Inevitably, not everyone affected by the deal — dubbed "Cotonou 2.0" or "post-Cotonou" in reference to the previous agreement —, was happy with the results. While the AfCFTA aims to enable free trade across the whole continent — including North Africa — analogous to the European single market, Cotonou 2.0 merely regulates the framework conditions for trade between the EU and sub-Saharan Africa. Possible trade barriers between states in North and Sub-Saharan Africa that want to trade with the EU at the same time is just one example. Hopes for a joint free trade zoneThe Africa Association of German Business sees this danger and recognizes the risk of irrelevancy. He added that he hoped that the post-Cotonou agreement for Africa would be an interim solution.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 12, 2021 12:43 UTC