Addis ababa: Africa's heads of government, policymakers, leading industrialists, and global partners will gather in Addis Ababa on 23 and 24 November 2026 for the Africa Trade Development Forum 2026. Co-hosted by the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and TradeMark Africa (TMA), the biennial summit arrives at a turning point for the continent's economic integration and shifting global trade dynamics.
According to African Press Organization, while much of the global trade conversation has recently focused on tariffs, the primary barrier to African trade lies in the technical, regulatory, financial, and logistical challenges of being able to export, often referred to as Non-Tariff Barriers. These barriers, such as the measures and processes that allow African companies to show international offtakers that they are meeting critical safety and sanitary standards, currently add an estimated 15% to 30% to regional trade costs. UNECA suggests that eliminating these barriers alone could surge intra-African trade by 52%. UNCTAD notes, "Compliance costs are often higher than the tariffs themselves, including actual import duties," highlighting that technical measures now regulate two-thirds of global trade.
The 2026 Forum will focus on priority, collective actions to harmonize standards, looking at what is needed to reduce compliance costs, accelerate quality certification, and ensure diminishing rejections of African goods by the world's most lucrative markets. Commenting on the forum, H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, TMA Board Chair and former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, expressed that the next phase of Africa's trade growth will depend on African firms showing that their products are competitive globally. He emphasized the need for a system that assesses and certifies goods without creating a burden.
H.E. Kassahun Gofe (PhD), Minister of Trade and Regional Integration of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, stated that Ethiopia is honored to host the Africa Trade Development Forum 2026 at a crucial time for the continent. He highlighted that standards and quality infrastructure are central to industrial growth, market confidence, and the ability of African producers to compete within the continent and beyond.
David Beer, Chief Executive Officer of TMA, added that Africa's trade ambitions will be realized by building systems that allow African firms to compete better with the rest of the world by ensuring their goods comply with the highest standards. He noted that quality systems are essential as they build the trust that markets demand, and ATDF 2026 will see leaders focus on helping businesses achieve this.