By Latifa Said 

This article tries to present an analogy of the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) Rules of Origin.

The ACFTA is a trade agreement bringing together countries in Africa to remove barriers on intra-Africa trade. Currently, 43 countries have ratified the agreement and the members are referred as state parties. This means this article will be one big party.

Tariff concession (where import duties are removed/lowered for goods traded amongst the members) and Rules of Origin are two integral parts of all trade agreements.

What are the Rules of Origin?

These are specific provisions developed from principles established by national or international agreements, applied by a country to determine the origin of goods (trade in goods). In determining the origin of goods in a trade agreement area, ‘originating’ will refer to certain conditions that have been met to allow those goods to be given tariff concessions. ‘Made in a country’ may not necessarily mean ‘originating.’

Let us actualize our big party in this article. You have a date (could be with your spouse, boy/girlfriend, siblings, children, friend, colleagues, or even with yourself). We are getting ready to go; Argan oil products from Morocco have you cleaned in no time. Let us check the wardrobe for what to wear – Kente material from Ghana and sewn in Nigeria (I hear they have better fundis than ours, no offence to our fundis).  Remember to zip up the zipper from Eswatini on the trouser/skirt.

What is a date without some bling bling? Do I put on the gold-plated watch from South Africa (for the guys)? For the ladies, we are spoilt for choice; do I put on the Tanzanite earrings from Tanzania or the diamond necklace from Namibia. Why settle for one if you can put both of them on.

The leather shoes and handbag/wallet from Ethiopia are next on the list. We are now set to go. We need a ride, calling for an Uber Chapchap that runs on petrol from Nigeria takes us to the restaurant.

At the restaurant, the waiter takes you to your table; made of timber from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). As you settle in, Rwanda music is playing in the background. The waiter brings you beef soup from Uganda’s Ankole cows. The main course consists of steak from Botswana, potatoes from Egypt and greens from Kenya cooked in olive oil from Tunisia. All these the chef prepared using gas from Angola. We are accompanying this with orange juice from Egypt or apple juice from South Africa.

It is getting a bit chilly; we need to put on the Maasai shuka shawl/ jacket from Kenya as we await the desserts. The waiter brings a chocolate cake that the chef made from cocoa from Ivory Coast, sugar from Mauritius (I hear their sugar has sugar in it – meaning sweeter), and wheat flour from Zambia. Accompaniment to the dessert is coffee from Ethiopia or we can be easy on the caffeine and take Kenyan tea.

Time to go back home, the Uber chapchap runs on petrol from Algeria.

 At home, you brush your teeth using the clove toothpaste from Zanzibar. Before you sleep, you reflect on the date and how we can actualize the ACFTA to achieve Agenda 2063 of the African Union: The Africa we want.

I cannot wait for a date with Africa herself.

 Other Resources 

The African Continental Free Trade Area - Rules of Origin Manual