Towards new market access cooperation

Since the 1970s, non-reciprocal trade preferences (NRTPs) have supported developing countries’ export growth and diversification. Today, the NRTPs stand at a crossroads. The new UNCTAD publication, Trade Preferences Outlook 2024, demonstrates how the effectiveness of preferential tariffs diminished as a tool to foster exports as MFN tariffs have fallen, FTAs have proliferated, and non-tariff measures have become more prevalent.

Drawing on the findings of the report, and in view of the fact that NRTPs played a significant role particularly for sub-Saharan Africa, the session will examine the stakes of trade preferences for the economies in the region, and future actions necessary for enhancing their development impact.

This online event, jointly organized by the Economic Commission for Africa and UNCTAD, aims to stimulate debate on non-reciprocal trade preferences, with a particular focus on the African context.

Key questions

• Does the current set-up of NRTPs remain effective in responding to market access challenges facing developing countries?
• What can be a new paradigm for “market access cooperation” beyond tariff preferences that would better help address constraints facing developing country exports and foster sustainable development?
• What is the future of NRTPs of which Africa is the beneficiary (e.g., African Growth and Opportunity Act of the United States, Everything But Arms scheme of the European Union)? How can Africa respond to the emerging calls to replace NRTPs with reciprocal, FTA-type arrangements? 
• What could be the nexus between NRTPs and the implementation of the AfCFTA?