The WCO Supports Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office and Stakeholders to Enhance Competencies in Rules of Origin
The World Customs Organization (WCO), in partnership with the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office and the Nigeria Customs Service, conducted an Advanced Training Workshop on Rules of Origin (RoO) in Abuja from 16 to 18 September 2025. The initiative, held under the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme and funded by the European Union, aimed to […]
New WTO-World Bank reports hail progress in advancing Africa’s digital trade
The WTO Secretariat and the World Bank have successfully completed the pilot phase of their joint initiative, “Digital Trade for Africa,” culminating in the publication of digital trade assessments for six African countries: Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Rwanda. During an information session on 25 September, both organizations briefed WTO members on the project’s […]
OECD Seeks ‘Aid for Trade 2.0’ to Tackle Climate and Digital Inequities
The OECD’s new working paper, Aid for Trade at a Crossroads, warns that the initiative risks irrelevance unless it evolves to address climate change, digitalization, and inequality. Originally designed to strengthen trade capacity in developing countries, aid for trade has financed infrastructure, modernised customs, and supported entry into global value chains. However, the current landscape is more […]
Africa’s Digital Trade push gains momentum as Nigeria’s Deputy Speaker speaks at WTO-IPU Forum
Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, has urged global parliamentarians to take bold legislative measures that will position digital trade as a shared engine of growth. Speaking at the WTO-IPU Steering Committee session during the WTO Public Forum 2025 in Geneva, Kalu framed digital trade as one of the greatest governance challenges […]
Nigeria’s National Single Window Project
Nigeria is advancing a major trade reform through the National Single Window (NSW) project, scheduled for full launch in Q1 2026. Announced by Finance and Economy Minister Wale Edun, the initiative seeks to unify customs, port, and regulatory processes under one digital platform, transforming the country’s trade environment. Originally introduced in April 2024, […]
Afreximbank launches new entity to promote large-scale trade in value-added goods
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has officially launched the African Trade and Distribution Company (ATDC) to drive large-scale trade in raw materials, minerals, and value-added products across the continent. The entity, established through Afreximbank’s Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA) in collaboration with Arise IIP, Equitane DMCC, and the AfCFTA Secretariat, was unveiled during the […]
Carbon Taxes in Africa: Promoting Sustainable Development.
Ghana’s recent implementation of a carbon levy on vehicles reflects a broader trend in Africa, where several countries have adopted similar measures. This raises questions about the effectiveness of product-related taxes like these in developing robust carbon pricing systems, particularly in the face of global pressure to combat climate change. Potential Benefit for Economics in […]