Liberalization of world trade globalization and African economic integration : a reassessment of the Abuja treaty process for establishing the African economic community

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the establishment of sub-regional free trade areas in Africa in the context of the regional integration initiative as embodied in the Treaty establishing the AEC, in relation to the objectives and principles of the liberalization of world trade which include conditions for the setting up of regional free trade areas, and which, as a result, pose a time-bound challenge for such free trade arrangements in Africa to succeed. Liberalization of trade constitutes one of the central themes of the African regional integration process.