The Washington Post reported on a new African free-trade deal that would include all 54 countries. Here’s what you need to know about the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA):
- The CFTA would constitute the largest free-trade area in the world.
- It’s part of a larger global trend of mega-regional trade agreements.
- The CFTA would help African countries develop.
- The CFTA would boost African trade by more than 50 percent.
- The CFTA will build off the ECOWAS and TFTA agreements.
- The CFTA has widespread political and economic support.
- 2017 is the target deadline.
This is exciting news, so long as it is more successful than previous trade deals.