Trade Talks Africa | Policy, Progress and the People behind the AfCFTA: Issue 6

03 Dec 2025
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03 Dec 2025

Key decisions, progress markers and implementation shifts shaping Africa

November 2025 marked a significant turning point in Africa’s trade and development trajectory, as African priorities shifted from advocacy to agenda-setting on the global stage. From Belém to Johannesburg, Africa played a prominent role in two of the year’s most consequential international platforms; the G20 Leaders’ Summit and COP30. Both events highlighted the continent’s growing strategic importance for global stability, climate resilience, digital transformation and trade integration. 
 

At the same time, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) continues to gain operational traction, bolstered by real trade gains, policy rollouts, private sector engagement, and notably strengthened institutional capacity through the first training tranche for Secretariat staff. This edition captures the key decisions, progress markers, and implementation shifts that are shaping Africa’s next phase of integration-driven growth. 
 

Stay informed. Stay engaged. Because integration matters.

Trade Talks Africa | Editor-in-chief
Dr Noncedo Vutula

               

G20 Johannesburg 2025: A Defining Moment for African Trade Leadership

The G20 Summit held in Johannesburg positioned Africa at the forefront of global economic discussions rather than on the sidelines. The Leaders’ Declaration, consisting of 122 paragraphs, emphasised inclusive growth, climate finance, the reform of the global financial architecture, and the increased recognition of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Despite the absence of some key figures, the summit achieved consensus under the theme: Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability.

Major Outcomes: 

  1. Africa Prioritised: Africa is now seen as a partner in shaping global policy rather than merely a recipient.
  2. Launch of the G20 Africa Cooperation Agenda (ACA): A new investment framework developed by the African Union and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
  3. Infrastructure Acceleration: The Ubuntu Legacy Initiative aimed at enhancing cross-border connectivity was introduced.
  4. Finance and Debt Reform: There were renewed commitments to reform Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), and Angola and Zambia joined the Compact with Africa.
  5. Critical Minerals Strategy:A framework was established to promote domestic processing of critical minerals rather than just their raw extraction.
  6. Digital and AI Agenda: The AI for Africa Initiative was launched to support advancements in digital systems and innovation.
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AfCFTA at the G20: From Vision to Implementation

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was a prominent topic at the G20 side events, marking a clear shift from negotiations to actual delivery.

Key Highlights
  • Private Sector Hearings: These hearings elevated the perspectives of the African private sector to the policymaking level.
  • Payments Integration: The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System advanced discussions on currency settlement and trader connectivity.
  • Digital Infrastructure: The Africa Digital Access and Public Infrastructure for Trade (ADAPT) initiative was launched to enable trusted identification, data management, and cross-border documentation. Additionally, the Pan-African Payments System (PAPSS) has been expanded and rolled out across more states.

The existing architecture is in place, and the next challenge is executing it effectively on a large scale.

AfCFTA Momentum: Expanded Use, Faster Access, Deeper Alignment

November witnessed notable progress across several operational fronts:

  1. South Africa has automated the AfCFTA exporter registration process, making market entry faster and simpler for traders.
  2. Nigeria has ratified the Digital Trade Protocol, indicating stronger alignment with emerging e-commerce governance under the AfCFTA.
  3. Technical support has been provided to Malawi to help align with the AfCFTA Investment Protocol.
  4. The Kenya–Nigeria Investment Forum explored opportunities for corridor-led industrial development and cross-market integration.

Informal traders were engaged in consultations regarding the Trade-related Simplified Trade Regime (TSTR) to ensure inclusive implementation and representation in policy outcomes. The TSTR is a practical tool aimed at facilitating and formalising trade for small-scale and informal cross-border traders by reducing paperwork, lowering compliance burdens, and making trade more accessible. This system helps integrate informal traders into formal regional value chains, allowing traders in multiple regions to benefit from streamlined procedures and improved access to regional markets.

COP30 Belém: Climate Outcomes with Trade Implications

The COP30 UN Climate Conference concluded with the Belém Political Package, which focused on climate finance, forest protection, and community-driven adaptation. While significant progress was made, a phased roadmap for exiting fossil fuels remained politically unresolved.

What was agreed on:

  • Adaptation finance is set to triple by 2035.
  • The Belém Action Mechanism (BAM) will support just transitions and workforce development.
  • The Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) will fund forest protection and Indigenous stewardship
  • A new Gender Action Plan will promote deeper inclusion of local communities.
  • Two new platforms will be established to accelerate the delivery of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) toward achieving the 1.5°C goal.
  • The first global climate-trade dialogue track has been initiated for 2026–2028.

However, a key gap remains, as countries have not yet agreed on a shared pathway for phasing out fossil fuels, although Brazil has pledged to pursue one independently

Belem
Strengthening the System: AfCFTA Secretariat Training Begins

To ensure that implementation capacity meets continental ambitions, the first phase of the AfCFTA Secretariat training program took place from November 17–21, 2025. The course was designed to enhance institutional readiness by combining Africa’s integration history with strategic insights on industrialization, trade governance, global architectural shifts, and cross-functional cooperation. By equipping officials with advanced analytical, policy, and execution skills, the programme strengthens the foundations for faster and more coherent implementation of the AfCFTA in 2026 and beyond.

Inside the Nelson Mandela School: What’s new?

The School partners with SARB Academy to deliver development and policy executive course

The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance partnered with the SARB Academy to deliver an executive short course on Development and Policy Responses for two cohorts of SARB officials. This programme aims to enhance analytical capacity and deepen understanding of complex global and national challenges, including climate change, governance, and the intertwined issues of inequality, poverty, and unemployment.

Framing sessions covered macroeconomic policy and the political economy of development, followed by modules on regional integration, trade, industrial policy, and climate change. The course concluded with interactive roundtables examining how policies are drafted in practice, and how SARB and the financial sector can better respond to evolving national and regional challenges. Feedback has been positive, and the School plans to offer this training to additional SARB cohorts in 2026.

Learning Opportunities

The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, University of Cape Town, is currently inviting applications for a two-and-a-half-day executive development programme on the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), scheduled for 14 -16 January 2026. This programme is designed to equip government officials, business actors, and development partners with the knowledge and practical skills required to engage effectively in continental trade integration.

Research Spotlight
G20 report