The African Continental Free Trade Area will be opening next month, providing significant economic gains in the face of COVID. 30M people could be lifted out of extreme poverty & the continent could see $450B in income. Thread on food/ag impacts + what Biden admin could do:

AfCFTA could facilitate access to a larger supply of cheap, higher quality food products and improve food security, but could also displace small-scale food producers. Smallholders could be provided support to access export markets within the continent. http://www.fao.org/3/cb0648en/CB0648EN.pdf

As Africa imports $72B worth of food + ag products, intra-regional trade could help make a more self-sufficient Africa, if the continent increases its agro-processing infra to create higher-value food products https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/11/13/afcfta-free-trade-africa-economics/

Govt investment will be needed in transport, ag + food, & power infra to maximize value from AfCFTA, which is a challenge given COVID. Multi- & bilateral institutions could provide $$$.

The Biden admin should upgrade the US's foreign policy towards Africa and sign a new trade agreement that increases AfCFTA's effectiveness & coordinate w/ the US's Development Finance Corp to upgrade infra across Africa

Climate change, agricultural productivity, and tech transfer should be centered in new trade policies that are aimed at creating jobs https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/9/what-will-bidens-win-mean-for-africa-experts-have-their-say