One of the defining characteristics of Africa’s cotton, textile, and apparel sector is the persistent absence of strong midstream manufacturing capacity. While many African economies produce cotton and several have developed apparel manufacturing industries, the intermediate stages of spinning, weaving,…
Across much of Africa, industrial policy has traditionally been guided by the objective of developing complete national textile and apparel industries. Governments have sought to establish domestic cotton processing, spinning, weaving, garment manufacturing, and export capacity within their own borders.…
A common mistake made by exporters is assuming that all market access opportunities are equally attractive. In reality, successful export growth depends as much on choosing the right markets as it does on gaining access to them. The International Trade…
One of the most common assumptions in export development is that securing access to new markets automatically creates export opportunities. In reality, many firms discover that obtaining access and successfully exporting are two very different challenges. The U.S. International Trade…
For many years, compliance was largely viewed as a regulatory obligation, an administrative requirement that exporters needed to satisfy in order to participate in international markets. Prevailing global trade dynamics, however, suggest the evolution of compliance into something far more…
Rules of origin determine the economic nationality of a product. In practical terms, they establish whether a product can legitimately be considered to originate from a country or region that qualifies for preferential treatment under a specific trade agreement. While…
The implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has created renewed optimism around Africa’s ability to strengthen regional manufacturing, increase intra-African trade, and improve participation in global value chains. Yet the analysis presented in the ODI report on…
The World Trade Organization’s World Trade Report 2023 highlights a critical reality shaping modern trade competitiveness: reducing tariffs alone is no longer sufficient to drive export growth. As global supply chains become increasingly interconnected, the efficiency with which goods move…
The analysis presented by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) highlights a structural imbalance that continues to define Africa’s trade and industrial landscape: the growing gap between formal market access…
The implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has significantly advanced the conversation around market integration and industrial development across Africa. Tariff liberalization remains one of the agreement’s most visible achievements, creating new opportunities for manufacturers to access…