The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is intensifying efforts to adopt a unified stance on competition within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This crucial position will be deliberated upon without Mali’s participation, as the country has been suspended from the organisation since 9 January 2022.
The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ARCC) hosted a meeting in Senegal from 19 to 21 May 2022 to review the draft AfCFTA Protocol on Competition Policy. According to the ECOWAS website, this meeting was a precursor to the 5th negotiating session between the African Union member states, which is set to take place in Accra, Ghana, from 30 May to 2 June 2022.
The meeting in The Gambia, held at the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) headquarters, "aimed to bring together select ECOWAS member states—namely The Gambia, Nigeria, and Senegal—along with ERCA officials to review the draft AfCFTA Protocol on Competition Policy."
The goal is for member states to adopt a common position on all provisions of the draft AfCFTA Protocol, which will then be submitted to negotiators from member states and regional organizations.
The AfCFTA, which was initially intended to become effective in January 2021, is facing delays. While ECOWAS members had hoped to have the zone operational by 2022, technical challenges—particularly related to the list of tariff concessions and the determination of rules of origin—have hindered progress. These issues were thoroughly discussed during the recent negotiations, but the harmonisation of viewpoints among the states has not yet been fully achieved.
Moving Forward Despite Challenges
The challenges were primarily related to the tariff concessions list and the determination of rules of origin, as well as aspects of competition rules addressed during these discussions. While harmonization of member states' viewpoints has yet to be achieved, ECOWAS authorities remain committed to continuing efforts to operationalize the African common market.
Absent from negotiations due to its suspension from ECOWAS bodies, Mali will only be able to "protest" once the adopted rules come into effect. With the common position on the draft Protocol set to be defended during the 5th Committee meeting, scheduled from May 30 to June 2, 2022, Mali hopes to regain its seat and voice its position, especially since unanimity is technically required for a common stance among all members.
Source: Le journal du Mali