Ethiopia has begun implementing customs duty reductions with 24 African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) member states, a major step toward boosting continental economic integration. This initiative is supported by Council of Ministers Regulation No. 574/2025, published in the Federal Negarit Gazeta on July 14, 2025. It reflects Ethiopia's commitment to the AfCFTA agreement.
Ethiopia has officially started implementing customs duty reductions with 24 member states of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), initiating a multi-year plan to eliminate duties on over 90% of goods traded with eligible African partners. This step is backed by Council of Ministers Regulation No. 574/2025, published in the Federal Negarit Gazeta on July 14, 2025, and aligns with Ethiopia's ratification of the AfCFTA agreement by the House of Peoples' Representatives, approved at the African Union summit in February 2024.
The 24 countries that have met national requirements and submitted trade proposals to the AfCFTA Secretariat include Algeria, Burundi, Botswana, Cameroon, Egypt, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, and Morocco, among others. These nations are now eligible for tariff reductions or duty-free access with Ethiopia. The AfCFTA, officially launched on October 9, 2025, aims to establish a single market across 55 African countries, serving 1.4 billion people with a combined GDP of US$3.4 trillion. By dismantling tariffs and non-tariff barriers, it seeks to boost product competitiveness, increase intra-African trade, and drive economic growth.
Ethiopia has strategically prepared for AfCFTA implementation by pinpointing priority products with comparative advantages, target markets, and mitigation measures. A National Coordinating Committee, involving ministries, the Customs Commission, the National Bank, and logistics bodies, monitors progress. Ethiopian Airlines has already begun exporting meat, vegetables, fruits, dried coffee, and cereals to Kenya, Somalia, and South Africa under AfCFTA provisions. The Customs Commission has provided guidance to its branches and traders to grasp the new tariff regime and adhere to destination countries' rules.