Absolutely — this is a crucial and often overlooked issue in global economics.

Some “free trade” agreements still trap African countries in poverty-

While free trade is promoted as a way to boost economies, many African nations find themselves locked into deals that favor wealthy countries and multinational corporations, limiting their ability to protect local industries and build sustainable growth.

Key issues include:

• Market liberalization forces African countries to open up to imports, often crushing local farmers and manufacturers who can’t compete with cheaper foreign goods

• Investor protections allow corporations to sue governments if policies threaten profits — restricting governments from regulating for public good

• Lack of technology transfer means Africa exports raw materials but doesn’t develop value-added industries

• Trade imbalances lead to persistent deficits and debt accumulation

Examples include some agreements under the World Trade Organization (WTO), Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the EU, and bilateral deals that limit Africa’s economic sovereignty.

Quote for Thought

“Trade should be a path to prosperity, not a chain to dependency.”
— Rethinking Global Economics