The long journey towards Pan-African integration: The African Continental Free Trade Area and its challenges

As of 2021, African countries started to trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, which encompasses an extensive agenda. It is , however, only one step in the long-term integration process on the African continent, and impact of the AfCFTA remains uncertain depending on various factors. In this ÖFSE Briefing Paper, we (i) present the state of play in the AfCFTA negotiations and implementation, (ii) discuss the challenges for the AfCFTA based on the characteristics of African trade, and (iii) offer a critical assessment of economic impact studies. Appropriate policies to overcome the limitations and challenges of the integration process are necessary for a successful implementation.