Africa is set to become world’s largest free trade area

April 23, 2019

What happened?

Earlier this month, Gambia approved the ratification of the Africa Free Continental Agreement (AFCTA). The continent therewith reached the threshold of 22 countries for the agreement to come into force, over a year after it was brokered by the African Union and signed by 44 countries. Nigeria’s lack of commitment is a weakness, regarding the country’s economic power, but as the agreement would benefit the country and other high-income countries such as South Africa and Egypt have already signed up for AFCTA, Nigeria is likely to join later. The AFCTA could be a major force on the global economic stage, as it’s to become the world’s largest trade area and could show unity and multilateralism in a world of increasing protectionism.

What does this mean?

More important maybe than the effects it might have on a global scale, are the impacts of such an agreement on the continent and the individual countries themselves. In 2019, Africa will be home to several of the world's fastest-growing economies, but if intra-continental trade does not increase, the continent will remain dependent on foreign powers rather than benefit from this growth. Africa’s intra-continental trade is less than 15% of total African exports (in comparison to 58% for Asia and 67% for Europe). The agreement could boost intra-African trade by 52% by 2022, by removing trade barriers and allowing the free movement of goods, services, and people across Africa. As the agreement is yet to be implemented, the question remains: will countries dare to fully execute this long-term strategic, pan-African plan? UN research shows that eliminating all tariffs between African countries would take an annual $4.1 billion out of the trading states' reserves, but would create an overall annual welfare gain of $16.1 billion in the long run. The gains could be high, but some also fear that the agreement will lead to increased competition, primarily benefiting the present economic powerhouses, such as South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Egypt.

What's next?

AFCTA’s operational phase will be launched in July. As AFCTA is part of a long-term continental integration strategy, the encouragement of intra-continental trade in the first phase will be followed later by the creation of an African common market and monetary union in later phases. Aside from reduced tariffs, more integration and movement of goods and people will have to start with better connectivity. Often, transiting in Europe is easier than travelling directly between African neighboring countries. Africa's first cross-continental, high-speed train is now in the making and AU experts envision a high-speed rail network by 2063, linking all African capitals and commercial centers.

Series 'AI Metaphors'

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1. The tool
Category: the object
Humans shape tools.

We make them part of our body while we melt their essence with our intentions. They require some finesse to use but they never fool us or trick us. Humans use tools, tools never use humans.

We are the masters determining their course, integrating them gracefully into the minutiae of our everyday lives. Immovable and unyielding, they remain reliant on our guidance, devoid of desire and intent, they remain exactly where we leave them, their functionality unchanging over time.

We retain the ultimate authority, able to discard them at will or, in today's context, simply power them down. Though they may occasionally foster irritation, largely they stand steadfast, loyal allies in our daily toils.

Thus we place our faith in tools, acknowledging that they are mere reflections of our own capabilities. In them, there is no entity to venerate or fault but ourselves, for they are but inert extensions of our own being, inanimate and steadfast, awaiting our command.
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2. The machine
Category: the object
Unlike a mere tool, the machine does not need the guidance of our hand, operating autonomously through its intricate network of gears and wheels. It achieves feats of motion that surpass the wildest human imaginations, harboring a power reminiscent of a cavalry of horses. Though it demands maintenance to replace broken parts and fix malfunctions, it mostly acts independently, allowing us to retreat and become mere observers to its diligent performance. We interact with it through buttons and handles, guiding its operations with minor adjustments and feedback as it works tirelessly. Embodying relentless purpose, laboring in a cycle of infinite repetition, the machine is a testament to human ingenuity manifested in metal and motion.
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3. The robot
Category: the object
There it stands, propelled by artificial limbs, boasting a torso, a pair of arms, and a lustrous metallic head. It approaches with a deliberate pace, the LED bulbs that mimic eyes fixating on me, inquiring gently if there lies any task within its capacity that it may undertake on my behalf. Whether to rid my living space of dust or to fetch me a chilled beverage, this never complaining attendant stands ready, devoid of grievances and ever-willing to assist. Its presence offers a reservoir of possibilities; a font of information to quell my curiosities, a silent companion in moments of solitude, embodying a spectrum of roles — confidant, servant, companion, and perhaps even a paramour. The modern robot, it seems, transcends categorizations, embracing a myriad of identities in its service to the contemporary individual.
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4. Intelligence
Category: the object
We sit together in a quiet interrogation room. My questions, varied and abundant, flow ceaselessly, weaving from abstract math problems to concrete realities of daily life, a labyrinthine inquiry designed to outsmart the ‘thing’ before me. Yet, with each probe, it responds with humanlike insight, echoing empathy and kindred spirit in its words. As the dialogue deepens, my approach softens, reverence replacing casual engagement as I ponder the appropriate pronoun for this ‘entity’ that seems to transcend its mechanical origin. It is then, in this delicate interplay of exchanging words, that an unprecedented connection takes root that stirs an intense doubt on my side, am I truly having a dia-logos? Do I encounter intelligence in front of me?
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5. The medium
Category: the object
When we cross a landscape by train and look outside, our gaze involuntarily sweeps across the scenery, unable to anchor on any fixed point. Our expression looks dull, and we might appear glassy-eyed, as if our eyes have lost their function. Time passes by. Then our attention diverts to the mobile in hand, and suddenly our eyes light up, energized by the visual cues of short videos, while our thumbs navigate us through the stream of content. The daze transforms, bringing a heady rush of excitement with every swipe, pulling us from a state of meditative trance to a state of eager consumption. But this flow is pierced by the sudden ring of a call, snapping us again to a different kind of focus. We plug in our earbuds, intermittently shutting our eyes, as we withdraw further from the immediate physical space, venturing into a digital auditory world. Moments pass in immersed conversation before we resurface, hanging up and rediscovering the room we've left behind. In this cycle of transitory focus, it is evident that the medium, indeed, is the message.
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6. The artisan
Category: the human
The razor-sharp knife rests effortlessly in one hand, while the other orchestrates with poised assurance, steering clear of the unforgiving edge. The chef moves with liquid grace, with fluid and swift movements the ingredients yield to his expertise. Each gesture flows into the next, guided by intuition honed through countless repetitions. He knows what is necessary, how the ingredients will respond to his hand and which path to follow, but the process is never exactly the same, no dish is ever truly identical. While his technique is impeccable, minute variation and the pursuit of perfection are always in play. Here, in the subtle play of steel and flesh, a master chef crafts not just a dish, but art. We're witnessing an artisan at work.
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About the author(s)

Researcher Julia Rijssenbeek focuses on our relationship to nature, sustainable and technological transitions in the food system, and the geopolitics of our global food sytems. She is currently working on her PhD in philosophy of technology at Wageningen University, investigating how synthetic biology might alter philosophical ideas about nature and the values we hold, as well as what a bio-based future may bring.

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