Ethiopia fixes 9 October 2025 for its AfCFTA roll-out, while Togo convenes a three-day review to sharpen its national implementation plan.
Ethiopia Confirms 9 October Launch
Ethiopia will officially roll out the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) program on October 9, 2025, the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration announced. Trade and Regional Integration State Minister Yasmin Wohaberebi said, “Thorough preparations and discussions have been completed to ensure the AfCFTA’s smooth rollout.”
Measures, Sectors and Expected Impact
According to the same announcement, tariff cuts of up to 90% will be phased in, alongside provisions on dispute resolution, intellectual property, e-commerce and increased participation of women in business. The ministry said the roll-out is intended to strengthen intra-African trade ties and boost local sectors such as coffee, grains, meat, spices, vegetables, and fruits. Ethiopia’s status as host of the African Union was also cited by Minister Wohaberebi as strategically important for coordinating AfCFTA activities. 55 African countries have signed the AfCFTA, covering over 1.4 billion people and a GDP surpassing 3.4 trillion USD.
Togo Launches Strategy Review
In addition to the news from Ethiopia, Togo began revising its national AfCFTA implementation strategy on 6 October, opening a three-day workshop in Lomé led by the Ministry of Trade, Handicrafts, and Local Consumption. Public, private and civil-society stakeholders were asked to propose adjustments and identify priority actions, with a diagnostic underway to assess shortcomings since the agreement took effect. Authorities said the update aims to help Togolese firms better leverage AfCFTA protocols on goods, competition, intellectual property, e-commerce, investment, and the participation of women and youth in intra-African trade.
Official Statements and Expected gains
Mensah Koffi Vinyo, chief of staff at the Ministry of Trade, stated: “The AfCFTA is not a simple trade agreement but one of the most ambitious projects on the continent, aiming to create a single market of 1.4 billion consumers with a combined GDP estimated at more than $3 trillion.” He also called the initiative “a historic opportunity for Togo.”
Serge Yapo of the UN Systems Office in Togo cited expected increases of 41.1% in agri-food trade, 39.2% in services, 39% in industrial products, and 16.1% in energy and mining linked to AfCFTA dynamics. Officials said the current 2019–2024 strategy delivered notable progress and that the revision will build on these gains.
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