Trade Dispute Settlement in the Tripartite Free Trade Area

In 2015, the Heads of State and Government of COMESA, the EAC and SADC agreed to establish the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) extending from Cape to Cairo, encompassing all twenty-six members of the three groupings. While the TFTA negotiations are ongoing, it is necessary that member states are aware of their rights and obligations as well as the nature and power of the organs of the TFTA. This paper analyses dispute resolution bodies of the three regional economic communities making up the large trade bloc, in order to distil the most salient features which allow for effective dispute resolution. The study shows that it is necessary that regional judiciaries be allowed to operate independently and efficiently without undue interference from political elites, otherwise they stand to fail in executing their mandate