Abstract

The Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) aims to foster intra-African trade by harmonising Africa's trade and investment framework while allowing member states to maintain autonomy in their external economic engagements. This article discusses the implications of the AfCFTA on investment relationships between its member states and third countries. It examines the application of various provisions under the protocols, including Most Favoured Nation (MFN) and the denial of benefits, insofar as they relate to third countries. The paper also compares the approaches applied by selected regional economic communities in their investment relationships with third countries with a view to promoting discourse on member states' investment practices in the implementation of the AfCFTA.

This paper will be part of the third TDM Special Issue on "The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)". More information here www.transnational-dispute-management.com/news.asp?key=1809