Free Movement of Goods in Africa
Free Movement of Goods in Africa
Kribi Port Takes Center Stage in AfCFTA Trial Runs
A historic milestone was reached on July 3, 2023, as the Autonomous Port of Kribi (PAK) successfully handled its first cargo under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework. A shipment of 20 tonnes of resin from Radès, Tunisia, arrived on board the container vessel Chopin (CMA-CGM) and was processed efficiently by port and customs officials.
This marks a significant advancement for the Kribi Port and reflects Cameroon’s active participation in the AfCFTA, a pan-African initiative aimed at boosting intra-African trade and regional integration.
📦 Kribi’s First AfCFTA-Flagged Cargo Delivered
This successful customs operation follows Cameroon’s October 2022 AfCFTA exports of Cameroonian tea to Ghana, with certified certificates of origin issued to Cameroon Tea Estate and Ndawara Tea Estate.
The AfCFTA tariff dismantling plan includes:
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90% of goods: full tariff elimination in 5 to 10 years,
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7%: gradual liberalization of sensitive goods in 10–13 years,
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3%: products permanently excluded from tariff commitments.
🌍 Towards a Borderless Continental Market
With 40 African countries actively engaged in AfCFTA, the continent is laying the foundation for a new economic powerhouse—a single market with 1.3 billion consumers.
According to the African Union, by 2035 the AfCFTA could:
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lift 60% of Africans out of poverty,
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generate $575 billion in economic gains,
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and build the world’s second-largest free trade area after the WTO.
