Zambia finalizes tariff concessions, begins implementation of African Continental Free Trade Area pact

Zambia has officially gazetted its Provisional Schedule of Tariff Concessions under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement, paving the way for trade under the continental pact.

The concessions, enacted through Statutory Instrument (SI) No. 92 of December 30, 2024, mark Zambia’s readiness to participate in AfCFTA, following the earlier introduction of SI No. 94.

Ministry of Commerce, Trade, and Industry Principal Public Relations Officer, Everness Nankala, confirmed the development in a statement issued in Lusaka on Monday, saying the move expands Zambia’s preferential market access beyond COMESA and SADC.

“The Ministry encourages the private sector to take advantage of this opportunity to enhance trade,” she said.

Nankala urged businesses to engage in AfCFTA trade in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which seeks to boost intra-African commerce and economic integration.

She reaffirmed government’s commitment to supporting local enterprises in leveraging AfCFTA opportunities, adding that efforts will continue to address trade facilitation challenges and maximize benefits for Zambia.

The AfCFTA is Africa’s flagship initiative to create a single market of 1.3 billion people with a combined GDP of approximately US$3.4 trillion.

It provides a framework for tariff reductions, trade in services, investment promotion, digital trade, competition policy, and intellectual property rights.

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