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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Regional economic integrations and overlapping memberships: an analysis of the COMESA-EAC-SADC tripartite arrangement |
Author: | Mlungu, Sekela K. |
Year: | 2011 |
Periodical: | Journal of African and international law (ISSN 1821-620X) |
Volume: | 4 |
Issue: | 3 |
Pages: | 655-738 |
Language: | English |
Geographic terms: | East Africa Southern Africa |
Subjects: | COMESA East African Community SADC economic integration African agreements |
Abstract: | The growth and increase of regional economic integration is associated with a tendency for one country to join several regional economic communities. Overlapping membership in regional economic communities brings benefits such as an increase in trade and foreign investments, the revival of domestic industries and employment creation, market expansion, the strengthening of bargaining power, increased competition and the transfer of technology. However, there are also economic and legal challenges. These include multiple financial obligations, lack of coordination, more complicated business regulations and the multiplication of projects and efforts, delay in the administration of tariffs, difficulties in the implementation of the rules of origin and ineffective transfer of sovereignty. Overlapping memberships, where one State has joined several regional trade agreements, also contributes to the failure of regional economic integration since the creation of a customs union implies the existence of a common external tariff among non-member countries. The present article examines the draft agreement establishing the COMESA, EAC (East African Community) and SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA), revised December 2010 and aimed at eliminating the challenges associated with overlapping memberships and expediting regional and continental integration processes. Notes, ref. [ASC Leiden abstract] |