Introduction

There are currently 6 key regional trading blocs in Africa:

  • The Southern African Development Community (SADC),
  • Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and Common Monetary Area (CMA),
  • Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern African States (PTA) and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA),
  • Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS),
  • Union Douaniere et Economique de l’Afrique Centrale (UDEAC) (Customs and Economic Union of Central Africa),
  • The East African Community