The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) must not be allowed to fall by the wayside, according to experts, after its launch was postponed by the coronavirus pandemic. The AfCFTA, which was due to be implemented on July 1, will be the largest free trade area in the world, uniting 1.3 billion people in a $3.4 trillion economic bloc, and came after protracted negotiations between the leaders of 54 African nations. However, it was postponed in late April, with AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene telling Reuters it was the "responsible thing to do" to avoid distracting leaders during the pandemic, adding that he was confident the deal will go through eventually. The continent's key trading partners, such as China, and now to a greater extent Europe and the U.S., have been blighted by the pandemic, while Africa has for the most part managed to avoid an exponential spread of Covid-19.
