Dr Mukhisa brainchild - AU free trade zone takes shape

[Nefertiti]

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Behold the AfCFTA is here

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/business-news/article/2001398890/african-free-trade-bloc-opens-for-business-but-challenges-remain

https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20201207/new-tool-enables-african-businesses-find-continent-wide-trade-opportunities

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/business-news/article/2001398890/african-free-trade-bloc-opens-for-business-but-challenges-remain

[gout]

Anything to do with less taxes in Africa will not go anywhere. Anything that can be taxed will be milked dry.

https://www.ft.com/content/bc612590-d38e-4d08-a1e1-0e7f5e19be30

Most of the trade apart from foodstuff is Chinese imports - plastics, plastics, clothes, electronics - no other option but tax them at the border points - it is the only 'value addition'. 

[Nefertiti]

@gout - thanks for your value addition to this thread

[Arcadian_Dreamer]

Anything to do with less taxes in Africa will not go anywhere. Anything that can be taxed will be milked dry.

https://www.ft.com/content/bc612590-d38e-4d08-a1e1-0e7f5e19be30

Most of the trade apart from foodstuff is Chinese imports - plastics, plastics, clothes, electronics - no other option but tax them at the border points - it is the only 'value addition'. 

Na so ma broda!

What passes for trade in Kenya and most of Sub Saharan Africa is importation of Chinese plastics.  We  are a giant dumping ground for Chinese made stuff.

Africans will be the last people to get the merits of low taxation and laissez faire economics

Spot on Gout.

[Nefertiti]

It goes without saying agricultural economies have nothing but foods, flowers, minerals and raw materials to export. No need for spouting and self-loathing. On the other hand if Ethiopia or Egypt can innovate- such AU sources should be favored. An unproductive economy will always be badly off. That's not news.

What I really see - seal off the AU market for foods, value adds, low tech - and compete among the AU members. Favorable or complete tariff freedom can give budding Ethiopian industry a shot against say Turkey, India or Thailand.