Report on international and intra-African trade

Abstract

This report focuses on developments in international and intra-African trade in 2012. The report first outlines African trade performance focusing on recent trends in merchandise, services, and intraregional trade. Second, it discusses issues related to trade facilitation, export diversification and intra-African trade. Third, it reviews progress of negotiations under the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) and the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), as well as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the increasing importance of South-South cooperation with China and other Asian economies. Fourth, the report draws conclusions from the Aid for Trade (AfT) initiative and in particular, assesses the impact of AfT, prior to concluding with policy recommendations.