AfCFTA won’t be used for dumping, Kgafela assures
Friday, February 24, 2023 | 530 Views |
Confident: Kgafela does not expect the pan-African trade deal to cause dumping at home. PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG
Last Sunday, President Mokgweetsi Masisi officially submitted the country’s instruments of ratification to the African Union (AU) Commission, ending a four-year journey of negotiations over the pan-African trade deal. Botswana was the 46th country to ratify the deal out of 54 African countries that signed the original African Continent Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in 2018.
Kgafela said the AfCFTA provides protections such as anti-dumping provisions, countervailing and anti-countervailing as well as protection of infant industry that will cover local businesses from dumping, especially in key manufacturing sectors.
Botswana's cattle industry is one of the country's greatest assets. For many families, cattle are a source of income, food, pride, and culture. They pay school fees, build homes, and support livelihoods. Beyond the farm, the beef industry creates jobs and earns the country valuable foreign exchange through exports.That is why the construction of the new containment fence should not be viewed as just another government project. It is an...