ATPC DAILY DIGEST 2 OCTOBER 2020

The Multiplicative Power Of Investing In Production - Primary and value-added production have been all but ignored. Despite sporadic and well-intentioned attempts at industrialization, the overall trend has been a worrisome neglect of the manufacturing sector. There is virtually no primary steel or aluminum production on a continent awash with high quality iron ore, bauxite and alumina; resource rich countries prefer to export these items unprocessed in exchange for hard currency. An African born derivatives trader in New York often quips that “Africa exports raw tin and raw corn to import tinned corn”. It doesn’t take advanced mathematics to deduce that each round trip of selling an exchange traded raw commodity with volatile pricing only to purchase back its value-added derivative results in a net reduction of African wealth. Along with crude oil, coffee beans and cocoa, African markets have also exported the higher paying and higher skill jobs that come with making things – not to mention the ecosystem of maintenance, repair, spare parts, research and development that are associated with value addition. This failure to develop production is the key driver of African poverty. Borrowings become unsustainable as they are used primarily to buttress hard currency consumption (and top up volatile local currency revenues), not investments in production that will expand export earnings and economic dynamism. Even aid dollars go into a black hole of purchasing finished goods from the very countries providing the transfer payments, guaranteeing that more aid will be needed to support next year’s consumption laden budget. Africa’s graduates migrate – legally and illegally – in droves, fleeing the jobs desert that has resulted from their economies’ overconcentration on unproductive raw commodity cultivation. Producing more of the locally consumed goods at home isn’t just populist protectionist rhetoric in the case of most of Africa’s underdeveloped economies – it’s a common-sense way to absorb large and growing youthful populations into productive economic activity. (Forbes)

Key Words: Global Trade, COVID-19, Forbes

More efforts needed from governments, regulators and business to unlock full potential of sustainable finance – The OECD Business and Finance Outlook 2020 says that ESG investing has grown steadily in recent years, with ESG ratings, indices and other financial products proliferating to meet demand. Yet market participants across the board are still missing the relevant, comparable and verifiable ESG data they need to properly conduct due diligence, manage risks, measure outcomes, and align investments with sustainable, long-term value.
“Finance has a critical role to play in ensuring a truly sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 crisis that will create better and greener jobs, boost income and lead to more sustainable and resilient growth,” said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría. “But finance can only deliver better environmental, social or governance outcomes if investors have the tools and information they need.” The Outlook highlights a number of challenges with current ESG-based investment and finance strategies that need to be fixed to support markets in building back better. Close engagement on the part of regulators and policymakers with the industry, including institutional investors and lenders, ratings and index providers, and international standard setters, will be critical. The different methodologies used vary in scope and tend to have low transparency, with few generally accepted, consistent, comparable and verifiable indicators on which to base assessments. In practice, this means that a company might achieve a high ESG score from one service provider, and a much lower score from another. (OECD)

Key Words: Global Trade, OECD, Business

African green reformer tipped to win UN trade leadership race - Two African women who have pledged green reforms are the front-runners to become the World Trade Organization’s next director-general in November. Either Kenya’s Amina Mohamed or Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala could become the organisation’s first female and first African leader. According to analysts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, many nations, particularly in Africa and the EU, are expected to support both candidates. Both women used their written candidate statements to call for environmental reform of the WTO’s trade rules, while their three opponents from Korea, the UK and Saudi Arabia, have said little about climate change. Mohamed, who has held cabinet roles including foreign affairs in the Kenyan government since 2013, said the economic recovery must “take account” of issues like climate change. The WTO should be reformed to “support our shared environmental objectives” and encourage diffusion of clean technologies, she said. Okonjo-Iweala, former finance minister for Nigeria, said that “the WTO appears paralysed at a time when its rule book would greatly benefit from an update to 21st century issues such as ecommerce and the digital economy, the green and circular economies”. She said she wants to reach “optimal complementarity between trade and the environment”. She previously co-chaired the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate along with Nicholas Stern, the author of ‘the Stern review’ which raised awareness of climate change in the UK. The statement of the Saudi Arabian candidate, a former fighter pilot, banker and economy minister Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri’s does not mention climate change or the environment at all. Korean trade minister Yoo Myung-Hee’s statement said that the WTO’s trade initiatives should encompass development issues like the environment. Myung-hee has been Korea’s first female trade minister since March 2019. The South Korean government promised a “green new deal” and to end finance for coal plants abroad – but was criticised in May for bailing out Doosan Heavy Industries, a major manufacturer of coal technology. Both Myung-hee and the UK’s Liam Fox criticised fisheries subsidies, which can incentivise over-fishing. Other than that, Fox’s statement did not mention the environment or climate change. (Climate Home News)

Key Words: Global Trade, Global Economy, Africa

ICC Sec Gen sets out 3 priorities to revive COVID-hit global economy – ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO has outline three priorities for reviving the global economy as quickly and as safely as possible in the COVID-19 era. Speaking today at a conference jointly organised by ICC and the China Council for International Cooperation, Mr Denton underscored the imperative to keep markets open and enhance cooperation saying that getting the balance right could have huge dividends: “We cannot respond to COVID-19 based on fear, distrust and entrenched global isolationism. But rather we must build on creativity, connectivity and mutual benefit. That is how we achieve long-term gains for everyone, such as inclusive growth and sustainability,” he said. Outlining areas for action, Mr Denton told participates gathering online that an immediate priority must be to develop a global and inclusive approach to the key medical tools to fight COVID. In this regard, Mr Denton announced the launch of a new global campaign in support of the “Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator” – to ensure equitable access to, and allocation of, the most critical health tools to fight Covid-19: vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. ICC is the only representative of the private sector on ACT-A’s advisory committee, working alongside heads of government and UN agencies to deliver genuine insights and expertise from the real economy. Mr Denton also underscored the need to improve the World Trade Organization and the multilateral trading system calling on governments to stop debating problems and start agreeing on solutions. “We have long known the challenges – few breakthroughs in 20 years, new forms of protectionism emerging with increasing frequency, and now a disabled dispute settlement system,” Mr Denton said. “But there is also a significant opportunity to be seized – Governments are presently selecting a new Director-General and there is a growing consensus that the WTO needs a reset, even if there are disagreements about what that might look like and how it should be achieved.” (ICC)

Key Words: Global Trade, Global Economy, ICC

PAN AFRICA

Gender Mainstreaming in National Strategies is Vital in Leveraging the Benefits of the AfCFTA – In an effort to enhance the knowledge of policy makers and other key stakeholders on how to advance gender-equal outcomes in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP) today kicked off a four-week online course entitled: “A Guide to Gender Mainstreaming in National AfCFTA Strategies”. The AfCFTA will only live up to its potential if the benefits from production and trade expansion are inclusive and shared equally, says David Luke, Coordinator of the ATPC. "To advance the promotion of gender equality as one of the general objectives of the AfCFTA Agreement, there needs to be a deliberate effort to integrate a gender-sensitive approach to AfCFTA implementation through national strategies" he said. The objective of the course is to assist policy makers and practitioners in the design of targeted gender-responsive policies and complementary measures to ensure that women can leverage new opportunities and benefits of the AfCFTA. The training will be attended by more than 200 participants from African governments, the private sector and civil society, particularly women’s organisations, and development partners. The course will be given in English and French. (UNECA)

Key Words: UNECA, AfCFTA, Gender Mainstreaming

Second edition of the Labour migration Statistics report in Africa – The present report has been prepared in fulfilment of the request made in July 2015 by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government that the African Union Commission should submit a biennial report on labour migration statistics in Africa. This second edition of the Report on Labour Migration Statistics in Africa summarizes statistical information for a period of ten years (2008–17), building on the first edition, which captured data from 2008 to 2015. The focus of this report is on emerging patterns and trends in the stock of interna¬tional migrants living in African countries. An in-depth analysis of the various factors shaping labour migration does not fall under the report’s scope. The initial step in preparing the new report was to send the first iteration of the International Labour Migration Questionnaire to the national statistical offices of all African countries, of which 48 even¬tually provided data: a total response rate of around 87 per cent. However, this high response rate is somewhat deceptive, because many countries did not provide information on a significant number of indicators covered by the questionnaire. Appropriate imputation methods were therefore used to supplement the available data where necessary. Despite the difficulty in obtaining comparable data because of the use of various sources (e.g. popu¬lation surveys and administrative records) based on different definitions and approaches, a number of key findings were extracted as outlined below. Africa is still the continent with the fastest-growing population in the world (UNDESA, 2019). Over the ten years covered by this report, the African population increased from 944,433,089 in 2008 to 1,215,953,341 in 2017 (JLMP database, 2018): an increase of about 271.5 million, or 28.75 per cent, which translates into an average annual growth rate of 2.8 per cent. (AU)

Key Words: AfCFTA, AU, COVID-19

African Presidents crack the whip on continent’s counterfeit drugs menace – The global trade estimated to be worth $200 billion annually affects up to 120 countries. The World Bank study further revealed that China and India were the key manufacturers. A 2015 study that was published in the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene approximated that over 122,000 children in Sub-Saharan Africa lost their lives every year as a result of counterfeit drugs. Drugs that are repackaged and sold past their expiry date, exchanged freely in the black market or manufactured through substandard conditions, have proliferated in African countries. Health experts have blamed this on weak legislation and lenient measures to deal with perpetrators, poor drug traceability mechanisms and the high cost of medication that has seen ordinary and poor citizens opt for cheaper alternatives. In a case that shocked the world in 2009, Nigerian authorities reported that over 80 children had died after taking a teething syrup that had been laced with a chemical mostly used in engine coolant and which triggers kidney failure. An operation in 2016 by the World Customs Organisation nabbed tens of millions of counterfeit drugs in 16 African ports with 35 percent of them destined for Nigeria. The following year, Interpol intercepted 420 tonnes of fake medicinal products in seven African countries. The burgeoning black market for pharmaceuticals saw the World Health Organisation sound the alarm over counterfeit meningitis vaccines in Niger and fake hypertension drugs in Cameroon in 2019. In the same year in Kenya and Uganda, substandard tablets of the Augmentin antibiotic were found to have flooded the market. As this proliferation continues unabated, authorities appear helpless. In some instances, they have even been accused of colluding with the masterminds of the well-oiled syndicates that have now made drugs the most lucrative and counterfeited consumer good globally. (Fair Planet)

Key Words: Africa, trade, COVID-19
Figures of the week: Financial inclusion of farmers in Africa - More than half of the population of sub-Saharan Africa works in the agriculture sector, but most farmers in the region still do not have access to formal financial services. Limited access to these services makes it more difficult for farmers to take advantage of business opportunities, invest and save for the future, and insure against risks. To analyze this issue, on September 24, the World Bank released the report Digitization of Agribusiness Payments in Africa: Building a Ramp for Farmers’ Financial Inclusion and Participation in a Digital Economy. The report argues that digitization of agribusiness payments can help advance financial inclusion of farmers, analyzes the current status of digitization, and recommends key actions that can help accelerate digitization. The authors write that, in 2017, 30 percent of adults in sub-Saharan Africa reported having received payments for the sale of agricultural products within the past year, and that 85 percent of these payments were received in cash only, rather than into a formal financial account. Figure 1 further details these statistics by country, showing both the proportion of the population receiving agricultural payments and the method of payment receipt. Notably, the proportion of the population receiving agricultural payments is particularly high in Ethiopia, Madagascar, Rwanda, and Uganda, where over 40 percent of adults reported receiving payments for the sale of agricultural products. Among recipients of agricultural payments, the majority in all countries received payments in cash, rather than in a financial account. (Brookings)

Key Words: Africa, Trade, Regional Integration

Bold steps taken to make African trade easier, help small businesses - The African continent is about to become the world’s largest free trade area. If not addressed, non-tariff barriers (NTBs) may slow down this effort. Although the negative impact of NTBs on intra-regional trade is recognized, so far there has been limited success in addressing them. “The success of the AfCFTA depends in part on how well governments can track and remove non-tariff barriers,” said Ambassador Albert Muchanga the African Union Commissioner for Trade and Industry. A new campaign to spotlight and remove non-tariff barriers (NTBs) in intra-continental trade launches this week. The #TradeEasier campaign aims to promote the uptake and use of the African Union’s tradebarriers.africa, a non-tariff barriers reporting mechanism tool. The tool, developed by the African Union in partnership with UNCTAD, supports efforts to make continental trade easier and less costly by helping African businesses report such barriers and supporting their elimination with the help of governments. NTBs slow down the movement of goods and costs importers and exporters billions of dollars annually. They also stand in the way of the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). “If we want the AfCFTA to thrive, we have to ensure operational barriers are dropped and businesses and traders, especially small ones; don’t suffer from undue limitations placed on them as they try do the basic thing that makes economies work – trade.”

Trade barriers require bold solutions - Every day many African traders and businesses face barriers to trade. From quotas to excessive import documents or unjustified packaging requirements, these barriers are a big hindrance to trade between African countries and make it complicated and expensive to move goods across the continent. Regulatory and procedural barriers include customs operations and border documentation requirements, rules of origin documentation and pre-shipment inspections. Other trade barriers come in the form of transport regulations, sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) and technical barriers to trade (TBTs). (AU)

Key Words: Trade, Africa, Business

OPINION: Good governance is the lynchpin for African progress – COVID-19 has joined the climate emergency at a time when Africa is facing what Mo Ibrahim calls “a crisis in leadership and governance.” This crisis seems all the worse when we define governance as the delivery of goods and services that citizens legitimately expect their governments to deliver. Citizen’s expectations relate to the promotion and support of human rights and participation, safety and rule of law, socio-economic opportunities and human development. In view of the very mixed progress made so far in meeting these entirely reasonable expectations, the permanent question is how to apply Africa’s abundant wealth in natural and human resources – especially its women and youth – towards rapid recovery and sustainable development. Good governance is the obvious answer. It is the lynchpin for harnessing our assets, strengthening institutions, ensuring the rule of law and practicing leadership by example at all levels. Africa does not lack visions and plans for socio-economic development. What has been missing is the consistent, high-quality leadership that improves and implements those plans. With the pandemic and climate emergencies demanding urgent action, Africa’s recovery demands systematic planning along with efficient and consistent execution. Greater domestic and external resource mobilisation and better coordinated and more coherent resource allocation will boost economic opportunities, create decent jobs and promote self-reliance. (Thomas Reuters Foundation)

Key Words: Trade, Africa, Development

NORTH AFRICA

UK businesses explore retail & e-commerce opportunities in Egypt – The UK Department for International Trade (DIT) and Egyptian British Chamber of Commerce (EBCC) organised their first retail webinar to explore retail and e-commerce opportunities for British companies in the Egyptian market. More than 50 attendees joined the webinar, among them Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the UK Trade Envoy to Egypt, who highlighted the growth in opportunities for UK brands in overseas markets. Dr Ibrahim Ashmawy, Deputy Minister of Supply and Internal Trade, also provided a macro-economic overview of the Egyptian market. A number of Egyptian and British companies participated as well, including Jumia, the Talaat Moustafa Group, Superdrug, the Entertainer, and TK Maxx. The Matalan Company, which entered the market earlier this year, also joined the meeting to share its success story in Egypt: it is now aiming to expand to reach 20 stores across the country. The webinar also provided a platform for UK retailers to learn about the Egyptian market, including how to overcome market access barriers and how to connect to Egyptian partners. (gov.uk)

Key Words: Trade, North Africa, Development

EAST AFRICA

EABC calls for equal treatment of all people coming into Kenya from Tanzania –- The East African Business Council (EABC) is calling for equal treatment of all citizens entering Kenya from Tanzania, irrespective of whether they are truck drivers or ordinary citizens. Currently, ordinary citizens entering into Kenya from Tanzania are allowed to proceed once they produce a COVID-19 certificate while the truck drivers are subjected to both production of the certificate from Tanzania and also another testing at the border point and allowed in only after the results are out. This, a process which border officials from the Tanzanian side and truck drivers claim is taking more than a week, hence subjecting goods to further delays. EABC CEO Dr. Peter Mutuku Mathuki also called for the strengthening of Public-Private partnerships between the Republic of Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania to boost bilateral trade. Dr Mathuki was speaking while on a mission led by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of EAC, Kenya, Dr. Kevit Desai, to the Namanga border to establish the capacity of aflatoxin surveillance while witnessing the testing and issuance of COVID-19 certificates. Dr. Mathuki also urged governments to fast track the economic stimulus packages to support businesses. Covid-19 is estimated to cost East Africa partner states between $37 billion to $79 billion in output losses. In March-July 2019, the value of Kenya’s exports to Tanzania stood at approximately USD. 336 million while imports stood at USD.275. million, (Central Bank of Kenya). (EABC)

Key Words: East Africa, Business, Trade

Kenya and France sign three bilateral deals to boost economic ties – President Uhuru Kenyatta kicked off his official visit to France on Wednesday evening at Elysee Palace where he was received by his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. Elysee Palace is the French president's official residence. Mr Kenyatta inspected a guard of honour mounted by the French military at the start of an elaborate State reception ceremony. Together with his host, they witnessed the signing of three bilateral agreements before leading their delegations to a State banquet hosted in honour of the visiting Kenyan leader. Later, the two leaders held private talks. Among the agreements reached is a public private partnership (PPP) for the construction of the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit highway signed between KeNHA and Vinci Concessions. The highway is one of the largest PPP projects in Eastern Africa. Others were agreements for the development of the Nairobi central business district (CBD) to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) commuter railway line and the 400kV Menengai-Rongai electricity transmission line. The Nairobi CBD to JKIA commuter rail link will help enhance the movement of travellers between the city centre and Kenya's foremost international airport. "Our aspiration is to see that this commuter railway line eases traffic in Nairobi but also eases the movement of people within Nairobi. We hope that along the route and the surrounding areas, other businesses will be able to grow," Kenya's Ambassador to France Prof Judy Wakhungu said. The construction of the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit six-lane dual carriageway is expected to decongest the existing highway and enhance the efficiency of cargo transport to Western Kenya and onwards into the export markets of East and Central Africa. (Business Daily)

Key Words: East Africa, Business, Trade

WEST AFRICA

COVID-19 in Nigeria: What businesses must do to thrive in the new economy –The spread of the COVID-19 virus across the world has drastically influenced the way we live, work, and do business. Economies slowed globally down as countries shut economic activities to fight the pandemic. In Africa, nations are still trying to flatten the curve of the outbreak and also to protect their economies from collapse. The African Development Bank (AFDB) already projects the continent's GDP to contract by 3.4%. Countries like Nigeria, with a weak healthcare sector and a high dependence on oil export revenue, will be most affected. It is no news that Africa’s largest economy depends largely on earnings from crude oil export, as its primary source of revenue and foreign exchange. The pandemic exposed this over-dependence as multiple factors contribute to a worrying revenue decline and mounting pressure on foreign reserves that weaken the Naira. The World Bank reports that Nigeria could experience its worst recession in four decades, predicting a 3.3% contraction of the economy. Industries such as Aviation and Tourism, Hospitality, Oil and Gas, and Real Estate & Construction are severely affected. Most businesses are implementing cost-control measures such as hiring freezes and layoffs, as consumer spending continues to decline. All of these manifest in declining household incomes and standards of living. Nigeria has introduced measures to minimize the impact of the economic contraction, suppress pressure on the naira, and create a soft landing for citizens and businesses. (pulse.ng)

Key Words: West Africa, Regional Integration, Business

West Africa’s long-discussed new currency Eco could now be delayed by five years – Leaders of ECOWAS said last year the Eco would be set up in 2020 but the short time frame coupled with logistics constraints stalled the implementation process. The economic hit from COVID-19 has further disrupted the bloc’s timetable for the implementation of the common currency which has been in the works for two decades now. Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara told journalists in the city of Bouafle on Saturday that he does not expect the Eco to be implemented in the next three to five years due to the economic burden of the coronavirus on member states, according to Reuters. Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou urged fellow leaders to “come up with a new roadmap, sticking to a gradual approach for launching the common currency.” An economics professor at the University of Bouake in Ivory Coast, Yao Prao, told the AFP that Issoufou’s appeal heralds “not a burial, but a delay” for the Eco. Leaders of the French-speaking West African nations under the umbrella body, West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), and the larger 15-ECOWAS body hoped for the replacement of the French colonial currency, CFA franc, this year with the Eco. To launch the currency, WAEMU members agreed that national deficits be contained at or below 3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Under a bill approved by the French cabinet in May, once the Eco arrives the Bank of France would no longer hold CFA countries’ reserves, and Paris would withdraw from institutions like the Central Bank of the West African States (CBWAS) and WAMU’s banking commission, according to the AFP. (Face2FaceAfrica)

Key Words: West Africa, Regional Integration, Business

Showcasing the African Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP): Engaging ECOWAS member states – At the initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), through its sub regional office for West Africa (SRO-WA), in partnership with Afreximbank, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and African Union Special Envoy, Strive Masiyiwa, a High-Level Stakeholder Webinar on Africa Medical Sales Platform (AMSP) was organized on Tuesday. This meeting which took place on the side-lines of the third Meeting of the ECOWAS COVID-19 Ministerial Coordinating Committee (MCC) on Health was organized in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States Commission (ECOWAS) and the West African Health Organization (WAHO). The High-Level Stakeholders Webinar showcased to the Ministers of Health and Finance of ECOWAS Member States the opportunities offered by AMSP, as well as how it is structured. The meeting provided the necessary insights about the platform that would enable ECOWAS member States’ Governments, Private Sector operators and other stakeholders to access and leverage the benefits of the platform, particularly considering the unrelenting spread of the COVID-19 pandemic on the continent and its impacts on both human lives and sources of livelihood. During his introductive speech, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, M. Jean Claude Kassi Brou said that the AMSP is “a very good development and will complement the earlier decision we took in ECOWAS to patronize local manufacturers in the sourcing and procurement of medical material needed for the COVDI19 pandemic response”.” Involving AMSP in this MCC meeting is therefore timely and forward looking”, he added. (UNECA)

Key Words: West Africa, Regional Integration, UNECA

SOUTHERN AFRICA

Trade Policy Review: Zimbabwe – Agriculture, mining and tourism are the main pillars of the Zimbabwean economy, which has succeeded in developing strong export industries in each of these sectors. Exports of agricultural commodities and minerals (led by gold, nickel, and tobacco) account for nearly 90% of total merchandise exports. While manufacturing has been in decline since the last TPR, Zimbabwe retains a relatively large and diversified manufacturing base. Services contribute about 66% to GDP, led by wholesale and retail trade, education services, and tourism. The country in 2019 was still struggling to stabilize its economy, following a long spell of governance problems and international isolation. Economic reforms, including the adoption of a multiple-currency regime in 2009 with the US dollar as the principal currency, had contributed to its economic recovery with double-digit GDP growth rates and had ended hyper-inflation. However, in a difficult socio-economic context, Zimbabwe then adopted FDI restrictions in 2012 under the Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Act. In consequence, foreign investment has been subdued and the economy has resumed a modest growth performance since 2013 until 2016, hampered by foreign exchange shortages. GDP growth recovered slightly in 2017 and 2018. Under the multiple currency system introduced in 2009, Zimbabwe formally ceased to have a domestic currency. However, in 2014, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) started to credit account holders with electronic money balances, termed “Real Time Gross Settlement” (RTGS), using for accounting purposes an exchange rate of one-to-one between the RTGS dollar and the US dollar. Most domestic transactions and salary payments were carried out with the RTGS electronic currency. However, due to increased fiscal deficits financed by the RBZ, the RTGS balances were not backed up by enough foreign currency earnings to maintain parity, leading to high parallel market premiums for the US dollar. (tralac)

Key Words: Zimbabwe, Regional Integration, Trade

At a glance: trademark registration and use in Angola – When a trademark application is published in the Industrial Property Official Bulletin, a third party may file an opposition against said trademark application. The opposition or the cancellation of a trademark can be requested in the following circumstances:

marks containing false indications or being apt to deceive the public with regard to the nature, characteristics, or utility of the products or services for which the mark is to be used;
marks containing false indications as to the geographical, manufacturing plant, workshop or business origin of the goods or services concerned;
insignia, flags, coats of arms or official seals adopted by the state, an international organisation or any other public body whether national or foreign, without the consent of the competent authorities;
firm names, business names or insignia not owned by the applicant for registration or the use of which the applicant is not authorised;
marks being an entire or partial reproduction or imitation of a mark previously registered in the name of another party for the same or similar goods or services, if this may lead to confusion or error in the market;
expressions and designs that are contrary to good morals, law or public policy; and
the name or portrait of a person without such person’s consent.

(Lexology)

Key Words: Trademark, Regional Integration, Angola

Namibia to ratify continental medicines agency treaty – THE National Assembly will this week be expected to discuss and ratify an agreement to establish a continental medicines regulatory authority in Namibia. The agency to be known as the African Medicines Agency (AMA) is aimed at strengthening the capacity of medical products regulation in Africa and the harmonisation of regulatory systems, “as a foundation for the establishment of a single medicines regulatory agency in Africa”. The agency to be hosted by Namibia will also be expected to address the trading of substandard and fake medical products on the continent. Minister of Health and Social Services Kalumbi Shangula who tabled the motion to ratify the agreement in the National Assembly last week said the treaty to establish the continental medicines agency in Namibia was conceived at the first African ministers of health meeting in Angola in 2014. That meeting which was organised by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) at the time requested member states to prioritise investment for regulatory capacity development, to pursue efforts towards convergence and harmonisation of medical products regulation in regional economic communities, Shangula said. So far, the minister said 17 countries have signed the treaty but only two have ratified it. The treaty needs to be ratified by at least 15 countries before it can be enforced. When established, the agency will be tasked with improving the capacity to regulate medicines, medical products and medical technologies by member states. (Namibian)

Key Words: Trade, Regional Integration, Namibia

Republic of Zambia launches Time Release Study of nation’s key One Stop Border Post – On 18 September 2020, the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) of Zambia under the auspices of the Ministry of Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, launched the Time Release Study (TRS) for the Chirundu One Stop Border Post. This TRS was rolled-out with technical assistance of the WCO and focused on imports – considering the Chirundu border post collects the majority of the county’s import taxes. The launch event was hosted at the Zambia Revenue Authority Training Centre. Made possible also with the support of USAID, the TRS launch was attended virtually by 70 participants from Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), key border agencies, representatives from regional organizations, private sector representatives, the British High Commission and various development partners such as USAID, GIZ, the EU, and TradeMark East-Africa. It was noted that the WCO’s support to the TRS was made possible under the auspices of the partnership between the WCO and the United Kingdom (UK) through the UK Customs (HMRC) – leveraging the WCO’s Mercator Programme as a coherent and strategic approach towards TFA implementation. In their opening remarks both the ZRA Commissioner of Customs and the Chair of NTFC and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, and Industry, expressed their appreciation for the support extended by the WCO. Speaking at the event, WCO Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Ricardo Treviño, highlighted the joint vision of simplification and harmonization of trade procedures. (WCO)

Key Words: Trade, Regional Integration, WCO

Zim, Malawi bolster ties – PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday urged SADC countries to harness natural resources abundant in the region so as to improve the lives of their citizens through production and productivity. Speaking at a State banquet for the visiting Malawian President Lazarus Chikwera at the State House last night, the President traced the historical ties between Zimbabwe and Malawi and stressed the need to strengthen economic ties. “Your visit affords us an opportunity to refocus our cooperation in the areas of trade, agriculture, mining and social services. Zimbabwe is ready to host the next session of the Joint Permanent Commission to enhance our socio-economic collaboration and identify new areas of cooperation. “It is important that we leverage on the natural resources within our countries to grow our economies and improve the quality of life of our people,” the President said. In line with the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and in the context of the African Continental Free Trade, the President said cooperation between Zimbabwe and Malawi, two countries that share cultural and geographical ties, will lead to a more prosperous and empowered Africa. The President said Malawi and Zimbabwe should enhance private sector business exchanges and cooperation as well as cooperation between small and medium enterprises. “The ongoing consultations between our officials to establish a Zimbabwe-Malawi Business Forum to facilitate increased trade cooperation should be speedily concluded. It is commendable that Malawian companies always exhibit at our Zimbabwe International Trade Fair. (The Herald)

Key Words: Trade, Regional Integration, Zimbabwe

SA agreement with South East Asian bloc opens up a host of opportunities - South Africa is in the process of acceding to the Treaty of Amity of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the fifth-largest economy in the world. The potential for future trade, investment and a host of other cooperation agreements is exciting. Few regions in the world offer such promise and potential for the future of South Africa’s international relations as the region comprising the members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). From large consumer markets, dynamic trade and investment opportunities to a successful model of regional integration that has contributed meaningfully to growth and development – the potential for cooperation is vast. As part of efforts to deepen South Africa’s engagement and cooperation with this region, our country has begun with the process of acceding to the ASEAN Treaty of Amity (TAC). The TAC was signed at the first ASEAN Summit Meeting in Bali, Indonesia, in February 1976. ASEAN is a regional organisation aimed at promoting economic growth and regional stability among its member states. Comprising 10 member states (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam), the organisation’s headquarters are in Jakarta, Indonesia. ASEAN actively encourages non-ASEAN States outside South East Asia to enhance cooperative relationships through accession to the TAC. Recognising the pivotal importance of ASEAN, key regional players such as China, Japan and South Korea are regular participants at ASEAN Summits and meetings while prominent dialogue partners include the European Union, India, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. (Business Maverick)

Key Words: Trade, Regional Integration, SA

Centre africain pour la politique commerciale

ATPC DAILY DIGEST 2 OCTOBER 2020

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