The AFCFTA Protocol on good consists of 32 Articles covering a variety of subjects with implications for actual trade in goods. It has also nine Annexes, which are integral parts of the Protocol.
The principal objective of the Protocol on Trade in Goods is to boost intra-African trade in goods through:
The protocol provides the way how goods are traded under the AfCFTA framework. Members are obliged to provide the amount of tariff they levy on products to be imported called schedules of tariff concessions. As per the protocol only those goods that are subject to tariff are included under the tariff schedule. Those goods are traded based on principles of non-discrimination, any benefits given to any country on goods trade aspect must be extended to member countries as well as the benefit rendered to nationals of that country must be extended to other members.
The protocol also stipulates ways to facilitate trade of goods these are, encouraging the creation of cooperation on customs among members in order to minimize cumbersome working procedures and elimination of barriers to facilitate the movement of goods.
The protocol also provides ways of controlling unfair competition or abuse of the available market. It’s like creating a balance between the given market access and the act of abusing it. Acts of dumping, subsidy or financial support from the government and increase of imports that have a substantial effect on local producers of a member countries are controlled by mechanisms called Anti-dumping, countervailing and safe guard methods.
Instances or circumstances where the agreement will be violated by member states are also provided by the protocol. The circumstances where a member can violate the basic principles of the agreement are stipulated under several provisions of the protocol.
