The Tripartite is an umbrella organisation consisting of three Regional Economic Communities (REC’s), namely the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA); the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Namibia as a member of SADC is negotiating a free trade agreement under this umbrella body.
The Tripartite FTA will represent an integrated market of 26 countries with a combined population of 632 million people and a total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of USD 1.3 trillion (2014). The Tripartite FTA is anchored on Africa’s vision of achieving the African Economic Community as stated in the Lagos Plan of Action of 1980 and the Abuja Treaty of 1991. The FTA forsees the elimination of tariffs and other trade barriers for products traded within the FTA.
