Symposium on WTO Trade Facilitation for African Countries AU’s Action Plan for Fast Tracking the CFTA Nairobi, Kenya Nov

1. Symposium on WTO Trade Facilitation for African CountriesAU’s Action Plan for Fast Tracking the CFTANairobi, KenyaNovember 13-15, 2012

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Organogram of the Road Map

7. 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

8. Architecture For The CFTA CTC

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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

14. Thank You For Your Kind Attentionchibayac@africa-union.org