Go to AfricaBib home

Go to AfricaBib home Africana Periodical Literature Go to database home

bibliographic database
Line
Previous page New search

The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here

Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Regional economic integrations and overlapping memberships: an analysis of the COMESA-EAC-SADC tripartite arrangement
Author:Mlungu, Sekela K.ISNI
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]
Views