Kenya November 13-15, 2012. Outline. Current Position Summit Decision Action Plan on Boosting Intra-African Trade Organogram of the Road Map Architecture of the CFTA
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Symposium on WTO Trade Facilitation for African CountriesAU’s Action Plan for Fast Tracking the CFTANairobi, KenyaNovember 13-15, 2012
Outline • Current Position • Summit Decision • Action Plan on Boosting Intra-African Trade • Organogram of the Road Map • Architecture of the CFTA • High Level African Trade Committee • Customs Technical Committee • Trade Facilitation within the Continent
Current Position • Africa remains at 2.7 % of global trade • WTO, AGOA & EPA • Intra- African trade 12.3%. Europe-Over 63%; • Major trading Partners- Europe and USA • Asia - China becoming more important; • informal trade is significant • 46% of intra African trade are manufactures • Poor infrastructure, Trade facilitation • Low industrial base, trade information, etc
Summit Decision 2012 Assembly Decision AU/Dec.394 (XVIII) • Establish a Pan Africa Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) by an indicative date of 2017 • Endorsed Action Plan for Boosting Intra-African Trade • Addresses the fundamental issues , PIDA, AIDA, MIP • Endorsed the Framework, Road Map and Architecture • Negotiations, Governance , M&E • Market Integration • Develop a framework for conclusion of a draft agreement on Rules of Origin by December 2012 • Calls on Partners to support implementation of; • the Action Plan on Boosting Intra African Trade • the Establishment of the CFTA
Action Plan on Boosting Intra African Trade Seven Clusters of the Action Plan • Trade Policy • Trade Facilitation • Productive Capacity • Trade Related Infrastructure • Trade Finance • Trade Information • Factor Market Integration Time Frames - ST,MT,LT
Organogram of the Road Map • TFTA by 2014 • Similar Processto the tripartite • (N-W-C) • Join the tripartite • Other MS outside FTAs to Join • CFTA Neg 2015-16 • Acquis –Reg FTA • No roll backs
African Trade Forum (ATF) • Serve as Pan-African platform for reflection & discussions on progress & challenges • Organized annually jointly by AUC & UNECA • Participants are stakeholders in dvpt of intra-African Trade (Ms; Recs; pvt sector; civil society; researchers; academia; dvp partners etc) • Outcomes presented to Conf of AU Ministers of Trade
High -Level African Trade Committee (HATC) • Chairpersons of RECS (Heads of State and Government) • Organ of the Assembly of Heads of State and Governments • role of champions • for the acceleration of the CFTA • enhancement of intra-African Trade. • Platform for exchange of experiences and best practices as • Co-ordinatingand harmonizing action towards the CFTA. • Overseeing the effective implementation of the Action Plan • Meets every Summit • Review implementation • make recommendations to the Summit.
Customs Technical Committee (CTC) • Reports to & serve as the TC of the Conference of AU Ministers of Trade - Customs matters & any other issues relating to facilitation of Intra-African Trade • Composed of ; • National - Directors –General / Heads of Customs Administrations AU MS • RECs/AUC - Directors/Heads of Customs Departments/Divisions
Customs Technical Committee (CTC) Functions • develop and submit proposals to the Conference of AU Ministers of Trade on issues such as • Rules of Origin , • customs regulations and procedures, • transit procedures, etc • implement the decisions of the policy organs of the AU on the facilitation of intra-African trade.
Overview of Trade Facilitation • A major factor in the low level of intra-African trade has been the numerous trade facilitation constraints. • Removal of these constraints is critical to boosting trade among African countries. • Reduction of all unnecessary roadblocks • Harmonization & simplifying customs & transit procedures, documentation & regulations • Establishment & operationalization of OSBPs • Integrated Border Management