COMESA-SADC-EAC Tripartite Free Trade Area: Challenges and Prospects

Dr. Samar H. Albagoury – Institute of African Research and Studies-Cairo University
Dr. Mahmoud Anber – Faculty of Commerce – Aswan University
Democratic Arab Center
Journal of Afro-Asian Studies Second Issue – July 2019
A Periodical International Journal published by the “Democratic Arab Center” Germany – Berlin. The journal deals with the field of Afro-Asian strategic, political and economic studies
:Abstract
In Sharm ElShiekh, Egypt, 2015 the member states of three major African regional economic blocks: COMESA, SADC and EAC, agreed on establishing a common free trade area called COMESA-EAC-SADC TFTA. Establishing this FTA is considered as a major step towards Africa’s Continental trade integration which is one of the main objectives of Africa 2063 Agenda. This paper aims to identify the potential impacts of the integration among those three RECs on various aspects of economic growth including welfare, trade, price effects, and government’s revenues and to identify the main obstacles and challenges that may hinder achieving these potentials.