Implementing the AfCFTA: a sluggish start

It is widely recognized that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could have a transformative impact on African economies and strengthen policy coherence on trade and development across the continent. After the rapid conclusion of three AfCFTA negotiation phases, implementation has been sluggish. Two major initiatives emerged to drive implementation: institutional arrangements at country level to underpin policies and strategies for benefiting from the AfCFTA; and the Guided Trade Initiative to support start of trading between selected AfCFTA member states. Both initiatives are assessed in this chapter. However, without advancing to full AfCFTA implementation, the expected transformative impact may prove to be elusive.