Zambian govt won’t ratify AfCFTA, needs discussion with stakeholders

The government of Zambia revealed on June 6 that it wouldn't rush to approve the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement until it concludes consultations with all stakeholders.

The Zambian government said on Thursday that it will not rush into ratifying the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement until it concludes consultations with all stakeholders.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will be launched on July 7, 2019 in Niamey, Niger, by the Heads of State and Government at an extraordinary summit of the African Union (AU). The agreement entered into force on May 30, 2019. This follows its ratification by 24 of the 52 signatory countries.

According to Christopher Yaluma, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Zambia won't rush to ratify the agreement before the forthcoming AU Heads of States Summit next month. The wide consultation was meant to ensure that the country instituted mechanisms to ensure that Zambia does not become a dumping site for substandard products.

The Zambian minister, who is in Ethiopia to attend a consultative meeting on the AfCFTA, said the consultative process with relevant stakeholders was still on-going and had not been exhausted to warrant ratification during the operationalization of the agreement at next month's summit, according to a release.

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