Legal harmonisation of non-tariff barriers of regional economic communities as a catalyst to the realisation of the African continental free trade area=Ukuvunyelaniswa okusemthethweni kwezithiyo ezingakhokhisi emiphakathini yezomnotho yesifunda njengento egqugquzela ukufezekiswa kwendawo yohwebo olukhululekile lwezwekazi lase-Afrikha.

Abstract

Abstract

Legal harmonisation is an integral aspect of regional integration and the desire to promote regional and sub-regional economic integration in Africa is exemplified by the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in 2018. The 2012 decision of the AU to create the CFTA by 2017 was reiterated in Aspiration two of Agenda 2063. The legal harmonisation of non-tariff barriers has been a vital instrument in the achievement of EU economic integration and the Organisation for the Harmonisation of Business Laws in Africa (OHADA). The study seeks to critically examine the theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of regional integration and legal harmonisation of non-tariff barriers by the AU and RECs. It also analyses the current political, economic, and legal reinforcements to regionalism in Africa and practices needed to advance intra-regional trade within the framework of Agenda 2063. This was done by evaluating the key legal frameworks of the AU (the Abuja Treaty, the Constitutive Act of AU, 2007 Protocol on relations between AU and RECs and Agenda 2063) with the aim of identifying best practices, gaps and impediments pertinent to strengthening Agenda 2063 CFTA. At the end of the study, the abilities of three selected RECs (SADC, COMESA and EAC) were assessed to drive home the AfCFTA. This was done by identifying flaws in existing treaties of RECs, while advancing a model of legal harmonisation of NTBs between them. It was found out that the AU and RECs have not vigorously considered the significance of legal harmonisation in their integration agendas. This resulted in the lack of unambiguous and concrete provisions for the legal harmonisation of NTBs in their guiding policies. Where some attempts are evident, such as in the EAC, they have been implemented unsatisfactorily with lack of a compliance mechanism. This study contended that if legal barriers to free trade are not eliminated, even if all other barriers were to be removed, the effective realisation of the AfCFTA would still be hindered. Hence, this study recommends the principles of direct applicability and direct effects of regional laws to addressing the legal harmonisation challenge underscored.

Iqoqa

Ukuvumelanisa okusemthethweni kwezithiyo ezingakhokhiswa intela kuyisici esibalulekile sokudidiyelwa kwesifunda kanye nesifiso sokugqugquzela ukuhlanganiswa komnotho wesifunda kanye nesifunda esincane e-Afrikha sibonakala ngokusungulwa kweNdawo Yezwekazi Lase-Afrikha Yokuhweba Ngokukhululekile (i-AfCFTA) ngowezi-2018. Isinqumo sowezi-2012 se-AU sokwakha i-CFTA ngowezi-2017 saphindwa Esifisweni Sesibili soHlelo- 2063. I-CFTA iphinde ibe wuhlelo olubalulekile oHlelweni-2063 futhi impumelelo yayo ibalulekile. Ucwaningo luhlose ukuhlola ngokujulile izisekelo zethiyori nezomqondo zokuhlanganiswa kwesifunda kanye nokuvunyelaniswa kwezomthetho kwezithiyo ezingakhokhisi yi-AU kanye nama-REC. Iphinde ihlaziye ukuqiniswa kwamanje kwezepolitiki, ezomnotho, kanye nezomthetho kuzwelonke e-Afrikha kanye nezinqubo ezidingekayo ukuze kuthuthukiswe ukuhwebelana kwangaphakathi kwesifunda ngaphakathi kohlaka loHlelo-2063. Lokhu kwenziwa ngokuhlola izinhlaka zomthetho ezibalulekile ze-AU (iSivumelwano sase-Abuja, UMthetho-sisekelo we-AU, 2007 Protocol on relationship between AU and RECs and Agenda 2063) ngenhloso yokuhlonza izindlela ezingcono kakhulu, amagebe kanye nezithiyo ezihambisana nokuqinisa uHlelo-2063 CFTA. Ekupheleni kocwaningo, amakhono ama-REC amathathu akhethiwe (i-SADC, i-COMESA kanye ne-EAC) ahlolwa ukuze aqhubekisele phambili i-AfCFTA. Lokhu kwenziwa ngokuhlonza amaphutha ezivumelwaneni ezikhona zama-RECs, ngenkathi kuthuthukiswa imodeli yokuvumelana okusemthethweni kwama-NTB phakathi kwawo. Kwatholakala ukuthi osopolitiki base-Afrikha abazange bayicabange indlela eqinile yokuhlanganisa umnotho wesifunda, nakuba indlela enjalo yaphakanyiswa abasunguli besifunda sase-Afrikha. I-AU kanye nama-REC awazange acabangele ngamandla ukubaluleka kokuvumelana kwezomthetho ezinhlelweni zawo zokuhlanganisa. Lokhu kuholele ekuntulekeni kwezinhlinzeko ezicacile nezibambekayo zokuvumelana ngokusemthethweni kwama-NTB kuzinqubomgomo eziqondisayo. Lolu cwaningo lwagomela ngokuthi uma izithiyo ezingokomthetho zokuhwebelana ngokukhululeka zingaqedwa, ngisho noma zonke ezinye izithiyo zizosuswa, ukufezeka ngempumelelo kwe-AfCFTA kusazothikamezwa. Ngaphakathi kwalokhu kwangemuva, lolu cwaningo luncoma izimiso zokusebenziseka okuqondile kanye nemiphumela eqondile yemithetho yesifunda ukuze kubhekwane nenselele yokuvumelana kwezomthetho egcizelelwe.