25th Anniversary Annual Conference

This year’s Annual Conference, taking place under the theme “Africa and the New Global Trade Order: Trade, Integration and Transformation”, marks tralac’s 25th anniversary.

The Conference will be taking place in hybrid format from Johannesburg.

We look forward to excellent engagement on trade developments that matter for Africa – and to celebrating this milestone!

AfCFTA: Status of ratification update

The Agreement Establishing the AfCFTA entered into force on 30 May 2019, 30 days after the required threshold of 22 instruments of ratification had been deposited. The AU Assembly decided that trading under the Agreement should commence on 1 January 2021.

As at end-September 2026, 50 of the 54 signatories have deposited their instruments of AfCFTA ratification with the AUC Chairperson. Benin, Libya, South Sudan, and Sudan are yet to approve ratification.

tralac Publications

tralac promotes active debate on trade law and policy issues in Africa. This involves monitoring trade negotiations, interpretation of agreements, contribution to debates and discussions on trade developments.

Our research is presented in trade briefs, working papers, trade reports and books, among others.

tralac Regional Resources

tralac maintains a collection of regional and national trade-related resources and policy documents, including copies of the texts and annexes of regional trade agreements from the African RECs, the AfCFTA, TFTA and African Union.

We also offer resources on Africa’s global trade relations, including the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the EU, BRICS trade, and US-Africa trade.