Page 12 - LUA September-October 2025 for Magzter

SPECIAL REPORT

Traders and forwarders emphasise these tariff alignment for such services across
efficiency gains, freight arrives quicker, ports, EAMT can help create a predictable
cheaper, and with fewer documentation and competitive pricing environment,
headaches. "The quicker turnaround time incentivising greater use of Ro-Ro
translates into increased volumes, which shipping, increasing cargo volumes, and
benefits not only the trucking and trading boosting intra-African trade flows in line
community but also the wider regional with AfCFTA’s objectives."
economy," Seema says. What single change could create the
most impact? Seema is unequivocal:
BOTTLENECKS AND THE "Stronger collaboration among corridor
REALITY OF AFCFTA The introduction authorities to harmonise policies and
Despite these strides, the bottlenecks tariffs and make regional trade more
stubbornly persist. Customs and alignment of competitive. By working together
harmonisation remains patchy, with each tariffs across the to reduce inefficiencies and align
corridor and border post enforcing unique region would provide regulations, authorities can unlock
regulatory requirements. Truck drivers still greater opportunities for intra-African
recount stories of hours, sometimes days, a highly efficient trade and ensure that regional goods
spent waiting for clearance, trips marred model for trade remain more attractive than imports
by unexpected fees and inconsistent facilitation. from outside the continent."
paperwork. Even digital systems can be
only as strong as their weakest human or RODNEY SEEMA A CONTINENT AT THE
physical link. EAMT CROSSROADS
Hosking underscores the specificity Africa’s logistics corridors are at a
of the problem: "From a heavy cargo THE ROAD AHEAD: POLICY, crossroads, embodying both the promise of
perspective, major changes have yet INFRASTRUCTURE, AND AfCFTA and the stubborn realities of cross-
to materialise." COLLABORATION border trade. For the truckers and traders,
Still, there are reasons for optimism. Looking forward, the solution is clear: each trip is a test not just of machines but of
Investments in infrastructure, better roads, scale up multimodal logistics, streamline systems and cooperation. Will investments
smarter border posts, and modernised documentation, and standardise tariffs in logistics infrastructure, smarter policy,
ports, are beginning to pay dividends across regions. "The introduction and real harmonisation finally break the
in places like LAPSSET and Abidjan and alignment of tariffs across the bottlenecks choking the flow of goods?
Lagos. The real test for AfCFTA is not in region, particularly for Ro-Ro vessels The answer will decide whether AfCFTA’s
grand policy statements but in the lived transporting trucks, would provide grand ambitions translate into tangible
experience of those tasked with moving a highly efficient model for trade prosperity for Africa’s people, businesses,
Africa’s goods. facilitation," argues Seema. "By ensuring and economies.

10 LUA SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2025