African Union Trade Deal Tops $220 Billion as AfCFTA Tariffs Cover Just 25 Countries

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has achieved formal ratification from 49 out of 54 African Union member states, according to July 2025 data. However, the trade benefits of AfCFTA are only physically accessible in about 25 countries, creating a complex trade landscape. By July 2025, only 17 out of 49 states had filed complete tariff schedules, and the remaining unresolved tariff lines were primarily in textiles, clothing, and automotive products.

Despite these challenges, intra-African trade reached between $213.8 billion and $220 billion in 2025, with forecasts suggesting it could reach $250 billion by 2026. The implementation of AfCFTA is not uniform across the continent, with some countries already allowing duty-free access while others remain in legal limbo. The African Continental Free Trade Area's standard structure involves liberalizing 90% of tariff lines, designating 7% as sensitive, and excluding 3%.

The exclusion of the latter basket preserves full protection for politically important products. Despite the progress, the AfCFTA is not a blanket zero-tariff regime. The regulatory environment is still evolving, with rules of origin agreement on 92.43% of tariff lines, but implementation still lags in many countries. The certificates of origin, which prove a product's eligibility for preferential duty treatment, have been issued by state parties, indicating that preferential trade is indeed occurring.

The AfCFTA is not just a diplomatic agreement; it is a two-speed trading system where half the continent can already clear goods under AfCFTA, while the other half remains stuck in legal limbo. For foreign exporters or importers, the difference between these two halves can determine whether a shipment clears duty-free or pays the old full tariff.