At least 14 countries can trade freely within East, Central and Southern Africa following ratification of a Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) Agreement that flattens the East African Community (EAC), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) into a single commerce bloc.
This follows submission of instruments of ratification by 14 out of the 29 partner states making up the tripartite, thus meeting the threshold required for the TFTA to enter into force.
