The WTO and Africa: The State of Play and Key Priorities Going Forward

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes the strategic position of African states within the World Trade Organization (WTO). It argues that African nations must shift from a strategy of blocking new negotiations to one of active participation, particularly regarding the COVID-19 vaccine TRIPS waiver, the stalled Doha Round, and Joint Statement Initiatives (JSIs) on digital trade and investment.

• African states are encouraged to move away from a strategy of blocking new negotiations, which has been unsuccessful, and instead adopt a participatory approach. This includes rethinking their stance on the Doha Round by focusing on specific issues, such as domestic support, rather than the entire package.
• Regarding the COVID-19 health crisis, the document recommends that African member states narrow the TRIPS waiver proposal to focus specifically on vaccines rather than a broad waiver for all pharmaceuticals and equipment. This shift is seen as a way to reduce resistance from developed nations and align with US support for a vaccine-specific waiver.
• To address vaccine production and distribution capacity, the brief suggests a regional hub model. Countries with existing potential capacity, specifically South Africa, Senegal, Algeria, and Tunisia, could serve as these hubs to support other African states.
• The document highlights the failure of the compulsory licensing mechanism, noting that it is too complex and slow. It cites Rwanda's experience, where it took three years to procure HIV/AIDS antiretroviral drugs, as evidence that the mechanism is flawed.
• African states are urged to actively participate in Joint Statement Initiatives (JSIs) on e-commerce, investment facilitation for development, and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The brief warns that non-participation will result in African states being "rule takers instead of rule makers" in the digital era.
• The WTO's dispute settlement mechanism is currently paralyzed due to a US blockade that has left the appellate body without judges since November 2020. This is critical for African states because their own dispute settlement mechanisms are based on the WTO's.
• The appointment of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General in March 2021 is viewed as a timely development. While her role is neutral, there are expectations that her understanding of Africa's development challenges will help bridge the gap between the WTO and the continent.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2021). The WTO and Africa: The State of Play and Key Priorities Going Forward. https://saiia.org.za/research/the-wto-and-africa-the-state-of-play-and-key-priorities-going-forward/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. The WTO and Africa: The State of Play and Key Priorities Going Forward. 2021. https://saiia.org.za/research/the-wto-and-africa-the-state-of-play-and-key-priorities-going-forward/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=The WTO and Africa: The State of Play and Key Priorities Going Forward |date=6 July 2021 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/the-wto-and-africa-the-state-of-play-and-key-priorities-going-forward/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2021wto, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{The WTO and Africa: The State of Play and Key Priorities Going Forward}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2021}, month = jul, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/the-wto-and-africa-the-state-of-play-and-key-priorities-going-forward/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }