African Unification Front
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CEN-SAD
US - Africa Trade Talks Disappoint
AUF TRADE POLICY
TRADING BLOCS MUST BE REPLACED BY ONE AFRICAN BLOC
The share of Africa's trade in the world and financial flows from the rest of the world have been declining in actual numbers, not merely as a function of overall percentage. The EU, Japan, Canada and USA premise economic assistance upon mystical criterion of development (SAPs, and ill considered markers such as birth control, production of exports, and access to African markets). This is unfortunate. Africa is not now an equal partner of the G7 but a permanent source of raw material and cheap migrant labour. In 1993 the EU was the largest market for African exports, taking 58% of Africa's exports. Japan and the the USA make up most of the difference.
The continent's share of world trade is miniscule -- less than 2 % -- and analysts fear this will shrink further as the technological revolution leaves Africa behind.
Unification is the most reasonable course towards African economic might. Free trade, and more importantly, a common African external tarrif are workable only if there is one African trading blok. The idea that we can have separate trading bloks in Africa competing with each other or developing one region at a time is unworkable. The desire by regional economic powers to fast track their regional economy at the expense of the rest of Africa will back fire. Already COMESA and SADC have been facing off, culminating in the withdrawal of Tanzania from COMESA and the rejection of Uganda's bid to join SADC.
The economy of many African regions is subsidised by America and the EU. For example 85% of everything consumed in Swaziland has to be bought from outside of Africa. The US and the EU can and do suspended the African states by such instruments as the US Generalised System of Preferences, under which African states that comply with US political demands are paid premiums for their exports.
The Banana War between the EU, NAFTA, and the ACP states demonstrated that "Black" countries can nolonger rely on the privileged trade with Neocolonial power. Pressure on the EU member states means they cannot favour former colonies. The insistence on open European markets means that Africa will be competing with the USA and other parts of the world for EU trade. And in the cases where we are able to get EU trade the terms are generally destructive to African communities.
It is imperative that Africa only import products that cannot be produced in Africa...since the 1960s Africa's imports have leapt to billions of dollars worth of imports, all of which can be cultivated or manufactured in Africa.
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