1. Identifying Priorities for Standards Harmonization in Africa
ECA
Lily Sommer, Trade Policy Expert, African Trade Policy Centre, ECA
African Day of Standardisation
Nairobi, Kenya | 19 June 2019
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2. ECA
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BACKGROUND
Identifying Priorities for Standards Harmonization in Africa

3. ECA
BACKGROUND 3
AfCFTA
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) entered into force on 30 May 2019
24 Member States have now ratified the agreement
The AfCFTA provides the potential to be a game changer for Africa’s industrialization.
This potential, however, cannot be realized without adequate quality infrastructure systems including metrology, standardization, accreditation, quality management and conformity assessment
For example, ECA’s most recent modelling exercises indicate that removing tariffs on goods will boost the level of intra-African trade in 2040 by between fifteen and twenty-five percent, depending on the ambition of liberalization, and compared to a scenario of no AfCFTA. Intra-African trade in industrial products would increase the most – between twenty-five and thirty percent – with particular gains in textiles, wearing apparel, leather, wood and paper, vehicle and transport equipment, electronics and metals.
Identifying Priorities for Standards Harmonization in Africa
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4. ECA Cooperation at the continental level
BACKGROUND 4
Cooperation at the continental level
Intra-African trade is constrained by the volume and complexity of technical regulations and the variation in certification, testing, inspection practices and standards used by different African countries
Some harmonization progress has been achieved at the REC level but significant gaps remain, and REC efforts have not been sufficiently coordinated at the continental level
The AfCFTA offers a platform for African countries to cooperate more effectively on quality infrastructure systems!
Identifying Priorities for Standards Harmonization in Africa
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5. ECA
BACKGROUND 5
TBT and SPS Annexes
TBT and SPS measures are included within the scope of the AfCFTA
Annexes 6 and 7 of the AfCFTA Agreement detail the commitments of State Parties to facilitate trade through cooperation in areas related to TBT and SPS. In particular, they require the:
Elimination of unnecessary and unjustifiable TBTs through reinforcing international best practices
Harmonization of standards and equivalence in technical regulations, metrology, accreditation and conformity assessment
Development of capacity building programmes for cooperation
Identifying Priorities for Standards Harmonization in Africa
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6. ECA Prioritize: not all standards need to be harmonized!
BACKGROUND
ECA 6
Prioritize: not all standards need to be harmonized!
The harmonization of standards is an expensive task that requires extensive, costly and lengthy negotiations
This means that it is not possible to harmonize all standards at once, and highlights the need for a well-informed and appropriate prioritization strategy to maximize the impact of standards harmonization
Recognized as an important issue at the 24th ARSO General Assembly, and reiterated at the 12th PAQI Joint Committee Meeting
In this context, the meetings requested that ECA, as ARSO Champion for RVCs, prepare an empirical study to inform the prioritization of standards harmonization on the continent
Identifying Priorities for Standards Harmonization in Africa
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7. ECA
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METHODOLOGY
Identifying Priorities for Standards Harmonization in Africa

8. ECA
METHODOLOGY 8
Approach
Identify priority products and value chains for standards harmonization, moving beyond a focus on most commonly traded goods
This is a typical criterion for prioritization, since it is simplistic and relatively easy to apply
This criterion overlooks the significant opportunity to tap into “under-exploited” or “untapped” opportunities to scale up intra-African trade under the AfCFTA (currently constrained by tariff and non-tariff barriers)
Identifying Priorities for Standards Harmonization in Africa
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9. ECA Scope Indicator Data METHODOLOGY 9
The methodology developed is applied at the REC-level
RECs covered: COMESA, EAC, ECCAS, ECOWAS, SADC, UMA
Indicator
In order to examine products with export potential for each REC, CEPII’s contribution to trade balance (CTB) and international market position (POS) indicators are calculated
Data
UNTRADECOM data at the six-digit level of HS classification
three-year averages (ECCAS three year averages)
World Bank WDI GDP data
the African Continent is treated as the “rest of the world”
2018 data not available for ECCAS.
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10. Analysis and results ECA
METHODOLOGY 10
Analysis and results
If a product in a particular region qualifies as competitive according to both the indicators (i.e. CTB and POS), the product is selected for the continental competitive export basket for the said region
The ultimate outcome of the exercise is the identification of products with high potential for intra-African trade at the REC-level
These products are then compared against existing REC priority products and value chains according to regional integration and industrialization strategies
Note: Views of the private sector not reflected due to time constraints. Will reflect in the validation stage?
Identifying Priorities for Standards Harmonization in Africa
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11. Advantages of methodology
ECA
METHODOLOGY 11
Advantages of methodology
Aligned to REC RVC and industrialisation priorities - likely to differ based on varying geographies, natural resources, skill-sets and historical comparative advantages
CTB indicator more accurately reflects comparative advantage in products than revealed comparative advantage (RCA) indicator since it’s based on imports as well as exports
The competitive export basket identifies under-exploited trade opportunities at the continental-level, for which the AfCFTA is expected to provide a supportive environment for African countries to tap into
Identifying Priorities for Standards Harmonization in Africa
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12. ECA PRELIMINARY RESULTS
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PRELIMINARY RESULTS
Identifying Priorities for Standards Harmonization in Africa

13. ECA African markets are under-exploited PRELIMINARY RESULTS 13
Exports to Africa (% total exports)
Within REC exports (% of exports to Africa)
Imports from Africa (% total imports)
Within REC imports (% of imports from Africa)
COMESA
19.2
43.0
13.6
36.2
EAC
38.8
46.2
14.4
44.6
ECCAS
9.9
44.1
15.0
ECOWAS
17.2
59.8
11.4
64.8
SADC
23.2
88.6
86.4
UMA
5.5
47.8
4.2
48.7
Large share of intra-African trade is within RECs
The AfCFTA offers an opportunity for existing RECs to tap into under-exploited market opportunities in other African countries (outside their current RECs)
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14. Top 10 most common exports
ECA
PRELIMINARY RESULTS 14
COMESA: most common exports
Top 10 most common exports
World
Africa
COMESA 1
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude
Tobacco, partly or wholly stemmed or stripped, otherwise unmanufactured
Copper ores and concentrates 2
Copper, refined, in the form of cathodes and sections of cathodes
Cobalt oxides and hydroxides; commercial cobalt oxides 3
Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought, for non-monetary purposes (excluding gold ...
Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, in semi-manufactured forms, for non-monetary purposes
Black fermented tea and partly fermented tea, whether or not flavoured, in immediate packings ... 4
Copper, unrefined; copper anodes for electrolytic refining
Commodities not elsewhere specified
Cobalt ores and concentrates 5
Mixtures of odoriferous substances and mixtures, incl. alcoholic solutions, with a basis of ...
Portland cement (excluding white, whether or not artificially coloured) 6
Cobalt mattes and other intermediate products of cobalt metallurgy; unwrought cobalt; cobalt ...
Medium oils and preparations, of petroleum or bituminous minerals, not containing biodiesel, ... 7
Cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose, in solid form (excluding cane and beet sugar ... 8
Coffee (excluding roasted and decaffeinated)
Nickel ores and concentrates
Sulphuric acid; oleum 9
Maize seed for sowing 10
Ferro-chromium, containing by weight > 4% of carbon
At product level, overlap exists in the top 10 most common exports – e.g. copper and black fermented tea.
Some products feature in the top 10 exports to Africa and not the top 10 exports to the world – e.g. cement – in line with COMESA’s priority on the construction industry.
Identifying Priorities for Standards Harmonization in Africa
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15. ECA EAC: most common exports PRELIMINARY RESULTS 15
Africa
World
EAC 1
Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought, for non-monetary purposes (excluding gold ...
Black fermented tea and partly fermented tea, whether or not flavoured, in immediate packings ... 2
Medium oils and preparations, of petroleum or bituminous minerals, not containing biodiesel, ... 3
Coffee (excluding roasted and decaffeinated)
Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic purposes, ... 4
Fresh cut roses and buds, of a kind suitable for bouquets or for ornamental purposes
Maize seed for sowing 5
Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, in semi-manufactured forms, for non-monetary purposes
Oilcake and other solid residues, whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting ... 6
Portland cement (excluding white, whether or not artificially coloured)
Fresh or dried cashew nuts, in shell 7
Carboys, bottles, flasks, jars, pots, phials and other containers, of glass, of a kind used ...
Tobacco, partly or wholly stemmed or stripped, otherwise unmanufactured
Tobacco, unstemmed or unstripped 8
Dried, shelled beans "Vigna and Phaseolus", whether or not skinned or split (excluding beans ... 9
Cigarettes, containing tobacco
Commodities not elsewhere specified
Electrical energy 10
Palm oil and its fractions, whether or not refined (excluding chemically modified and crude)
Precious-metal ores and concentrates (excluding silver ores and concentrates)
Salts, incl. table salt and denatured salt, and pure sodium chloride, whether or not in aqueous ...
At product level, overlap exists in the top 10 most common exports – e.g. Black fermented tea and partly fermented tea, whether or not flavoured, in immediate packings ..., Medium oils and preparations, of petroleum or bituminous minerals, not containing biodiesel
Some products feature in the top 10 exports to Africa and not the top 10 exports to the world – e.g. cement and electrical energy. EAC intra-REC and intra-Africa exports are more industrialised than those to the world.
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16. ECA ECCAS: most common exports PRELIMINARY RESULTS 16
World
Africa
ECCAS 1
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude
Vessels for the transport of goods and vessels for the transport of both persons and goods ... 2
Cocoa beans, whole or broken, raw or roasted
Floating or submersible drilling or production platforms 3
Light-vessels, fire-floats, floating cranes and other vessels, the navigability of which is ... 4
Soap and organic surface-active products and preparations, in the form of bars, cakes, moulded ... 5
Industrial diamonds unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted
Light oils and preparations, of petroleum or bituminous minerals which >= 90% by volume "incl. ... 6
Medium oils and preparations, of petroleum or bituminous minerals, not containing biodiesel, ...
Tugs and pusher craft 7
Tropical wood specified in the Subheading Note 1 to this chapter in the rough, whether or not ... 8
Tropical wood specified in Subheading Note 1 to this chapter, sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced ...
Carboys, bottles, flasks, jars, pots, phials and other containers, of glass, of a kind used ... 9
Cotton, neither carded nor combed
Black fermented tea and partly fermented tea, whether or not flavoured, in immediate packings ...
Bars and rods, of iron or non-alloy steel, with indentations, ribs, groves or other deformations ... 10
Naphthalene containing > 50% of naphthalene (excluding chemically defined)
Wheat or meslin flour
At product level, overlap exists in the top 10 most common exports – e.g. vessels for transport of goods and floating or submersible drilling or production platforms
Identifying Priorities for Standards Harmonization in Africa
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17. ECA ECOWAS: most common exports PRELIMINARY RESULTS 17
Africa
World
ECOWAS 1
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude 2
Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought, for non-monetary purposes (excluding gold ...
Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, in semi-manufactured forms, for non-monetary purposes
Medium oils and preparations, of petroleum or bituminous minerals, not containing biodiesel, ... 3
Cocoa beans, whole or broken, raw or roasted
Palm oil and its fractions, whether or not refined (excluding chemically modified and crude) 4
Light oils and preparations, of petroleum or bituminous minerals which >= 90% by volume "incl. ... 5
Natural gas, liquefied
Electrical energy 6
Fresh or dried cashew nuts, in shell
Portland cement (excluding white, whether or not artificially coloured) 7
Aluminium ores and concentrates
Beauty or make-up preparations and preparations for the care of the skin (other than medicaments), ... 8
Sacks and bags, incl. cones, of polymers of ethylene 9
Cotton, neither carded nor combed
Unwrought zinc, not alloyed, containing by weight < 99,99% of zinc 10
Technically specified natural rubber "TSNR"
Household articles and toilet articles, of plastics (excluding tableware, kitchenware, baths, ...
At product level, overlap exists in the top 10 most common exports – e.g. Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude; Medium oils and preparations, of petroleum or bituminous minerals, not containing biodiesel
Identifying Priorities for Standards Harmonization in Africa
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18. ECA SADC: most common exports PRELIMINARY RESULTS 18
Africa
World
SADC 1
Light oils and preparations, of petroleum or bituminous minerals which >= 90% by volume "incl. ...
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude
Non-industrial diamonds unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted (excluding industrial diamonds) 2 3
Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, in semi-manufactured forms, for non-monetary purposes 4
Electrical energy
Bituminous coal, whether or not pulverised, non-agglomerated 5
Copper ores and concentrates
Copper, refined, in the form of cathodes and sections of cathodes 6
Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought, for non-monetary purposes (excluding gold ...
Copper, unrefined; copper anodes for electrolytic refining 7
Tobacco, partly or wholly stemmed or stripped, otherwise unmanufactured
Ferro-chromium, containing by weight > 4% of carbon 8
Agglomerated iron ores and concentrates (excluding roasted iron pyrites) 9
Motor vehicles for the transport of goods, with compression-ignition internal combustion piston ...
Chromium ores and concentrates 10
Mixtures of odoriferous substances and mixtures, incl. alcoholic solutions, with a basis of ...
At product level, overlap exists in the top 10 most common exports – e.g. non-industrial diamonds;
petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude;
light oils and preparations, of petroleum or bituminous minerals;
gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, in semi-manufactured forms, for non-monetary purposes
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19. ECA UMA: most common exports PRELIMINARY RESULTS 19
Africa
World
UMA 1
Natural gas in gaseous state
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude 2
Butanes, liquefied (excluding of a purity of >= 95% of N-butane or isobutane) 3
Mineral or chemical fertilisers containing the three fertilising elements nitrogen, phosphorus ...
Light oils and preparations, of petroleum or bituminous minerals which >= 90% by volume "incl. ...
Cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose, in solid form (excluding cane and beet sugar ... 4
Prepared or preserved sardines, sardinella and brisling or sprats, whole or in pieces (excluding ...
Medium oils and preparations, of petroleum or bituminous minerals, not containing biodiesel, ...
Fresh or dried dates 5
Mineral or chemical fertilisers containing the two fertilising elements nitrogen (excluding ...
Natural gas, liquefied
Maize oil and fractions thereof, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified (excluding ... 6
Frozen salmonidae (excluding trout and Pacific, Atlantic and Danube salmon)
Ignition wiring sets and other wiring sets for vehicles, aircraft or ships 7
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. ...
Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies, and similar articles, ... 8
Propane, liquefied 9
Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought, for non-monetary purposes (excluding gold ...
Parts for boring or sinking machinery of subheading or , n.e.s. 10
Electric conductors for a voltage <= V, insulated, fitted with connectors, n.e.s.
Electric conductors, for a voltage <= V, insulated, not fitted with connectors, n.e.s.
At product level, overlap exists in the top 10 most common exports – e.g. Natural gas in gaseous state
Medium oils and preparations, of petroleum or bituminous minerals, not containing biodiesel, ...
Propane, liquefied
However, as mentioned, a focus on prioritizing standards harmonization based on the most common exports would overlook the significant opportunity to tap into “under-exploited” or “untapped” opportunities to scale up intra-African trade under the AfCFTA – therefore we also look at CEPII’s contribution to trade balance (CTB) and international market position (POS) indicators for all RECs
Identifying Priorities for Standards Harmonization in Africa
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20. ECA Summary: most common exports
PRELIMINARY RESULTS 20
Summary: most common exports
Some products feature in the top 10 exports to Africa (and within REC) and not the top 10 exports to the world
These are typically more industrialized products (e.g. cement and motor vehicles) – African markets offer opportunity for industrial upgrading
Unprocessed raw materials dominate RECs exports to the rest of the world
A focus on prioritizing standards harmonization based on the most common exports would overlook the significant opportunity to tap into “under-exploited” or “untapped” opportunities to scale up intra-African trade under the AfCFTA
Remainder of analysis: CEPII’s contribution to trade balance (CTB) and international market position (POS) indicators for all RECs
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21. ECA PEB of COMESA to Africa (interpretation) CTB (+ve)
PRELIMINARY RESULTS 21
PEB of COMESA to Africa (interpretation)
CTB (+ve)
COMESA has comparative advantage in product vis a vis Africa
POS (+ve)
COMESA is competitive in the product on the African market
CTB (+ve) and POS (+ve)
The product is selected for the PEB of COMESA to Africa
Possible for the value of the Contribution to Trade Balance (CTB) to be positive even if the value of International Market Position (POS) is negative - indicates COMESA does not have competiveness in the product on the African market
To avoid this, we use stricter criteria: the product is only selected for the Potential Export Basket (PEB) of COMESA to Africa if it has both a positive CTB and POS
If the sign of the Contribution to Trade Balance (CTB) indicator is positive, COMESA has comparative advantage in the product (visa a vis Africa) and if it is negative, COMESA has a disadvantage
If the sign of the International Market Position (POS) indicator is positive, COMESA is competitive in the product on the African market, and if it is negative the opposite is true
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22. ECA PEB of COMESA to Africa PRELIMINARY RESULTS 22
1,110 products make up COMESA’s potential export basket to Africa - these products offer high potential for intra-African trade
Category of product (According to HS Chapters: two digit)
Number of products 1
Cotton 54 2
Organic chemicals 53 3
Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 49 4
Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 45 5
Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 6
Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 34 7
Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers 33 8
Plastics and articles thereof 9
Man-made staple fibres 31 10
Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates 29
Which suggests that countries in COMESA may want to consider prioritizing the harmonization of related standards for these products.
The top 10 categories in the PEB are based on those categories that have the most number of products/tariff lines in the PEB at 2 digit level. This was for purposes of grouping. However, for this reason, you may not see some "usual suspects" in the top 10 categories, for example cocoa in ECOWAS. It however does appear if you look through the entire PEB at a more disaggregated level, for which we have the data for, and this more disaggregated analysis will be included in final report
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23. ECA PEB of EAC to Africa PRELIMINARY RESULTS 23
1041 products make up EAC’s potential export basket to Africa - these products offer higher potential for intra-African trade
Category of product (According to HS Chapters: two digit)
Number of products 1
Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 89 2
Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals, of radioactive elements or of isotopes 45 3
Organic chemicals 43 4
Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles 42 5
Plastics and articles thereof 34 6
Iron and steel 7
Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates 32 8
Articles of iron or steel 9
Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers 25 10
Other made-up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags
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24. ECA PEB of ECCAS to Africa PILOT STUDY: PRELIMINARY RESULTS 24
500 products make up ECCAS’s potential export basket to Africa
Category of product (According to HS Chapters: two digit)
Number of products 1
Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 76 2
Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles 23 3
Organic chemicals 19 4
Iron and steel 18 5
Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 6
Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 16 7
Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 8
Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals, of radioactive elements or of isotopes 13 9
Cotton 12 10
Articles of iron or steel
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25. ECA PEB of ECOWAS to Africa PILOT STUDY: PRELIMINARY RESULTS 25
439 products make up ECOWAS’ potential export basket to Africa - these products offer higher potential for intra-African trade.
Category of product (According to HS Chapters: two digit)
Number of products 1
Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 25 2
Iron and steel 20 3
Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 18 4
Cotton 5
Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates 15 6
Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder 7
Live animals 14 8
Miscellaneous chemical products 9
Plastics and articles thereof 10
Beverages, spirits and vinegar 13
Identifying Priorities for Standards Harmonization in Africa
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26. ECA PEB of SADC to Africa PILOT STUDY: PRELIMINARY RESULTS 26
2117 products make up SADC’s potential export basket to Africa. These products offer higher potential for intra-African trade.
Category of product (According to HS Chapters: two digit)
Number of products 1
Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof
237 2
Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles
118 3
Organic chemicals
115 4
Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates 84 5
Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 62 6
Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals, of radioactive elements or of isotopes 61 7
Articles of iron or steel 60 8
Iron and steel 53 9
Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 46 10
Miscellaneous chemical products 43
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27. ECA PEB of UMA to Africa PILOT STUDY: PRELIMINARY RESULTS 27
1,705 products make up UMA’s potential export basket to Africa - These products offer higher potential for intra-African trade.
Category of product (According to HS Chapters: two digit)
Number of products 1
Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof
268 2
Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles
129 3
Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 94 4
Organic chemicals 77 5
Articles of iron or steel 68 6
Iron and steel 60 7
Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals, of radioactive elements or of isotopes 56 8
Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates 54 9
Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 39 10
Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 37
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28. ECA SIMILARITIES ACROSS RECS PRELIMINARY RESULTS 28
Overlap in the PEB of RECs – products that should be considered as priority products for standards harmonization at the continental level:
Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances
Inorganic and organic chemicals, and chemical products
Electrical machinery
Plastics
Iron and steel
Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates
Cotton, apparel, textile and clothing
Cutlery
Edible vegetables
Wood
Vehicles (other than railway or tramway rolling stock)
Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments
These products offer natural priorities for most RECs and therefore it would make sense to prioritize common African standards for these products in the context of AfCFTA implementation.
Industrial opportunities: textile value chain, automobile industry, chemicals, machinery
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29. ECA PEB – AFRICA VS. ROW PRELIMINARY RESULTS 29
For comparative purposes, the study also calculates the CTB and POS indicators vis a vis the rest of the world – to assess whether REC comparative advantage in African markets differs from its comparative advantage globally
In general REC comparative advantage within Africa (compared to ROW) is more diversified with greater value addition (e.g. sugar confectionary, chocolate, refined vegetable oils and cutlery) and less limited to primary products
Some products enter REC’s PTB for both African and World markets – offer potential for developing competitive RVCs which are better positioned to enter GVCs (e.g. leather, textiles, works of art, essential oils and processing of agricultural products)
Identifying Priorities for Standards Harmonization in Africa
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30. ECA
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WHAT NEXT?
Identifying Priorities for Standards Harmonization in Africa

31. ECA
WHAT NEXT? 31
Next steps…
Further interrogate results (at both HS6 and HS 2 level) and identify priority products and value chains for standards harmonization in the context of the AfCFTA
Compare these priorities to existing efforts on standards harmonization within RECs
What gaps exist?
What REC harmonized standards could be used as a basis for developing common African standards?
Compare with priorities of REC industrialization strategies
Final report: September 2019
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32. ECA
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