The World Trade Organization (WTO) has called on African nations to enhance intra-continental trade as a strategic response to new global trade pressures, including recent tariff hikes by the United States. Ghana is among the countries affected by the new U.S. policy, facing a 10 percent increase on select exports.
Speaking at the opening of the WTO’s 2025 Forecast Meeting in Geneva, WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala warned that while efforts are underway to secure tariff exemptions for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), 32 of which are in Africa. African economies must take greater initiative to strengthen internal trade ties.
“The external environment has become more challenging. With aid declining and trade increasingly politicized, Africa must urgently build resilience through self-reliance and regional integration,” she stated.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala emphasized that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offers a viable path forward. Currently, intra-African trade accounts for only 16% of the continent’s total trade, a figure she urged leaders to significantly raise by attracting domestic and regional investment, improving supply chains, and strengthening policy coordination.
She also highlighted broader lessons from recent global crises, noting that both the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing geopolitical tensions have exposed the risks of economic overdependence. “It’s not just about diversifying where we source from, but also where we sell to. Diversification is key to reducing vulnerability and ensuring fairer burden sharing in the global economy,” she concluded.
