Trade Integration in Africa

Abstract

This IMF Departmental Paper was completed under the overall guidance of Vivek Arora and Subir Lall. The authors thank Anna Belianska, Kabinet Kaba, and Faisal Alfhaili for valuable inputs on digitalization, global value chains, and firm-level analysis of export decisions, respectively. The authors further thank Jihad Azour, Wenjie Chen, Michele Ruta, Monique Newiak, and Abebe Selassie; as well as colleagues at the AfCFTA Secretariat, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, World Bank Group, and World Trade Organization for helpful comments and suggestions. The paper also benefited from comments from IMF departments and Executive Directors. The authors also thank Lorraine Coffey of the IMF Communications Department for leading the editorial and production process and Haya Abu Sharar for production assistance.The Departmental Paper Series presents research by IMF staff on issues of broad regional or crosscountry interest. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.