Download the official frameworks and explore how ACE translates continental commitments, regional harmonisation, and bilateral MOUs into practical digital processes.
The African Union has established the world's largest free trade area by number of countries. These are the core documents.
The main agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area, including its protocols on trade in goods and services.
Sets the rules for liberalising trade in professional services, healthcare, finance, tourism, and transport across member states.
The consolidated text governing cross-border digital trade, e-commerce, and data flows, adopted in February 2024.
Free trade requires more than just removing tariffs. It requires harmonising standards, recognising qualifications, and digitalising verification.
| Framework / Initiative | Region / Scope | Key Mechanism / Focus | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IGAD-MRH (Medicines Regulatory Harmonisation) | IGAD Region (Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, etc.) | Joint dossier assessments, GMP inspections, and a digital submission platform for medicines. | Operational |
| Kenya–Ethiopia STR (Simplified Trade Regime) | Bilateral (East Africa) | Fast-tracks AfCFTA implementation at the Moyale border. $1,000 threshold, defined border zones. | Signed 2025 |
| Tripartite STR (COMESA–EAC–SADC) | Regional (East & Southern Africa) | A harmonised system for small-scale traders, with a common list of eligible products and simplified documents. | Operational |
| Kenya–Uganda MRA | Bilateral (East Africa) | Mutual recognition of quality marks and standardisation systems for staple foods (maize, rice, beans). | Signed 2025 |
| Rwanda–DRC–Zimbabwe MRA | Tri-Bilateral | Mutual Recognition Agreements for trade standards and conformity assessment (ARSO backed). | Signed 2026 |
Direct links to the official bodies responsible for implementing these frameworks.
Many African countries have signed the AfCFTA but lack the operational bilateral MOUs and digital infrastructure to make trade a reality.
This corridor is a greenfield opportunity. With minimal legacy trade friction, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe can jointly design a digital-first approach. ACE provides the neutral digital verification layer to make this happen, without requiring either country to surrender its regulatory authority.
Explore the Ethiopia–Zimbabwe Trail →