Ethiopia has completed the final procedural requirement to commence trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by publishing its Provisional Schedule of Tariff Concessions (PSTCs) in the Federal Negarit Gazette.

The regulation, issued on July 14, 2025, specifies duty tariff rate concessions for goods eligible for preferential treatment in accordance with AfCFTA provisions. The schedule, previously endorsed by the Council of Ministers and communicated to other member states, establishes the legal framework for reducing import duties on qualifying products originating from AfCFTA members.

According to the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration, Ethiopia will begin participating in AfCFTA trade next month, joining 22 other countries that have completed their operational arrangements. State Minister Endalew Mekonnen stated that preparatory measures are in their final phase to facilitate market access for Ethiopian exporters.

The AfCFTA Secretariat described the publication as a significant milestone toward full implementation, noting that it enhances legal certainty and transparency for businesses.

Ethiopia ratified the AfCFTA agreement in 2019, ahead of its entry into force in January 2021. The trade pact encompasses a market of 1.3 billion people with a combined gross domestic product exceeding three trillion US dollars.